Carnival Tightens Guest Conduct Rules Following Past Incidents

It looks like Carnival Cruise Line has begun reminding guests of its safety and conduct rules after a series of despicable situations that have happened in the last period.

The line is placing a “Have Fun. Be Safe” letter in the cabins on some cruises that remind and emphasize what behaviors are appropriate on board.

These tightened rules come after several viral brawls and unruly episodes. You’ll probably remember that in late April 2025, a mass fight broke out at the Galveston as passengers disembarked from Carnival’s Jubilee, with video showing crowds shoving and throwing punches.

Many of those scuffles were caught on camera and shared widely on social media. Carnival later confirmed that 24 people involved were placed on its “Do Not Sail” list.

In another case, a late-night visit to the buffet on Carnival Paradise in June 2024 turned into a large fight, footage of which also made headlines. Carnival said ship security “intervened” in that fight and that the guests involved were fined and banned from future cruises.

More recently, chairs were thrown during a club brawl on Carnival Sunrise, and obviously, these behaviors damage the image of the cruise line, which therefore wants to emphasize how they are absolutely not tolerated.

Carnival has made it clear that breaking these rules will carry heavy consequences. Its official code states that any guest who violates the policies “will be fined, disembarked at their own expense, and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future”.

Let’s see what rules Carnival was keen to emphasize in its new statement.

Supervise Children and Plan for the Curfew

Remember that everyone 17 and under must be in their cabin (or with a 21+ adult) by 1 a.m.

In addition, kids must always be supervised. Several passengers had reported cases of children being allowed to roam freely around the ship, disturbing other guests.

It seems that Carnival is now going to strictly enforce this rule, and leaving children unsupervised will no longer be tolerated.

Personal Devices

Bring good earbuds or headphones if you want to listen to music or watch videos in public areas.

Carnival has banned bluetooth and portable speakers on board, and guests may also be asked not to listen to music or watch videos on their devices without using headphones.

This is essentially for two important reasons. The first is to avoid disturbing other passengers who may want to relax, while the second has to do with a safety issue.

Everyone must be able to hear any public announcements clearly.

Fans and Drinks

A small fan is fine in your cabin, but it will not be allowed in the nightclub or any indoor dance floor.

Similarly, don’t try to sneak a drink onto an indoor dance event. Use bar lounges for drinks, the crew will note anyone taking bottles into clubs.

Smoking

If you smoke or vape, it’s essential to step outside to a marked smoking area.

Lighting up in your cabin or on the balcony carries hefty fines (usually $500 violation fee + any security or removal costs). Your fellow cruisers expect smoke-free cabins and decks.

Remember, crew patrols and even security cameras often monitor balconies. Recently, Carnival’s popular ambassador John Heald has also urged guests on social media to report smoking or other rule-breaking, saying it’s “totally fine” to help keep everyone safe.

Hallway Behavior

Carnival also emphasized the importance of keeping noise to a minimum in the ship’s hallways at all times of the day. Running or shouting is not allowed.

You could disturb passengers who are in their cabins trying to sleep or relax.

Illegal Substances

Finally, it was pointed out that illegal substances are strictly prohibited on board.

You could be arrested and no longer allowed on the ship, and of course, they are also among the 7 things that get you banned forever from cruise lines.

Consequences for Violations

Obviously, consequences are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and according to the severity of the violation.

Generally speaking, guests who break these rules can expect stiff penalties. Crew will hand out warning citations or fines for infractions, and will call on authorities if needed.

If misconduct is serious, the guest will be disembarked at the next port, meaning the vacation ends early, and the guest will be placed on Carnival’s permanent “Do Not Sail” list.

I just want to stress that these measures aren’t hypothetical. Carnival has already disembarked multiple fight participants.

For example, in one case related to the Sunrise incident, witnesses reported that affected guests were disembarked in Nassau, even if they had more cruising days left.

The clear message is that Carnival will strictly uphold its policies to protect other passengers, and there will be no more tolerance.

In addition, have a look at the 7 Big Changes Coming to Carnival in 2025.