Ahoy, green enthusiasts. Before you pack that extra “special” stash for your cruise, let’s clear the air — whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned sailor, knowing the do’s and don’ts of cruise ship cannabis can save you from making waves for all the wrong reasons.
Port Canaveral in Florida is the busiest cruise port in the world with 4.1 million passengers in 2022, just ahead of the second busiest port, Port Miami, which was the busiest in 2019.
As you prepare for your next cruise, the lure of the high seas may be strong, but the repercussions of bringing marijuana onboard can be even stronger.
Get ready for a deep dive into the do’s and don’ts of cruising with cannabis and discover how some passengers learn the hard way that their vacation buzz can come with a hefty price.
Marijuana is prohibited aboard all major cruise lines
To be clear, under federal law, cannabis, in any form, is prohibited aboard all major cruise ship lines.
Even delta-8 THC exists in a federal gray area after it was descheduled under the U.S. Farm Bill, as long as it is derived from hemp and contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.
Because of this, many are under the assumption that translates into lenience at sea. It doesn’t. On a cruise ship, it’s prohibited.
Cruise lines operate in international waters and must adhere to a myriad of international regulations from diverse legal jurisdictions — or face their own serious legal ramifications.
In January, two passengers sailing out of Miami were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after being caught taking more than 100 bags of marijuana onto Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Joy ship.
OK, but I have a medical marijuana license
While 24 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, and another 14 states allow the drug for medical use, if you are under the impression your medical marijuana license is a get out of jail free card, spoiler alert: It’s not.
Even with a valid medical marijuana prescription in Florida, federal law prohibits bringing marijuana on a cruise ship.
Yet, despite the clear rules banning cannabis on cruise ships, some passengers opt to take a gamble.
Vitamin jars, scent-proof bags and tin foil
The social media app TikTok is filled with videos from people who claim to have successfully smuggled cannabis aboard a cruise ship — from concealing it in an airtight container, wrapping it in tin foil or placing it inside a stuffed animal to hiding marijuana edibles in a vitamin jar or inside one of the many scent-proof bags offered on Amazon.
However, as a travel agent and owner of Cruise by Mandy, Mandy Goddard says what you won’t see are the videos from all the people who’ve been caught.
Under the TikTok moniker @mandythecruisepla, Goddard’s videos offering cruise tips and advice have earned more than 1 million likes.
“What you’re not seeing are the large amount of people who have gotten caught, lost all their money and maybe went to jail, because I hate to tell you, even though THC is legal in many, many states … it is still very much illegal on a federal level,” Goddard said in a TikTok video titled, “PSA: Please don’t sneak contraband on a cruise ship.”
“If you get caught, you could go to jail. You could get banned from the cruise line. You could get kicked off your cruise,” Goddard said. “It can be very, very costly and very expensive and I promise you, it happens every day.”
While you may not get caught, Goddard said, unless you’re willing to seriously risk being permanently banned, potentially going to jail, or losing all your cruise money, “it’s really not worth it.”
“While it might be fun to sneak these things onboard and not get caught, it’s going to be a whole lot of not fun if you’re in jail or if you’re sitting on the dock while all of your family and friends are over there having a blast,” she said.
Getting caught with cannabis at the port
Local law enforcement agencies regularly patrol cruise ports, and before passengers can board their cruise ship, every person and all bags must go through a security check. And some ports, like Port Canaveral in Florida, employ drug-sniffing dogs.
Last year, following the spring break travel rush, Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, shared a video message to explain Carnival’s enhanced security — including narcotic-sniffing dogs.
“We’ve introduced narcotic-sniffing dogs at home ports to screen luggage on both a routine and random basis so our guests shouldn’t be surprised if they even see dogs come on board at both our home ports and destination out ports to make random searches,” Duffy said. “Illegal drugs including marijuana on cruise ships and in cruise terminals is prohibited and in case there’s any confusion let me remind guests that while marijuana and cannabis products may be legal in some states, we are required to follow federal law irrespective of the law in the state where you may be boarding your ship.”
As you go through embarkation, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are tasked with verifying passenger identification. But they also have authority to conduct searches, which can occur randomly. While their involvement in cases of marijuana possession is limited to those searches, agency spokesperson Jessica Turner said of the 37 incidents her office has handled since 2018, 11 resulted in seizure of the cannabis and 26 ended in arrest.
