The shipping company Carnival Cruises has banned a passenger from the USA from its cruises for life. The reason for this was a – at first glance harmless – product that the woman took with her on the ship during her trip. However, security personnel immediately raised the alarm.
As several US media outlets, including the Washington Post, are now reporting, the incident occurred in August of this year. Passenger Melinda Van Veldhuizen was looking forward to a relaxing vacation when an unexpected turn of events occurred.
Carnival Cruises: Woman banned from cruise because of gummy bears
Because without knowing it, Van Veldhuizen had violated one of the shipping company’s bans. With far-reaching consequences.
But right from the start: During the regular security check before boarding the ship, the metal detector hit the American. The reason was metal hair clips that she had in her bag. The hair clips weren’t the problem, though. When searching her bag, the staff also discovered a pack of CBD gummy bears (i.e. gummy bears with cannabidiol).
Melinda Van Veldhuizen stated that she was using the gummy bears as a sleeping aid, but this did not convince the security staff. The woman was then interviewed in detail by staff separately from her family. According to her own information, she had previously purchased the CBD gummies legally online. Van Veldhuizen boarded the cruise in Miami, Florida, where some CBD products can be legally sold and subsequently purchased.
Carnival Cruises bans passenger from cruising for life
The gummies reportedly had a THC content of less than 0.1 percent, well below the state’s legal limit of 0.3 percent. However, Carnival Cruise Line, like many other cruise lines, prohibits any CBD products. Regardless of whether they were purchased legally or not.
Carnival Cruise Line’s policy on prohibited products states: “Carnival recognizes that some U.S. states have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational and/or medical purposes. However, cruise lines are required to follow U.S. federal laws that strictly prohibit the possession and use of marijuana and other illegal substances. As a result, marijuana, including marijuana for medical purposes, is not permitted on board.” This also includes all THC and CBD products.
Shipping company sends letter to banned passenger
For Melissa Van Veldhuizen, her piece of luggage had far-reaching consequences. Not only was she denied access to the cruise ship and therefore her trip, shortly after the incident she also received a letter from the cruise company informing her of her lifelong ban. Accordingly, she will no longer be allowed to travel on any of the company’s ships in the future.
Specifically, it says: “This decision was based on your actions on the current cruise that constituted a violation of the ship’s rules, compromised the safety and/or enjoyment of other guests on the ship, or caused harm to Carnival,” wrote Carnival Horizon captain Rocco Lubrano in a letter that was available to the Washington Post. Van Veldhuizen currently wants to take action against the ban and is demanding compensation for the missed trip.
Cruise passengers can usually find a list of prohibited items on the respective shipping company’s website or, if in doubt, can contact the travel agency or provider through which the trip was booked.
By Paulina Meissner (mei)