A 77-year-old cruise passenger from the United States has been deported from Italy after security officers discovered a loaded firearm in his backpack at the Porto Corsini Cruise Terminal in Ravenna.
The man, who had travelled from Tennessee with his son to join a cruise holiday, was stopped during routine screening when the terminal’s X-ray machine revealed a 6.35mm Browning semi-automatic pistol.
Authorities confirmed that the weapon was fully loaded, with a magazine inserted and one round already chambered – meaning it could have fired.
The traveller told officials that he held a valid gun licence in the United States and had simply “forgotten” that the firearm was in his bag.
Strict Firearm Laws in Italy
Italian gun laws are among the strictest in Europe, and firearm permits are rarely issued to tourists, regardless of documentation from their home country.
Bringing a weapon into the country without prior authorisation can result in severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
In this case, Italian police seized the weapon, charged the man with illegal firearm possession, and promptly deported him.
A similar incident occurred earlier this year in Japan, when a 73-year-old American passenger was arrested at Kobe Cruise Terminal for attempting to board with a handgun in his luggage.
A Costly Mistake
The passenger’s deportation meant the abrupt end of his holiday – and possibly more lasting consequences. Cruise lines strictly prohibit weapons of any kind onboard, and carrying one can lead to a lifetime ban.
Even if the guest genuinely forgot about the gun, cruise operators must assume zero tolerance for such security breaches.
Carnival Cruise Line, for example, banned two passengers for life in 2024 after they smuggled a gun onto a ship and boasted about it on social media. Earlier this year, another cruiser was arrested in Aruba while attempting to board Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas with a firearm.
Even toy weapons, such as replica or Nerf-style blasters, are forbidden as they could easily cause confusion or alarm.
Security staff at ports and onboard ships are trained to treat any potential weapon as a real threat until proven otherwise.
Possible Ship Identified
Authorities have not confirmed which cruise ship the man had been due to board.
However, local reports suggest it was a vessel sailing from Ravenna to Croatia and concluding in Civitavecchia (Rome) – an itinerary that matches Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation, which departed on 20th October 2025.
That sailing is an 11-night voyage through Croatia, Montenegro, and Italy, making it the most likely match.
By contrast, Celebrity Eclipse and Mein Schiff 6 both visited Ravenna earlier in October but did not continue to Rome. The next cruise call to the port is scheduled for 5th November 2025, when Norwegian Viva arrives – hopefully under calmer circumstances.
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