Culture Carnival’s New Rules Got Black Folks All in Their Feelings, But Others Say the Cruise Line is Justified - Cruise line bans drugs and Bluetooth speakers, stops playing hip-hop or rap, and no longer offers unlimited drinks packages. Blacks most affected.

Are Carnival's new rules restrictive, or racist? Some folks say it's the latter, and they're cancelling their reservations expeditiously.​

By Angela Wilson
Published July 2, 2025


An aerial view of the Port of Long Beach at dusk Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) / TikTok screenshot

Brawls, assaults, drunken fights, boots on the grounds and fans in hands just might have Carnival Cruise Line saying, "Enough is enough!" And some Black passengers are returning the favor, cancelling their existing reservations or cancelling the cruise line all together because they deem their new rules are racist. But some argue, "Are the new policies racist, or just restrictive?"

The discourse began after Carnival — who has the most allegations of serious crimes committed at sea than any other cruise line sailing from North America, per the FBI — implemented new rules. According to reports, as of June 1, Carnival passengers received a new letter to reinforce their guidelines and code of conduct.

Stricter Enforcement on Drugs​

“Marijuana, including cannabis and its derivatives, and other illegal substances, are unlawful and strictly prohibited on board,” the letter emphasized. "Smoking of any kind in undesignated areas such as staterooms and balconies is strictly prohibited." Even if marijuana is legal for recreational or medicinal use in your home state, it remains illegal under U.S. federal law. Since cruise ships sailing from U.S. ports operate under federal maritime law, all forms of cannabis are prohibited and Carnival has a zero tolerance policy.

If caught, passengers are immediately removed from the ship at the next port, with no refund, permanent ban, the turning over to law enforcement and possible fines.

Curfews​

Guests 17 years of age and under must be out of public areas by 1:00 AM unless they are being accompanied by an adult from their traveling party, aged 21 years of age or older. They are allowed to be in public areas after 1:00 AM only if they are involved in a supervised Club O2 (ages 15-17) or Circle "C" (ages 12-14) teen activity, as these youth programs often host late-night events that allow teens to be out later under staff supervision.

"Boots on the Ground," BUT Leave the Fans at Home​

Passengers can still enjoy those battery-powered fans onboard, but as for those non-battery-operated fans, leave those at home. Carnival cites "safety reasons" for the specific ban for hand-held fans, made popular by "Boots on the Ground: Where Them Fans At?" line dance by 803Fresh, where dancers loudly "clack" fans on certain parts of the song. The cruise line says the "clacking" could cause accidental injuries.

No More Hip-Hop?​

Although Carnival Cruise Line has not officially announced a ban on hip-hop or rap music in their clubs, significant online chatter from some Black passengers say they noticed a reduction or absence of the genre in the clubs.

Some online discussions suggest that Carnival might be moving towards a more "pre-approved" song selection for DJs — who should reportedly decline passenger's requests. The perception comes in the context of Carnival's efforts to address "rowdy crowds" and disruptive behavior on board.

Limited, Unlimited Drink Packages​

The cruise line always had a 15-drink limit per 24-hour period for the "Cheers!" alcoholic beverage package, but now, there's a perception that alleged enforcement has become stricter. Some Black cruisers feel this targets groups who tend to purchase these packages and enjoy lively celebrations.

No More Bluetooth Speakers​

Carnival has reinforced rules against guests playing their own music loudly in public areas, including by the pools and hallways. While ostensibly for everyone's comfort, many Black passengers feel this rule is selectively enforced against them. They argue that other groups might play different genres of music without facing the same level of scrutiny.

Of course folks took to TikTok to express their concerns about the rules.

"Carnival does not have to worry about me," one TikToker said, who said she cancelled her reservation for a friend's birthday. "We got the message loud and clear, we are not your demographic anymore. [...] Carnival decided they wanted to rebrand."

While some were saying goodbye to the cruise line, others welcomed the change. "Y'all have to learn how to act... I'm not gone lie.. y'all really made the value go down. I'm not mad at it." Another added: "I've never seen a carnival cruise video on social media that makes me want to go. It's like the Walmart of cruise lines," while a third wrote: "It's not racism but certain stuff becomes a liability after a while."

"It's not a crackdown on a color its a crackdown on people's behavior," one person reasoned. Other comments included: "Carnival got tired of being the Section 8 of the Sea," "God forbid the company want to protect their brand," and "What's racist about asking ppl to act right?"

Source (Archive)

 

[neger psykolog]

In the tv show The Wire it has a drug addict character Bubbles sell white t shirts in the hood as a reference to this.

I like the implication that the only place to get a "real" white t-shirt is from a drug addict in the ghetto instead of from any one of thousands of other stores.

