Carnival problem passengers - is this typical ?

I've been looking at Carnival again recently as a potential next cruise after I sail with Cunard later this year. We sailed on Miracle many years ago when she was new and quite honestly it was one of my favorite cruises ever.

So here I am doing my research on YouTube 10 years later regarding the usual stuff - what the cabins are like, best suites, and recommended onboard restaurants etc etc and up pops a link for "fight on Carnival cruise ship" - so I click on it out of curiosity and up pops more of them, lots more in fact, some of them are little more than shouting matches but others are really nasty violent brawls - with language so bad I wouldn't want to post links here. A search for trouble on other cruise lines came up with only one video.

I know this isn't a popular question especially in the Carnival forum so please try not to take offence, but I would like to ask if there are certain ports of departure or itineraries that should be avoided to reduce the risk of encountering this type of behavior ?

I've been looking at Carnival again recently as a potential next cruise after I sail with Cunard later this year. We sailed on Miracle many years ago when she was new and quite honestly it was one of my favorite cruises ever.

 

So here I am doing my research on YouTube 10 years later regarding the usual stuff - what the cabins are like, best suites, and recommended onboard restaurants etc etc and up pops a link for "fight on Carnival cruise ship" - so I click on it out of curiosity and up pops more of them, lots more in fact, some of them are little more than shouting matches but others are really nasty violent brawls - with language so bad I wouldn't want to post links here. A search for trouble on other cruise lines came up with only one video.

 

I know this isn't a popular question especially in the Carnival forum so please try not to take offence, but I would like to ask if there are certain ports of departure or itineraries that should be avoided to reduce the risk of encountering this type of behavior ?

I have sailed on 30 Carnival crusies out of 5 home ports and have not encountered anything along those lines. Do they happen, sure. On Carnival sure, also RCCL, NCL, Celebrity and beleive it or not Disney.

Typical? no way.

Never seen anything like that since we been cruising

That sounds like drunken, out of control fools though

no, it is not typical. no, it does not only happen on carnival.

carnival security does not take kindly to fighting, and offending parties are often put off the ship at the next port.

i have never witnessed this on my carnival cruises, and i'm not sure i'd say there's any particular ships or home ports to avoid. if anything, i'd venture it may be more likely on the short 3 day weekend 'booze cruises' but they're known for being 'wild' on any line, in more ways than one!

I agree that it could possibly happen on the short weekend cruises although I have never been on one of the shorter cruises. I have never seen this type of behavior, although honestly we do not hang by the pool or bars as we usually spend most of our time on the balcony.

I was just off the Miracle a couple weeks ago and it is now my favorite ship. It was recently refurbished and I found all the food venues we tried to be wonderful and had some of the best service ever.

I think it can be ship dependent as far as food and service. Which ship are you considering?

I have been on 3 Carnival cruises and have never seen fighting or other loud, obnoxious behavior. Of course, I generally go to bed around midnight. I would imagine that that type of behavior occurs after a lot of drinks and late at night. I have however encountered rude passengers that think they don't have to wait for others to get off the elevator before boarding or to wait in line. (Oh wait, I think that is in general society now days.) Like someone else posted, the shorter cruises (or booze cruises) may have a lot more party people. The inappropriate behavior isn't common on longer cruises.

Videos of fights on a cruise ship (or anywhere else for that matter) are posted for shock value; to generate multiple views and create money opportunities.

The percentage would be very small indeed considering how many ships Carnival has and the sheer number of passengers that cruise on them.

I've been on two cruises and never encountered them.

For that matter, I've seen less than 10 brawls in person in over thirty years of living.

Consider this, how many accidents take place every day in your town/city, and how many have you witnessed?

You should go ahead and enjoy whichever ship you are planning to book.

Avoid short cruises. Also, I would think twice before ever booking during spring break dates (March - mid-April). This, for me, applies to Carnival, Royal or Norwegian.

Ever year I think I would love to take a cruise for my wedding anniversary on March 23. But then, I remember - we got married during spring break because my DH was still in college. And, because it is spring break, I will not be on a cruise ship during that time.

7 CCL Cruises out of 4 different Ports ranging from 4-8 days...I have never witnessed the type of behavior you are describing.

I've been looking at Carnival again recently as a potential next cruise after I sail with Cunard later this year. We sailed on Miracle many years ago when she was new and quite honestly it was one of my favorite cruises ever.

 

So here I am doing my research on YouTube 10 years later regarding the usual stuff - what the cabins are like, best suites, and recommended onboard restaurants etc etc and up pops a link for "fight on Carnival cruise ship" - so I click on it out of curiosity and up pops more of them, lots more in fact, some of them are little more than shouting matches but others are really nasty violent brawls - with language so bad I wouldn't want to post links here. A search for trouble on other cruise lines came up with only one video.

 

I know this isn't a popular question especially in the Carnival forum so please try not to take offence, but I would like to ask if there are certain ports of departure or itineraries that should be avoided to reduce the risk of encountering this type of behavior ?

Those u tube things are grouped together. Next time, print in "horn battles" and have some fun:D

Typical? No. Could it happen? Yes. I've been on 6 cruises and have never witnessed a fight of any sort.

