Key Aspects:
- One Carnival guest is upset that they aren’t permitted to use a drone during their Mediterranean vacation.
- Drones are permitted onboard but may only be used in port, subject to local laws and restrictions.
- Many ports are secure facilities and drones are not permitted without special authorization.
Many cruisers love to take photos to capture all the amazing moments of their vacation. Shooting from the best angles, capturing that one-of-a-kind selfie, or staging the best panoramic shot can all be great ways to showcase a memorable cruise.
Not all photography is permitted, however. No matter what credentials or training a person may have, some photography restrictions are universally applied.
One Carnival Cruise Line guest has reached out to the line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, with their frustrations.
“Your FAQs say that drones and can only be used in port? Really?” the guest asked.
“I am a professional licensed drone captain. I wanted to get some footage of the Miracle when the ship is in the Med. I will be willing to share this professional footage with Carnival. Drone flyers are many and should be taken seriously. How about some courtesy Heald?”
While the guest does not identify the exact sailing they will be on, Carnival Miracle is currently homeported from Civitavecchia (Rome), offering a variety of Mediterranean itineraries to ports in Greece, Turkey, and Italy through early November.
The fact that “drone captain” is not an official title makes this guest’s claim a bit suspect. The actual title from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would be “certificated remote pilot.”
Nevertheless, they are correct that Carnival’s prohibited items list does specifically note that drones can only be used in port.
“Drone(s) are allowed, but must be held in the custody of the Chief Security Officer and must be checked out/in by the owner for PORT USE ONLY,” the policy explains.
Furthermore, guests are responsible for obeying all local laws should they choose to fly a drone in a foreign country.
“It is the responsibility of the guest to check the local laws of each port as Carnival will not be responsible for confiscated items by foreign governments,” the policy reads.
Heald acknowledged the guest’s concerns but reiterated the restrictions and how they apply to everyone.
“This is a good time for me to remind everyone that [drones] are not allowed on board for obvious safety reasons,” he said.
If flown improperly, a drone could cause injuries to other guests or even damage to the ship. Furthermore, if a drone were to crash overboard, it would be classified as ocean litter and the cruise line (and guest) could be subject to substantial fines.
“[Drones] will be collected by the security team. They will be returned to you in each port. However, you really must check with each ports rules about drone flying over their land,” Heald explained.
Because cruise ports are often secure facilities, it can be illegal to fly drones in those areas. Unfortunately, this means that close fly-bys of the ship for those awesome aerial photos and videos just aren’t possible.
The original poster’s offer to “share this professional footage with Carnival” is hardly an enticement for the cruise line to bend those rules. All cruise lines have their own media teams with far better equipment and training than hobbyists can manage.
Furthermore, cruise lines can and do seek special permits from ports to use drones and other equipment as needed for authorized filming and photo shoots.
Finally, the idea that the guest is requesting “How about some courtesy Heald?” isn’t exactly a courteous way to address the cruise line’s brand ambassador or ask for such special treatment.
Do Many Guests Bring Drones on Cruises?
Heald has followed up on the drone issue as part of a poll on his Facebook page. He’s simply asked if guests bring drones when they set sail, and the answers don’t measure up to the guests claim that “drone flyers are many.”
In less than an hour, more than 18,300 votes were cast, yet just 1% of respondents (fewer than 185 guests) do bring drones onboard.
In the meantime, more than 5,300 guests confirm “I do not bring a drone with me when I cruise.”
Personally, a drone is not something that ever features on my cruise packing list. Even if it did, there are many things I might use on a daily basis that I just don’t bring along on cruises.
Kitchen knives, the toaster, fabric shears, my wi-fi router, portable speakers, and candles: they are all on Carnival’s prohibited items list, and they all stay home.