 

[Nopenopenope]

They're not gonna like this next port, brother.
View attachment 7603890

That's a really long way of saying no niggers or wiggers

 

[Super Guido]

The idea of being on a boat in the ocean and swimming in a pool that's on the boat is really funny to me. You're on a boat you're supposed to not get submerged in water that's the whole fucking point of a boat!

To make matters worse, the pools on cruise ships suck if you're not good at swimming in choppy water. The one I was on didn't have a lifeguard, so it's risky.

 

[Pluciferous]

It's get down to brass tacks, which you still find in quality furniture. Sorry to bring it up but I always prefer to be corrected.

I’ve used certain words incorrectly for decades until someone finally corrected me, and then I felt like a big dummy. Correcting people is a kindness.

 

[TowinKarz]

It's get down to brass tacks, which you still find in quality furniture. Sorry to bring it up but I always prefer to be corrected.

*raises hand meekly*

I didn't know that either.... I thought "brass tacks" had something to do with running into a superior in a military setting (the brass) and being told to cut the BS and tell the truth.

Over-sized white tshirts were a major "urban" fashion trend in the early 2000s. Around the same time as sagging pants, timberlands, cornrows and durags. In the tv show The Wire it has a drug addict character Bubbles sell white t shirts in the hood as a reference to this.

I can confirm. Bro and I after a day on the beach circa 2008 decided to go to a boardwalk eatery. Having not planned on it, we didn't have shirts, and just bought a cheap pack of white Ts figuring that would satisfy the "shoes and shirt" rules. We got denied entry due to a "no white T-shirts rule" . We didn't ask for elaboration, just went back out and bought some generic tourist gear. But were really confused on the walk home. Now it all makes sense.

 

[The Mighty Banth]

I didn't know that either.... I thought "brass tacks" had something to do with running into a superior in a military setting (the brass) and being told to cut the BS and tell the truth

That's the other reason I mentioned it, since usually other people learn too. I don't like to be the person who points out that you have metaphorical spinach in your teeth, but it makes me crazy if I'm not informed of my own errors.

 

[Iron Jaguar]

They need to empower their captains, officers and crew to enforce human-level behaviour. If you're at sea, the vessel commander's word is law and he is entitled to do anything to secure the safety of his ship. A couple of niggers getting beaten by a team of security staff and then thrown in confinement would send a message.

I'd like to see yardarms being reintroduced, pour encourager.

Not a good idea to let passengers swim in the sea. Believe the US Navy allows their sailors to swim in the sea under the right conditions, but all naval personnel know how to swim.

You're making a very good argument for allowing niggers to swim in the ocean.

Anyway, it's great to see a prominent company being managed by someone who clearly looks at the bottom line and takes appropriate measures. I would bet that the CEO is a White man or maybe a Based Jew.

 

[Kheapathic]

If there's one thing I hate about diversity, or hell even non-diversity; it's subjecting others to your music. The problem being, it's mostly diversity who do this that turn their rolling shitbox or backpack into a loud speaker for why I hate taco and nigger music so much. And that's not me being racist, that's what it always is; mexicans play their foreign shit, and blacks play their nigga anthems. And I don't want to be up my own ass about not being able to hear myself think; but when your cars subwoofer is blown out and making my car vibrate, there's a fucking problem. Anyone bitching at Carnival and crying racism, fucking good. The field hands can go back to singing their songs manually, because you can't be trusted with technology.

Not a good idea to let passengers swim in the sea. Believe the US Navy allows their sailors to swim in the sea under the right conditions, but all naval personnel know how to swim. Having a pool/pools on board a cruise ship is just another selling point.

But personally have no desire to take any sort of cruise at all.

Ships will also put nets out, so yeah they're swimming in the open sea, but there's no risk of sharks and other crazy shit grabbing a random dude and making off with them, or their leg. Watch any video of people throwing meat or expired food and shit off a ship or oil rig; you don't see anything in the water at first, but then there's a lot of movement and thrashing all over. You may think you're alone out there in the middle of nowhere, but you're not.

 

[neger psykolog]

1. people can go swimming without needing the ship to come to a stop
2. 0 chance of wildlife chomping on passengers
3. retards would swim out of the marked area and get grabbed by a current, or try to dive under the ship and drown

4. Believe it or not swimming in salt water isn't the greatest feeling. For sure there are health benefits and shit once in a while but you'll even find chlorinated fresh water pools within hotels right on the beach.
It's just that a pool is a lot more predictable and you can basically sit next to a pool for the whole fucking day - seawater (especially at the beach, less so at sea) can be filled with seaweed and shit and you also get your feet covered in sand.

 

[YouGuysAren'tThatSmart]

Not a good idea to let passengers swim in the sea. Believe the US Navy allows their sailors to swim in the sea under the right conditions, but all naval personnel know how to swim. Having a pool/pools on board a cruise ship is just another selling point.

