How to Get Kicked Off a Cruise Ship in 2026: Behaviors That End Your Vacation Early

Cruise lines removed dozens of passengers in 2024 and 2025 for behavior ranging from drunken brawls to dangerous balcony stunts. Security teams don't hesitate to put you off at the next port - and you'll arrange your own flight home at your own expense. Whether you're sailing to Alaska from Seattle, the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles, or Hawaii from San Francisco, understanding these consequences protects your vacation investment.

Behaviors That Get You Removed Immediately

Certain actions trigger immediate removal from the ship with no warnings or second chances. The incidents making headlines in 2024 and 2025 share common themes: violence, excessive alcohol, drugs, dangerous stunts, and lewd behavior.

Fighting and Physical Altercations

Physical violence results in immediate removal. In November 2025, Royal Caribbean kicked two live streamers off Harmony of the Seas in Roatan, Honduras after a brawl in the smoking area. That same month, a 44-year-old Australian was removed from Anthem of the Seas in New Zealand after punching another guest - his family stayed onboard and finished the cruise without him. December 2025 saw a passenger on Icon of the Seas punch a lifeguard on the pool deck, with video going viral at over 450,000 views.

Excessive Drinking

Cruise lines want you to enjoy their bars, but losing control gets you removed. A December 2024 lawsuit alleged Royal Caribbean bartenders served a passenger 33 drinks over several hours before the situation escalated to pepper spray and sedatives. The all-inclusive drink packages that seem like great value become liability if someone in your group can't handle their liquor. Pace yourself and eat before drinking.

Drugs and Prohibited Substances

All marijuana products - including medical marijuana, CBD gummies, edibles, and delta-8 - are prohibited regardless of state laws. The CBD oil you legally purchased in San Diego or edibles from a dispensary in Juneau, Alaska can't come aboard your cruise from those same ports. Cruise ships operate under federal jurisdiction, and terminals are drug-free zones with K-9 units.

These rules are becoming increasingly important as enforcement tightens across the industry. On recent cruises - even on Disney and Holland America Line - I've smelled marijuana smoke on the ship. While your chances of getting caught aren't as high as on cruise lines like Carnival, where they actively run drug dog teams through the ship and at port during security lines, it is becoming a major issue for cruise lines.

This is largely because cruising has shifted from a niche vacation for wealthier people to a broader audience. The short 3 and 4 day cruises to Baja Mexico are very affordable and easy to book, and the perception of what might be acceptable at a hotel in Las Vegas is very different from what can land you in a much different situation if you break the rules at sea.

Carnival president Christine Duffy addressed this directly in 2025, reminding passengers that state legalization doesn't apply on ships. A Texas nurse received a lifetime Carnival ban after port officials found CBD gummies in her luggage. Getting caught means confiscation at minimum, with potential consequences including $500 fines, immediate disembarkation, and lifetime bans. Foreign ports have stricter enforcement - passengers have been arrested and jailed in Bermuda and Barbados for possession.

Smoking in Non-Designated Areas

Smoking is permitted only in designated areas on cruise ships, and violations carry serious consequences. Balcony smoking is prohibited on virtually all cruise lines due to fire hazards and the fact that smoke drifts into neighboring cabins. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and most other lines charge $500 fines for smoking in staterooms or on balconies - and repeated violations can result in removal.

Cabin smoke detectors are highly sensitive and will alert the bridge if triggered. Don't assume you can vape in your cabin undetected either - most cruise lines treat vaping the same as smoking and enforce identical restrictions. If you need to smoke, use the designated smoking areas on deck or in the casino. Getting caught smoking where you shouldn't creates an automatic fine at minimum, and repeat offenders find themselves leaving at the next port.

Throwing Items Overboard

Throwing anything off the ship - cigarette butts, food, bottles, or any other items - violates maritime environmental laws and cruise line policies. Items thrown from upper decks can also strike passengers on lower decks or balconies, creating serious injury liability. Carnival charges a $500 fine for discharging any item overboard, and repeated violations or intentional dangerous behavior can result in removal.

Beyond the fines, environmental violations can trigger reporting to maritime authorities. Cruise lines sailing Alaska routes are particularly strict about this given the environmentally sensitive waters. That beer bottle tossed overboard might seem harmless, but it can end your cruise and result in a lifetime ban.

