May 10, 2025, 2:50 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Cruise enthusiasts certainly want to avoid this scenario. However, certain actions and behaviors can lead to being expelled from the ship—sometimes even for life. TRAVELBOOK presents some past examples. Better not to imitate!
Cruise lines have good reasons to urge their passengers to adhere to onboard rules. For instance, the terms and conditions of AIDA Cruises state that the captain is responsible for the safety of all guests and crew members. Therefore, “violent, discriminatory, rude, or verbally abusive behavior cannot be tolerated or accepted and may result in removal from the ship by the captain,” it says. So far, so clear. But even actions you might not expect can have drastic consequences. TRAVELBOOK reveals what can get you banned for life from cruises.
Overview
Why You Can Be Banned for Life from Cruises
While regulations vary by country, it is generally advisable to refrain from certain behaviors on cruises. What is allowed on land can be viewed quite differently at sea, especially since cruise ships travel through international waters.
Bringing the Wrong Snacks
It is unsurprising that most cruise lines prohibit bringing fresh foods like dairy, meat, poultry, and fish products on board. Packaged dry goods and sweets, however, are usually not a problem. Or so it seems.
In Florida, USA, a woman had CBD gummies in her luggage—these are known to be infused with the hemp ingredient cannabidiol. This was reported by the “Washington Post,” among others. You might think there’s nothing wrong with that. After all, CBD gummies can often be bought legally and conveniently in stores in Germany. And: The gummies had a THC content of less than 0.1 percent, which was below the threshold in the state of Florida. Nevertheless, many cruise operators—including Carnival Cruise Line, the cruise operator in this case—prohibit carrying any CBD products. As a result, not only was the current travel plan canceled, but the woman was also banned for life from all cruises with the company.
Fishing from the Cruise Ship
Also in 2023, two passengers were banned for life from cruises in the Bahamas. They had been fishing from their cabin balcony while still in the port of Nassau. They proudly displayed their catch, a small reef fish, on TikTok—”a pretty dumb move,” as the director of Carnival Cruise Line stated in a Facebook post. The two had violated multiple rules of the operator: safety regulations (due to the fishing line, whose hook could have injured other passengers or endangered the ship’s technology), environmental and animal protection regulations, and the onboard rules, as the fish was brought on board without permission. The consequence: a lifetime ban from all Carnival Cruise Line cruises.
Too Daring Selfies
In 2019, TRAVELBOOK reported that statistics show five times more people die from selfies each year than from shark attacks. Just a few months later, a passenger was banned for life from Royal Caribbean cruises after climbing over her cabin balcony railing to take a special selfie. Another person photographed the scene and reported the incident to the ship’s crew. The cruise line deemed this a serious violation of safety regulations, as reported by “CNN” at the time.
Wild Child Behavior—with Consequences
A particular case occurred just this spring on a Carnival Cruises tour: A 9-year-old was banned for life from the cruise line’s cruises—perhaps rightly so? The unsupervised boy, as reported by the travel website “The Points Guy,” “caused mischief, significantly damaged a slot machine, and got into a fight with another boy.” The family was informed of the incidents and warned but was reportedly allowed to continue traveling. On the last day of the stay, they received an official letter, signed by the captain and the ship’s security chief. It banned the boy from future Carnival Cruises. The story caused quite a stir—especially because the boy’s mother was spared from the ban.
The Opposite: (Adult) Public Nuisance
YouTuber Don’s Family Vacations, who works for a travel agency in real life, reports on his channel about a couple who got intimate in their cabin on a cruise ship. Very intimate. During this noisy “athletic lovemaking session,” as he calls it, the lovebirds were heard by other passengers. The situation ended with a ban from future cruises with the operator. The content creator does not reveal which operator it was. He adds that you can also be banned from cruises if you sunbathe topless on the deck or your balcony and refuse to cover up despite being asked.
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General Violations That Can Get You Banned from Cruises
In general, anyone who violates safety, environmental, or drug regulations can be immediately excluded from participating in the cruise. Violence is also strictly punished. Depending on the severity of the incident and the rules of the respective cruise line, misconduct can even lead to a lifetime ban. Inappropriate behavior towards crew members is also a common reason. Attempts to enter non-public areas or theft are also serious violations. The importance of the cruise lines’ house rules should not be underestimated.