Drones on P&O / Cunard cruise ships

Hi im going to the Caribbean soon can i take my drone on the cruise shop P&O i dont intend to fly it on the ship or ports just at certain locations.

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That’s a question for the cruise company surely?

I have read that some Norwegian cruises don’t allow drones on board, but my question is how do they know if you don’t get it out whilst on board? Anyway, I’d check specific company policies. An AI assisted search shows this:

" Cruise lines have varying policies on drones; Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises allow them for land use outside port areas, while others like Norwegian Cruise Line and Marella Cruises prohibit them entirely. Flying drones onboard is forbidden by all cruise lines, and passengers are responsible for adhering to local laws and obtaining necessary permissions for drone operation in different ports."

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My strong advice, if you booked directly with Carnival who own P&O then call them directly.

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And from their FAQ page: https://www.pocruises.com/frequently-asked-questions?categoryId=life-on-board&questionId=What-am-I-not-allowed-to-take-on-board.summary

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So that’s a resounding NO from P&O.

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Security bag checks

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Yep, X-Ray scanners just like at airports.

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Where did you rea that ive read the policy on prohibited items

Was you not given a link to their policy when you booked??

As I mentioned, call them directly as you don’t want your drone staying behind as you sail away.

Yes but doesn’t mention drones

Then be on the safe side and call them!

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Click the link I provided. It’s all there.

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Yeah I guess. Never been on a cruise so hadn’t even thought about that side :smiley:

Cunard, Virgin and Princess do not allow you to take a drone onboard under any circumstances. I assume if you do and they discover it the drone will be confiscated and hopefully returned at the end of the cruise.
Security checks before boarding are the same as airports with hand baggage going through xray scanners and passengers through a metal detector.
I’m unaware if they xray suit cases that are dropped off and taken to your cabin by ship crew.
However , if the cases are not xrayed and you manage to get the drone onboard by that means you will have issues at the ports you visit. Although you will be able to get the undetected drone off the ship, you will have problems getting it back on board. If the security at the cruise port terminal don’t have an xray scanner and personal metal detectors, security onboard will be using theirs and the drone will probably be discovered and confiscated. Cruise lines seem to be getting stricter with their rules of late and infringement could mean being disembarked from the cruise and maybe a life long ban. Each and every other cruise line will list on their web sites what items are not allowed on board. On some this can even include a Bluetooth speaker! Hope this info helps.

Cunard is owned by Carnival so that will / should be a blanket ban across all the brands under their umbrella, P&O included.

P&O absolutely will not permit you to carry any drone on any of their ships. When you watch the compulsory safety video in your cabin on embarkation day you will see that drones are included in the prohibited items list.

I have travelled on P&O’s Iona and Arvia several times (including in both the Mediterranean and Caribbean) and the airport style scanners will find your drone if you decide to smuggle one onboard. Any bags you are carrying when you board back onto the ship after a trip ashore will be scanned as soon as you return to the ship ( I think @milkmanchris already mentioned this in a previous reply).

I contacted P&O customer relations directly and advised them that I could supply them with all the necessary documentation to enable them to permit me to carry my drone/s and even offered to allow their onboard security team to have possession of my drones whilst I was onboard but they outright refused permission to carry any drone of any size/weight on any of their ships.

Hope this clarifies the situation.

Andy

Don’t ask me how I managed to use my drone in Norway whilst cruising aboard Iona though! :scream:

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Thank you all for the information. Guess my little baby will have to stay at home. Was looking forward to slme nice active track beach vids

What is the rationale for these bans? Do they think they will catch on fire etc??

Iona berthed in Stavanger, Norway…from a Mini 3 Pro’s perspective :shushing_face:

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Probably knobheads flying them off balconies

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That will be one of the main reasons… However an AI overview throws up a point on this…

The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1998 primarily focus on the installation, location, and maintenance of radio equipment on board ships to ensure safety and operational availability. These regulations do not directly address drones or their use in relation to ships, as they govern a ship’s own internal radio systems. However, a drone’s use near a ship could potentially interact with or cause interference to the ship’s regulated radio equipment, and operators must be aware of the broader implications of radio interference and maritime safety regulations that would apply to any unmanned aerial vehicle operating in the maritime environment.

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