Cruise: For these bizarre reasons there is a lifelong travel ban

Opinions are divided on cruises; some people say they would rather forgo a vacation altogether than board a large ocean cruiser, while others swear by the advantages the ships offer.

Whether you're a cruise fan or not, all travelers on board should be aware that there are certain rules that must be followed. Otherwise, harmonious coexistence among many people in a confined space simply won't work.

But this seems to be becoming an increasingly common problem. The US cruise line Carnival Cruise recently updated its code of conduct for cruise travelers and made it clear: Anyone who doesn't comply will be kicked off the ship and banned from cruising with Carnival for life.

Sometimes the consequences for violations like the "no drinks on any dance floor" on the ship seem a bit excessive. Running, loud conversations, or shouting in the cabin aisles probably won't always result in a lifetime Carnival ban. However, there are also cases where being on the blacklist seems completely understandable. Here's a selection of reasons why people have been given lifetime cruise bans.

On a Royal Caribbean cruise a few years ago, a woman climbed over the railing of her balcony to take a photo of herself. The woman was reported by fellow passengers and had to disembark the cruise ship at the next port in Falmouth, Jamaica.

Balcony cabins on a cruise ship.

Source: IMAGO/YAY Images

Sitting, climbing, or standing on balcony railings is strictly prohibited on cruise ships. The woman received a lifetime ban from Royal Caribbean ships for her daring selfie.

Perhaps the next candidate simply figured he wasn't allowed onto the railing and jumped over it into the water. This incident also occurred at Royal Caribbean; according to the jumper's own statement, he wasn't sober at the time.

That didn't help him; the life-threatening jump from around 30 meters left him with some nasty bruises and a place on the shipping company's blacklist - just like his friends who filmed him jumping.

In comparison, the next case of a lifetime cruise ban seems quite harmless. A woman was found checking in on a Carnival Cruises ocean cruiser with gummy bears in her pocket. These contained a very low THC content of 0.1 percent , which is below the legal limit in Miami.

However, since there is a strict drug ban on board Carnival ships, the American woman had to leave the ship and is never allowed to be seen on the company's cruise ships again.

"If I'm not allowed to bring gummy bears, I'll just get something to eat myself." That may have been what two travelers thought when they suddenly unpacked their fishing rods in the port of Nassau, Bahamas. The incident also occurred on a Carnival Cruise Line ship .

With this action, which the two even filmed themselves, they violated several of the cruise line's rules. Among them was the ban on bringing live animals on board—which ultimately earned them a lifetime ban from Carnival.

Anyone who does this is really putting themselves on the blacklist. A few years ago, a Holland America Line passenger allegedly entered a restricted area of ​​the cruise ship and set off the ship's multi-ton anchor.

The whole thing happened in the middle of the ocean between Florida and Mexico. The Californian claimed he was drunk and that the anchoring system was similar to the one on his own boat. The result was several months in prison, a fine, and a lifelong ban on Holland America Line ships.

Okay, this ban seems really strange at first glance. A woman was banned from the "Norwegian Gem" after having already sailed on the cruise ship several times. Norwegian Cruise Line justified this by citing a relationship between her and the crew that was too close.

The woman is said to have previously sent private thank-you emails to many of the crew members . Such a close relationship between passengers and crew violates the shipping company's regulations.

Two cruisers got even closer in their cabin on a cruise ship – unfortunately, it was a bit too loud, as "Don's Family Vacations" explains on his YouTube channel. The amorous noise pollution resulted in an eviction and a blacklist.

Excessively obvious nudity is generally frowned upon on many cruise ships, so it's best not to be seen when changing on the balcony or by the pool - especially on US cruise lines or when children are present, as cruise expert Franz Neumeier explains.

In some cases, the little ones themselves can be the reason for a ban. A nine-year-old boy was reportedly kicked off a Carnival Cruise line for " mischief, causing significant damage to a slot machine, and getting into a fight with another boy ."

The boy was initially allowed to continue his journey with his family. However, at the end of the cruise, the family reportedly received a letter signed by the captain barring the troublemaker from future trips with Carnival.

In our WhatsApp channel, you'll find the best travel tips, unusual places, and affordable travel deals at a glance. If you want to receive our news immediately, simply activate the bell in the channel. You'll then be notified of new messages.

A lot of alcohol is sometimes consumed on cruise ships, and the limited space on board makes it difficult to avoid arguments. It's not uncommon for physical altercations to occur between passengers or with the crew.

An absolute no-go and a major safety risk for a cruise. Anyone who triggers such disputes or participates in them must expect to be excluded from the cruise line.

What do travelers need to know right now? You can find all the important vacation news at reisereporter , and the latest travel offers on our deals page .

travel reporter