20ish cruises here, on multiple lines. The one time I encountered anything even close to a fight was the time I whapped my hubby upside the head (with my open hand) when I saw him doing something stupid. :o

And then there was the time (pre-cell phone and social media), when we witnessed a passenger nearly come to blows with the entire wait staff because they wouldn't serve him lobster. There was no lobster on this 3 day cruise. At. All. But his TA had told him he could have anything he wanted, and dammit, he wanted lobster!

So, no. Not a common occurance. (Just in case, maybe stay out of the sports bar during a big game...)

Avoid short cruises. Also, I would think twice before ever booking during spring break dates (March - mid-April). This, for me, applies to Carnival, Royal or Norwegian.

 

Ever year I think I would love to take a cruise for my wedding anniversary on March 23. But then, I remember - we got married during spring break because my DH was still in college. And, because it is spring break, I will not be on a cruise ship during that time.

I think spring break cruises get a really bad rap...especially since the drinking age is 21 and this limits the college age kids considerably. They would rather do a land vacation where booze is a lot easier to get and consume if they are so inclined.

Spring break cruises a full of families...lots of mid teens and grade school kids and my experience has been over these many years that these kids are usually well behaved and that parents are mindful of how their kids act. Having kids on board actually frees up adult only areas, bars, and night life venues...and for the most part the casino, too.

I especially like the fact that as a "senior"in my late 60s I am among the oldest onboard. Lots fewer wheel chairs, walkers, scooters, canes, adults needing assistance. Mobility is easier for everyone.

And fights and disturbances are very very rare on any cruise ship (except for the weekend booze cruises out of "big"cities).

There can be jerks anywhere, anymore. I have not witnessed such poor behavior; I have witnessed guests who had enjoyed too much fruit of the vine, etc.

I did witness two "gentlemen" on a world cruise who almost came to blows until a Hotel Department Officer intervened. Alcohol was again involved with the situation.

In 22 cruises on Carnival, I've witnessed one fight, heard a few loud arguments, was told by someone with a black eye that the "other guy" was in the ships' brig, and once was threatened by an irate husband who didn't like me calling staff to keep his wife from putting their diapered baby from the adult hot tub I had been enjoying.

No big deal, as a New Yorker I can roll with the punches, so to speak. I have about 8 cruises on other lines and haven't witnessed anything close to what I've seen on Carnival yet. I'm sure I will, especially if booze and other stuff are involved.

I also agree that Spring Break cruises get a bad rap that is unwarranted.

My first Carnival cruise was aboard Carnival Freedom during Spring Break time. When my friends learned that I had booked that cruise, they questioned my sanity in doing so.

The cruise was great! I saw, heard nothing inappropriate. What I did see were many young people enjoying themselves. My dining room table was next to a table with 4 young women who were graduating from college that Spring. Twice, I found myself at my table with no dining companions. Both times, the young ladies asked me to join them, which I did, and we had a wonderful dinner and a spirited, interesting conversation.

59 cruises, 34 on Carnival. Only saw one good fight on Carnival, a 5 day cruise. Believe it or not right in the MDR. Two woman, and no one knew how to handle it. Obviously it happens so infrequently that they didn't have a procedure ready for the incident.

Which ship are you considering?

I have been looking at maybe sailing on Miracle again, rekindle some happy memories and all that - but I wouldn't do anything shorter than 7 days especially in light of the advice in this thread.

Just remember for every one bad review or video you see out there, there are hundreds more with a good review. We just don't time to write about it or share it on places like YouTube.

We have been a couple of times when we have seen people fight (actually exchange blows) over beach chairs around the main pool on Carnival cruises.

They were NOT Spring Breakers.

LuLu

We've sailed on on Carnival, Princess, HAL and Royal. Mainly Princess and Carnival the past few years. Around 40 cruises, 30 on Carnival, with many of the short 3&4 dayers out of Los Angeles. Seen only one fight onboard.

HAL laundry room when two gals severely misjudged their washer timing and two out of control cruises-- one group of college kids on a 4day Spring Break cruise ( all the other college kids made sure we knew they weren't part of "that" group,lol) and a huge group on a three day on Princess beginning of November.

Only time I've seen a fight that was YouTube worthy was on a 3 night cruise aboard the Sensation. Big brawl right in the middle of the atrium with cursing and racial epithets thrown back and forth, and even people throwing stuff from the decks above. Overall, the crowd on that cruise left a lot to be desired. It seemed like the crew had a hard time keeping up with them.

I have never seen an actual fight on any of our cruises. But - like they say - I don't care of it's Cunard, Seabourne or the Waldorf-Astoria - if there is a lot of drinking and drunk people - anything can happen.

We have never seen fights on any of our Carnival Cruises..we never had done a spring break cruise because of all the threads on here about the behavior...but this year I had a tough year at school and we did do a spring break cruise! I'm happy to say I encountered some polite kids, one I had a very nice conversation with! His parents would've been proud! The only thing we saw was a nekkid :eek: girl who LOST out in the TRUTH or Dare game ROFL...no small kiddies around so it turned out ok but I say just go and do your thing and have fun! We did a 5 day out of Miami to Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

I have sailed on 23 cruises and the most shocking things I saw were on Carnival . A woman climb up on the stage and strip, a woman passed out on a bench & had to be carried to her room , another woman so drunk at the comedy club that she actually took over the show . Carnival attracts some colorful cruisers except on it's longer cruises meaning over 7 days or Canada cruises even Alaska the cruisers were pretty colorful.