Balcony Ban: Carnival Cracks Down on Cabin Behavior for "Safety" Reasons

Photo byCruise Fever

Carnival Cruise Line has issued a clear statement regarding an activity that is not allowed on cabin balconies.

You might think you can do whatever you want on a cruise balcony and decorate the railing however you would like. But cruise lines have cameras that are constantly monitoring balconies for unsafe behavior and people going over board.

The cruise line has long maintained strict rules about balcony use, but recent incidents have prompted a brief reminder.

A primary concern is passenger safety. Smoking on balconies, a common violation, is strictly prohibited and can result in significant penalties, including disembarkation.

Photo byCruise Fever

Beyond the obvious fire hazard, other activities can pose risks.

Carnival recently clarified its policy on balcony decorations after a passenger questioned the removal of a University of Michigan flag.

In a social media post, Carnival Cruise Line’s John Heald addressed a passenger’s complaint about the the flag having to be taken down.

The passenger expressed frustration with the policy, arguing that it infringed on their cruise vacation.

"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," the cruise passenger wrote.

The person went on to say, "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."

Heald emphasized safety as the paramount reason for the rule that would not allow the passenger to hang a flag from their balcony railing.

Heald’s response was pretty straightforward:

"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 explained.

Beyond safety considerations, Carnival also cited aesthetic reasons for the balcony policy.

Heald noted that allowing passengers to decorate their balconies with flags would create a visually cluttered appearance that would detract from the ship’s overall aesthetic.

"Also, there is the esthetics. 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."

While some passengers may find the restrictions inconvenient, it’s clear that Carnival is committed to maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for all guests.

As Heald pointed out, the policy is in place to protect both passengers and the ship itself.