As our world seems to become more volatile, passengers on cruise ships face a unique situation when others have road rage—or maybe, sea rage? There’s nowhere to go! So Carnival Cruise Line has announced that it is working to make passengers behave better, so the trip doesn’t wind up as an Instagram reel of horror. It is implementing many changes, as reported by MSN.
What exactly are some of the explosive situations Carnival wants to avoid? On June 27, 2022, there were dozens of people involved in shoving and beer bottle breaking over an accusation of marital cheating in a ménage à trois, a fight that started in the Magic’s onboard nightclub and spilled over into the casino. And on July 6, 2022, a fight broke out on the Elation, in which several grandparents were knocked to the ground and suffered concussions.
Here’s Carnival’s approach to keeping the cruises more safe. First, each passenger will receive a Guest Advisory in advance of their cruise. That email informs them that illegal or unruly behavior will not be tolerated. As Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, explains in a YouTube video, passengers have to acknowledge and commit to a Code of Conduct during the check-in process. That includes the assertion that everyone should feel welcome and included, that kids should be supervised and that noisemakers should try not to disrupt other passengers.
Duffy focuses on marijuana, which is prohibited on board. Although many states have legalized cannabis, Carnival must abide by federal regulations. So cruise line is rolling out the use of drug-sniffing dogs to check out luggage, both at home ports and destinations. Duffy says those who are using medical marijuana must seek out alternative therapies for the cruise. Smoking and vaping are prohibited everywhere except in designated outdoor deck areas.
More security personnel have been added to keep an eye on things, and the video shows a control room with multiple screens displaying live camera feeds. The company’s Chief Fun Officer, basketball star Shaq O’Neal, will appear in videos that play in staterooms, further outlining the policies on the ship.
Kids now face a curfew: if they are 17 or under, they must be in their stateroom by 1am or accompanied by someone who is 21 or over. Those who buy alcohol for minors face repercussions, and the instructions have an ominous warning, “Avoid being alone with strangers.”
What happens if guests are in violation? Bad behavior could result in a fine of $500 and passengers being confined to their cabin or being removed from the ship—and even being blacklisted from riding Carnival again.
Hopefully, the cruise is fun and uneventful with plenty of (legal) daiquiris by the pool.