Cruise lines typically employ their own security teams to route passengers and bags through metal detectors. Luggage is also subject to additional screening and random searches before it’s allowed onboard. Generally speaking, the cruise line will contact local law enforcement authorities to handle situations in which marijuana is found on a passenger or within luggage, while still at port.
Arrested in port ‘an absolute nightmare’
In January 2018, just moments away from boarding the Bahama-bound Norwegian Epic in Port Canaveral, Gina Marie Van Scheppingen was one of thousands undergoing standard security checks before embarking on the 4,000-plus capacity cruise ship.
Known by her stage name DJ Gina Turner, she was scheduled to be part of the entertainment aboard “Holy Ship!” — an annual floating electronic dance music festival. However, instead of performing, she was arrested and taken to jail on drug possession charges after authorities searched her bag and found cannabis-laced edibles and oil pipes.
Released the next day after posting bond, she was charged with three third-degree felonies for possession. After paying hundreds in court costs and serving a period of probation, adjudication on the felonies was withheld. Reflecting on the incident today, she describes the experience as “an absolute nightmare.”
But she wasn’t alone — 23 other would-be cruisers were arrested that same day after authorities confiscated marijuana pills, oil, gummies and even marijuana-laced espresso beans.
At the time of the incident, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Tod Goodyear told News 6 the port added extra security that day “based on some of the things that occurred during previous events and … there was some concern that the people that would be traveling would be trying to conceal drugs and bring them on the ships.”
In the years that followed, the organizers of Holy Ship! — an annual event since 2012 — shifted from an onboard cruise ship party to an all-inclusive resort on dry land called “Holy Shipwrecked.”
What happens if you’re caught with marijuana aboard a cruise ship?
If you decided to bring cannabis through the port and passed all security checkpoints without getting caught, perhaps you think you’re safe from any legal repercussions now that you’re aboard.
Think twice.
If you’re caught smoking marijuana in your stateroom or your balcony aboard a cruise, you’ll probably be assessed a fine. On Carnival, it’s a $500 charge for each violation — added automatically to your Sail & Sign account.
But that’s not all. All guests in the stateroom risk a permanent ban from any future cruises and may be kicked off the vessel, wherever it is, without any refund. These passengers are also fully responsible for all their expenses related to returning home.
And under its smoking policies, the cruise line states, “Any illegal substances will be confiscated and the guest will be reported to the appropriate authorities.”
Often this means the local authorities. And if you’re in Bahamian waters, the government enforces a strict ban on cannabis in any form, whether for recreational or medical use, and individuals caught with cannabis could face severe criminal charges and penalties.
Offenders found in possession can be fined up to $120,000 and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Drug traffickers encounter even harsher consequences, with incarceration of up to 40 years and fines reaching $750,000.
Reports of Bahamian customs officers boarding cruise ships without probable cause to confiscate pot in cabin safes and then arresting passengers when they returned to the ships was an issue maritime attorney Jim Walker wrote about in 2014. Some of those arrested claimed they were told they would have to either pay a hefty fine or face months or even years in a Nassau jail.
Getting high on the high seas
If you do decide to carry marijuana aboard a cruise ship, David W. Olson, a West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney said there’s another item you should bring — the phone number for a reputable marijuana lawyer.
While he admits it’s difficult to predict what will happen if you’re caught with an illegal drug like cannabis on a cruise ship, Olson said cruise lines have the authority to inspect your cabin, confiscate any illegal drugs, kick you off the cruise and hand you over to the local authorities for any offenses.
“But it is important to know that the cruise line does have the final say,” Olson said in a post to his website. “In the worst case scenario, they may notify local authorities of the situation, forcing you to disembark at the next port.”
Pennsylvania resident Meghan George was arrested in Bermuda after customs discovered “two bags of plantlike material” in her purse as she was boarding Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas in 2018. During a subsequent search of her stateroom, local authorities found pipes, a grinder and a vape cartridge with cannabis oil.
She was taken into custody and five days later appeared before a judge, where she pleaded guilty to four counts of drug possession. She was fined $4,000, which had to be paid before she was allowed to leave the island.
For those with a medical marijuana license who partake of cannabis for pain management, Carnival Cruise Line advises guests to “consult with your physician about an alternative therapy during your cruise.”
Officials say planning ahead can help you identify activities and amenities that align with your relaxation goals, while remaining within the cruise’s legal parameters.
H/T: www.gulflive.com
