Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line is reminding all guests not to wear camouflage in certain ports of call where it is prohibited.
- The reminder comes after a 12-year-old guest was escorted back to Carnival Horizon due to camouflage attire.
- Such restrictions are set by individual countries and ports and are not under the cruise line’s control.
Every cruise guest has different ideas of what resort casual wear, formal attire, beach clothing, and other duds should be part of a vacation wardrobe, but one type of clothing may be best left at home: camouflage.
It doesn’t matter the guest’s age, intention, or style of camouflage, some countries do not permit it to be worn except by the proper authorities. One of the passengers aboard the 3,960-guest Carnival Horizon learned the hard way that wearing camouflage can mean an interruption to port plans and a disruption to one’s activities ashore.
The guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, about their son’s experience and asked for a reminder so other guests are aware of the prohibition.
“I think many of your fans don’t know that it is not allowed to wear camouflage clothing in Montego Bay. My 12-year-old son came off the Horizon and was sent back to the ship by police and made to change his clothes,” the guest explained. “Just saying you should tell people who do not know of this rule!”
Heald used the opportunity to remind his roughly 671,000 Facebook fans that several popular cruise ports, including Jamaica, Barbados, and the Bahamas, do not permit camouflage clothing.
“I would personally check on the local Government websites before you cruise to see if you can wear it or not,” he suggested. “And perhaps I can suggest you don’t wear it anywhere ashore? I know the idea of wearing Camouflage is not to be seen… But someone will notice if it’s not allowed.”
Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security also notes that in addition to camouflage clothing and material, other items that are not permitted (which cruise travelers might be tempted to bring) include laser light pointers, metal detectors, and pepper sprays.
The exact sailing the incident occurred on was not revealed, but Carnival Horizon is homeported from Miami and offers alternating Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean itineraries.
The 6-night Western Caribbean routes do visit either Ocho Rios or Montego Bay in Jamaica. The most recent sailing to visit Montego Bay was the ship’s May 3, 2026 departure. Along the way, the ship also visited Celebration Key and Grand Cayman before returning to Miami on Saturday, May 9.
Popular Ports That Don’t Permit Camouflage
This is not the first time Carnival cruise guests have run into restrictions on camouflage clothing. Cruise Hive has reported on similar instances in the Bahamas as well as Barbados when guests have been returned to their respective ships by local police because of their attire.
Other countries that do not permit camouflage clothing include Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, and Saint Kitts, among others. These laws are set by individual countries and are not under Carnival Cruise Line’s control.
It can be confusing to cruise guests where camouflage clothing is and is not permitted, particularly on itineraries that may visit some ports where camouflage designs are fine and others where they are restricted.
Furthermore, even when camouflage is not permitted, some vendors may sell camouflage prints in souvenir shops, adding to the confusion.
Does Carnival Warn Guests About Improper Attire?
Carnival Cruise Line takes multiple steps to alert guests to the restriction, trying to ensure that everyone is aware of where camouflage patterns are not permitted.
“I have seen it on the website, on the app, in the Fun Times and on a sign when leaving the ship,” one guest commented. “The only thing left to do is a stamp on your forehead I guess.”
Cruise directors also typically make announcements the day before or the morning of a port visit and may include the camouflage restriction reminder as they share what to expect for the day. Shore excursion descriptions for impacted ports might also note that camouflage is not permitted.
Carnival’s “What to Wear” FAQ does address the restriction as well.
“In some ports of call, it is against the law for anyone, including children, to wear army-style camouflage clothing or carry items made with camouflage material,” the website reads.
It is possible that some guests may not realize that camouflage restrictions apply to any age. The original poster noted it was their 12-year-old son wearing the camouflage.
Many countries that restrict camouflage do so to prevent confusion with local authorities and military personnel. Guidelines can change at any time.