But personally have no desire to take any sort of cruise at all.

I disagree, I think letting this particular demographic swim in the ocean is a great idea. You have any idea how well we could feed the wild life with one of those morbidly obese women? We may even train the sea animals to only attack blacks with enough sacrifices. Make the seas great again!

 

[The Mighty Banth]

4. Believe it or not swimming in salt water isn't the greatest feeling. For sure there are health benefits and shit once in a while but you'll even find chlorinated fresh water pools within hotels right on the beach.
It's just that a pool is a lot more predictable and you can basically sit next to a pool for the whole fucking day - seawater (especially at the beach, less so at sea) can be filled with seaweed and shit and you also get your feet covered in sand.

Sand, you say?

 

[The-Mad-Asshatter]

I'm starting to think that you guys don't like black folks.

I don't think it's all black people, because I've seen normal decent black people and the innocent black kids get defended here. It's the YNs and ratchet people that people complain about and make fun of here.

People just like to be edgy here so I've learned to just take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Soyjak Enjoyer]

Come to think of it, I recall 2 separate instances in the past year at work where we got bonuses or cost of living raises and a black coworker mentioned using it to go on a cruise, didn't realize this was a thing. Always liked the idea of a cruise but I'm too cheap

 

[Would]

What's racist about asking ppl to act right?"

Everything. Niggers aren’t people.

 

[08903248752]

Carnival Cruises are popular with niggers because you can be a felon without a passport and still take "Closed-loop cruises" offered by them.

 

[Lobster Cult High Priest]

To make matters worse, the pools on cruise ships suck if you're not good at swimming in choppy water. The one I was on didn't have a lifeguard, so it's risky.

To be fair the only use for pools on cruise ships is something cool to sit in while day drinking (on a hot day in Caribbean)

So exactly what they are built for.

 

[glad vlad]

I have two questions:

One: the booze package is 15 drinks in a 24--hour period. I'm not a big drinker. To me this seems like a dangerous amount of alcohol for one person, especially if repeated multiple days in a row. Is this really how much people who are not experienced alcoholics drink??

Two: WHY ARE BLACKS SO LOUD. Recently I was on a trip to an American city with a beautiful river. People in the city hang out in the river on boats. Pretty mellow scene. People swim, hang out, drink a little, play some music. Nothing aggressive, nothing loud.

There I was, on the boat we were on, enjoying the sunset and the breeze, when suddenly WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP DRANK DRANK GUCCI DRANK WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP. A boat full of black people zoomed by playing music so loud you could hear it for half a mile. It was INCREDIBLY LOUD. Like if you were actually on the boat it had to have been harming your hearing.

Is there some kind of pervasive hearing loss that explains this and also the ceiling chirps and the shouting on speakerphone at the supermarket? What is going on with these people?

Bonus, I believe there was a Farmer in the African-American Appreciation Thread some time ago who went on a cruise and realized at departure that it was highly diverse.

I found his posts. (@Dean Pentel - I am retarded, sorry if I don't know how to @ people correctly.)
These are some of my FAVORITE POSTS EVER on the Farms. He's so nice but he's slowly losing his white shit. It's like a comedy version of When The Saxon Began To Hate.

How it begins: "I've never been on a cruise before. I'm in the waiting area for people that check in early and there are a surprising amount of niggers here."
Act 1: "I'm on a fucking ghetto Walmart that has a full service bar that I'm now trapped on."
Act 2: "They don't fucking understand lines. They don't understand "inside voice."
The conclusion: "A couple next to me spots this and asks me if this is my first cruise. I tell them it is and ask them how they can tell. They don't answer that but tell me in the future I'd probably like a Royal Caribbean or Virgin Voyages cruise better."

 

[Stoneheart]

Those river cruises do look nice, though.
I've been trying to talk Mr. Cheese into one.

try to get him to do a bike one.... honey we arent "old", but i found this nice e-bike cruise, we will not only see castle, we will also get fit by riding a bike all day long.

 

[The Dude]

It occurs to me that there would be a whole lot less "racist" people and "racist" policies if only Basketball-Americans would stop acting like uncivilized savages in public places. I guess maybe you can take the spear-chucker out of the jungle, but you just can't take the jungle out of the spear-chucker.

 

[thx1138]

So let me see if I've got this straight.

Carnival Cruise Lines announces that they're instituting conduct rules to curb bad behavior. No more pot, no more bluetooth speakers, no more carrying folding fans (small batons, basically)...essentially, after hours times are earlier, and so on. Basically they're saying to EVERYONE "Please behave".

And blacks are flipping the fuck out because...

I mean, if those passengers don't act that way, why would they feel targeted?