There are many exciting landmarks that tourists can expect to see when cruising out of Sydney, Australia – such as the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. A man climbing a cruise ship, however, is an unusual sight.
But on May 17, 2025, onlookers were surprised to see an unidentified man climbing the mooring ropes of the 108,865-gross ton Carnival Adventure at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal.
The video shows a small group of crew members, who look like they could be officers or members of the security team, trying to talk to the man from a gangplank not far above him.
The new addition to the fleet – which was acquired from P&O Cruises and started sailing under the Carnival name in March 2025 – had just returned to her homeport from a 12-night sailing to Fiji and was preparing to embark on a 9-night round-trip sailing to the Great Barrier Reef that same day.
Climbing a cruise ship, of course, is incredibly dangerous – as the man could have been seriously injured or killed if he had fallen.
Tampering with the mooring lines can also be deadly because of the extreme force they can produce if one were to snap – and can also cause damage to the dock and the cruise ship.
It’s unclear what possessed the man to attempt such a feat or what his end goal was, but thankfully, he was brought down from the ship with no injury to the climber, the crew members, or the first responders.
According to local outlet “9 News,” a New South Wales (NSW) police boat arrived at Circular Quay at around 3 p.m. in the afternoon to find the man hanging from the ropes as a curious crowd watched.
The authorities coordinated with the crew members to lower the mooring lines so that the 30-year-old man could be taken into custody.
“They got him to the ground by making the ropes slack and about 30 police escorted him away. We were there watching,” one witness shared.
The man has not been formally charged at this time, though authorities will likely be working to understand his motivations, evaluate if he is in need of mental help, and determine any applicable charges.
A Potential Stowaway?
While the man’s identity has not been released beyond his age, it’s fair to speculate that he was likely a passenger of the 2,636-guest ship or someone who works at the port.
This is because it’s not easy to gain access to a cruise ship. Before passengers make it to the pier, they have to go through a thorough security screening and document verification process.
As the video of the climbing man has made waves across the internet, many have been joking (and theorizing) that the subject was looking for a free cruise or to extend his vacation.
Read Also: From Mishaps to Maydays – Cruise Ship Accidents
Another witness, meanwhile, thought she recognized the man as someone who had been denied boarding – although this has not been confirmed.
“This looks like the same dude who was going off at check in as they wouldn’t let him on,” she wrote.
Cruise lines can deny boarding for a variety of reasons, including expired or incorrect documentation and medical conditions that make it unsafe to travel – which can include signs of erratic behavior.
Perhaps in light of his disappointment at the denial, the man was willing to try anything to find his way onboard.
But regardless of his reasons, stowaways on cruise ships are rarely successful in the age of modern technology thanks to heavy surveillance and skilled security teams.
In fact, this kind of stunt is likely enough to get the man banned from Carnival (and its sister brands) for life – as the cruise lines take a zero tolerance stance when it comes to matters of safety.
