Apparently we were not singled out ashalf the back to back cruisers were raided as well. drugs on cruises - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums */A reader of this blog contacted me last week and pointed out that Atlantis Events changed it policies apparently based on last years death on the Harmony of the Seas. In years past, a limited number of attendees for the Holy Ship! The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. By Apr 12, 2022 The Spanish authorities arrested 10 guests sailing aboard the cruise ship MSC Seaside for attempting to smuggle 54 kilos of cocaine. That way, if there are any questions asked about the drugs, you can prove they you are legally allowed to take them. 2 Women Arrested on Cruise Ship Over 209-Pound Cocaine Seizure Officials say the record drug haul worth $22 million dollars was found in the luggage of two women aboard a cruise ship in Australia. I think they were using some sort of tactics. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. It is still illegal for tourists to take the products off-site. When the ship arrived in Port Everglades, Florida, the crew turned over the narcotics last week. smuggling drugs on cruise ships forum - 450conect.com Does that mean that when I am silver haired and walking with a cane that I can be gainfully employed??? If you plan to smoke marijuana or ingest cannabis in any form on your cruise vacation, there are a bunch of things you should know. Cruise ship passengers arent routinely patted down when boarding a cruise ship, although you will be asked to walk through a metal detector. Started June 21, 2021, By Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Can you carry a weed cartridge to a cruise? - Quora The Maritime Executive. On February 3rd, 2109, while doing a back to back on Allure. Cruise Passengers Busted For Smuggling Millions Worth Of - BroBible I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. As to the legalities, I understand it is their ship, they get to do what they want, no paperwork required. Sex, Drugs, and EDM: Crazy Cruise Ship Secrets From the Onboard DJ Hi, I'm Jenni. you guys remind me why I enjoy cruise critic so much. Cruise ship security teams are mostly searching for alcohol and weapons. appreciated. But even with a prescription, some drugs like medical marijuana are still not allowed. Just put them in your hand luggage and be sure to bring a copy of your prescription with you. The local news station reported that after both men arrived at the port, a drug sniffing canine alerted its handler to their luggage which contained MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, Viagra, Adderall and GHB. 11 Ways to Get Booted Off a Ship - Cruises - Cruise Critic Thanks -- I often go to cruisejunkie -- missed that one. Published Boric acid and birth control. Agree, the US drug habit ruins far more than our own country and the amount of money generated is a blank check for corruption at all levels. ). The potentially "guilty" scan the crowds looking for a possible agent, instead of being like the rest of us who are merely looking for our ubiquitous black unmarked luggage among the rest of the ubiquitous black luggage. You say half the group of back to back cruisers were also raided,. I want to know when "two women in their sixties" became synonymous with "Elderly?" It is the second year in a row that law enforcement personnelhave made large numbers of drug-related arrests before Holy Ship! This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. Its also illegal to light up in any U.S. national park and for much of your cruise in the Inside Passage in Southeast Alaska you are in national parkland. # 1. There were reportedly a half-dozen drug overdoses during the cruise. Since my Mom still talks about the cruise they were on that ended in Ensenada Mexico where every single person's luggage was sifted through with a fine tooth comb while elderly people wilted and collapsed all over the place, I'll just predict the Mules will be caught. Archive - Drugs | Crew Center If you plan on bringing drugs on a cruise ship, you should make sure that you also bring your prescription. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. Although it was quite disturbing to us on the day it happened. Fran lives in Cleveland, Ohio. British couple smuggled 1m of cocaine on Caribbean cruise - Metro That being said, there were people vaping on every cruise we've been on. Privacy Policy. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. The arrests of Mlina Roberge and Isabelle Lagace captured headlines around the world mostly because of the trove of glamour photos they had shared of . because I have nothing but my prescriptions. Drugs associated withraves (notably MDMA and PMMA) havealso been linked to fatalities, and EDM festivals have occasionally been canceled after drug-related deaths: in 2016, the city of Buenos Aires banned large EDM concerts altogether after five club-goers died of suspected overdoses. