Our family had a Carnival cruise planned for Thanksgiving week leaving from Long Beach.  Hoping to log some contacts, I planned on bringing both my portable HF and handheld VHF/UHF radios, with various antenna configurations.

I checked the Carnival website and verified that not only are ham radios allowed on the ship, but they could be used.  I also read some blogs of others who had taken their radios aboard.  Their only recommendation was that you speak with the captain to explain what your plans were and to discuss any issues the captain may have with your plan.

The radio equipment made it through airport security and through the ship boarding security with no issues.  After settling into our cabin, I promptly went to Guest Services and asked to schedule a meeting with the captain.  The hostess had no idea what a ham radio was and left her desk to find out how to schedule the captain.

Well . . . .  after waiting about 10-15 minutes, a tall burly guy appeared out of nowhere and asked what I needed.  He was the head of security for the ship!  He said radios were NOT allowed on board and was furious that my equipment had made it through security.  He asked to go to our cabin and he confiscated all my equipment.  He said I could have it back when I disembarked at the end of the cruise. I asked him to speak to the captain and reference their website.  Never happened.

Next question from me was if I could at least use the radios on Catalina Island the next day. I had hoped to activate W6/CT-281 for the first time.  He told me no, and reiterated that I wouldn’t see the equipment until disembarking back in Long Beach.

Needless to say, I was a bit miffed!  Lesson learned, I should have gotten something in writing from Carnival before leaving home!