Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

My wife and I are Flying to Key West and spending a few days there, driving to Miami for a few days, and then getting on a cruise ship(Carnival). It appears I can carry while we spend our time in FL but am I allowed to stow a weapon on the cruise? Obviously carrying on a boat isn't allowed, and I'm sure they don't want you keeping a firearm in your room since spousal disappearances are already so common on these cruises. But my question, can you "check in" a weapon and pick it up when you get off? Miami can be a shady place and I would feel better with a plan B.

This should be interesting - that's a great question. I have no idea. I would imagine that you might want to check with Carninval's terms and conditions of travel. They may have insurance provisions which would prohibit it. I don't know. I also would assume that the ship might venture into international waters (?) and I have no idea what bearing that might have on things.

Pretty sure you can check your weapon at security and they will give it back to you when you disembark.

What about the flight to Key West? How is that handled thru the airlines? I am thinking about flying to Austin Texas in November and was wandering how I could carry then?

Contact the airline ahead of time and ask what their requirements are for firearms in checked luggage. It's no big deal, but you will need to fill out a form and follow their guidelines.

Yeah airlines are the easy part. Call them ahead of time to get exact requirements, but they will require the firearm to be unloaded and in a locked case inside your suitcase, and you need to notify them when you check your luggage.

I just looked at the Carnival website. I seriously doubt you can bring a firearm or ammunition on board, even if handed off to security. Maybe you can leave it with a Miami gun shop while you are cruising.

I contacted Carnival this and it was a big NO, not allowed. I don't think I am comfortable finding a random gun shop in Miami to leave my gun with so I guess I will be traveling light this vacation.

I'd be telling Carnival then my plans to use them for travel is a big NO...

No kidding, apparently they figure they already robbed me with the ticket price to get on the boat, whynot let me get robbed once I get off the boat too. But hey, third world countries with high tourism rates never have crime, right?

The cruise ships also have a big issue with foreign ports, they may not be allowed to have guns on the ship when docked in certain countries or cities.

Here is a thought....could you get a safe deposit box at one of the banks??... It a stretch I know but at least you'd have your weapon and it would be secured in vault till you came back. Might even be an easy thing if their is a local branch of your banking institution there.

I probably could go through my bank and get a lockbox because they have a hub right on South Beach, but then its the hassle of filling out all the paperwork and stuff while our time is already limited in FL as it is. We are just going to have to be smart about where we go. Key West i'm not to worried about, its Miami that is the concern, but really we have the option of staying in Key West almsot the entire time so we may just do that, especially considering it's the same price.

If anyone decides to cruise with another liner I'd be curious if they are allowed to check their firearm prior to boarding and pick it up afterwards. If so, I think then I've found my next cruise provider.

tursiops wrote:Maybe you can leave it with a Miami gun shop while you are cruising.

This is the easiest thing to do. Drop the gun off at a FFL for cleaning, pick up when you return. It's not that hard to find a reputable FFL.