Carnival Cruises reveal reason for balcony ban after guest ordered to remove item

Carnival Cruise line has clarified a company policy about hanging flags from balconies – after a customer submitted an inquiry on its Facebook page.
Although the cruise line has a strict policy against smoking and vaping with limited exceptions, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald explained that the company cannot compromise passengers’ safety as people regularly violate the smoking policy.
The customer explained: “If you are not going to let me hang my University of Michigan flag from my balcony room then you should not allow those people who decorate their room.
“If it makes a person enjoy their vacation more it should be something that is encouraged.”
“What I place on my balcony shouldn’t affect anyone else’s vacation,” the customer continued. “Explain to me why it was removed without warning John Heald because this is not right.”
In response, Heald explained that it comes down to safety concerns. “Well then, the answer is safety, that is the paramount reason and this is why this chap’s flag was removed,” he wrote.
“No materials can be left on the balcony because if some idiot is smoking on the balcony and drops that cigarette or flicks hot as over the balcony and onto the balcony below Will possibly start a fire.”
However, he added that there are other reasons for the rule. “Also, there is the aesthetics,” he continued. “Can you imagine if we allowed everyone to have a flag tied to their balconies? The ship would be festooned with sports teams, national flags and the ship’s sleek white and blue lines would be covered in every colour of the rainbow.
“Anyway, that’s the reason and by me posting this here I hope anyone who was thinking of flying your flag from the balcony will now not do so and therefore not be upset when it is removed by one of the crew.”
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Some passengers shared horror stories in the comments, confirming that it does pose a real safety threat.
“I completely understand why flammable materials cannot be stored on the balcony – especially unattended,” Tony Swicer wrote.
“A few years ago, a friend was outside, reading a book, when a burning cigarette flew in and ignited the towel she was lying on,” he explained, adding: “Thankfully she escaped without being injured.”
Another passenger added that the rule seems pretty self-explanatory. “He shouldn’t have been surprised that it was taken without warning,” wrote Tammy Colley Raydo. “If people would listen or read the rules then he would have known it would be removed.
“Like others have said rules are there for a reason,” she continued. “If you don’t like Carnival rules go somewhere else because I’m pretty sure all cruise lines have the same rules.”