Recent incidents on major cruise lines have sparked heated discussions about onboard safety and security measures. From the pool brawl at Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay to the infamous “Chicken Tender Fight” aboard Carnival Sunrise, these altercations have left many cruisers wondering what can be done to prevent such disruptions to their vacations.
While these incidents grab headlines and social media attention, they remain relatively rare occurrences when you consider the millions of passengers who cruise each year peacefully. Still, when fights do break out, they can affect innocent bystanders and create an uncomfortable atmosphere for everyone onboard.
We reached out to our Life Well Cruised community on Facebook to get their thoughts on what cruise lines should do about fighting. The responses were passionate, creative, and sometimes surprisingly harsh. Here’s what fellow cruisers think needs to happen.
Immediate Consequences: Get Them Off the Ship
The most common suggestion from our community was swift removal from the vessel. “Boot them off the ship at the first port of call,” said one group member, echoing the sentiment of dozens of others. This approach sends a clear message that fighting won’t be tolerated while immediately removing the problem.
Another community member suggested taking inspiration from airlines: “Planes haul people off and charge why can’t the cruise lines.” This comparison highlights how other travel industries handle disruptive passengers, and many feel cruise lines should follow suit.
The community’s top suggestions for immediate action include:
- Swift removal at the next port with no exceptions or appeals
- Confinement to the cabin or ship’s detention area until removal
- No refund policy for remaining cruise days
- Police involvement at disembarkation ports when applicable
Some members got creative with their suggestions. One joked about bringing back old maritime punishments: “Walk the plank! Or put them off at the port they are at or the next stop and they can find their own way home.” While clearly tongue-in-cheek, the underlying message was serious: consequences need to be immediate and meaningful.
The Case for Lifetime Bans
Perhaps the most popular suggestion was implementing lifetime bans for anyone involved in physical altercations. “Ban for life and leave them at the next port to find their own way home,” commented one member, representing the majority opinion.
What made this idea even more compelling was the suggestion to share these bans across all cruise lines. “All cruise lines share a list, and if you are banned on one you are banned on all,” suggested one community member. Another added, “There should be a cruise agency that lists banned cruisers to keep them off other cruise companies’ ships too.”
This approach would create an industry-wide “no sail list” similar to aviation’s no-fly list. As one member put it, “They should be arrested for disorderly conduct and put on a no sail list just like the no-fly list.”
Financial Consequences That Hurt
Beyond bans, many Life Well Cruised community members suggested hitting troublemakers where it really hurts: their wallets. “Add a fine to the lifetime ban,” suggested one member, while another recommended charging “$500 per person involved in the fight.”
The idea of forfeiting cruise costs also came up repeatedly. “Remove them at the port of call they’re closest to. Forfeit remaining days with no refunds,” one member suggested. This ensures that not only do troublemakers lose their vacation, they lose their money too.
Some members even suggested increasing security deposits. “Up the credit hold to $700 and charge $500 per person involved in the fight,” recommended one cruiser. This preventive measure could make people think twice before letting disagreements escalate.
Enhanced Security: The First Line of Defense
While punishment after the fact is important, many community members focused on prevention through better security. “More security primarily,” emphasized one member, while another noted the need for “more security especially after midnight in the common areas.”
A particularly insightful comment came from a member who highlighted training issues: “I think the big cruise lines have major issues with security. I don’t think they have nearly enough, and I don’t think they’re trained properly. One or two 5’5″ men cannot handle a brawl of 10 people. The other thing is they sit there and let verbal arguments go on way too long and then it becomes physical. Step in and separate immediately.”
Key security improvements our community wants to see:
- More visible security presence throughout the ship, especially late at night
- Better training programs for security staff on conflict de-escalation
- Larger security teams capable of handling multiple-person incidents
- Proactive intervention before verbal disputes become physical
- Casino-style security approach that’s effective but not intrusive
Several members suggested taking inspiration from land-based establishments. “I think they should take notes from Las Vegas casinos. Casino security is very impressive. It’s there without being intrusive,” noted one experienced cruiser.
Related: Cruise Casino Etiquette Rules All Cruisers Need to Know
Addressing the Root Cause: Alcohol Management
Many community members pointed to excessive alcohol consumption as a primary factor in cruise ship altercations. “Most either had too much to drink or were under the influence of some type of drugs,” observed one member with over 15 years of cruising experience.
The community suggested several approaches to manage alcohol consumption better:
- Implement daily drink limits instead of unlimited packages
- Revoke alcohol privileges for the remainder of the cruise after incidents
- Monitor passenger behavior more closely during peak drinking times
- Increase security deposits to discourage excessive consumption
- Consider eliminating unlimited drink packages on shorter “party cruises”
Some suggested drastic measures: “Stop drinks packages” and “Stop serving alcohol to idiots” were common refrains. Others proposed more moderate approaches that balance passenger enjoyment with safety concerns.
One member noted that prevention should start early: “The problem needs to be addressed before it begins. Drink limits and security officers I think are the first steps.”
The Party Cruise Problem
Several community members identified a pattern in when and where these incidents occur. “Seems to happen on the shorter, lower cost cruises. AKA Party Cruises,” observed one member. Another agreed: “Quit selling 3 & 4 day booze cruises. The fighting always seems to occur on these short cruises.”
This observation suggests that certain types of cruises attract passengers more likely to engage in disruptive behavior. Understanding this pattern could help cruise lines implement targeted prevention strategies for higher-risk sailings.
Related: I Tried a Short Weekend Cruise – Here’s What Surprised Me!
Zero Tolerance Policies
Many community members called for clear, well-communicated zero tolerance policies. “Maybe have every guest sign a waiver with no fighting. If they do then slap them with a huge fine, next port off of ship and banned for life. This way they are aware of the consequences,” suggested one member.
The key is making sure passengers understand the consequences before they board. “More seen security in uniform, removing trouble makers from the start before it escalates,” recommended another member, emphasizing the importance of visible deterrents.
Reality Check: How Common Are These Incidents?
While these suggestions are passionate and well-intentioned, it’s worth noting that several experienced cruisers in our community have never witnessed such incidents. “I have never witnessed anything like this on a cruise ship. Literally blows my mind how people can’t just get along,” commented one member.
Another added, “I have been cruising for over 15 years and haven’t seen a fight on any of my cruises.” A third member noted, “I’ve been on 12 [cruises] with Carnival and have never seen anything like that!”
This reality check reminds us that while these incidents make headlines and viral videos, they’re still relatively uncommon occurrences in the broader context of cruise travel.
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What This Means for Future Cruising
The passionate responses from our community show that cruisers care deeply about maintaining the peaceful, relaxing atmosphere that makes cruising special. While fights and disruptions will likely never be completely eliminated, the suggestions from experienced cruisers provide a roadmap for improvement.
Enhanced security training, immediate consequences, industry-wide ban sharing, and better alcohol management could all contribute to safer, more enjoyable cruises for everyone. The key is implementing these measures in a way that doesn’t make cruising feel like a police state while still deterring bad behavior.
As one community member wisely noted, “With thousands of people on the cruise ships they need private and public [security]. Making sure people know it won’t be tolerated.” Clear communication, visible security presence, and swift consequences seem to be the winning combination most cruisers want to see.
Whether cruise lines will implement all these suggestions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the cruising community has spoken, and they want action to protect the vacation experience they love for everyone onboard.