Dangerous Balcony Stunts

Climbing on balcony railings gets you banned for life. In October 2025, a viral TikTok showed teenagers climbing on a balcony aboard Wonder of the Seas - one wearing flip-flops while leaning over the railing. Cruisers called for lifetime bans for both the teens and their parents. These incidents follow tragic precedents including a September 2024 child fatality on Harmony of the Seas after going over a stateroom balcony railing.

Public Sexual Activity and Indecent Exposure

Lewd behavior in public areas results in immediate removal and potential criminal charges at the next port. This includes sex in public areas, flashing, and indecent exposure. Sex on your balcony is generally forbidden as well - you might not be as private as you think you are. Other passengers on higher decks, neighboring balconies, and security cameras can all capture what you assumed was a secluded moment.

The same goes for secluded sundecks and hot tub or pool sex, which is just gross since these areas are shared by other passengers. Nobody wants to swim in your juices. Cruise lines take sanitation seriously, and staff are trained to watch for this behavior. Getting caught means removal at the next port and a permanent ban.

Offensive Language and Inappropriate Clothing

Racial slurs, bigoted language, and hate speech directed at other passengers or crew can result in removal. Cruise lines enforce conduct policies that prohibit harassment and creating a hostile environment for other guests.

Inappropriate imagery on clothing falls into a gray area that can be highly subjective. Explicitly offensive content - racist imagery, explicit sexual content, or threatening messages - will get you removed. Political speech is more nuanced. I would prefer you left your MAGA hat at home, but I respect your choice to wear it. Do be aware that not everyone sees political speech the same way, and depending on how you conduct yourself while wearing it, some passengers or crew may perceive it as disruptive or confrontational.

Violations That Escalate to Removal

Some behaviors won't get you immediately removed but can escalate quickly with repeated infractions or complaints from other passengers. Understanding these gray areas helps you avoid situations that start small but end your cruise early.

Recording Other Passengers

Filming in public areas exists in a legal gray area that's increasingly contentious. MSC Cruises recently added smart glasses - including Meta Ray-Bans - to their prohibited items list, becoming the first major line to explicitly ban wearable cameras. The ban follows incidents across multiple lines involving recording without consent.

Meta Ray-Ban glasses look like regular sunglasses but contain 12-megapixel cameras recording 1440p video. While they have an LED indicator when recording, online tutorials demonstrate workarounds to disable this feature. A 2024 study showed hacked versions could perform real-time facial recognition.

The streamers kicked off Harmony of the Seas in November 2025 were removed partly because passengers complained about being recorded in elevators. Cruise contracts generally allow personal video but prohibit commercial use - meaning TikTok content filmed without consent could violate your ticket contract. Establish filming ground rules with your travel companions before boarding and avoid including other passengers in your shots.

Bringing Satellite or Network Equipment

Cruise ships use SpaceX's Starlink for Wi-Fi, but bringing your own satellite device can result in confiscation, and repeated attempts could lead to removal. In September 2024, a YouTuber had his Starlink Mini seized during a 15-night San Francisco to Hawaii cruise on Carnival Miracle despite paying $599 for the device.

Carnival quickly updated its prohibited items from "satellite discs" to "satellite dishes, routers, and other internet-related equipment." Starlink Mini uses a flat antenna panel, not a traditional dish, but cruise lines have clarified any personal satellite equipment falls under the ban. Royal Caribbean similarly prohibits portable WiFi routers, classifying them as cybersecurity threats.

If you're thinking you can save money avoiding WiFi packages on a long Pacific crossing to Hawaii or Alaska, think again. Personal Starlink devices hit 140 Mbps compared to under 4 Mbps on some ship WiFi - but cruise lines protect their investment in fleetwide Starlink installation. Bring your own gear, and security takes it.

Harassing Staff or Passengers

Disrespecting crew members, entering staff-only areas, or creating disturbances can trigger conduct violations. The November 2025 streamer removal expanded beyond the initial fight - five additional group members were kicked off in Costa Maya, Mexico after complaints about harassing passengers in elevators and knocking on cabin doors.