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 2023 Cable News Network. This information allcomes up with a passport check. I will add that they were all respectful to us, even when they accused me of having "something"hidden in the room somewhere. The second clue is she didn't have room left in her luggage even for a toothbrush which led to the second clue. the worst thing to fear is bringing it on board from where ever You docks. The National Crime Agency (NCA), which. Being on a ship in harbor counts as being at the border also. This type of search can occur in any port during the cruise. Does that mean you cant smoke marijuana on your cruise vacation? Article content Recommended from Editorial . Over 69 pounds of cocaine discovered on cruise ship | CNN Please view our advertising policy page for more information. :eek . Due to the high cost of drinks on cruise ships, a lot of people try to speak alcohol on board. At many ports, the luggage is also checked by a sniffer dog who may be trained to detect drugs and explosives. "Forget about your right to privacy, you are passing through a port where all local and federal laws apply and are strictly enforced," the organizer's site cautioned. One way to ensure the opportunity to smoke on your cruise vacation is to do a pre- or post-cruise stay at a cannabis-friendly hotel, assuming you are in a port city where pot is legal. Just so you know they showed us no paperwork what so ever. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. My friends and I want to bring some Coke and some Molly. Now that we can't lock our bags unless we use TSA locks or cable ties, how difficult would it be to open the bags and load them with contraband at the departure city, and then have someone grab them off the carousel at the destination. RELATED: The ultimate guide to booking cruises to Alaska. Just my humble opinion. The vessel is designed to collect debris from the waters and is part of the companys environmental efforts. Cruises are all about drinking and I'm pretty sure they bring their own. The organization highlights that its plan will also significantly contribute to the wider UK net zero transition goals. I wondered if they say that to everyone to try to get them to crack. Most people dont realize how different being at sea is and how the combination of motion, sun, and late hours can sneak up on you. A retired British couple has been charged with drug smuggling more than These are among the first places in the nation approved to cater to locals and tourists. That way I can always sit and not worry abot keeling over due to the heat. Discovery Company. CC Help Jenn For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. All rights reserved. Drug Smuggling and Liability in Commercial Shipping She will NEVER admit to being elderly. A British couple in their 70s have been jailed for eight years after trying to smuggle 1 million of cocaine into Europe on a luxury Caribbean cruise. Plus Ups are excluded. Jim Walker graduated from law school in 1983 and has been handling maritime law cases for the past thirty-five years. British pensioners jailed for smuggling cocaine on luxury cruise liner The event's organizer discourages these discussions, and in the past it has blacklistedattendees for participating in them. The new Virgin Voyages cruise line, for instance, specifies that all illegal drugs, non-prescribed controlled substances, medically prescribed marijuana or synthetic marijuana and CBD products are prohibited. Youll find something similar on every other cruise line website. JP Morgan's asset management arm, which owns the ship, and MSC together paid $50 million in cash and a surety bond to secure its temporary release. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Under the cruise contract you sign to get onboard a ship, cruise lines have the right to search your room, throw you off the ship and turn you over to local authorities for any violations. A three-masted training ship interdicted a drug-laden high-speed smuggling vessel off the coast of Colombia on Friday, the Ecuadorian Navy announced. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Such . Enrollment required. "We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to prohibited items aboard our ships, within our terminals, or at our destinations," NCL said. One woman was quite elderly and frail and did not appear to be very alert. Published We were allowed to put on robes and we waited barefoot, under guard in the hallway (on display to the other passengers walking by) while 4 of the officers and the dog ripped our room apart. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, http://www.cruisejunkie.com/events2009.html, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. On June 6, CBP officers met the cruise ship and security team during a maintenance stop at Port Everglades, and the packages of white powder tested positive for cocaine, CBP said. I remember Pogo and Lil' Abner as a kid but failed to get or understand the deeper political messages they were also sending out. JCSJCML Contributor Level: Captain Posted: 5 years ago | 3228 Views Cruise ships and smuggling drugs Just read this article about a large group on trial for drug smuggling on cruise ships. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. As in much of life, the very few ruin things for the majority. But that does not mean you can walk right off the ship and light up. Roger and Sue Clarke jailed for cruise drugs smuggling They were removed at the next port and turned over to authorities. Most of us don't understand, but I am still not sure why you choose to post this on the cruise forum? ;). Despite the common belief that Jamaica is a pot free-for-all, smoking in public is illegal though violations are punishable by a fine of 500 Jamaican dollars, which is about $3.50. I wondered if they say that to everyone to try to get them to crack. Police found 27 kilos (59 lbs) of pure cocaine hidden in their cabin. An alleged drug smuggling operation onboard a cruise ship was dismantled this week after police found a stash of cocaine hidden in bowls and chip bags. Clearly it can be done. Customs and Border Protection officers seized bricks of cocaine weighing 69.5 pounds on a cruise ship last week, the agency said. Over 69 pounds of cocaine wrapped in garbage bags were discovered in a cruise ship's cargo space. Lunar New Year sparks China travel chaos 01:02 CNN One of the two Canadian women who documented a lavish cruise trip to Australia on Instagram as a front for smuggling cocaine has been. Although fond of lake Erie, her first love is the sea. She was sentenced in November to 7 years in prison. Smoking of marijuana is a big flag on ships. