Carnival Cruise Line is enforcing a stricter dress code for passengers visiting a popular South Pacific spot. Guests booked on Carnival Splendor received a reminder about local dress expectations ahead of their stop in Lifou, New Caledonia. This advice aimed at ensuring travelers dress conservatively while ashore stems from reports on the Cruise Hive blog.
Before its June 2nd dock, as part of an eight-night journey from Sydney, the cruise line sent a notice to its passengers. This was to inform them that wearing certain types of swimwear such as G-strings, thongs, monokinis, and mankinis is discouraged on the island. Topless sunbathing is also prohibited there, as noted by the publication.
Fox News Digital contacted Carnival Cruise Line for comments. The company stated, “We kindly ask guests to respect the local culture and rules in the ports we visit,” as seen in their dress code guidelines.
The dress code extends beyond beaches to include places like markets, churches, and other public spaces. Carnival’s reminder mirrors the existing advice shared with guests on its website, emphasizing respect for local cultures and rules.
“Some destinations, such as Lifou, which is a tribal island, are populated by proud indigenous people whose culture is based on respect, and in many cases are highly religious,” Carnival explains. The policy notes that visitors should wear traditional one-piece or full-piece swimsuits rather than bikini or monokini-type swimwear at the beach.
Carnival warned that not adhering to local customs could impact future cruise visits to Lifou. Guests were informed that violating these guidelines might threaten the cruise line’s ability to include Lifou on future itineraries, as referenced by Cruise Hive.
The emphasis on destination-specific attire reflects a broader trend among cruise lines, setting stricter policy differences between onboard and shore activities. Carnival’s swimwear rules have long sparked discussions online, with passengers expressing varied opinions.
- One Reddit user encouraged a relaxed approach, saying, “Wear what you want.”
- Another remarked on the prevalence of such swimwear onboard, noting, “There are people wearing that type of swimwear on deck 24/7.”
- The importance of mindfulness in family areas was emphasized by a commenter suggesting, “Maybe wear it at adult-only excursions and the adult-only hot tub.”
This comment is a nod to Carnival’s family-friendly environment, where many children are among the passengers.
Kelly McGreal, a production assistant with Fox News Digital, reported this story.