Louisiana Passengers Beware – Cruise Lines are Cracking Down

The Port of New Orleans (Louisiana) has revealed that 2023 has been a record year for cruise passengers sailing out of the Big Easy. In March of 2023, the Port reported that some 155,225 passengers set sail on 39 different cruise vessels. So it's safe to say to say, that Louisiana loves to cruise. And the cruise lines love it when they see a manifest that is full of people from Louisiana.

Once travel industry expert told me that vessels that sail out of New Orleans traditionally stock more beer than other vessels that sail out of ports other than New Orleans. We are even aware of a cruise that left New Orleans on a seven-day outing to Mexico, Honduras, and Belize that ran out of beer halfway across the Gulf of Mexico after only being underway for a day and a half.

But, believe it or not, alcohol consumption is not what is raising red flags in the cruise industry as we sail into the final weeks of 2023. No, it's not that buffet issue that told you about in an earlier article either. By the way, the buffet rule makes total sense, you should totally follow it.

The issue that the cruise lines are showing more and more concern over and less and less patience with has to do with a substance that might be legal where you live. It might even be prescribed by your doctor. But despite all of that you can't bring it on board. You can't use it on board. In fact, this is so serious cruise lines are actually disembarking passengers in foreign countries if they violate this one rule.

Most Cruise Lines Now Have a Zero Tolerance Policy for Cannabis of All Kinds

Marijuana has forced the latest crackdown among cruise lines that serve Louisiana. And it doesn't matter what kind of cannabis you use, flower, edible, oil, lotion, patch, or tincture, you can't have it on a cruise ship. Notice I said "can't have it" which is a lot stronger than "can't use it".

Carnival Cruise Lines is now employing drug-sniffing dogs as passengers check-in and preboard. If you're caught with cannabis you could be subject to arrest, and fines, and you could be denied boarding without compensation or refund. Carnival insists that its vessels are "drug-free zones" and that under federal law so are the cruise terminals that they use.

If you're not familiar with cannabis laws, yes it is legal in many states. In Louisiana medical marijuana is legal. However, the substance is still considered illegal under federal law. Hence, the "drug-free zones" clarification from Carnival Cruise Lines.

One of the issues that the cannabis crackdown has brought to light is the inconsistencies in cruise line policies. Some cruise lines will simply ask you to destroy the contraband and not bring it on board. Other cruise lines will involve law enforcement. While still others will simply kick you off the boat and wish you "good luck" getting back home.

When Will Cannabis Become Legal on Cruise Ships?

There is no specific timeline that I could find in my research on the subject. However, it is my personal opinion that cannabis in edible, oil, tincture, and lotions will become "legal" just as soon as the cruise lines figure out how to make money off of it.

I don't think the cruise lines will move too quickly to get "flower" or smokeable cannabis approved anytime soon. There is such a danger with fire at sea that smoking of any kind on board is usually monitored very carefully. And since pot smokers tend to not be the most cautious people in the world I can see the reasons why cruise lines would defer from the reefer.