8 People Who Were Kicked Off Cruise Ships (And What They Did Wrong)

Not everyone who boards a cruise ship will get to enjoy the full itinerary. Some people will end up getting kicked off the ship, and typically with good reason.

Those reasons can vary though – but the result is always the same. Guests are escorted from the ship at the first opportunity, no matter where they are, and are then banned for life.

Don’t worry. You aren’t going to be booted off the ship in the middle of nowhere without good reason. It’ll always be justified, and some of the behaviour of these people is pretty shocking…

1. The Dangerous Selfie

In October 2019, a passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas was kicked off the ship and banned for life after pulling a reckless stunt (source).

She was spotted climbing over the railing of her balcony to pose for a selfie while the ship was en route to Labadee, Haiti.

Another guest, Peter Blosic, saw what was happening and took a photo before alerting the crew, worried she might fall or even jump.

The woman and a man she was travelling with – who’d apparently helped her with the stunt – were identified and promptly removed from the ship at the next stop in Falmouth, Jamaica.

2. Assault on the Elderly

In October 2024, a mother and son from Alabama found themselves in hot water during a cruise aboard MSC’s Seascape (source).

The pair, 49-year-old Kelli Lyn Ryan and her 23-year-old son, Dylan, were caught on the ship’s CCTV assaulting a 65-year-old passenger during a dispute in the ship’s theatre.

Dylan was promptly removed from the ship at its first port of call in Falmouth, Jamaica, due to what was described as “excessive behaviour”.

Kelli, however, was allowed to remain onboard as the cruise continued to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and MSC’s private island in the Bahamas.

Upon returning to Miami on 12th October, she was arrested by local police and charged with battery on a person aged 65 or older. The exact cause of the altercation hasn’t been disclosed.

3. Public Urination

This one’s an interesting one.

A German passenger was booted off an unnamed cruise ship after allegedly urinating into a beer glass in a public space on the ship.

Three days after the incident, the man (and two others that he was travelling with) were removed from the ship and told they needed to make their own plans to get home.

But here’s where it gets interesting – the man took the cruise line to court, because technically the cruise line’s guest conduct policy could be argued that it didn’t exclude the man’s behaviour.

And he won. The Dusseldorf courts decided that he shouldn’t have been removed from the cruise, and he should be paid €9,000 in compensation.

It’s pretty shocking – but hopefully cruise lines move quickly to make sure their policies are updated so that this doesn’t become behaviour that must be tolerated onboard!

Read more: Cruise Guest Wins €9,000 After Alleged Urination Incident Ends Holiday Early

4. The Unruly Family

In February 2018, a 10-day South Pacific cruise aboard Carnival Legend turned chaotic when a series of violent incidents involving an extended family led to their removal from the ship.

The trouble began early in the voyage, with reports of the family engaging in aggressive behaviour towards other passengers, including physical altercations and verbal threats.

The situation escalated over several days, culminating in a large-scale brawl in the ship’s nightclub during the early hours of 16th February. Footage captured by passengers showed security personnel attempting to break up the fight, which left at least 30 people injured.

In response to the violence, the ship made an unscheduled stop at Eden, New South Wales, where six men and three teenage boys from the family were removed by police. An additional 14 family members, including women and children, also disembarked.

The remaining passengers continued to Melbourne, the cruise’s original destination.

5. The Entitled Brit

I’ve got to give credit to Sail Away Magazine for this one as they’ve done an excellent job covering this on their YouTube podcast:

Harry King was removed from Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas for repeated disruptive behaviour during a cruise.

The trouble began when he lit a cigarette inside a ship nightclub – a clear violation of the no-smoking policy outside designated areas. Although he claimed it was a misunderstanding, he admitted he’d been drinking and didn’t fully register the rules.

Security issued a final warning and confined him to his cabin for the night. However, additional behaviour came to light through his own TikTok posts, including:

• Playing loud music from a portable speaker near the pool, claiming it was no different to the ship’s own music.
• Allegedly urinating in a plant pot while drunk, though he later suggested it may have been a rumour.
• Throwing a lit cigarette overboard, an act cruise lines consider extremely dangerous due to fire risk.

@harrykingston833

Day after my 1st night on harmony if the seas!!! “Smoking at the disco” They not ready 😂😂

♬ original sound – harrykingston833

In his videos and the podcast appearance, King showed no remorse. He insisted cruises were “for boring people” and “coffin dodgers,” declared he’d do it all again, and blamed security staff for spoiling his fun.

