(NEXSTAR) – Whether it’s a Disney cruise, a Margaritaville cruise, a cruise with a 90’s post-grunge rock band, or a nude cruise, there are a variety of items you are not allowed to bring on board before departure.
Commonly prohibited items include weapons, fireworks, hoverboards, and electrical appliances like heating pads, hair dryers, irons, and toasters. From a safety perspective, it’s understandable why you wouldn’t be allowed to bring these items (why you’d need to bring your own toaster is unclear), but there may be other items that aren’t quite as obvious, like marijuana or CBD products. This may be especially true if you live in one of the dozen states that have legalized recreational and/or medical use of marijuana in recent years.
In addition, federal authorities in the United States appear to be close to classifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Several other countries, including Canada and Mexico, have also legalized marijuana.
Does this mean you can bring marijuana or CBD products on your next cruise?
Spoiler alert: No. If you do, you could face serious consequences.
The major cruise lines – Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Disney and Virgin Voyages – include marijuana (and all illegal drugs) on their lists of prohibited items. This includes CBD oils and products, hookahs, cannabis and marijuana in any form. Even marijuana products intended for medical use are not allowed on board.
The cruise lines point out that marijuana is also largely illegal in many of the ports they visit.
“Although certain CBD products used for medicinal purposes may be legal in the United States under state and local laws, they are not legal under U.S. federal law and in any ports we visit and are therefore also considered prohibited items,” Carnival writes.
Trying to bring marijuana products on your next cruise could prove detrimental.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival warn that anyone attempting to bring marijuana on board may be denied boarding or immediately removed from the ship, and may be reported to law enforcement or customs – and potentially arrested and prosecuted. Carnival adds that if marijuana or other prohibited items are found during security checks of baggage, the cruise line “reserves the right to confiscate any items.” These will then be “removed and disposed of and no compensation will be provided.”
Disney points out that marijuana, whether medically prescribed or not, is prohibited on its island destinations Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in addition to its cruise ships.
“Guests found to be carrying prohibited items on their person or in their baggage may be denied boarding and face severe legal penalties,” Disney Cruises explains.
Travelers have already faced consequences. Earlier this year, two people were charged for allegedly bringing more than 100 bags of marijuana aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship departing from Miami.
Traveling with marijuana can be tricky, even between states where it’s legal. The TSA, for example, allows certain cannabis products, but you may – or may not – be stopped by an agent at a security checkpoint.
