Do cruise ships check your bags when you get on and off the ship?

Question

like if i try to bring cuagrs on the ship, will they find them?

Answer 1

They reserve the right to do so, but typically, they just Xray them.

Answer 2

they do checkyour purchases on excursions and any alcohol must be checked and secures with them til the end of cruise

Answer 3

They will go through your carry-on luggage - sometimes.  It depends on the cruise line.  They x-ray all other luggage.  Your best bet is to put them into your checked in luggage, and that way you will get them on board, and off board.

Answer 4

No problem with buying cigars and taking them aboard.  If you buy Cuban cigars in a foreign port, they would be confiscated by US Customs once you would get back to the US - if they were spotted.

Your carry-on baggage will be x-rayed when getting on the ship and also there are screenings at the ports when you return to the ship.  Your checked baggage is x-rayed when getting on the ship but they are only checking for possible weapons.

Getting back to the US, your baggage is not screened by the ship security.  Your checked baggage is off-loaded and drug sniffing dogs go by all the bags for DEA agents and if the dogs smell drugs, you are in BIG TROUBLE.

The US Customs agents at the end of the cruise just ask you for a completed form that declares what you purchased .

Answer 5

Yes, they have to look more thoroughly into your bags because they don't want you to smuggle anything on board that's forbidden or illegal. don't forget you have access to everything in your luggage once you get it and they know that.

Answer 6

YES, Yes, yes, they DO check your bags.  Everything that you bring onto the ship goes onto a belt just like at the airport and goes through a scanner.  You cannot just walk onto a ship with any type package.  You will be required to put purses, bags, cameras, cell phones, and everything that you purchased in the port on the belt to go through the scanner.  And they do that at every port stop; and repeat it if you get off and on the ship multiple times in a port.  

In addition, at some ports stops, especially in the Caribbean, the port officials will require you to place items on their own scanners.  They are usually looking for drugs when they do that.

I have been on many cruises with 4 different cruise lines and they ALL do that.

Answer 7

They check your bags when u get on and off the ship. Because persons can bring on anything illegal so they have to check.

Answer 8

Typically no. They do have security but it is much less strict than at an airport.

They do the usual x-ray machine and metal detector. Just wrap them up really good so they cant be seen in the xray machine.

At the ports however they do check your bags and make you give them any alcohol you bought at port.

Getting off the boat they do not check them. The worst that will happen is they will take it. You won't get locked up.

If you were to buy 1 or 2 cigars at a port and you hid them in a bag you would probably be ok.