10 ways to get booted off a cruise ship
No one wants to ruin their heavily planned cruise holiday, and certainly not end up on the sidelines as the ship sails away, so there’s some things to note before you start warming up your sea legs.
According to CN Traveler, there’s 10 things you should absolutely avoid if you plan on getting onboard your cruise adventure – and staying there until the end!
And if you’ve taken our hot tips to selling cruise better, and sold a few of these bad boys, it’s worth running through these with your clients.
- Not Having the Paperwork
According to CN Traveler, cruise ships are leaving your country’s waters and going overseas (haha – get it?)
Yep, so that means you’re going to need a passport – preferably yours ?
As CN Traveler notes, if you don’t produce one at check-in, you won’t be allowed entry. It’s not so much getting kicked off, as not being allowed on. And this guy should know!
- You’re Banned from a Country
As CN Traveler writes, you might’ve been banned from a country and oh no, the cruise ship actually stops there.
If that country’s immigration alerts the cruise line, it will toss you from the ship prior to arrival in the destination.
- Miss the Muster Drill
What the heck is a muster drill, we asked ourselves when reading the CN Traveler article!?
Well, unlike dozing through the safety demonstration onboard a flight, a muster drill is apparently the one thing on a cruise where attendance in mandatory.
Per CN Traveler, back in 2012—shortly after the Costa Concordia disaster in Italy—both Holland America and Seabourn had highly publicised incidents where they booted passengers off the ship because they skipped this important drill.
- Practice Poor Time Management
While this woman might’ve tried swimming after her cruise ship when it left without her, the main lesson was that if you’re not on time, the ship will leave without you.
Per CN Traveler, cruise employees call this the Run of Shame, and it happens when passengers visit a port, lose track of time, and miss the ship’s debarkation. Then your choices are either meet it at the next port or go home.
- Bringing Drugs Onboard
It might seem obvious, but past incidents have shown that some people still need to be seriously reminded – don’t bring illegal drugs on board!
Just piquing the drug dogs’ interest (which often come aboard at a new port) is enough to have cruise lines throw you overboard, not to mention a little stay in local government “care” should they actually find drugs on you.
And in the US, search and seizure laws don’t extend to ships either, according to CN Traveler. Just refuse to have your room searched, and cruise lines will kick you off as well.
- Throwing Anything Overboard
Tossing anything overboard—food, cigarette butts, a spouse (just kidding, please don’t) – well, it’ll get you the boot off your beloved ship.
Per CN Traveler, one poor Aussie reportedly had his cruise ended by simply flicking a cigarette butt off the deck in Bali.
- Impersonating Crew
So this is one we didn’t know, but also seems really weird. You can pop on a sailors hat and dance around the cruise ship disco, but posing as a a crew member will apparently get you kicked off in an instant.
- Getting Ill
Getting sick on ships is pretty shippy (sorry about all the puns!) but if a cruise ship finds out you’re the one to start a highly contagious onboard plague, seeya later!
Per CN Traveler, cruise lines will also drop passengers that feel gravely ill, more for their own safety than that of other passengers.
- Fighting
Alright, seems obvious – but some might think a bit of a biff might just get you a slap on the wrist.
Apparently not.
Per CN Traveler, cruise lines “don’t even care if you’re an F-list reality TV “star,” as Bad Girls Club’s Judy Jai learned in 2015 when she was thrown off a cruise in Jamaica after getting into a fight with her cabin-mate AC Style. Or Trace Adkins, who left a ship and checked into rehab after getting into a fight with a passenger who was apparently butchering his songs at karaoke.”
Wow, those are serious. Basically don’t fight, and if you’re feeling fired up, walk away.
- Chucking a Tantrum, or Otherwise Being Verbally Abusive
So it’s not just fighting that’ll see you left at the nearest port – causing commotion with words will also land you a ticket back to shore.
As CN Traveler writes, you can “just ask Foxy Brown, who back in 2011 got so enraged when the onboard salon couldn’t accommodate her manicure—after she showed up three hours late—that she was booted when the boat docked in the Cayman Islands”.
Some people just shouldn’t travel! For the full article, check out CN Traveler.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
cruise shipLatest News
Voyages celebrates 40 years at Uluru with two new immersive experiences
No plans for celebrating your 40th this year? Here's a hot tip from us.
