Sometimes, passengers bring banned items on board because they're unaware the item isn't allowed.
People who don't cruise regularly can be forgiven for not knowing that every cruise line bans irons, steamers and similar devices. That's not obvious because those items don't seem like a threat, but they present a fire risk, which is a huge issue on cruises.
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In addition, the various cruise lines have different rules when it comes to power outlets. Royal Caribbean bans any sort of outlet extender that gives you more plugs while Carnival bans only devices that have surge protectors.
It's easy to see why people may not understand that particular rule because Celebrity Cruises, a Royal Caribbean sister brand, follows the Carnival rule. The rule also represents a change, as Royal Caribbean used to allow outlet extenders as long as they did not have surge protectors.
Some cruise-line-banned items are obvious, however, and that prohibition is enforced by all the cruise operators. You can't bring candles or any source of flames aside from a basic lighter (not a torch) on board. You also can't bring weapons, or anything even vaguely approximating one.
That last one is a rule most people don't need to be told, but it caused a problem on a recent Carnival Christmas cruise.
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Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival accused of ruining Christmas
Carnival's language is specific when it comes to banning weapons on board,
"All weapons and any item made, adapted, or intended for use as an offensive weapon: firearms (including replicas, imitations, and their components), spears or spear guns, crossbows, crossbow bolts, and longbow arrows; blunt weapons, including knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, clubs, coshes, batons, flails or Nunchaku; sharp pointed weapons, including throwing stars; air, BB, pellet pistols or rifles, stun devices and tasers, any projectile-weapon, including paintball guns, etc.," the cruise line shared on its website.
Royal Caribbean also bans weapons, which includes toy weapons.
"All guns, replicas, and ammunition," the cruise line says.
As clear as these rules are, Carnival's Brand Ambassador was chastised for his cruise line ruining Christmas by a passenger who clearly broke the rules.
We were on the -----for Christmas. We were at Disney before we embarked on the cruise. We had bought my son a Star Wars Nerf gun for a Christmas surprise at Disney, and they confiscated it from us at security at the port. We had to go over to a special table where they took it, gave us a claim slip and at the end of the cruise, when back at port we claimed it back. Christmas ruined. How can anyone at Carnival Cruises think this is real. How would you like to see your children have no gift to open from Santa on Christmas morning. Who makes these stupid rules?
Heald was kind in his response (much kinder than many of his followers were).
"Thank you, and of course, I understand the disappointment both as a father and as a brand ambassador; I really do. But it is listed in the prohibited items, and this is a great reminder for anyone thinking of bringing on a replica toy, sword, lightsaber, or a replica weapon of any kind that it will be confiscated," he wrote.
Carnival passengers are not so kind
While Heald tried to be understanding, nearly all the close to 500 people who responded to his post were not as understanding.
"It amazes me how many people don't believe that the rules apply to them," wrote Liz Dusold. "I have even had wooden, painted, and carved swords in Amber Cove, wrapped and held until the end of the cruise. They were decorative in every sense, but because they looked like swords, they had to be held. No problem."
Many passengers fully blamed the parents.
"My question is…Why in the world would you, as a parent, set YOUR child up for disappointment and then blame it on others?" added Shelly Meeks Box. "YOU chose to try and bring a non allowable item on the cruise, therefore the consequences of YOUR actions hurt your child not Carnival’s . And they gave it back. Maybe in the future, if you buy something like this prior to embarking you will prepare your child in a positive way that it will be held elsewhere during your cruise and then returned."
Others implied that the parents were spoiling the child.
"How was Christmas exactly ruined?" asked Michelle Kovacs. "Passenger was still able to cruise PLUS they got the toy returned at the end! The kid didn't even know about it if it was a Christmas gift! Plus, I would really consider going to Disney and a cruise a huge gift in itself."
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Some were very clear in placing blame.
"It is an individual's responsibility to read the list of prohibited items. Carnival didn't ruin your son's Christmas; you did," added Annette Crimmins.
"Here’s a thought. Read the rules of what is allowed and not allowed, then you wouldn’t have ruined your Christmas. Personally, I would think no gun of any type should have been a no-brainer," wrote Doreen Mullen.
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