Drugs on cruise ships, how stupid are some gay travelers? Don't be one of them.
I just read through the Advocate that a passenger was arrested for selling drugs on what Atlantis Events billed as “the largest gay cruise ever.”
Duh. What has taken the DEA and Customs officers and foreign drug enforcement agencies so freaking long? Knowing of the drug problems in my own gay community (Vancouver), I’ve always believed gay cruises would be loaded with drug users / pushers / sellers.
Some of you may call me prudish (it’s happened before), but I don’t do drugs. But regardless of your or my stance on whether or not it’s ok to do drugs, the simple fact is they are illegal in just about every political jurisdiction on earth.
When we cruise, we are almost always crossing at least one international border. It is just as illegal to move drugs via cruise ship between two countries as it is to move them in other methods, and just as illegal to have them onboard the ship when it’s in port.
And they are illegal on cruise ships. Atlantis official policies pay lip service to the fact that drugs are both illegal and banned onboard the ships they charter, although I suspect they’ve been turning a blind eye for a very long time. I’ve only sailed through their all-gay sister company RSVP, but the nightly circuit party atmosphere on those trips was hardly different from land-based circuit parties. And we all know the reason so many people are drinking water instead of booze. It’s usually not because they’re naturally thirsty.
In short, don’t be stupid, people. If you have a drug problem, get help. If you require drugs for sex or want to P&P, I strongly recommend you don’t plan to bring them or do it when you cruise. Something tells me the authorities are going to be watching our community just a bit more closely. And I, for one, say it’s about freaking time.
If you need a real dose of reality on this topic, rent the classic movie Midnight Express.
Mike Cashwell, and 
Dave Cantrall are discussing.
Dave Cantrall 11:07 am on February 22, 2011 Permalink |
Hi Randall!
I agree with you COMPLETELY!
I think this was an issue ripe to happen; unfortunately another blemish on the gay community.
As for what you said about Atlantis’ position in this matter pretaining to thie policy on drugs, I also agree.
I decided last November to discontinue my Post on the Atlantis Alumni Site because certain menbers therwith were much more concerned with condom useage than with the subject matter you mentioned.
From now on, I am also much more inclined to travel via cruises which are gay group cruises – shying away from ALL gay cruises, as I think the drugs issue is going to bring a lot out into the open that has been simmering behind the scenes.
Too bad, but some gays are bringing this on themselves by their own stupidty.
Dave J. Cantrall
Mike Cashwell 2:16 pm on April 5, 2011 Permalink |
Hi Randall!
While I agree with your position on drug use I have two points to make that might be informative.
One is that it really isn’t up to Atlantis to enforce the no drug policies on the ships. The cruise lines do their own enforcement and inspections. If they’ve been lax to date that’s their choice. Atlantis isn’t really in a position to further inspect people or their belongings.
The other point is to not throw the baby out with the bath water as I fear Dave is doing by giving up on all all-gay cruises due to drug use. Not all cruises are the same. We’ve done 5 Med cruises and have talked with many people on them who’ve done those and the Caribbean itineraries. The upshot is that the younglings (who are more likely to use drugs) tend to take the latter trips because the Med cruises are more expensive. The folks on the Med cruises are a little older (maybe 8 to 10 years on average) and the drug problem is much smaller. It’s really never been a problem on our trips.
We’re heading to the Med again this August and expect to have a great time!
-Mike