SkyDeck: The inflight entertainment you could never have imagined
Forget those external cameras you can live stream while in the air... With SkyDeck you can check it out for yourself.
Second Boeing whistleblower dies of ‘mystery infection’
Joshua Dean died from a fast-growing mystery infection on Tuesday.
Aussie winners of American Airlines ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ announced
Show me the money! For the winners, Sell Your Way to the USA was worth getting involved in.
ANZCRO celebrates 30th with special edition of iconic New Zealand Book
Choice bro! ANZCRO celebrates its 30th with a special edition of its iconic New Zealand Book. Chur!
Room to move at Cairns Harbourside Hotel with ‘spacious’ new family package
Moody teens can eat two-minute noodles while younger brothers and sisters get to eat free with mum and dad. Win, win!
A&K unveils lavish around the world wildlife adventure in private jet
The kind of holiday that if you need to ask the cost, you probably can't afford it.
Flight Centre and Reforest hit one million trees target early
Nice one Flight Centre, we think you've earned an early Friday knockoff.
New cruise options spearhead stacked APT 2025 program
Just in case you thought you were running out of cruise itineraries, APT's here with a fresh batch.
Travel Weekly announces a new team to helm Australia’s No.1 travel trade title
Some shameless self-promotion from us, but we thought you needed to know who's bringing you the news.
IHG reveals plans for Brisbane’s first Kimpton in 2028
Just another reason to book that trip to Brisvegas. But don't jump the gun, it's not open until 2028.
Cruiseabout’s first store in five years opens in Perth
Perth gets a break from being behind the rest of the country with the addition of the first Cruiseabout store.
ATAS complaints process acknowledges non-economic loss
A High Court case win over 'disappointment and distress' on a cruise gone wrong prompts ATIA complaints change.
Cunard previews new Queen Anne
Yep, this one does exactly what it says on the tin.
Bunnik Tours unveils latest expansion to Iceland
Just as the Icelandic vikings did many years ago, Bunnik is expanding into new territories.
Australia’s first glamping retreat turns 25
25th anniversary gifts usually come in silver. Ours comes in the way of a news story.
Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun
If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]
Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs
Turnbull hints her new role will see her staying in the tourism and hospitality industry and who can blame her?
DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign
If agents can put the foot down quick enough and get involved, there are some great prizes to be won.
Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern
Unlike those dodgy scam phone calls you're getting more and more of, there's no strings attached to this deal.
Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips
Can you call it a sober holiday if you enjoy a few glasses of red on the flight? We think yes.
Travel DAZE Exec Agenda REVEALED: top execs to speak on airline competition
As the industry reels from Bonza's implosion, it is more important than ever to ask the big questions.
TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips
The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]
Skroo says Rex will need deep pockets to fill lost Bonza slots
The door is open for Rex, and anyone else who wants to launch a regional Aussie airline...
Sno’n’Ski Holidays unveils 2025 mega famil to Colorado!
Let the games begin - this is certainly not a famil that you will want to miss!
Walk Japan launches Kyoto: Mountains to the sea walking tour
There are two types of people, one who enjoys walking on holiday and another who enjoys sipping Mojitos by the pool.
Which destination had a 48% boost in bookings following 10 MILLION TikTok views?
Here's a clue: it's not Malabar Beach.
Asher Telford appointed General Manager of SeaLink Whitsundays
Telford has plenty of reasons to smile after SeaLink doubles down and makes him GM after buying his tourism operation.
Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak
Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]
Hilton Expands Presence in North Queensland with the signing of Hilton Garden Inn Townsville
Heading to a North Queensland Cowboys clash? Hilton Garden Inn Townsville is set to open, but not until 2026.
Rail Europe ANZ: making dream journeys come true
Rail Europe's running a lottery! You're not going to win millions, but you might just snag a free holiday.
UPDATE: Bonza hole deepens as administrators investigate financial affairs
Administrators dig deeper as struggling airline unlikely to be revived.
Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]
Nielsen Data reveals brands spending big to attract Aussie tourists
Trip A Deal, Virgin and Ignite Travel walk into a bar, blow their cash on travel advertising instead of the pokies.
Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]
Jetstar offers 200,000 return for free flights to celebrate 20th anniversary
Jetstar hits 20 and everyone else gets the presents with free return flights to domestic and international destinations.