Can I carry a drone on a cruise without it getting confiscated?

On today's episode we discuss about travelling with drones on cruise and how pilots can avoid getting their equipment from being confiscated. Today's question is from Craig who had his drone confiscated on a recent cruise and wants to know how pilots can travel with drones.
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Timestamps:
03:09 Today's question on carrying drones on a cruise
05:47 How do the laws of the US differ from the T&C signed by you
06:41 Theft and crime on cruise ships
07:55 Are there ways to avoid getting your drone confiscated while on a cruise?
10:03 Important factors to consider while travelling on a cruise
11:03 How to avoid getting your equipment from confiscation everywhere else?

[@firebird-drones]

I can testify my own experience with this. I went on a Carnival cruise to Mexico (Cozumel/Costa Maya) and Honduras (Roatan). Security at port of Miami confiscated my drone and said I had to call security before getting off the ship into the ports. So I followed the process and they had my drone waiting for me at the gangway. They were fine with me flying but for them it all depends on what port/local authorities say about flying. In Cozumel, I wasn't allowed to fly around the port "per the local authorities" but I was allowed to fly as long as I was 2 miles away. In Roatan, the local authorized said no and the security told me it probably wasn't a good idea to fly in Roatan because it's dangerous and you'd painting a target on your back for people to rob you. In Costa Maya, I was allowed but we went to the Mayan ruins and the Mexican govt definitely doesn't allow drones there. That's just my experience. The security guards have a paper at their post which outlines what ports allow regarding drones. Personally, it was a stressor to deal with. You were basically rolling the dice to see what the port authorities would say to security. Sometimes you'll wait 30 minutes at the gangway for a yes or no answer.

[@DroneU]

Great information! Thanks for sharing.

[@LaszloBagi]

Its actually pretty easy. I've taken a drone on 4 cruises since 2018. You need to pack smart. Separate the drone from the batteries and controller. Pack them in your checked bag. Getting off the ship while in port, no problems. Getting back on.... that can be tricky. Once again it's all about how you pack. I'll put my stuff in my backpack or dive bag. I'll place other camera gear next, around the drone. I little planning goes a long way

[@jhubbell]

I am sorry I listened to this broadcast! I tuned in to learn more about flying a drone on or from a cruise ship and was subjected to nearly 15 minutes of complaining about cruises in general. Out of all that, I detected maybe two minutes of real information applying to the topic. I am NOT interested in their opinion of cruise ships as a whole, only what I need to know if I want to fly while on the cruise.

[@markhayes9130]

I thought the very same. As you can see they like to complain....thus the reason they dont like cruises!

[@WineWorldTV]

I would think that cruise ships are allowed to control what items are brought on to their ships because it's essentially private property. From the lists I've seen, a lot of prohibited items for cruises are for safety reasons, or preventing some kind of disturbance/disruption (like using a skateboard on the ship, but it's ok to use it in port). Non-surge protected power strips is another one...I guess it's some kind of safety thing with the ship's electrical system, but I also read of plenty of examples of approved power strips still getting confiscated. For drones, it's probably all down to privacy. While many of us who follow you guys would probably use a drone responsibly on a cruise ship, there are a lot of idiots who won't and I imagine as the popularity of drones has increased, so have the rise in complaints of people flying their drones willy nilly around a pool or some other common area. And then there's going to be people who don't take into account how fast the cruise ship is moving and any wind and end up losing their drone into the sea. Assuming a cruise ship travels around 25 mph (I had to look that up), you have a leeway of about 10-15 mph for wind speed at best in order for most consumer drones to be able to keep up with the ship, and your average consumer isn't a skilled pilot. A blanket ban just reduces a cruise line's headaches associated with them...a kind of "this is why we can't have nice things" situation because enough idiots screw it up for the rest of us. As far as cruises in general, I'm mostly with you guys. I don't see the appeal of them. Maybe a one off, but the though of being trapped at sea with a few thousand people, many of which I have no desire to interact with, sounds like torture. But I'm a loner when I travel.

[@DroneU]

Good points! And again, agree that no type of vacation is for everyone. We have tons of friends who LOVE cruises and go all the time!

[@deesdream7883]

Carnival and Royal Caribbean you can bring it.

[@DroneU]

Good to know. Thanks!

[@pls916]

Y’all are spot on. But what you fail to realize what gives them the right to operate is maritime law and once they reach 30 miles off the coast of USA it operate under international law. Not the constitution.

[@Poophead1]

The Constitution only limits the .gov from things. 4th Amendment has absolutely no bearing on a private entity, especially one that you voluntarily entered into an agreement with. As far as foreign ports, outside U.S. Territorial waters, on on probably foreign flagged ship... well ya ain't in Kansas no mo Dorothy. No bearing or application at all. I've been on one cruise, would not ever do it again. I don't wanna vaca with my 8,000 cruise friends!! Good vid guys

[@DroneU]

Frankly, Poophead1 (couldn't resist), we agree with you. But that's why there are options....something for all of us!

[@Poophead1]

@@DroneU Lol...Yes there are choices! Give me an all inclusive resort any day of the week!!!

[@deesdream7883]

The fact that you say you lose all rights on a Cruise so utterly ridiculous. You are technically in a foreign country i.e. Tortola, Ireland. Just an asinine blanket statement!!

[@DroneU]

Thanks for the comment!

[@deesdream7883]

Paul knows nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DroneU]

"Nothing" may be a stretch ;-)

[@deesdream7883]

Agreed @@DroneU 😝

[@BilalLaw]

All this political B.S. Freedom this, constitution that. Stay home and watch tv if you hate following the rules of the companies or places you don’t use and go to.

[@whit3o.]

This episode was bullshit. Impressive how Americans can turn any subject into "but ma freedumbs"

[@BilalLaw]

All this political B.S. Freedom this, constitution that. Stay home and watch tv if you hate following the rules of the companies or places you don’t use and go to.