Cruise lines want to keep passengers happy but they also have to worry about the safety of the entire ship. That's why you will see certain items confiscated that many people thought were harmless.
You can't bring any device that has a surge protector onboard — something that seems counterintuitive given that those devices are supposed to protect you from overloading your devices, Cruise ships, however, have more variable electricity than you find on land and are a fire risk because of that.
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You also cannot bring an iron onboard, use candles in your cabin, or bring a variety of other devices including:
- Electrical and household appliances containing any kind of heating element, such as irons, clothes steamers, immersion heaters, heating blankets, water heaters, coffee machines, hot plates, toasters, heating pads, humidifiers, etc.
You also can't bring helium-filled balloons, hoverboards, and for those of you who might be into this, handcuffs are not allowed. You also can't bring a canoe, surfboard, or any sort of boat onboard.
Carnival also has strict rules about what you can do on your balcony, Some of those may surprise passengers who don't consider the bigger picture when it comes to safety on the ship. That's something Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald addressed in a recent Facebook post.
Image source: Getty Images
Carnival clarifies balcony rules
Many passengers violate Carnival's rules because they see their actions as harmless. People regularly smoke on their balconies, which is strictly prohibited and can result in fines, or even being thrown off the ship.
In other cases, passengers openly violate balcony rules because they don't realize they're creating a dangerous situation. That's something Heald recently explained on his Facebook page in answering a message from an angry passenger.
"If you are not going to let me hang my University of Michigan flag from my balcony room then you should not allow those people who decorate their room. If it makes a person enjoy their vacation more it should be something that is encouraged. What I place on my balcony shouldn't affect anyone else’s vacation. Explain to me why it was removed without warning John Heald because this is not right," wrote an unnamed passenger.
Heald was blunt in his answer.
"Well then, the answer is safety, that is the paramount reason and this is why this chap’s flag was removed. No materials can be left on the balcony because if some idiot is smoking on the balcony and drops that cigarette or flicks hot as over the balcony and onto the balcony below Will possibly start a fire," he wrote.
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Carnival's balcony rules go beyond safety
While safety is the key reason flags cannot be hung from balconies, Heald made it clear that the cruise line bans the practice for other reasons.
"Also, there is the aesthetics. Can you imagine if we allowed everyone to have a flag tied to their balconies? The ship would be festooned with sports teams, national flags and the ship’s sleek white and blue lines would be covered in every colour of the rainbow," he wrote. "Anyway, that’s the reason and by me posting this here I hope anyone who was thinking of flying your flag from the balcony will now not do so and therefore not be upset when it is removed by one of the crew."
Related: Carnival Cruise Line takes on a dress code controversy
Most passengers seem to understand why Carnival bans flying flags from balconies.
"I completely understand why flammable materials cannot be stored on the balcony - especially unattended. A few years ago, a friend was outside, reading a book, when a burning cigarette flew in and ignited the towel she was lying on. Thankfully she escaped without being injured," Tony Swicer wrote.
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Many of the responses made it clear that the passenger should have known the rules.
"He shouldn’t have been surprised that it was taken without warning. If people would listen or read the rules then he would have known it would be removed. Like others have said rules are there for a reason. If you don’t like Carnival rules go somewhere else because I’m pretty sure all cruise lines have the same rules, posted Tammy Colley Raydo.
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