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. I was in the shower and my partnerwas not dressed. When the dog was allowed into the room, what did it do (other than rip things apart)? You are here on vacation, and we truly want you to go home feeling rested, not exhausted.. Rubn Navarrete, a Mexican Navy captain based in the western state of Michoacn, told Televisa News last . Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 20 tons of coke = 40+ years in prison for MSC container-ship crew LauraS Overland Smuggling Into the United States. Since I have NEVER heard of this happening to anyone else, ever, and I have been on a $hitload of cruises, I can hardly believe your cabin steward, "This happens every week.". 10 Arrested for Smuggling 54 kg Cocaine on MSC Seaside Hide and Seek: How Drug Traffickers Get Creative at Sea. The U.S. Consulate is required to be notified of your international arrest and/or your conviction. She even popped overto visit us in our new room the following week and made sure we were okay. smuggling | Cruise Law News We plan on doing it all while on the cruise so we will not be bringing it back. cruise have posted advice on social media forums about the best ways to smuggle banned substances onto the ship, including MDMA and marijuana. Its believed that these dogs can detect infected people with 97% accuracy, even in those who are asymptomatic. There are informants who blow the whistle on smuggling crew or passengers and dogs are not even needed. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. If you did nothing wrong than you have no reason at all to feel humiliated. Guests may request an in-room menu of hemp and cannabis products. Did you encounter any technical issues? Her pal and cabin-mate, former porn star Isabelle Lagace, 30, was also charged. They will be wearing bright blue T-shirts with our Care Team logo and all have experience in working large festivals, sports events, and nightlife. A group of guys getting back on the ship in Ochos Rios got popped with some mushrooms in April. US cruises inch closer to resuming as CDC issues trial cruise guidance, This seizure is indicative of the excellent collaboration CBP has with our industry partners to detect and interdict illegal drugs being smuggled into our nation, DeFrancisci said in a statement. Thats when the fun ends. Do Cruise Ships Check for Drugs? - Cruise Mummy Ring Funneled Drugs to Bermuda in Cruise Ships, U.S. Says Well, at least you had a room steward to clean up their mess. At the pier, as you board your cruise, you may notice customs or security officials with dogs. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Among their duties may be to sniff out drugs in carry-on baggage. The hotel has a rooftop hot tub among the areas where you might enjoy your purchase. You do now have quite a story about your cruise adventures! Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Just whether you wanna be the one that takes the risk. Mar 3, 2023 8:13 PM by Plus, your own feed of TPG content. TPG values it at $1,600. Dubbed the Cocaine Babe, Lagace had documented her global journey on the cruise which made stops across the US, South America and the Pacific with dozens of bikini-clad Instagram posts of her and Roberge. Then fill it with alcohol and dye the liquid with green or blue food coloring. Your Name What I did not think of at the time, but considered later, is that both of them had able-bodied companions.and I guess it would be possible to stow drugs or almost anything illegal on people in wheelchairs, or with bandages, or casts, etc., and they might not even know it. Third person sentenced in 'Cocaine Babes' cruise ship controversy Some cruise companies have resumed operations in other parts of the world, including MSC Cruises and Costa Cruise Lines in Europe. Its new vacation guide states that it will have medically-related personnel at its cruise party. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, established an amended set of rules in November 2018 that would fine passengers up to $500 for using cannabis on the ship and may even get them kicked off entirely. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. Illegal drugs are not allowed on cruise ships. The Chesapeake Today newspaper reports that the men were planning to cruise aboard Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas which had been chartered to Atlantis Events for its annual gay cruise to the Caribbean. The new Virgin Voyages cruise line, for instance, specifies that "all illegal drugs, non-prescribed controlled substances, medically prescribed marijuana or synthetic marijuana and CBD products are prohibited." You'll find something similar on every other cruise line website. They said it was random. Dylan DeFrancisci, port director of field operations for Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, praised the operation that discovered of the cocaine. Other Atlantis Events cruise parties have been marred by drug overdoses and deaths over the years. Everything You Should Consider When Traveling with Weed in the U.S. No votes so far! At page 14 of its website under Safety at Sea it states: Our new Care Team is here to help! Seven port workers sentenced for cocaine smuggling ring roles News Cocaine Drug Smuggling Import. Cruise ports dont have the nude body scanners that you step into and put your hand up like at airports. On a much more serious note, I have always said that for every drug lord, there are hundreds or thousands of users out there. In2011, a passenger, Barry Krumholz, was arrested for selling large quantities ofecstasy pills, methamphetamine, ketamine and other drugs aboard the same Royal Caribbean cruise ship,Allure of the Seas,which was involved in this latest case and had again been chartered by Atlantis Events. A final note on your conviction. