Cruise Ship Drug Dogs: What Happens Before Boarding

Think cruise security is just a quick bag scan and a wave through? Think again.

Cruise lines take drugs extremely seriously. In the best-case scenario, you might be denied boarding. In the worst case, you could be dealing with local authorities in a foreign country.

Not all medication is a problem, though. Prescription drugs are usually fine as long as you carry them properly and bring proof of your prescription.

But when it comes to things like medical marijuana, the rules can get a lot stricter.

So what actually happens when you arrive at the cruise terminal? And how do cruise ships check for drugs before you board?

Sneaking Drugs Onto a Cruise Ship

Illegal drugs are not allowed on cruise ships. 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.

Cruise Ship Drug Searches

Cruise lines use a variety of methods to search for illegal drugs, including X-rays, metal detectors, scanners, and sniffer dogs. That said, the security team’s main priority isn’t to look for drugs, as they have other things to be concerned with.

Cruise ship security teams are mostly searching for alcohol and weapons. Due to the high cost of drinks on cruise ships, a lot of people try to sneak alcohol on board. And if anyone were to sneak a bomb onto a cruise ship, the consequences would be disastrous.

Cruise ship passengers aren’t routinely patted down when boarding a cruise ship, although you will be asked to walk through a metal detector. If the metal detector beeps, you may either be scanned again with a hand-held metal detector or patted down by hand.

Cruise Ship Body Scanners

Cruise ports don’t have the ‘nude’ body scanners that you step into and put your hand up like at airports. But they do have walk-through metal detectors to detect any hidden weapons.

Cruise Ship Bag Checks

When you board a cruise ship, your bags will be x-rayed to check for alcohol and weapons. At many ports, the luggage is also checked by a sniffer dog who may be trained to detect drugs and explosives.

Carnival has shown that when they find CBD gummies on a person boarding, they will ban them for life. So they’d no doubt do similar for other drugs too.

Suggested read: Banned For LIFE! Real Stories Of Cruise Guests Who Are No Longer Welcome

Drug Dogs at Cruise Ports

Not all cruise ports have drug dogs present. Ports in Mexico, the United States, Australia, the Bahamas and Bermuda are most likely to have drug dogs present. Smaller ports are less likely to use sniffer dogs.

In 2021, cruise lines tested the use of sniffer dogs that are trained to detect passengers with COVID-19. It’s believed that these dogs can detect infected people with 97% accuracy, even in those who are asymptomatic. [Source].

Carnival Cruise Line has announced a renewed effort to sniff out drugs across the fleet. Guests can expect to see drug sniffer dogs at home ports, destination ports, and on the ships themselves.

Read more about drug dogs on cruises.

Matt Lupoli, a spokesperson for the cruise line, said, “The K-9s are part of our security team and are deployed to various locations, so guests may very well see them at terminals, destination ports, or onboard, and their deployment could change at any time.”

And Christine Duffy, the President of the company, further clarified: “In case there’s any confusion, let me remind guests that while marijuana and cannabis products may be legal in some states, we are required to follow federal law irrespective of the law in the state where you may be boarding your ship.”

You won’t see the Carnival cruise drug dogs on every sailing, but there is a chance they’ll be on board.

How to Take Drugs on a Cruise Ship

If you plan on bringing drugs on a cruise ship, you should make sure that you also bring your prescription. That way, if there are any questions asked about the drugs, you can prove that you are legally allowed to take them.

Smuggling illegal recreational drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, hallucinogens, and amphetamines on cruise ships is a serious offence, and it is not something that anyone should consider doing. If you’re caught, the consequences could ruin your life.

Drug Tests for Cruise Ship Workers

Cruise ship employees are drug tested before they begin working on a cruise ship, and they are also subject to random drug testing. If the cruise line suspects drug use, they will arrange additional drug tests.

Cruise lines have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. If any guest or crew member is caught possessing or taking drugs, they will be sent home at the next port of call. Carnival has even stated that guests may be banned from taking future cruises.

The Bottom Line

Cruise lines take drugs extremely seriously, and security checks at the terminal are designed to catch prohibited items before they make it on board.

If you need to travel with medication, keep it in its original packaging and bring a copy of your prescription. This helps avoid delays during security screening.

But when it comes to illegal recreational drugs, the risks simply aren’t worth it. Being caught could mean denied boarding, being removed from the ship at the next port, or even facing legal trouble in another country.

In short, if you’re heading on a cruise, it’s best to leave anything questionable at home.

If you just want to party and have a good time, get yourself a drinks package, and you can get wasted legally every day of your cruise if you want to.

Related Posts:

• How to Sneak Alcohol on a Cruise Ship
• How to Bring Weed on a Cruise Ship
• Do Cruise Ships Have Police?
• Are Guns Allowed on Cruise Ships?