Cruising & Marijuana?

[JeffElizabeth]

As more states and Canada legalize it, do you think cruise lines will ever permit it? Or will it be that you need a prescription? Or will they just look the other way at edibles, creams, and pills but still prohibit smoking on board? I could see them still banning it because of other nation's rules against the drug.

[VMax1700]

This has been discussed at length in previous threads.

Basically, as the crew are not permitted to use drugs, the cruise lines will not give the opportunity for 'cross contamination' from paying customers and will continue to ban marijuana (and hopefully ban smoking!).

There is much more, including the fact that it is still illegal in many countries and transporting it over borders is an offence.

[RDC1]

Actually edibles, creams and pills are also not allowed, unless it is a prescription product that has been approved by the  US FDA or national equivalent such as Europe's EMA, or Japan's MHW

Edited November 8, 2018 by RDC1

[Krazy Kruizers]

Remember that you will be visiting foreign countries -- and if they detect you have any of those oils, etc. -- smells -- you could end up visiting one of their jails.

 

Leave all that stuff at home.

[TonyC1952]

Zero tolerance means zero tolerance.

 

I live in Colorado and like to partake, but I absolutely would never tempt fate by violating the rules. The only people on HAL ships that rarely smile are the security officers. They get angry with people when they break the rules, and I've seen people "disembarked". It is very ugly. Don't give them a reason to be angry with you.

 

I don't see this policy changing any time in the near or distant future. Much better to not tempt fate- and for me that includes edibles, creams and vaping. Not worth the hassle of being disembarked, or referred to local authorities for prosecution.

 

Move to any of the states that have legalized weed (or Canada) and enjoy yourself at home. Leave your stash there, please don't bring it on the ship. It's just not worth it.

 

 

[OlsSalt]

Drug sniffing dogs pick up the scent on anything when you pass through border control. Don't even think about following your pot buddies online cruising advice and throw everything overboard or flush it down the toilet  before you disembark.  

 

These online rocket scientists even recommend tossing your lighted toke overboard, if you might get caught smoking dope on board. 

Edited November 9, 2018 by OlsSalt

[bay guy]

Remember that, although some states have legalized marijuana use, with the rare exception for medical use, the U.S. Federal government still considers it illegal. Therefore, once you enter a government controlled space, such as an airport or port, you are subject to Federal laws and prosecution.

Thus marijuana dealers for state approved shops, can't deposit their proceeds in a Federally insured bank because the money would be seized as money from drug trafficking.

Being hauled off in handcuffs after a dog finds your edibles or smoking drug isn't my idea of starting or ending a trip.

[chengkp75]

And regardless of what various states in the US do, once on the ship you are subject to the laws of the flag state, even when in port in the US (certain restrictions apply).  While the Netherlands has decriminalized marijuana, it is still banned on their ships, so no.

[Copper10-8]

Remember this: United States Federal (not state, even not states that have legalized Marijuana use) law as well as HAL company rules and regs! And, btw, HAL security officers aren't always angry! 

[TonyC1952]

Sorry, didn't mean to imply they're always angry. However, they don't smile as much as the rest of the staff does, and if you've ever seen someone "disembarked", the attitude in and around their room is palpable. I don't ever want to give them (or TSA) any reason to be unhappy with me! Cruising is too fun to ruin it with frowning!

 

[Copper10-8]

2 minutes ago, TonyC1952 said:

Sorry, didn't mean to imply they're always angry. However, they don't smile as much as the rest of the staff does, and if you've ever seen someone "disembarked", the attitude in and around their room is palpable. I don't ever want to give them (or TSA) any reason to be unhappy with me! Cruising is too fun to ruin it with frowning!

 

 

Enjoy your next cruise Tony!

[chengkp75]

13 minutes ago, TonyC1952 said:

Sorry, didn't mean to imply they're always angry. However, they don't smile as much as the rest of the staff does, and if you've ever seen someone "disembarked", the attitude in and around their room is palpable. I don't ever want to give them (or TSA) any reason to be unhappy with me! Cruising is too fun to ruin it with frowning!

