- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
Carnival reports less earnings 2:20
(CNN) - Do you think wearing your shirt with profanity would be a sensation on your next cruise?
Carnival Cruise Line says no.
Guests on this company's cruises should "make sure that their clothing and accessories are respectful of other guests," reads the FAQ section of the Carnival website.
- They record the moment when two cruise ships collide in Cozumel, Mexico
That means that nothing used during the cruise should “contain a message that can be considered offensive or contain nudes, profanity, innuendo and / or sexual suggestions. In addition, clothing and accessories should not promote negative comments about an ethnicity or race, nor express hatred or violence in any way. ”
While Carnival's team is not "the clothing or expression police," spokesman Vance Gulliksen said the change came after some reports in other travel sectors about customers wearing clothes with "very threatening messages." .
Beyond the basic guidelines
“We already have some basic clothing guidelines and our guests respect them and understand that we are a family-focused business,” he says. The reports gave rise to a new discussion "on how we were prepared to handle such a situation and the need to clarify both the guests and the crew."
Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of CruiseCritic.com, was not surprised by the change made in December.
"Like other forms of travel by land and by air, cruise lines have a wide range of policies established to create a welcoming and inclusive environment on board their fleet of ships," he said. "Those policies cover everything from dress codes to alcohol consumption, and give cruise lines the authority to enforce policies as they deem necessary."
McDaniel added that "after the announcement, we have seen a series of cruises in favor of this policy change on board," McDaniel said.
How will the policy be enforced?
Carnival holds the “Best Value for Money” award from Cruise Critic. (Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
Gulliksen said the staff “will monitor guests who wear clothes with inappropriate images or language and ask them to change as needed. We will assess situations, case by case, and take appropriate measures accordingly. ”
The other dress patterns on Carnival cruises for the dining room and other public spaces remain the same, Gulliksen said.
That means not wearing jeans, sleeveless shirts (for men), shorts, shirts, sportswear, baseball caps, flip flops or swimsuits on formal nights, a policy also known as the “Cruise Elegant” Dress Code.
Some travelers love change
Many people applauded the CruiseCritic measure.
“Well, for my part, I hope your new policy is effective. I was ashamed every time I saw someone in a shirt full of blasphemies. However, it will be difficult to apply, ”wrote Cruise Critic member Joe817.
"It is sad that common courtesy has diminished so much that people should not be asked not to wear clothes with vulgarities or hate messages in multigenerational public environments," wrote Simplelife, a member of Cruise Critic.
Too subjective for others
On the other hand, many people who posted on the Facebook page of Carnival brand ambassador, John Heard, said the rule was too subjective.
“That policy is too broad and vague. Offensive? People today are offended too easily. Some may be offended by a shirt with a Christian cross or a Star of David on it.
Or a MAGA hat (Make America Great Again) ”, reads in a post.
“Bernie Sanders and AOC are extremely offensive to me. Can I complain about that? ”He asks in another post.
Sorry for that ugly sweater
Ugly sweaters will still be allowed.
You might think that the December ugly Sweater Contest of the cruise line or the Rock-N-Glow Party of the 80s are offensive in principle, but those special events will continue.
Carnival Cruise Line