Carnival’s New Rules Spark Backlash Among Black Cruisers

Carnival Cruise Line’s recent crackdown on certain onboard behaviors has some Black passengers feeling singled out.

The cruise line says these reinforced policies are meant to improve safety and courtesy, but online discussions have raised questions about whether the changes unfairly target Black cruisers and Black culture.

This controversy has exploded across social media in recent weeks, with some passengers saying they are considering canceling their reservations in protest.

In this article, we’ll break down what exactly has changed with Carnival’s rules, why some Black travelers are voicing concerns, and how Carnival has responded.

What Changed? Carnival’s Newly Reinforced Policies

If you closely follow the cruise world, you’ll know that Carnival made some changes this year, I even wrote an article about it a while back.

Basically, they updated and re-emphasized their “Have Fun. Be Safe.” onboard conduct guidelines in mid-2025, outlining several rules aimed at curbing disruptive behavior.

Many of these policies aren’t entirely new, but Carnival has signaled it will enforce them more strictly. Key changes and reminders include:

Youth Curfew

Passengers 17 and under must be out of public areas by 1:00 a.m. unless accompanied by an adult or in an official teen program.

This curfew is intended to keep unsupervised minors from roaming late at night and has been in place, but now with stepped-up enforcement.

Personal Speaker Ban

Using Bluetooth speakers or playing personal music without headphones in public spaces is no longer allowed.

Guests are urged to use earbuds so that loud music doesn’t disturb others.

Carnival frames this as a comfort and safety measure so that everyone can hear announcements, but some notice it’s being newly emphasized.

“Clack” Fan Prohibition

Handheld folding fans (the kind that make a loud “clack””sound) are banned in nightclubs and indoor dance floors.

One again, Carnival cites safety concerns in crowded venues because the snapping noise and waving fans could risk injury.

However, this rule struck a nerve because those fans are popular accessories in a viral line dance called “Where Them Fans At?”, a routine that has become a cultural staple at Black gatherings.

The timing led many to believe Carnival was responding directly to that trend (notably, Carnival says it actually banned clack fans back in 2023 for indoor venues, though they’re still allowed on open decks where line dancing often happens).

No Personal Music Parties

In a related move, Carnival cracked down on any make-shift parties or loud music in hallways and public areas, beyond just the speaker ban.

This means no more carrying your own boom box or creating dance parties, part of an effort to maintain a quieter, more “family friendly” atmosphere at night.

Drink Policy Enforcement

Carnival has long had a daily limit of 15 alcoholic drinks on its unlimited beverage package, but now the crew is strictly enforcing that cap.

Additionally, carrying drinks onto dance floors in nightclubs has been forbidden for safety (to prevent spills and fights).

These steps are meant to curb over-intoxication and the late-night chaos that sometimes ensues.

Smoking and Drug Bans

The line reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on marijuana. Remember that even if cannabis is legal at your home, it’s banned at sea under federal law.

Anyone caught with weed on board can be removed from the ship, fined or even handed over to authorities.

Carnival also warned that violating any smoking rules (like smoking in non-designated areas) could result in a $500 fine, removal from the ship, and a lifetime ban from the cruise line.

In short, Carnival is telling guests to follow the rules or face serious consequences. Have a look at all 7 Reasons Why You Can Get Banned From a Cruise.

Why the Backlash from Black Passengers?

Some Black cruisers have reacted strongly to these rule changes, arguing that the new policies feel culturally targeted.

I’ve seen different videos on social media (on TikTok in particular) with passengers saying that while the rules themselves are written to be race-neutral, several have a disproportionate impact on activities and forms of expression popular among Black guests.

I’m not sure how all this thing started, perhaps the biggest flashpoint has been music, especially hip-hop and rap.

Starting around June 2025, some guests started posting that they noticed Carnival’s onboard DJs were no longer playing hip-hop in the dance clubs.

One TikTok video that went viral features a Black passenger questioning the change, saying “So because you don’t listen to a genre of music, now the cruise ship just cannot play that genre anymore?“

“It is 100% the alcohol… not the music,” she added, calling it discriminatory to scapegoat Black music for issues caused by overdrinking.

Carnival’s Response to the Criticism

Amid the backlash, Carnival Cruise Line has once again emphasized that its new rules are about safety and comfort.

And in response to the viral chatter about music, a Carnival spokesperson told the Daily Dot, “Our DJs play a wide variety of music, including hip-hop.“

The cruise line insists there is no ban on any music genre, and any perceived lack of hip-hop at a given party might have been a DJ’s choice and not an outright prohibition.

Also, consider that Carnival is expanding themed music nights in its clubs. So one night you might hear only ’80s & ’90s hits, and another night they might focus on Latin or R&B.

I don’t think there’s any room for discrimination with the other rules either. They’re just common sense and basic manners; some were already in place, but enforcement was often pretty lax.

Of course, let me know what you think too.