His behaviour ultimately led to his removal from the ship at a port in Mexico and an effective ban from Royal Caribbean.

6. The Jumper

One man decided that, in his drunken state, it would be a good idea to jump off the cruise ship.

In 2019, 27-year-old Nick Naydev made headlines after jumping from the 11th deck of Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas while it was docked in Nassau, Bahamas.

The 100-foot plunge into shark-infested waters was filmed by his friends in a misguided attempt to go viral on social media.

Naydev later admitted he was still under the influence of alcohol from the night before and didn’t think the stunt through.

Though he survived with only minor injuries to his tailbone and neck, Royal Caribbean swiftly banned him and his group for life, labelling the act “stupid and reckless” and reportedly considering legal action.

Honestly, it’s a miracle he didn’t suffer worse injuries.

Suggested read: What Happens If You Jump Off A Cruise Ship?

7. The Casino Fight

A couple were permanently banned from Royal Caribbean after a violent altercation over a slot machine on Radiance of the Seas. The ship had just departed Tampa, Florida, on a 15-day repositioning cruise to Los Angeles when the incident occurred on the first night.

According to eyewitnesses, a guest had briefly stepped away from their slot machine to use the bathroom, leaving a note and asking nearby passengers to watch it.

The casino was not busy, and other machines were available. Nevertheless, a couple ignored the note and verbal warnings, sat down, and began playing – reportedly using the remaining credits left by the original player.

When the guest returned and confronted them, the couple responded aggressively, allegedly pushing the passenger to the ground and shouting.

Cruise security reviewed surveillance footage and confined the couple to their cabin until the next port, Grand Cayman, where they were disembarked and banned from sailing with Royal Caribbean and its associated brands for life.

8. The Influencer

One of the more famous incidents of someone getting kicked off a cruise ship wasn’t so much because of what they were doing – more because of who they were.

Jack Doherty is a YouTuber who claims he was kicked off a cruise ship in September 2024.

It’s not even clear what he did when you look at it online – the video sees his group in a meeting with security officers where they are questioned over filming minors onboard, smoking on their balconies, and questions about the kind of content they normally post on social media.

But despite the video being titled “I got kicked off a cruise”, it doesn’t show it happening.

And then there’s a separate video of Jack shouting at guests who serenade him with the “Na na na, Goodbye” song, but it’s a completely different ship.

Language warning:

So what really happened? Tough to say but I wonder if it’s all just fake and he was never actually kicked off a cruise – but made it look that way for content.

Just a warning to be careful over what you believe online!

Reasons You Might Get Kicked Off a Cruise

Cruise lines don’t hesitate to put passengers ashore for bad behaviour – and it’s not just the obvious stuff like violence or drug smuggling.

Whether you’re acting recklessly, skipping safety procedures, or just being plain rude, here are 11 ways to get kicked off a cruise:

1. Getting Seriously Ill
   If your medical needs exceed what the ship’s facilities can handle, you’ll be offloaded at the next port for treatment – often with no say in the matter.
2. Skipping the Muster Drill
   Miss the mandatory safety briefing, even once, and you risk being removed from the ship before it even sails.
3. Bringing Drugs or Illegal Items
   Whether it’s weed, weapons or something worse, bringing contraband onboard can end your holiday – and potentially land you in jail.
4. Refusing Security or Health Screenings
   Don’t want to go through checks or follow health protocols? Don’t expect to cruise.
5. Making a Bomb Threat
   Even joking about explosives or threats will see you swiftly removed – and possibly reported to authorities.
6. Lacking the Right Documents
   Forgot your passport or faked a vaccine card? No cruise for you.
7. Buying a Minor Alcohol
   Helping someone underage drink onboard is a one-way ticket off the ship – for both of you.
8. Disorderly or Reckless Behaviour
   Fights, drunken antics, climbing railings, or breaking rules can get you confined to your cabin – or escorted off entirely.
9. Breaking Quarantine
   If you’re required to isolate for illness and don’t comply, expect to be removed for endangering others.
10. Stealing from the Ship
    From souvenir shoplifting to high-value theft, stealing means serious consequences – including being debarked and possibly prosecuted.
11. Abusing Crew or Officers
    Cruise lines enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment or abuse. Be respectful – or be removed.

Related Posts

• Passenger Arrested After Violent Assault Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise
• How To Get Away With Smoking On A Cruise Ship – And What Happens If You’re Caught
• What Can You Get Away With in International Waters?