Excitement takes over the moment you step aboard a cruise ship — and that's exactly when Carnival says passengers are most likely to slip up. According to a recent rundown of boarding-day behaviour, some of the line's most frequently broken rules get broken within the first ten minutes, and the consequences range from a stern word from a crew member to being removed from the ship, banned for life, or even arrested.

The first involves your carry-on. High-tier loyalty members and guests who've paid for priority privileges can drop bags in their cabins before rooms are officially ready, but the deal comes with a condition: leave immediately so housekeeping can finish. Plenty of passengers linger instead, and the line is enforcing this one firmly from the top down. Everyone else has to hang onto their bags until cabins open anyway.

Then there's the smuggling question. Alcohol and drugs are prohibited industry-wide, and Carnival is no exception — the only exception to the booze rule being one unopened bottle of wine or champagne, up to 750ml, for guests over 21. Duck-cruising fans will be pleased to hear Carnival still welcomes the hidden-rubber-duck tradition, though. Health questionnaires are another early trap: downplaying a contagious illness to avoid missing a prepaid holiday can trigger a ship-wide quarantine, so honesty protects far more than your own booking.

Safety rules round out the list. Sitting or climbing on railings — including the one on your own balcony — earns a swift talking-to, and don't assume nobody noticed: ships are covered in cameras, some feeds even publicly streamable online. And skipping your muster station visit or drill is a genuine no-go; every passenger must know where to assemble in an emergency, no matter how distracting the pool deck is.

Beyond the official rules, a little courtesy goes a long way: use headphones for phone calls in public spaces, and keep the noise down walking through corridors at night. You're sharing tight quarters with thousands of people, and your neighbours will remember the 2am singing.

For anyone with a Carnival sailing coming up, the takeaway is simple: know the rules before boarding day, follow the ones that exist even if they feel fussy, and spend your energy on the pool deck instead of arguing with crew.