What Will End Your Cruise Early Or Before It Begins 

Not every cruise-ending situation involves bad behavior - some are simple mistakes that cost you your entire vacation. These preventable errors happen more often than you'd expect, and cruise lines offer no refunds for self-inflicted problems.

Missing or Problematic Documentation

Every cruise requires government-issued photo ID, and international sailings need valid passports with at least six months remaining. Cruise lines won't refund your fare if you show up without proper documents. Double-check expiration dates well before departure, especially when organizing a group trip where one person's expired passport derails everyone.

Be aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection actively screens all cruise passengers against law enforcement databases, including the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). According to CBP, officers on average arrest 22-44 wanted persons per day at U.S. ports of entry - and that includes cruise terminals. In 2025, CBP has also conducted raids on cruise ships at ports including Norfolk, Detroit, and along the Great Lakes, primarily targeting crew members but with authority extending to passengers as well.

This is more of a factor when returning to the U.S. than when departing, but cruise lines submit your documentation to CBP and international authorities before you even board. Outstanding warrants - including bench warrants for unpaid tickets or missed court dates - can get you arrested at embarkation, denied boarding entirely, or detained when passing through immigration upon return. CBP has arrested cruise passengers in Jacksonville, Miami, and Norfolk on charges ranging from grand theft to outstanding felony warrants. If you have any unresolved legal issues, clear them before booking a cruise.

Skipping the Muster Drill

Maritime regulations require all passengers to attend safety briefings. Most cruise lines now use app-based muster drills you complete individually, but you must finish before the deadline. Skip it twice, and you could leave at the next port.

Returning Late to the Ship

The ship leaves without you if you're not back by the posted all-aboard time. Build buffer time when exploring ports, especially on Alaska shore excursions where distances are deceiving, or Mexican Riviera stops where that beachfront cantina in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta makes time disappear. Your only option is flying to meet the ship at its next port.

Bringing Prohibited Items

Security screens all luggage at embarkation, and many items that seem harmless at home are banned on cruise ships. Drones are prohibited on Norwegian, Princess, Holland America, and Disney - Royal Caribbean and Carnival allow them for shore use only. Here are 10 commonly confiscated items that catch passengers off guard:

• Surge protectors and power strips - non-cruise-approved versions are fire hazards
• Extension cords - same fire safety concerns as power strips
• Clothing irons and steamers - use the ship's laundry services instead
• Hot plates and toasters - no cooking appliances in cabins
• Candles and incense - open flames are prohibited
• Hoverboards and electric skateboards - lithium battery fire risk
• Walkie-talkies on certain frequencies - can interfere with ship communications
• Handcuffs and restraints - yes, people try to bring these
• Fish finders and sonar devices - prohibited electronics
• CBD products of any kind - treated the same as marijuana

This applies whether you're hoping to capture aerial drone footage of Glacier Bay or just want to iron your shirt before dinner. Check your cruise line's prohibited items list before packing.

Stay Off the Banned List and Enjoy Your Cruise

The vast majority of cruisers never have issues with security or conduct policies - these rules exist to handle the small percentage of passengers who create problems for everyone else. Violations can result in lifetime bans not just from that cruise line but from all brands under the same parent company. Carnival Corporation owns Carnival, Holland America, and Princess, while Royal Caribbean Group includes Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea.

The consequences extend beyond losing your vacation. Passengers removed at foreign ports arrange their own transportation home - the group of streamers kicked off in Honduras faced an $800 taxi ride and international flights with no refunds for unused cruise portions. For any group cruise, establish ground rules before boarding and designate someone to keep track of time in port.

Modern cruise ships carry security teams trained to identify problems early and empowered to remove anyone threatening the safety or enjoyment of other guests. The simplest advice: treat the ship like someone else's home, because it is. Respect the staff, respect other passengers, follow the rules, and you'll have the vacation you planned rather than an expensive story about the trip that ended early.

Written by: James Hills

Pro-BloggerWest Coast Cruise ExpertThought Leader

James is an avid fan of all types of cruising but especially enjoys exploring the Pacific coastal regions since it perfectly captures the elements that he is passionate about, including natural beauty, conservation, opportunities to explore new cultures, and meeting some fantastic new people too.