The cruise line could fine you, kick you off your cruise, or ban you for life if you follow this really bad social media advice.The cruise line could fine you, kick you off your cruise, or ban you for life if you follow this really bad social media advice.

• Daniel Kline / The Street
• Updated:Jun 12, 2024

You can learn how to do lots of terrible things on the internet.

Some might count as pranks. Google "How to make a stink bomb?" and, well, your inner Bart Simpson will be happy with the results. You can also search for all sorts of awful things (you should probably open a private window before doing that) but just because you can does not mean you should.

Looking for hacks that get you the biggest burrito at Chipotle is very different than searching for "How to rob a bank?" or "Where can I get a gun that can't be traced?"

The line here should be pretty obvious for people. The aforementioned Chipotle may annoy the workers who have to build your mega-burrito, but that overstuffed tortilla isn't going to blow up. It might escape the confines of its wrapper, or be messy to eat, but there's no risk of it burning down the restaurant.

That's not always the case with tips, hacks, and advice shared on social media. Some ideas can feel pretty innocuous until you consider why certain rules were put into place in the first place.

Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald recently used his Facebook page to make it clear that one popular video was sharing some terrible and dangerous advice.

Carnival makes its position clear

Some cruise line rules seem silly, but they're in place for a good reason. You're not supposed to dry your bathing suit on the balcony, for example, which is a rule largely because your bathing suit may blow away.

A lot of social media influencers who post cruise hacks offer good advice about getting the most out of your cabin or legal and ethical ways to get free drinks. When a social media post on cruising seeks to help you break the rules, it's generally best to avoid them and not attempt whatever hack the person is offering.

Heald, who refers to TikTok, as "Tit Tock," posted a passionate warning.

Yesterday (Sunday) I dared to take a day away from not answering questions and while I rested my weary mind and thighs someone posted a comment that is doing the rounds on one of the cruise Facebook pages and on Tit Tock," he wrote. "The basis of this post reads: 'I have been on 30 cruises. I smoke on the balcony. I paid for the cruise. The steward always brings an ashtray with $50 tip.

First Heald made it clear that posting ways to get around rules or to cheat the cruise line will not be tolerated.

"And so let me cut to the chase before I carry on. This chap, along with the lady who was also on Tit Tock showing how to drink water from the bottles in the cabin without breaking the seal have both been banned from cruising with us ever again," he added.

Why Carnival Cruise line bans smoking in cabins

No major cruise line allows smoking on its balconies. Heald explained why the post was both bad advice and also almost certainly not true.

"As far as the smoking comment is concerned, well let me say this also if I may. I know the cabin attendants, I know them well, better than most having spent so many years working alongside them," he shared. "I know that none of them would ever jeopardize their job, a job that helps and provides for their families at home, for an extra tip, $50 just to provide a guest with an ashtray. If they were caught, they would be going home, their job would be over."

Heald shared that anyone found smoking on their balcony faced at least a $500 fine and potentially being kicked off the ship or even a permanent ban. He explained why:

"Smoking on your balcony is selfish, truly selfish. It is wrong and it is dangerous so please, do not do it. And please, if anyone sees someone smoking on the balcony, call 7777 or 8000 immediately. Don’t wait, please report it. Be a telltale tit because it is the right thing to do to protect the ship from the dangers of fire that smoking on a balcony has caused in the past," he wrote.