 

If you meet the engineers, you will think that Security are the happiest, friendliest folks around.

[Copper10-8]

16 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

If you meet the engineers, you will think that Security are the happiest, friendliest folks around.

 

An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be 

[taxmantoo]

16 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be 

And, as a passenger, I will drink whatever is in the glass and be happy 🍺

[chengkp75]

45 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be 

Two basic moods for a marine engineer, grumpy and cranky.  Yet, our motto is the same as the USN's SeaBee's:  "the difficult we do today, the impossible takes a little longer".  Looking at my last drydocking in a couple years, won't miss the twitching and flinching when I hear "Chief!", or the hair falling out and turning grayer by the day.  But I don't think I'd trade my job for yours, John!

Edited November 9, 2018 by chengkp75

[*Miss G*]

53 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be 

 

Half-full or half-empty; either way it needs more wine!!

[Bill B]

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Half-full or half-empty; either way it needs more wine!!

 

Bunker it.  

[AmazedByCruising]

8 hours ago, TonyC1952 said:

The only people on HAL ships that rarely smile are the security officers.

 

 

They nearly always smile at me, telling me to have fun ashore and welcoming me back aboard, and are most friendly explaining about my belt causing the alarm once again. 

 

But OK, the time when I was nearly naked (it could have been even worse) and mistook the door to the hallway for the door to the bath room, locked myself out, at 3 AM or so, on a HAL ship where everyone was asleep just after 10 including most if not all security staff, after which my very friendly neighbour allowed me to enter their cabin and call Guest Relations,  who in turn woke up a security officer, who finally opened the door of my own cabin. Well that's the security officer I remember that did not smile at all. 

[Copper10-8]

2 minutes ago, AmazedByCruising said:

 

They nearly always smile at me, telling me to have fun ashore and welcoming me back aboard, and are most friendly explaining about my belt causing the alarm once again. 

 

But OK, the time when I was nearly naked (it could have been even worse) and mistook the door to the hallway for the door to the bath room, locked myself out, at 3 AM or so, on a HAL ship where everyone was asleep just after 10 including most if not all security staff, after which my very friendly neighbour allowed me to enter their cabin and call Guest Relations,  who in turn woke up a security officer, who finally opened the door of my own cabin. Well that's the security officer I remember that did not smile at all. 

 

I have a good story to tell you that, I would think, you can relate to. It was, I'm pretty sure, on Maasdam, a few years ago. There was this Aussie guest entertainer. He had flown the equivalent of 24 hrs plus, to get to the ship in FLL and was exhausted so, as soon as he was assigned a cabin (guest entertainers are assigned pax cabins, usually inside ones) he plowed into bed for some serious "z's".

 

As a side note, this man was used to sleeping in the nude. After only a few hours, he woke up still very groggy to utilize the facilities in his cabin, so got out of bed and opened the nearest door that he was able to find in his state of semi-comatose, stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Problem was, as he would very soon find out, that he had not stepped into his bathroom, but into the guest corridor at about 9:30 PM. His second problem appeared almost simultaneously in the form of an elderly female guest who, while minding her own business, was approaching his cabin door down that same passenger corridor. She took one look at our guest entertainer in all his glory, initiated a perfect about face in a precision one of Parris Island's most senior drill instructors would be extremely proud of, and made a bee-line to the nearest open staff office she could find, which turned out to be the COM (culinary operations manager) office in Maasie's atrium, for shelter.

 

Our guest entertainer, by this time, had come to his very uncomfortable senses and, not being able to get back inside his cabin because his cabin key was resting very comfortably on his nightstand inside that same cabin, did his utmost to remember plan B exit stage right, which was to run to, and hide behind, one of the double doors that lead out to Boat Deck. In the mean time, the COM, having heard the lady's event of what had she had just experienced, immediately called the officer of the watch on the bridge, who called me on my mobile, advising me that we had a "naked man" running around in the Atrium. I went to the scene of unrest and found our "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oy Oy Oy" guest entertainer half-hiding behind the Atrium door leading out to boat deck with a very reddish complexion.