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Our state room attendant told us that this happens just about every week. The smugglers were arrested while disembarking the ship at the port of Valencia last Sunday, following a Transatlantic cruise from Brazil. The Maritime Executive. When I hear the word "elderly," women -- or men -- in their sixties do NOT come to mind. CC Help Jenn Hmmmm, I am picturing you walking with a cane, smuggling cocaine. CANBERRA, Australia -- A Canadian woman broke down in tears in an Australian court on Wednesday when she was sentenced to eight years in prison for her part in an attempt to smuggle cocaine worth. I haven't been on the Allure in a few years. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Joel Taylor's death raises questions about drug use on - Quartz Eight American cruise ship passengers were taken in to custody after they allegedly tried to leave Jamaica with US$850,000 worth of cocaine. The reason I asked is that dogs sometimes alert because they detect traces of something that could have come from anywhere, including your luggage that might have rubbed residue in a cab trunk. BRAZIL / 20 FEB 2021 BY KATIE JONES EN. Take a night off once and a while and explore the myriad of options we have planned for you! Thing is, some are not harmless. They are looking for oblong weapons and do not specialize in finding baggies of weed. A Canadian woman who documented her round-the-world cruise on Instagram admitted she tried to smuggle about $30 million worth of cocaine into Australia with the help of her porn star friend and another person. Recently, cruise lines have begun testing the use of sniffer dogs that are trained to detect passengers with COVID-19. The sisker method to smuggling dope onto a cruise ship. OP, you said the dog got a hit on your room. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. F or many people, a big Caribbean cruise means a multi-day party on the open seas. A grandmother from Georgia was caught smuggling over $300k of cocaine off a cruise ship into Bermuda. Everything Cruise Lines Don't Want You to Know. Gee, and people think they will get their adrenaline rushes from all the slides and ziplines and things! Reports are that the eight people disembarked the . Just last year, Joel Taylor, a star on the Discovery series. Yes, indeed. There was a knock on our stateroom door in the earlymorning. No we did not know the other people. Cruise lines use a variety of methods to search for illegal drugs including x-rays, metal detectors, scanners and sniffer dogs. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. All they do is ask for your drivers license/birth certificate/passport and then ask what you bought in Mexico (you have a limit on how much you can bring back and they want to make sure you are not trying to dodge taxes). Mar 3, 2023 6:46 PM by Why would you smuggle alcohol onto a cruise ship? Not only could you get kicked off the ship, but you could also end up in prison. I like this site because people ask questions that are cruise-related but not always specific to just one ship. Once in the submarine, we found 200 sacks that contained 4,000 rectangular packages of cocaine.". Release Date. Cocaine Smuggled Aboard Cruise Ship Seized at Port Everglades Two Women Busted For $30 Million In Cocaine Also Took Some Great It doesnt matter that medical marijuana is allowed in Florida, nor that you have a marijuana medical card. Canadian woman cries as she is sentenced in $16M "cocaine cruise" seen If you are caught sneaking drugs onto a cruise ship you will likely be handed over to the police and you could face a harsh sentence for drug smuggling. A few years ago we were going through security at PIT and were upset to see the two wheelchair-bound ladies that were getting the full treatment. Elderly British couple who claim they were tricked into smuggling cocaine on cruise ship spent 18,000 on travel in two years . The Brevard County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Port Canaveral conducted inspections prior to boarding, using drug-sniffing dogs, luggage searches and other methods to detect illicit substances, resulting in multiple arrests. Cocktails, ditto. A Portuguese court convicted Roger Clarke, 72, and his wife Sue, 71 . There was absolutely no reason to do this to us. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. and our $5 Million Worth of Cocaine Was Seized From a Florida Cruise - Insider document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cruise ship accidents, injuries, crimes, disappearances, fires, and collisionson the high seas involve issues of maritime law. The news station stated that the men were arrested on charges of illegal drug trafficking with Melendez charged with intent to trafficMDMA. Expect to be detained and interviewed by Customs and Border Control when you . Have you ever, while pondering the ways of the morn. We were on a cruise where it was obvious the young men in a cabin down the hall were "casual" pot smokers. A subsequent search of her cabin found pipes and other paraphernalia and cannabis oil.