Do Carnival ships have a Master at Arms/firearms onboard?

[yamsi12]

Always wondered this. Everyone has seen Titanic and they show the officers being issued firearms. Makes me wonder if cruise ships have an arms locker somewhere just in case...:confused:

[joeyancho]

I'm sure they have some sort of defense. I know a while back a cruise ship repelled terrorists with some kind of sound device. I'm sure they keep their defense capabilities secret, for obvious reasons. Hope I never find out.

[legion3]

Back in the 1990's when I was a member of the Coast Guard, we boarded several cruise ships, not carnival specifically but Holland America, RCL and Costa, as well as the old big red boat, all had a person or officer who is a "master at arms", often they used the title of security chief or some other title.

 

Sometimes we boarded to assist in damage control or assessment, ship had run aground or struck something, we also boarded to remove persons who had federal warrants or had been "arrested" on board. Whenever we boarded we were met by this master at arms and other security members and escorted to what we needed to see or do.

 

Most vessels then had some firearms, ususally pistols and shotguns, which were locked up but available if needed.

 

I cannot speak about CCL as I have never dealt with them professionally, however considering the terrorist and pirate threats that are commonplace in our world, I doubt that anything but a more upgraded capability has occurred.

 

I hope never to find out either on my future cruises.

[evanAction]

Head of security. And yes they have a weapons cache. Company policy not to let cruisers see armed personnel, so unless the Black Pearl is gearing up for an attack, you won't see it.

[chengkp75]

The security department is usually headed by a retired law enforcement officer, and the rest of the department is security trained. There are some firearms onboard, but they cannot be released except by the Captain or Staff Captain. More common are night sticks and tasers.

 

NCL, and some other lines perhaps, uses Gurkhas for their security personnel. These are a Nepali people who are known for their ferocity, and have been members of the British Army for a couple of centuries. I have seen a 70 lb. female Gurkha take down a 200+ lb. drunk to his knees with just a simple pressure point hold. There isn't much call for firearms.

[Purvis1231]

I made friends with a security officers on the Ecstasy, he told me most of the security officers were former Indian military or police. On the Elation I talked to a security officer that was a former Mexican marine, and on Holland American the head of security was a former Royal Marine. I would not sail if the ships did not have properly trained and armed security but in generally the cruise lines do not speak of their security plans.

Edited September 22, 2014 by Purvis1231
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[legion3]

The security department is usually headed by a retired law enforcement officer, and the rest of the department is security trained. There are some firearms onboard, but they cannot be released except by the Captain or Staff Captain. More common are night sticks and tasers.

 

NCL, and some other lines perhaps, uses Gurkhas for their security personnel. These are a Nepali people who are known for their ferocity, and have been members of the British Army for a couple of centuries. I have seen a 70 lb. female Gurkha take down a 200+ lb. drunk to his knees with just a simple pressure point hold. There isn't much call for firearms.

 

 

MSC uses Israelis as I understand it. Not much calls for firearms, yet not having them when needed would be a wake-up call.

[chengkp75]

I made friends with a security officers on the Ecstasy, he told me most of the security officers were former Indian military or police. On the Elation I talked to a security officer that was a former Mexican marine, and on Holland American the head of security was a former Royal Marine. I would not sail if the ships did not have properly trained and armed security but in generally the cruise lines do not speak of their security plans.

 

It's not just the cruise lines, it's all ships. Per ISM requirements for the VSP (vessel security plan), the only person onboard who has unrestricted access to the security plan is the designated vessel security officer, which even on cruise ships with a "security officer", is generally the Staff Captain or the Captain. The plan must be kept in a safe.

[stevenr597]

The security department is usually headed by a retired law enforcement officer, and the rest of the department is security trained. There are some firearms onboard, but they cannot be released except by the Captain or Staff Captain. More common are night sticks and tasers.

 

NCL, and some other lines perhaps, uses Gurkhas for their security personnel. These are a Nepali people who are known for their ferocity, and have been members of the British Army for a couple of centuries. I have seen a 70 lb. female Gurkha take down a 200+ lb. drunk to his knees with just a simple pressure point hold. There isn't much call for firearms.

 

I have never seen much in the way of Security on Carnival, although, consideirng the time, I am sure that they have a security force. On Celebrity they had, in the past, ex-Israeli Army Soldiers as there security.

[chengkp75]

I have never seen much in the way of Security on Carnival, although, consideirng the time, I am sure that they have a security force. On Celebrity they had, in the past, ex-Israeli Army Soldiers as there security.

 

Yeah, they've got them, but they are most noticeable by their absence whenever needed.

[jackparts]

Yeah, they've got them, but they are most noticeable by their absence whenever needed.

 

This means they are not available when needed or worded backwards?

[Homosassa]

When I called to report the drunken male bellows and thuds accompanied by female screaming and a child crying in terror in the cabin next door, there was an immediately response by 4 security officers (including one that was armed) and medical personal.

[chengkp75]

This means they are not available when needed or worded backwards?

 

With the exception of the above post, most times security is required, they are not seen, or respond very slowly.

[Herbaltees]

Head of security. And yes they have a weapons cache. Company policy not to let cruisers see armed personnel, so unless the Black Pearl is gearing up for an attack, you won't see it.

 

:D funny.

[travler27]

It's even difficult to get in touch with CCL on board security. I don't think you will find a phone number for them even listed. If I remember right you call the GS number to reach them.

[Swampbaby]

In 2005 on our first cruise I can assure you from personal experience they have security available in far more places on-board than you would even imagine. We thought someone was missing (my hubby) and they handled everything very well including my rainstorm of tears. Although extremely scary at the time we have gotten many a laugh over the story through the years. And NO, alcohol was not involved one bit.

[Homosassa]

It's even difficult to get in touch with CCL on board security. I don't think you will find a phone number for them even listed. If I remember right you call the GS number to reach them.

 

This is true. I called the front desk to report the goings on next door. The fact that the shouting and screams could be heard over the phone probably added to the immediacy of the response.