 

Make a long story shorter, I had one of my guys fetch a blanket, our entertainer covered himself up, and we escorted him back to his cabin where we used my master key to open the door for him. Before we said good night, we showed him his bathroom door and pointed out the difference between it, and his cabin door. If I remember correctly, the COM bought a glass of Sherry (her favorite drink of choice) for the lady guest in the Ocean Bar in order to calm her nerves. The next evening, our Aussie guest entertainer was on stage for the 8:00 and 10:00 PM show. I believe he was a comedian.............He was fully clothed this time............

[sevenseasnomad]

Oh, the stories you could probably relate, Copper!  Have you security guys ever thought of turning your experiences into a book?  Some would probably be humorous; other maybe tragic, but interesting nevertheless.

[OlsSalt]

Any insights you can share about the gentlemen who a few months ago removed from a HAL ship for allegedly shoving a ship's personnel during re-embarkation security screening.  

 

Wife insisted her husband was 100% innocent and they were ready to raise holy heck against HAL for dumping them in parts unknown before the end of their voyage. HAL corporate  (inadvertently?) sent them a follow-up a letter, and included the closing  wish they would continue to choose HAL in the future.  (???!!!???)

 

Understand no comment if there are remaining legal issues to settle - but in general what does trigger a passenger getting removed from the ship and what duty does HAL have for their wellbeing after they are dumped in an unexpected location and need to find their way home on their own.

Edited November 10, 2018 by OlsSalt

[Copper10-8]

46 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

Any insights you can share about the gentlemen who a few months ago removed from a HAL ship for allegedly shoving a ship's personnel during re-embarkation security screening.  

 

Wife insisted her husband was 100% innocent and they were ready to raise holy heck against HAL for dumping them in parts unknown before the end of their voyage. HAL corporate  (inadvertently?) sent them a follow-up a letter, and included the closing  wish they would continue to choose HAL in the future.  (???!!!???)

 

Understand no comment if there are remaining legal issues to settle - but in general what does trigger a passenger getting removed from the ship and what duty does HAL have for their wellbeing after they are dumped in an unexpected location and need to find their way home on their own.

 

First I hear about that one; I wasn't onboard, don't know the circs so can't/won't comment; sure you'll understand, like you said. A pax going "hands on" with any crew member is not tolerated and for good cause! Pax have been kicked off for violating the provisions of their contract. That can be anything like fighting, making threats, stealing ship's property, lewd or lascivious conduct towards other pax and/or crew, being a danger to themselves or others, etc. etc.

 

When that decision to disembark a pax is made by the captain in consultation with certain folks in the home office, every effort is made to disembark the pax in a port where there is a HAL agent who will assist with temporary lodging and home transportation (paid for by the pax). Logistic-wise, that is not always possible, depending on where on this great big earth the ship finds herself since not every port in the world is called on by HAL. Hope that answers most of your query 

[ski ww]

I'm sure you must have some very interesting stories to tell. Oh if only the walls could talk.

[catl331]

6 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

... every effort is made to disembark the pax in a port where there is a HAL agent ...

IIRC the incident occurred in St Petersburg and they waited until Helsinki to put them off.  Couple claims it was a case of mistaken identity.

 

edit: found the thread. First post has a link to an article about it.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2566078-consumer-advocate-article-quotthis-is-what-happens-when-youre-kicked-off-your-cruisequot/?tab=comments#comment-55320380

 

Edited November 10, 2018 by catl331

[Copper10-8]

2 hours ago, catl331 said:

IIRC the incident occurred in St Petersburg and they waited until Helsinki to put them off.  Couple claims it was a case of mistaken identity.

 

edit: found the thread. First post has a link to an article about it.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2566078-consumer-advocate-article-quotthis-is-what-happens-when-youre-kicked-off-your-cruisequot/?tab=comments#comment-55320380

 

 

Helsinki, Finland is the next port after Saint Petersburg, Russia on that run. It would take some time to investigate the incident, conduct interviews, incl. witnesses, put it on paper, present the completed investigation to the captain and for him to discuss the consequences with the home office. Helsinki is a regular HAL port during the Baltic schedule so most definitely has a HAL port agent