Cruise ship passengers are being warned not to bring one thing on board as they might find themselves banned.
Travel blogger Gary Bembridge says anyone considering taking a cruise should be aware you cannot take drugs on a ship. And while many may think this should seem like simple advice, Gary says a woman was recently banned for life for simple taking on CBD gummies.
Cannabidiol – or cannabis oil – is often used as a natural remedy for pain relief and relaxation. It is a natural non-intoxicating extract from the hemp plant as it lacks the THC component of marijuana.
CBD gummies can be purchased from health shops across the United Kingdom. But Gary says a cruiser recently found herself barred after not disclosing she had the gummies to those running the ship.
On his Tips for Travellers YouTube channel, Gary says you should never bring any form of drugs on a ship. He said: “Recently a Texas woman called Melinda van Veldhuizen was banned for life by Carnival Cruise Lines for trying to take CBD gummies on board to help her sleep.
« She was going through check-in security at PortMiami when a security guard spotted a bag of CBD gummies in her backpack. She had bought them legally online as they are allowed in the state that she lives in, so she assumed she could bring them on the cruise.
« Cruise lines however have a no tolerance for drugs policy, which includes any cannabis-related products. So, if you use cannabis-related items or in fact any other drugs that are considered illegal, unless for medical reasons, you must let the cruise line know in advance and get medical clearance.”
Ms Van Veldhuizen said she felt she was “treated like a criminal” when she was hauled off the cruise liner in 2023. While she initially believed she would simply have her gummies taken off her and allowed to continue cruising, she received a letter saying she was now banned.
The letter said she would “not be permitted to sail onboard any Carnival Cruise Lines vessel”. Signed by ship captain Rocco Lubrano, it added: “This decision was based on your actions on the current cruise, which were a violation of the ship rules, interfered with the safety and/or enjoyment of other guests on the ship or caused harm to Carnival.”
A Carnival Cruise Lines spokesperson told local news station WPLG there are messages about marijuana and related prohibited items pre-cruise and on its website. It lists CBD as against the rules and claims it’s banned at multiple ports that they depart from.
Meanwhile Gary says travellers should also inform cruise liners if they are pregnant, have disabilities, or are ill when they join the ship. He also advises against attempting to hide banned items as they often get picked up by baggage scanners.
Source link
