A passenger packing greater than sunscreen was arrested in Oranjestad, Aruba, after attempting to board a Royal Caribbean cruise with a revolver in his possession.
The incident unfolded on February 26, 2025, through the 5,602-guest Oasis of the Seas’ name within the Caribbean nation’s capital metropolis.
In keeping with experiences from a native information outlet, the ship’s safety crew found the firearm throughout a routine screening course of.
The unidentified male passenger was instantly detained with police arresting the would-be cowboy and escorting him off the ship. He was transported to the native precinct for questioning.
Key inquiries will possible give attention to whether or not the visitor had been carrying the gun because the ship’s February 22 departure from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or whether or not he bought the merchandise through the vessel’s 14-hour name in Aruba.
Whereas particulars stay unclear, firearms are on Royal Caribbean’s prohibited listing. This contains rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, and different harmful objects.
“For safety causes, our firm coverage doesn’t allow friends to hold firearms onboard throughout their voyage or in any other case safe weapons for anybody on our vessels or on the pier,” says Royal Caribbean.
However it’s not simply coverage, it’s the regulation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) particularly says weapons are a no-go when cruising and passengers crusing to Aruba with a firearm, and even buying one within the nation, can take a whole lot of warmth for packing warmth.
“In case you are touring to the Caribbean, know that it’s unlawful to import or export firearms or ammunition to or from any CARICOM (Caribbean neighborhood) member states except you may have a firearm import license or a firearm export license granted by the suitable authority (such because the Commissioner of Police),” the ATF states.
The minimal civil superb for bringing a firearm by way of safety when arriving in Aruba is $1,500. If loaded, the passenger faces a minimal $3,000 superb. The passenger may additionally face jail time for his mistake.
The 226,838-gross-ton Oasis of the Seas was crusing on an 8-night roundtrip voyage from Fort Lauderdale, and on its second name when the arrest was made.
It’s unknown whether or not the person was capable of reboard the ship or if he was detained in Aruba.
Extra passengers weren’t affected by the incident, persevering with on to the cruise line’s Good Day at Coco Cay within the Bahamas on March 1 and returning to homeport on March 2, 2025.
A Case of Déjà vu?
Sadly, passengers crusing with prohibited objects appears to be a repeat offense on Royal Caribbean vessels.
Final April 2024, a male visitor from Virginia crusing on the cruise line’s 4,375-passenger Independence of the Seas was arrested throughout a name in Turks and Caicos for possession of ammunition.
Tyler Wenrich had been on a bachelor occasion with associates when a routine safety search throughout a name on the island uncovered two bullets.
He claims they had been mistakenly left in his bag and had handed by way of airport safety in Virginia, in addition to preliminary safety checks when he first boarded the ship in Florida.
Learn Additionally: 11 Cruise Port Pitfalls That You Actually Ought to Keep away from
Regardless, he served three weeks in jail in Turks and Caicos, narrowly avoiding the nation’s necessary minimal 12-year jail sentence after his congressman advocated for his launch. He additionally paid a $9,000 superb.
The US authorities makes it very clear on its Turks and Caicos journey advisory web page that passengers have to “rigorously examine their baggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons earlier than departing from the USA.”
Though the same warning isn’t in place on the Aruba web page, claiming a forgotten revolver in a pocket may not move muster.
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