Did Carnival ban clacking fans, hip hop music on cruises? What to know.
- Carnival Cruise Line clarifies online rumors about onboard policy changes, stating some are inaccurate and others are not new.
- While Carnival banned Bluetooth speakers and instituted a curfew for unaccompanied minors, widespread rumors about bans on dancing, specific music genres, and handheld fans are largely false.
Chatter has been circulating online about reported recent changes to Carnival Cruise Line’s onboard policies. Nevertheless, some of those rules are not new additions, while others have not been introduced at all.
Those include an alleged ban on clacking handheld fans – used for dancing to the song “Boots on the Ground” – in parts of the ship, a ban on the “Wobble” line dance, and limits on rap and hip hop music onboard. Some on social media said they felt the cruise line was unfairly targeting Black customers.
“Unfortunately, certain media outlets have blown this matter out of proportion,” Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli told Paste BN in an emailed statement. “We have always had a wide variety of entertainment options and for the last several years we have communicated our expectations about guest behavior.”
What recent changes did Carnival make?
Carnival did ban Bluetooth speakers in late 2024. The cruise line also introduced a 1 a.m. curfew for guests 17 and under – if they are not accompanied by an adult – but that policy dates back to 2023, Lupoli said.
Jasmine Ramnarine, who runs the travel and lifestyle YouTube channel A Rich and Jazzy Life with her husband, Richard, said she thinks the narrative that the cruise line is cracking down on onboard behavior is not necessarily a bad thing – even if it’s not entirely accurate.
That can help counter negative attention from viral videos of fights among passengers, for instance, she said. “At the end of the day, it’s their business, you know,” she told Paste BN.
Did Carnival ban clacking fans and the ‘Wobble’ line dance?
No. Handheld clack or clap fans are not banned, though they are prohibited in nightclubs and other indoor dance floors for safety reasons as of June, Lupoli said. However, Ramnarine said that particular change did feel “pointed towards Black people” given the song and dance's popularity within the Black community.
“And as someone who leads a community of Black cruisers on cruises, it's kind of disappointing because there's so many other things that are more important,” she said. Carnival did not immediately respond to an additional request for comment on Ramnarine’s experience.
Guests can still dance to the song with the fans on the Lido deck where there is more open space.
The “Wobble” is not banned either, according to Lupoli. The cruise line recently refreshed its Sail Away playlist, so guests may not hear the V.I.C. song there, but it is still played at other events.
The cruise line also expanded its nightclub theme nights, Lupoli added, but still plays hip hop and rap among a variety of other genres.
Richard Ramnarine said he felt Carnival could have been more vocal about dispelling false narratives circulating online. “This is the age of social media, where videos are going to go viral and people are going to believe and only hear what they're hearing and seeing on social media when they’re not hearing (enough) from Carnival’s leadership,” he said.
This story was updated to add new information.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.