Carnival Cruise Line is considering adding confetti cannons to its list of prohibited items after a recent guest complaint highlighted the potential environmental impact of the popular party accessory.
The issue came to light when a passenger on Carnival Breeze shared their experience on social media, claiming that their family’s gender reveal party was “ruined” after the ship’s security confiscated their confetti cannons.
The guest, who had brought the party-popper-style cannons to announce the gender of a baby, said they were not aware of any rule against the item.
The incident occurred during one of Carnival Breeze’s 4- or 5-night Western Caribbean itineraries from its homeport in Galveston, Texas, though the exact date of the cruise is unknown.
The issue was addressed by John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, who responded to the guest on his popular Facebook page.
While acknowledging the family’s disappointment, Heald provided a clear explanation of why confetti cannons were confiscated, even though they are not explicitly listed as prohibited items.
“The biggest reason is that had you done this outdoors and some of the confetti had gone overboard we would be in breach of environmental rules and regulations,”
John Heald
Many types of confetti contain microplastics, metallic elements, or non-biodegradable materials, all of which can harm marine life.
Cruise lines must adhere to strict international laws regarding the discharge of waste into the ocean, and any object – no matter how small – can pose a risk to marine ecosystems.
Heald also noted that Carnival does allow confetti to be used indoors in certain controlled settings, such as in show finales in the theatre or at organised wedding events.
In these cases, housekeeping teams can safely collect the confetti without it posing a risk to the marine environment. However, personal use of confetti cannons, especially outdoors, is more difficult to control.
Heald confirmed that he would reach out to Carnival’s executives to discuss adding confetti cannons to the line’s official prohibited items list.
While the current list does not specifically name confetti cannons, it does state that “Carnival conducts security scanning of all luggage and reserves the right to confiscate any item, which in Carnival’s sole discretion, is deemed dangerous or can pose a risk to the vessel or its guests.”
Although confetti cannons may not seem dangerous, they can pose environmental hazards and could potentially cause minor injuries if fired incorrectly. As a result, their inclusion on the prohibited items list seems increasingly likely.
Carnival, like most cruise lines, frequently updates its list of prohibited items as new safety and environmental concerns arise. The list aims to protect passengers, crew, and the marine environment.
Sometimes, the banned items may seem unexpected or unnecessary to guests, but Carnival maintains that every rule has a reason.
A recent example of this was Carnival’s ban on Bluetooth speakers, which drew criticism from some passengers. The cruise line explained that loudspeakers could interfere with emergency announcements and disrupt the onboard experience for other passengers.
Other prohibited items include any devices with heating elements, such as clothes irons, steamers, immersion heaters, and heated blankets, due to their potential fire risk.
Items like helium balloons are also banned to prevent accidental littering of the ocean, and Carnival has long stopped offering single-use plastic straws and stirrers on its ships.
If confetti cannons are officially added to the prohibited items list, guests will be notified via Carnival’s website, email communications, and the pre-cruise “What to Pack” information.
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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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