Can You Get Kicked Off a Cruise Ship?

Yes, you can be removed from a cruise ship. Lines reserve the right to put disruptive or dangerous passengers ashore at the next port of call, and they do use it. It takes a serious offense rather than a minor slip, but fighting, drug possession, smuggling, smoking in a cabin, or repeatedly ignoring crew can all end your trip early, at your own expense.

What actually gets people removed

A bad review of the buffet won’t do it. The behaviors that lead to disembarkation are the ones that threaten safety, the ship’s standing in port, or other guests:

• Physical violence or threats toward passengers or crew.
• Drugs on board, including substances legal back home but not at sea.
• Smoking in a stateroom or on a balcony, which is a fire risk and usually triggers a heavy fine first, then removal for repeat offenses.
• Smuggling excess alcohol or trying to sneak banned items past security.
• Tampering with safety equipment or sitting on, climbing, or throwing things off railings.

How enforcement works onboard

Cruise ships aren’t lawless. Each ship carries a security team and senior officers who can detain a passenger, restrict them to their cabin, and document incidents. For serious crimes, the captain coordinates with the flag state and authorities at the next port, and the FBI or local police may get involved once the ship docks.

Day to day, you may be screened at embarkation and re-screened when reboarding in port, and bags can be searched if security has cause. Most passengers never notice any of this because they simply follow the rules.

If you’re removed

Being put off mid-cruise means you’re responsible for your own way home from a foreign port, with no refund for the unused days. The line can also add you to a do-not-sail list across its brands. It’s rare, but it’s real, and it’s almost always the result of behavior the passenger was warned about first.

Related guides

Part of our Onboard Life hub.