Carnival Cruise Line has permanently banned a passenger who was found with CBD gummies in his suitcase.
Melinda Van Veldhuizen, 42, was stopped by security before boarding the Carnival Horizon in Miami for an August cruise, her attorney Darren Stabinski told USA TODAY. . The Dallas-based nurse and chiropractor was initially alerted after X-rays found metal nail clippers in her luggage, but then security guards removed a sealed pack of gummies. He said he had discovered it.
“I was…freaked out. I don’t even have a parking ticket and I follow the rules,” she said. washington post. Van Veldhuizen did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for an interview.
Miami-based news outlet WPLG first broke the news.
The traveler said he had been on Carnival in the past and was detained for several hours and refused boarding. Van Veldhuizen then received a letter informing him that he would be banned from future cruise ships.
The letter, signed by Captain Rocco, said: “This decision is based on your actions on the current cruise, which violated ship rules, interfered with the safety and enjoyment of other guests on board, or harmed Carnival. It is written, “It is something that has been created.” Lubrano referred Stavinsky’s comments to USA TODAY.
She was also told that she would have to pay for the nearly $1,700 cruise fee and for her two sons and husband, who were scheduled to sail with her (although the airline would then have to pay for her portion and her reservation). offered to refund the cost of the tour).
Stavinsky said he aims to secure a full refund and compensation and challenge the ban. They notified the cruise line and gave them an opportunity to respond before taking further action. Carnival declined USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Carnival does not allow CBD on board. “While certain CBD products used for medical purposes may be legal in the United States, they are not legal in all ports we visit and are therefore also considered prohibited items.” Website To read.
What is CBD?
CBD – short for cannabidiol – is a chemical compound found in marijuana.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CBD itself does not cause a high and can be derived from both hemp and non-hemp plants. “Hemp is defined as the part of the cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering substance found in marijuana,” the CDC says. Website To read.
CBD is used in lotions, foods, and other products. The 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act “removed hemp from the Federal Controlled Substances Act, effectively legalizing hemp-derived CBD,” the CDC said.However, the legal status of CBD products is Varies by state.
Why do cruise companies ban passengers from entering the country?
Cruise industry expert Stewart Chiron, known as The Cruise Guy, told USA TODAY in an email that passengers are typically banned for life “in response to extreme violations of the cruise line’s rules.” But such cases are “extremely rare,” he said.
The following items are prohibited on cruises:Please read this before packing.
Reportedly Carnival ban at least 2 passengers Video footage circulated earlier this year of them being caught fishing from the balcony of their hut. Royal Caribbean International also banned a guest and her companion in 2019 after she stood on the railing of a stateroom balcony and posed for a photo.
Shillong noted that cruise lines post details of prohibited items on their websites. “If people can’t follow the posted rules, a cruise may not be the best option for them,” he said.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville, Tennessee. Please contact us at [email protected].
