Leaving your gun behind?

[Elkins45]

My wife and I go on cruises occasionally. We usually fly to the port city a day ahead of time but then fly back the day we return. It would be comforting if I had a gun in the hotel the evening before, but since I can't take it on the cruise there doesn't seem to be a practical way to bring one with me. Or is there? Is there some reasonably convenient and legal way to leave a handgun while on the cruise and then pick it up before flying home?

Renting a locker was my first thought but I'm pretty sure after 9/11 they removed all the handy coin-operated lockers from public transit locations.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Would the hotel have a safe at the front desk to keep it for you?

 

[AbbysDad]

Would the hotel have a safe at the front desk to keep it for you?

Why would the do that for you if you've checked out for a cruise? Now, if you kept the room paid for, most have safes in them, but that can add some serious expense to the trip.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Why would the do that for you if you've checked out for a cruise? Now, if you kept the room paid for, most have safes in them, but that can add some serious expense to the trip.

Because you are a customer and they would go the extra mile for you? I've had things shipped to a hotel a week before I arrived and they held it for me.

 

[AlexanderA]

Same situation as traveling to Europe, for example. Simply leave the gun at home for the duration of the trip. Like many other things in life, you take a calculated risk.

 

[shafter]

I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it's a decent hotel and not in a nasty part of town you'll be just fine. Enjoy your trip.

 

[.38 Special]

You might be able to find a gun shop to hang on to it for you. Hell, put it on consignment for twice the going price and just "change your mind" when you get back into town.

I've been confronted with the same situation, though, and decided the risk of being briefly unarmed just wasn't worth the headache of dealing with the rest of it. You'll probably die from norovirus anyway, so...

 

[Riomouse911]

I’ve been to 34 countries so far, at least one (Cuba) was not on the best of diplomatic friendlies with the US when I was visiting there. The last thing I want to do is forget a gun in a bag for TSA to find at the airport. Even worse, have a “Turks and Caicos” incident with a loose handgun round or two landing me or my family in a foreign pokey for Lord knows how long.

So, I leave the gun at home. Zero issues, zero worries.

Stay safe..

 

[Double Naught Spy]

So, I leave the gun at home. Zero issues, zero worries.

But the zombies will get you.

Seriously, as noted above, it is a calculated risk, but the odds are so far in your favor, it is a quite reasonable risk.

 

[bearcreek]

Bury it in the woods.

 

[jmorris]

The last thing I want to do is forget a gun in a bag for TSA to find at the airport.

A friend of mine was going to fly for his first time to meet his future son in laws parents years ago. Ann, his wife packed his usual travel bag for him being the sweety she is but they found his 38 with one rat shot and 5 solids at the X-ray machine.

It was before 9/11 and he didn't get arrested or anything like that but also didn't get to fly that day.

 

[Anchorite]

Same situation as traveling to Europe, for example. Simply leave the gun at home for the duration of the trip. Like many other things in life, you take a calculated risk.

Wife and I travel 2-3 times a year to the Caribbean
I leave the firearms at home.

Life is about compromise. C’est la vie!

 

[Riomouse911]

But the zombies will get you.

Seriously, as noted above, it is a calculated risk, but the odds are so far in your favor, it is a quite reasonable risk.

I’m far more worried about a flight cancellation leaving us stranded than getting mugged in transit between home and my destination. (Certainly not taking a handgun out of the country!)

Example: Spouse, MIL and kids got off a cruise ship and were stuck in Miami Christmas Eve, 2022 when that crazy weather stopped flights all across the country. The next day they had to rent a car and drive to Orlando, then were stuck there for another day until they got a flight home. Christmas was on the 28th that year. (Just one of many!)

Stay safe.

 

[AbbysDad]

Because you are a customer and they would go the extra mile for you? I've had things shipped to a hotel a week before I arrived and they held it for me.

Because you were coming to the hotel; the OP is an overnight and gone.

 

[AbbysDad]

You might be able to find a gun shop to hang on to it for you. Hell, put it on consignment for twice the going price and just "change your mind" when you get back into town.

I've been confronted with the same situation, though, and decided the risk of being briefly unarmed just wasn't worth the headache of dealing with the rest of it. You'll probably die from norovirus anyway, so...

Then he has to go through a BG check; and if he's not a resident of the state, he will also have to pay for overnight shipping to his homestate FFL

 

[Elkins45]

Then he has to go through a BG check; and if he's not a resident of the state, he will also have to pay for overnight shipping to his homestate FFL

Yes, that's the reason I have never considered just leaving it with an FFL.

Wife and I travel 2-3 times a year to the Caribbean
I leave the firearms at home.

Life is about compromise. C’est la vie!

I've seen multiple people on this forum say they would never visit a place where they couldn't take their gun. I'm not like that, but it would be nice if I could have one at the port city while I'm still in the US.

I’m far more worried about a flight cancellation leaving us stranded than getting mugged in transit between home and my destination. (Certainly not taking a handgun out of the country!)

Example: Spouse, MIL and kids got off a cruise ship and were stuck in Miami Christmas Eve, 2022 when that crazy weather stopped flights all across the country. The next day they had to rent a car and drive to Orlando, then were stuck there for another day until they got a flight home. Christmas was on the 28th that year. (Just one of many!)

Stay safe.

This is my issue. We ended up stranded for a while because the shuttle company flaked after a hurricane delayed our return and hotel rooms were quite hard to find while waiting for the airline to find a flight home for us. I would have been more comfortable with some means of protection...although how I would have retrieved it in this particular situation is a bit of a mystery.

I'm not sure a workable solution exists.

 

[jmr40]

Risk is not worth the reward. I'd leave it at home.

 

[wayneinFL]

I thought a gunsmith could take a gun for cleaning and give it back in a week without a 4473 and background check? It would have to get logged in and out of the book.

 

[Mark_Mark]

if you are leaving out of Florida. There is a company that stores your firearms for you. Just What you needed!

Sorry, that in NJ… but I bet a place exists near your port

Gunsitters Home

GunSitters ® is a secure firearms storage facility designed to store firearms for responsible gun owners outside their residence. Firearm owners are now able to take action to place their guns in...

www.gunsitters.com

 

[Mauser lover]

Is it legal to use a safety deposit box at a bank? There might even be a branch of a bank you already do business with. Never had to go on a cruise, so I’ve never thought about this before.

 

[Armored farmer]

I'd ask my local thr friends to gun-sit for me.
?
Hmmmm

 

[westernrover]

You can ship it to yourself. Guns you already own can be shipped to yourself the same way they can be shipped directly to you from a gunsmith or factory after repair. They do not need to be shipped to an FFL. Check their current policies, but I've had my guns shipped to me by both UPS and FedEx in the past. You should be able to drop it off at the shipper the morning of your departure, shipping it to your home address with signature required or to be held for pick-up.

 

[BreechFace]

I would either just not take it. Or if I were really set on it I would find a local gunsmith/FFL and pay to have them clean it in which they have to log it in their books, then pick it up after the cruise.

 

[westernrover]

Someone ought to offer gun cruises where guests can shoot trap off the port deck, and they offer a long-range precision rifle range off the stern with targets towed from 100 to 1000 yards off the stern. Machine gun range off the starboard side with RC drone boat targets. I'm sure they could have indoor ranges, and countless other amusements I can't think of them all. Of course, guests are welcome to attend the dining room with their "barbeque" guns holstered.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I would either just not take it. Or if I were really set on it I would find a local gunsmith/FFL and pay to have them clean it in which they have to log it in their books, then pick it up after the cruise.

GREAT IDEA! clean lubed gun!