Do you stick to the guidelines strictly or do you prefer bending the rules occasionally for your own benefit? There are those who excel at following instructions, whereas others view vacations as an opportunity to act according to their desires without adhering to any formal regulations. Cruise ships come with numerous rules—from restrictions on items allowed onboard to specific protocols regarding activities and locations. You may find some of these rules limiting and might even consider breaking them.
Please refrain from doing so. The majority of the regulations aboard cruise ships have been established considering your well-being and safety. Disregarding these guidelines might endanger both yourself and others onboard, potentially leading to significant penalties and even mandatory disembarkment.
If you feel like being slightly mischievous, make sure to understand the consequences of your behavior first. Below are 15 cruise ship regulations you should not violate—along with potential outcomes for breaking them.
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Smoking is not allowed inside the building or on the terraces.
The regulations are stringent when it comes to this. smoking on cruise ships Cruise ships prohibit smoking cigarettes indoors and also forbid it on balcony cabins and open-air deck areas. Smoking is allowed only in specific zones, often located at the uppermost decks or external walkways, and possibly in certain sections of the casino or within a dedicated cigar lounge.
Why? Lighters and cigarette ashes pose significant fire risks, as they can ignite dangerous onboard blazes on cruiseships. To avoid such incidents, no cruise company wishes to tolerate these dangers. If you're found violating this regulation, expect a fine of at least $250, along with potential disembarkment.
No underage drinking
The legal drinking age aboard cruise ships varies between 18 and 21, based on the specific cruise operator and area of navigation. Given how many onboard activities revolve around consuming alcoholic beverages, it can be quite enticing for conscientious adults to sneak an icy beverage like a piña colada or a cold beer into their young teens who are not yet of legal age. Additionally, some resourceful underage passengers manage to obtain alcohol when guardians aren’t looking.
You may believe that having one or two drinks isn’t harmful, yet intoxicated teens can become targets for sexual predators or partake in dangerous actions that might result in falls and injuries — falling overboard Even if drinking does not lead to negative consequences, those involved—be they underage drinkers or adults supplying alcohol to minors—can be removed from the vessel when it docks again if they get caught.
No bringing drugs or alcohol onto the plane.
Regardless of your age, large cruise ship companies do not permit passengers to carry alcohol, beer, or drugs onto the vessel. regulations concerning wine and Champagne Various contraband alcohol will be seized upon detection, and you could lose it permanently.
Carry illegal drugs onboard, and you might face fines, being forced off the plane, or even imprisonment. Bringing marijuana onto a cruise ship is prohibited. Even if it’s legal at your departing port or the port you plan to visit, you should only indulge recreationally on shore. Do not attempt to take marijuana or edible products home with you as a keepsake.
You must attend the safety drill
Enthusiastic cruise-goers tend to sigh with exasperation when they're required to participate in one more safety briefing, commonly referred to as a muster drill On each cruise’s inaugural day, you're required to participate in a safety drill either in person or through a video presentation prior to heading to your designated assembly point—a spot for gathering during emergencies. These exercises often disrupt the usual excitement of the first day at sea, causing some passengers to complain.
Don’t imagine you can stay hidden in your cabin and dodge this responsibility. On certain vessels, public spaces may shut down, and crew members conduct room checks during mandatory drills held face-to-face. Individuals who fail to participate will either have to join a supplementary training session or could find themselves disembarked at the nearest docking point.
Submit your symptoms on the medical questionnaire
Before you board any cruise ship, the pier-side staff will hand you a health questionnaire, asking if you've experienced any symptoms in the past few days or if you've been exposed to COVID-19. You can lie about your scratchy throat or upset stomach, and likely nothing will happen to you.
Still, you could end up making another person ill — maybe someone with a weaker immune system than yours, who would have their trip ruined by several days of being stuck in bed due to illness. If an outbreak of norovirus or COVID-19 occurs onboard, it might lead to closures of various facilities or limitations on activities for everyone aboard. Nobody wants that scenario.
Return by all-aboard time
Do you frequently find yourself behind schedule? Do you see deadlines more as optional guidelines? You will have to shift your perspective for this voyage.
When the captain establishes the all-aboard time, they mean business—it’s the moment when everybody must be onboard as the vessel prepares to set sail. Post this deadline, the crew begins retracting the gangplanks and getting ready for departure. Though occasionally the skipper might wait for straggling travelers, tardy individuals usually rush hurriedly along the dock searching frantically for their ride. a ship departing without them .
There should be no visitors in crew zones.
Watching reruns of "The Love Boat" may make you dream about finding love during your cruise vacation. However, contemporary cruises won’t offer encounters with the charming bartender, intelligent officer, or attractive lounge singer. Interaction between crew members and passengers is strictly prohibited, including inviting guests into staff areas.
