A bride-to-be celebrating her bachelorette cruise has been banned for life from Carnival Cruise Line after being caught smuggling alcohol onboard and posting about it on social media.
The passenger, known as Maddie on TikTok (@madisonwest2000), shared a now-viral video showing how she disguised alcohol inside feminine hygiene product wrappers to sneak it onto the ship.
In the clip, she poured the hidden liquor into her drink while onboard – something that quickly drew attention from fellow TikTok users, many of whom tagged Carnival Cruise Line.
It didn’t take long for ship security to come knocking. In a follow-up video, Maddie said that crew members searched her cabin and found more of the disguised alcohol in her mini fridge.
“He made me change my written statement from ‘brought’ to ‘smuggled’. Again, this was on me and I accept my punishment,” Maddie wrote.
She later confirmed that she received an email from Carnival after disembarking, informing her of a lifetime ban from sailing with the line.
TikTok Troubles Lead to Lifetime Ban
Many of Maddie’s viewers suggested that her mistake was posting the video while still onboard.
However, Carnival can and does take action even after a cruise has ended – as seen earlier this year when another guest was banned for posting a similar smuggling video weeks after returning home.
@madisonwest2000 How I got banned from carnival cruises
Under Carnival’s strict alcohol policy, guests are only permitted to bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed wine or champagne per adult in their carry-on luggage.
All other alcoholic beverages are prohibited and will be confiscated without compensation.
“All liquor, beer, and other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages outside of the exceptions referenced above are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage,” the cruise line’s policy states.
The policy exists for several reasons: safety, responsible service, and – primarily – revenue. Cruise lines must monitor alcohol consumption carefully to prevent dangerous behaviour onboard, and they rely heavily on bar and beverage sales as part of their overall income.
“Please Let Me Back On”
After receiving her ban, Maddie admitted regret in a follow-up post, saying Carnival held a special place in her heart because she met her fiancé on one of the line’s cruises.
“Me and my husband actually met on a Carnival cruise so Carnival means a lot to us. So it kinda sucks that I got banned. So I take it all back. Just let me back on, please,” she pleaded.
Unfortunately for her, cruise lines rarely overturn lifetime bans once they’ve been issued.
Little Sympathy From Cruise Fans
While some viewers sympathised with her disappointment, most commenters were unsympathetic, noting that Carnival’s alcohol policy is clear and that her punishment was self-inflicted.
“I’m sorry because I got caught. Actions have consequences,” one person wrote.
“Please don’t hold me accountable for decisions I make as an adult. What a joke,” another added sarcastically.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for would-be rule breakers. Smuggling alcohol onto a cruise ship might seem like a harmless prank, but as Maddie learned, it can cost you your cruising future.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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