All cruise travelers know there is a prohibited items list of things that they are not permitted to bring onboard. But some of those items are so surprising that even frequent cruise guests might be inadvertently caught with contraband and escorted to the “naughty room” about the suspicious item.

For one Carnival guest, however, what is frustrating is not that they accidentally brought along such an item, but that they claim it has been cruising with them for many years.

It is that contradiction that urged the guest to reach out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, with their experience.

“On our recent Spirit cruise we received two of our three luggage pieces. We didn’t think much of it, but we checked back a couple of times and our steward knocked on our door and said our bag was being held for inspection,” the guest explained. “So I made my way down to the crew deck to a room full of bags and asked to identify mine.”

While the guest does not identify the sailing date, they enjoyed aboard Carnival Spirit, the ship is currently homeported from Mobile, Alabama, offering 6- and 8-night Bahamas itineraries, as well as one upcoming 14-night Southern Caribbean cruise.

“When I did they sent it through the scanner, identified the ‘suspicious item’ and asked me to open the bag,” the guest continued. “The items that alerted them were my Leatherman multi-tool and my laser pen/ flashlight You know, the ones (or similar) that I’ve packed for every cruise for the last 10 years.”

While multi-tools are not specifically listed on Carnival’s prohibited items list, the list does include “knives, scissors, and open razors” as clearly prohibited. Leatherman multi-tools, and indeed most brands of multi-tools, typically do include both knives and scissors, depending on the overall design.

Furthermore, “lasers and laser pointers” have been on the prohibited items list for many years.

“I’m still not sure what set off their alarms, but I can add ‘sent to the Naughty Room’ to my list of experiences,” the guest noted. “It was embarrassing and it was degrading. Why are these [items] that other cruise lines have allowed banned at Carnival?”

To be clear, the same or similar items actually are prohibited by most cruise lines. It is possible the guest may be exaggerating traveling with these items “for every cruise for the last 10 years” or it is also possible the items may have been previously overlooked.

Overlooked items, in fact, can cause great difficulties for cruise guests, such as the grandmother who was jailed in Nassau for inadvertently bringing along a gun on her Royal Caribbean cruise.

Guests Share Other Surprising Confiscations

Heald does not attempt to justify this particular guest’s experiences (they do not explain what exactly was “embarrassing” and “degrading”), but he does ask if other guests have ever been to the so-called “Naughty Room” and had items confiscated.

The results show a surprising range of different items that have caused guests to have their luggage inspected, delayed, or confiscated over the years, including:

• Spilled pills that needed to be rechecked
• Pina Colada scented candle souvenir purchased in port
• Hair curlers
• Homemade peanut brittle
• Flashlights
• Carved wooden toy sword
• Electric toothbrush
• Travel clothing iron
• Loose cans of soft drinks
• Travel fans
• Smoothie maker
• Power strips and extension cords

The most fun experience is one many guests can relate to if they enjoy both hiding and hunting for cruising ducks.

Read Also: What Can You Not Bring on a Cruise?

“The dog at the terminal stopped at one of my bags that was just a snap to hold closed and stuck it’s head in the bag and security was giving me look of what are you sneaking on and other passengers are all staring at me,” one guest described.

“I told security [the] bag was full of ducks and stuff to hide and after a couple minutes the dog pulled it’s head out of the bag and had a rubber duck. Security quickly took duck and gave it back. Everyone had a good laugh. Dog just wanted to play!”

What Happens to Confiscated Items

It is standard procedure that when an item is confiscated, it is typically held for the guest to reclaim at the end of their sailing. If the confiscation happens in the cruise terminal, the item may be held at the port until the ship returns.

If something is confiscated onboard, it can usually be claimed either on the last evening of the cruise or on debarkation morning at a designated site.

Some items, such as food items, may be discarded completely, while any illegal items, such as narcotics, may be turned over to authorities for charges to be filed if necessary.

Carnival Guest Upset After Long‑Carried Item Is Suddenly Confiscated