A secret relationship with someone from your team may only end up hurting emotionally, yet that individual could face termination for violating this strict maritime regulation aboard the vessel.
No children wearing diapers allowed in the pools.
On those scorching days in the Caribbean, everybody seeks relief in the cruise ship’s swimming pools. However, make sure you check the signs first: infants and toddlers wearing swim diapers aren’t permitted.
When there’s even just one instance where a diaper leaks into the swimming area, whether it's a pool or a hot tub, these facilities have to close, drain, and disinfect—keeping them unusable for at least several hours, possibly stretching through an entire day. If you’re embarking on a trip with your young child, seek cruise lines offering specific kiddie wading zones designed for children wearing diapers. Alternatively, consider bringing along a portable plastic bath so they can enjoy their aquatic fun safely within the confines of the ship’s bathrooms.
No reserving lounge chairs
Eager to provoke the ire of your fellow swimmers? Arrive at the pool deck right when it opens, save a few lounge chairs with your belongings like a book or flip-flops, and only come back well into the afternoon.
It goes against the regulations to Claim your lounge chairs if they're not in use. As it stops other guests from using them. If you're not convinced by karma, the only consequence of ignoring this rule could be that the crew may take away your belongings if they remain unattended for too long. Still, you'll receive disapproving stares from those around you aboard the ship.
No climbing on railings
Avoid climbing up your balcony steps as though you were scaling a ladder and sitting on top of the rail. Refrain from leaning out of open windows just to get the perfect picture. Don’t mimic Jack and Rose’s scene from “Titanic.” And never attempt to swing across from your balcony to the adjacent one, pretending you're crossing from the deck of a ship. These activities break the regulations since they could lead to accidents where you might fall off. The risks aren’t justified; it simply isn’t worth it.
No rowdy behavior
Cruise companies include conduct guidelines in the agreement passengers sign upon reserving their trip. Engage in a brawl at the bar, bother individuals beside you on the sun deck, or attack a staff member, and you might end up detained. brig (that is, cruise ship jail) . You might face fines, be forced to leave the ship, or get barred from the cruise line altogether. It’s wiser to maintain proper etiquette.
No removing food from the vessel
Certain destinations may have rules stopping passengers from bringing food ashore, typically fresh items like fruits and meats rather than factory-sealed snacks. These restrictions aim to stop pests and illnesses from entering the area. At some stops, officials use trained canines to detect prohibited edibles, leading to potential seizure of your homemade sandwiches or individual apples intended as treats. Additionally, violators could face financial penalties.
No open flames or sources of ignition
Recall the ban against smoking on cruise ships? This restriction extends to various fire risks too. Lighting candles aboard a cruise ship (including during religious observances) is not permitted, nor can you bring devices like electric teakettles, coffeemakers, or some styling tools. Additionally, explosives and fireworks are strictly forbidden. Power strips equipped with surge protectors are likewise banned. Keep this in mind when packing. banned items aboard , and they will probably be taken away during your entire cruise journey.
No drones
Tech-savvy photographers have embraced drones recently, and those who enjoy electronic devices have joined in the trend, operating them at seaside locations or local parks. It’s easy to imagine why drones could capture fantastic shots from cruise ships, yet you should temper your excitement.
Most cruise ships have rules banning drones When you arrive onboard, or if they’re permitted at all, drones can only be operated ashore in port, adhering to local laws. Attempting to fly one from your balcony will result in having your drone seized.
No weapons
The cruise companies have made their stance quite evident: they absolutely prohibit all types of weaponry onboard. This ban encompasses handguns, BB guns, stun devices, blades, exposed razor blades, as well as rounds of ammo. While your diving tools and sizable crafting scissors are permitted aboard, these must be handed over to the vessel’s safety team upon boarding; however, guests may reclaim possession during specific hours. Should such contraband materials come into detection by the crew, those objects shall be seized permanently without exception, with zero reimbursement provided to travelers.
Thinking about taking a cruise? Begin with these tales:
- The top 5 sought-after cabin positions on any cruise liner
- An introductory guide for choosing a cruise line
- The 8 least desirable cabin positions on any cruise ship
- The definitive checklist for packing essentials before your cruise
- A concise overview of the top cruising companies
- 21 tips and tricks to ensure your cruise goes seamlessly
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- The definitive handbook for selecting a cruise ship stateroom
The editorial disclaimer states that the views shared are solely those of the individual author and do not represent the opinions of banks, credit card issuers, airlines, hotels, or similar organizations. These entities have neither reviewed nor provided approval for this content, and endorsement from them is explicitly denied.
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