Cruise Vloggers Banned From Filming After Complaint

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Two young cruise YouTubers sailing on P&O Cruises’ Ventura say they were ordered to stop filming their ship-tour content after a fellow guest complained to reception.

Young at Sea cruisers banned from filming on Ventura

Josh and Alfie, the duo behind the Young at Sea YouTube channel, were part-way through a four-night sailing from Southampton to Rotterdam when they were told that further filming could lead to “further action” – something they feared might even result in being banned by Carnival UK.

The pair, who routinely film ship tours in the early hours specifically to avoid capturing other guests, said the complaint left them too nervous to record anything at all.

However, after speaking to customer services again a few hours after their initial warning, they were eventually told they were free to film around the ship as long as they avoided zooming in on passengers – advice they say they already follow as standard practice.

Passenger Reaction: Support, Suspicion and a Call For Privacy

Feedback on the pair’s Facebook post was largely supportive, with many commenters suggesting the complaint may have come from someone who didn’t want to be recognised – possibly, they joked, because they were “on the ship with someone they shouldn’t be”.

Others questioned why P&O Cruises would restrict filming when the line typically embraces social-media coverage.

Ventura-cruise

Several people urged the duo to speak directly to senior management or guest services, arguing that one complaint shouldn’t dictate policy.

A few highlighted that other vloggers had experienced similar issues on different lines, and that cruise companies usually apologised once misunderstandings were cleared up.

Not all comments were in favour: some passengers stressed that being filmed on holiday feels intrusive, with one saying: “Accept that not everyone wants to be filmed by complete strangers and show a bit of respect to your fellow passengers.” Another advised the pair simply to “forget the filming and enjoy the cruise”.

Privacy was a recurring theme. One commenter said: “Film, but don’t show other passengers. I wouldn’t want you filming me… it’s an invasion of my privacy.”

Others, however, questioned where the line is drawn, noting that almost everyone takes photos and videos on board and that a blanket ban would be impossible to enforce.

My Take

Running my own cruise YouTube channel, I’ve personally never been asked to stop filming on a ship – though I do know of a couple of creators who’ve faced similar issues.

To me, the balance between privacy and content creation is clear: people’s right not to be filmed comes first, which is why responsible vloggers head out at the crack of dawn (or earlier…!) to film their ship tours while the decks and venues are empty.

As long as you avoid filming anyone, or edit them out if they happen to appear fleetingly, it’s perfectly possible to create useful, respectful content.

Ship tours are incredibly helpful for travellers researching their next cruise, and they offer cruise lines free, authentic promotion.

Hopefully incidents like this don’t lead to a clampdown on creators altogether – because when handled responsibly, filming on board benefits both passengers and the industry.

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2 thoughts on “Cruise Vloggers Banned From Filming After Complaint”

  1. Gareth

    Hi jenni

    Great content.

    On the issue of the cruise blogger duo and complaint, there is a massive difference between someone taking a phone video for home viewing or sharing with friends and a ‘professional’ vlogger whose main intent is to publicise content for financial gain, tends to have all the gadgets and walk around a ship talking to themselves. If I go on a cruise this is a private space and I would expect privacy. If I’m off the ship that’s different.

    Vloggers seem to believe they have a right to commercialize content, I sincerely hope the cruise operators restrict this to paid for or arranged cruise trips for vloggers which seem to be increasingly common place.

    Alternatively why not create a code of practice. If a blogger doesn’t follow then ban

    If I saw a blogger filming I would make a complaint. I have nothing to hide but I wouldnt want to see myself on YouTube in swimming trunks or dribbling gravy down my tuxedo shirt!

    Reply
    • Jenni Fielding

      Hi Gareth. Thanks for your comments. When most vloggers film, they take great care not to get anyone else’s face in the shot. If they do, they will edit them out afterwards. This is what I do, and it’s also what I believe the people in question do. However, I agree, I do sometimes see videos online which have strangers faces in and I agree that’s not okay. Especially while swimming or dining as you say! I take your point about only allowig ‘paid’ vloggers. However, a vlogger being paid by a cruise line is extremely rare, probably less than 1% of all cruise videos. And even those that do get paid, they had to create thousands of videos for free first. I think the ‘code of practice’ is ‘don’t get anyone’s face in shot’, and that’s already followed in the majority of cases, but I agree that speaking about this may make those who aren’t so considerate be more mindful of others, which can only be a good thing. Jenni

      Reply

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