Cruise lines have to pick and choose how strictly they enforce rules.
If they enforce every minor rule rigorously, that can make a vacation seem like a trip to the library. Some rules are on the books, but enforcement is kind of vague.
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The most commonly ignored rules are the ones that don't affect other passengers. If you opt to wear shorts and a T-shirt to the Main Dining Room Carnival, Royal Caribbean and other family-friendly cruise lines probably overlook those dress-code violations.
In other cases, like people reserving loungers on the pool deck, the enforcement decision becomes more difficult. Technically, the cruise line should confiscate items left too long and remove them from the pool chair.
That, however, could cause the seat hoarder to blame the people who were then sitting in the seats. And that in turn could lead to a heated situation, which could escalate quickly.
You can thus see how cruise lines have to pick and choose where security gets involved. If a situation where a passenger endangers others arises, intervention obviously is necessary.
When it's less clear, or the other passenger is simply being a jerk, the cruise line may opt to not get involved. That's true in areas where passengers should be acting a certain way but choose not to.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival addresses a trivia problem
A few years ago, my cousin Michael and I were playing sports trivia on Carnival Conquest. He used to edit a sports almanac and I spent years writing trivia, so our two-person team was pretty formidable.
We ended up getting 19 of 20 questions right and lost to a team that got all 20 right. After the game ended, the winners came over and offered us the famed "ship on a stick" prize.
It turned out that they had been on the previous sailing and the same trivia questions had been used. The winners didn't intend to cheat; the cruise line simply did a bad job shuffling its list of trivia questions, and they would have had more fun had they not known the answers.
Some people, however, do willfully cheat at onboard trivia. That's easy to do because not using your phone to look up answers is on the honor system.
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald recently addressed trivia cheating on his Facebook page.
I was just referred to as a 'bozo.' Brilliant. I love this word and it probably describes me perfectly even though I am not totally sure what it means
Yes, I know people cheat now and then at trivia and no I will not be “reporting this person to the captain or security.
I do though understand and honestly speaking, just my opinion, but is there anything sadder than cheating at one of our triva quizzes? Is a ship on a sodding stick or a medallion really worth the hit to your self-esteem?
Many of his Facebook followers wished the cruise line would do a better job when it comes to policing its trivia contests.
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Carnival passengers want trivia rule enforced
"I do wish the host of the trivia would check the sheet before claiming the winner. I was playing one of the music trivia where you got one point for knowing the song and a second point for knowing the artist," shared Shannon White. "I had 28/30 points playing by myself. A group of six teenagers claimed to have all 30 points but after they were given the prize, I was later told by one in the group that they didn’t know all the artists and didn’t understand the rules when they started playing."
White wasn't overly angry, but she would prefer an honest competition.
"They didn’t cheat but they technically didn’t actually win either. And yes I’m one of the fruit loops that loves getting a ship on a stick. I have two at home; one from a dance contest and one from a game," she added.
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Many of the respondents believe that the players bear the responsibility.
"We play trivia for fun, but some of the players are way too competitive for just a game. It is really sad for those of us who are there just for a good time and fun. Cheating is just wrong," posted Kathleen Henry.
Others took a much harsher view.
"Some insecure, narcissistic people can't stand to lose any contest. It's embarrassing and degrading to them," wrote MissLynn Thatsit.
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Some did put some of the blame on Carnival for not changing its trivia questions more often.
"If you are willing to trade your integrity for a plastic trophy it says much about you. I like trivia and everyone is right they should mix up the questions more," shared Ramona Tyrell Mariarz.
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