Legal implications of carrying on a cruise ship

[Decoligny]

You wouldn't catch me dead on a cruise ship. Once they are out beyond 12 mile territorial limits, it's open season for any thieves/rapists/murderers (usually crew members) who are now outside of the jurisdiction of any country to run amok.

http://www.safetyforum.com/salc/

They don't even have to report crimes commited on cruise ships.

[AHRIMAN]

I was able to take a pocket knife with me off and on the ship, they do Xray every time you get on the ship, but they didnt say anything about my knife. I kept it in my pack during boarding.

I was just in Ensenada on a Carnival cruise, we went to every inch of that place(including a few hole in the wall strip clubs) on a bright colored golf cart waving the tourist flag and never got bothered. I wouldnt worry about it.

One funny thing was when we took the cart on the beach, apparently we were treading into military property because the locals started waving us down and making shooting gestures like if we continued someone with a rifle was going to shoot us...good times.

[seven]

You wouldn't catch me dead on a cruise ship. Once they are out beyond 12 mile territorial limits, it's open season for any thieves/rapists/murderers (usually crew members) who are now outside of the jurisdiction of any country to run amok.

http://www.safetyforum.com/salc/

They don't even have to report crimes commited on cruise ships.

i almost forgot to mention that part, from what i have been told, it's possible to smuggle a firearm on board... but i honestly don't intend to disembark into mexico with it (i have at least a little common sense.)

what i am wondering is this: the federal gov controls the airlines and security, i get caught with a gun there, it goes on my record, possible felony, what have you....

the cruise ships are all privately owned entities, so it would be a corporate matter, not a legal one, if i brought a gun onboard and was caught, or am i wrong with this presumption?

[AHRIMAN]

They would probably turn you over to customs when you dock.

[AKman]

A cruise line flagged my luggage because I had a ~6" titanium dive knife. The knife was no sharper than the knives we were given at dinner, but it looked scarier. I had to retrieve my knife every morning before leaving the ship and return it to the purser every afternoon. I was allowed to roam the ship with my knife during the day, but the knife had to sleep in the purser's office at night. I guess it was their way of saying we really don't want weapons on board. They did not have any problem with my wife's considerably sharper X-knife.


Dangerous Weapon


Family-Safe Non-Weapon

[C.G.]

i almost forgot to mention that part, from what i have been told, it's possible to smuggle a firearm on board... but i honestly don't intend to disembark into mexico with it (i have at least a little common sense.)

what i am wondering is this: the federal gov controls the airlines and security, i get caught with a gun there, it goes on my record, possible felony, what have you....

the cruise ships are all privately owned entities, so it would be a corporate matter, not a legal one, if i brought a gun onboard and was caught, or am i wrong with this presumption?

Even if a ship is privately owned, it is still documented with the Federal Goverment (assuming it is a US flagged vessel) and can be pressed into service by US goverment in time of war. The ship's crew and officers are Merchant Marines, licensed by the US Coast Guard. The ship's captain is the LEO on his ship and if a passenger is found with contraband, that passenger will be arrested, put in detention and handed to the US Coast Guard or Federal Police at the first opportunity. Contraband on a ship is a federal offense so the case would end up in Federal court.
Trying to sneak a gun aboard a ship is a very, very bad idea, especially one going to Mexico. Mexican gun laws are much stricter than even California laws (no military round guns allowed in Mexico by civilians, for example) and the ship has to comply with those laws when in Mexican waters. BTW, a US ship can be boarded anytime, anywhere by the US Coast Guard (even in other nation's territorial waters, as long as permission from the nation is received) and in Mexican waters, by the Mexican Coast Guard/Navy.

[bohoki]

crusie ships are never us registered so you have to comply with the law of its register which is often the bahamanians

[sierratangofoxtrotunion]

I never got the impression from the OP that he was worried about pirates off the coast of Ensenada...

I did get the impression that he's concerned about getting mugged or kidnapped or whatever while on the ground in Ensenada.

Personally, I wouldn't be too worried about pirates attacking a cruise ship along the coast of Mexico. When it gets to that point, the drug cartel problems have gotten REALLY bad and we need to send in OUR military.

ETA: Oh, no wait, he did mention pirates.

Ok well I wouldn't worry about pirates. I have heard of it off the coast of Mexico, but not much. And a band of 4 guys isn't going to take on a Carnival cruise ship.

For me my concern would be the drug elements in the cities.

Also, he's going to get SO busted for having a gun.

The cruise line and the tourist-trap city have A LOT of money riding on you having a very safe trip. Stick to the touristy areas and you'll probably be alright. Watch yourself tho. Stay in groups.

[Jason762]

Uhh... alright. Let's say you carry a gun on the ship despite the fact you're not supposed to.

You arrive in Mexico with your pistol strapped to your pants, and you get into a situation where your life is threatened. You shoot the aggressor and possibly kill him/her/it.

You are, in short, fu*ked. You, a rich gringo Americano (after all you do own a pistol and you came off a cruise ship) shot a poor Mexicano... in their country... with an illegally imported pistol.

The ramifications (if caught) are tremendous.

Be smart, leave the pistola at home.

[Doheny]

(Not sure if this is in the right place)
i'm heading on a cruise and i know that the cruise ship prohibits firearms, but with the turmoil in mexico...

If you're that worried, you should either not go or stay on the boat when it docks in Mexico.

[SimpleCountryActuary]

Two Words

Killer Whales!!!

[C.G.]

crusie ships are never us registered so you have to comply with the law of its register which is often the bahamanians

Although I agree that most large cruise ships are not US flagged, "never" is not true. Of the large cruise ships there is the NCL America line, which is US flagged

http://www.norwegiancruises.com/ncla/index.htm

and other Norwegian ships, i. e. Jewel:

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/03/25/call.shtml

and then there are the smaller ones.

In future, I think we may see more US flagged ships due to proposed regulations to foreign vessels that are entering US waters.

In spite of the fact that the cruise ship he is going on may not be US flagged, much of what I stated still applies.

[Warhawk014]

still waiting for a difinitive answer, i would like to know as well

[Doheny]

still waiting for a difinitive answer, i would like to know as well

If you want a difinitive answer, you should probably call the cruise lines.

[N6ATF]