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I had a former CHL student call me and ask about a cruise he is planning to take. His question was, once arriving at the cruise ship departure site, what does he do with his sidearm? Can he case it, and take it aboard?

I have no clue where/who to tell him to check. Any suggestions?

Has he called the cruise line and asked thier firearms policy?

Don't even think about it.

dws1117 wrote:Has he called the cruise line and asked thier firearms policy?

The sales office had no idea if there even was a policy, but I'm fairly sure it was just a ticket agent, not someone with any authority.

Is a policy something set by the individual cruise line, or are there legal restrictions set by the state or federal government?

When I called Carnival last year, before our cruise, they stated that it was against "International Maritime Law" to carry a firearm aboard a "civilian vessel." It did not matter if it was in a locked case or whatever and the (dare I say he sounded quite gay, simpers and lisps and all) guy on the phone was adamant that it was the "Maritime Law."

That response sounded fishy to me, so I did some research on my own. All I could find was reference to arming vessels, not with small arms but with the big stuff, nothing at all specifically about handguns etc. Nothing much on the web at all.

Several subsequent calls, never answered by a human, and emails to Carnival produced no reaction at all, not even a polite "don't bring a gun aboard" or anything.

When I arrived at the embarkation point, I carefully locked my gun in a case, in a locked "special spot" in my locked car and hoped that it would all be there when I got back. The lot I parked in was attended, at least minimally, and it was assigned parking for that cruise so it would be unusual for anyone to have any business being there while the ship was gone, so I felt pretty comfortable.

There were walk through metal detectors for boarding, but I don't have any idea if our baggage was x-rayed. I know my bags were not manually searched because my traps were not triggered.

As a funny aside, when we returned aboard in Cozumel, after a pleasant day of driving and diving, capped off by a little too much drinking, I set off the WTMD on my first pass. Reaching in my bathing suit pocket I found a can of Altoids, which I handed to the rent a cop and then I tried again. The second time through I realized I had forgotten this big silver bracelet I had on, and handed it to the same guy and tried a third time.

On my third time through, my ever helpful, but pretty sloshed, wife shouted for all to hear; "Honey, maybe it's your knife." Since we had been diving and I always carry a knife anyway, I had one clipped on my pocket that I had forgotten to take off.

But by this time the line behind me was getting long and the rent a cops were getting bored, so they handed me back my Altoids and bracelet and waved me on, even after my wife's comment. Made me feel really secure, especially since I work for the TSA and only give people two chances before they get referred for special handling.

Chas would probably be the definitive authority, but as I understand it, no matter what flag a vessel flies, it is subject to the laws of the country where it docks. IOW- if you dock in a Mexican port, you are subject to Mexican law, and we all know how gun-friendly Mexico is.

Take this advice for what you paid for it- but I won't even consider bringing a firearm. Best case...confiscation; worst case.......lots of letters home.....

onerifle wrote:Chas would probably be the definitive authority, but as I understand it, no matter what flag a vessel flies, it is subject to the laws of the country where it docks. IOW- if you dock in a Mexican port, you are subject to Mexican law, and we all know how gun-friendly Mexico is.

Take this advice for what you paid for it- but I won't even consider bringing a firearm. Best case...confiscation; worst case.......lots of letters home.....

I tend to agree with that. Of course I doubt they would ever enter a ship and search it for weapons, but they may screen the luggage on the cruise ship at some point. If the weapon is locked up in your room there's not that much point in having it anyways, you certainly don't want to carry it around in Mexico or elsewhere.

You cannot carry a gun a board the cruise ships!!!!

They search everything now...

The last I checked on it NO WAY... Better off leaving them home locked up.