Even one of the happiest occasions of someone’s life can be interrupted by breaking one of the biggest rules on a cruise ship. For one bride-to-be, a clever trick to sneak alcohol on board turned into a lifetime ban from Carnival Cruise Line.
Maddie, known as @madisonwest2000 on TikTok, was all set for a bachelorette party on a Carnival cruise. But her sneaky plan to bring alcohol onboard—hidden in feminine hygiene product wrappers—backfired in a big way.
After sharing her “hack” on TikTok during the cruise, she caught the attention of Carnival’s security team. The result was a lifetime ban and a viral post full of unsympathetic comments.
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald has repeatedly said that the cruise line monitors these types of social media posts and will find out if someone is breaking the rules.
@madisonwest2000How I got banned from carnival cruises
The Viral Bachelorette Cruise Gone Wrong
Maddie thought she’d outsmarted Carnival’s rules by disguising alcohol in feminine hygiene wrappers to smuggle it aboard the ship. She posted a TikTok video mid-cruise, showing herself pouring the booze into a drink.
“Mannn yall gotta know they have a social media team,” one commenter warned. Her followers quickly tagged Carnival Cruise Line, and it didn’t take long for security to show up at her cabin door.
During the visit, which Maddie partially recorded, security found more alcohol-filled wrappers stashed in her stateroom’s mini fridge.
“He made me change my written statement from ‘brought’ to ‘smuggled’,” Maddie captioned, owning up to her mistake. “This was on me, and I accept my punishment.” She also noted the crew’s comments about her filming, saying, “They were so weird about me recording, I’m pretty sure that’s my right but I didn’t want to make it worse.”
How Carnival Discovered the Smuggling
TikTok users had plenty to say about how Maddie got caught as the post was filled with hundreds of comments. “Did someone see you or a snitch off the video!? Like HOW did the crew see your TikTok?” one asked. Another guessed, “I think the cabin steward saw the fridge and told on them.”
Others pointed out her biggest issue which seems fairly obvious: “I’m trying to understand why you’d post it while you’re still onboard? You’ve got to know they’ll find out.”
Why Carnival Cracks Down
Carnival’s policy is strict: guests can bring one 750-ml bottle of sealed wine or champagne in carry-on luggage, but all other alcohol is off-limits.
Why? It’s not just about protecting their bar revenue (though drink packages and à la carte sales are big business). Unmonitored alcohol can lead to overdrinking, which raises safety concerns. There’s also the risk of tampered drinks being shared.
TikTok users weighed in: “Just get the drink package,” several urged, with one sharing, “I spent $800 on drinks! Don’t be like me.” Another suggested, “If you can’t buy drinks on a cruise or get that casino point marker for free ones, you really shouldn’t take a cruise.”
The cost of drink packages sparked debate, with one user noting, “Just FYI the drink package is $1100 for 2 people for a week,” while another countered, “I’ve been cruising for 20 yrs and never spent for that $239 pp on a drink package.”
A Plea to Have the Ban Lifted
Maddie then revealed why Carnival matters to her. “Me and my husband actually met on a Carnival cruise, so Carnival means a lot to us,” she shared in a follow-up video, pleading, “I take it all back. Just let me back on, please.” But most comments weren’t buying it.
One user said: “It’s so hard for some people to just follow the rules and enjoy the vacation!!!” Another was blunt: “This is a natural consequence.”
Some highlighted the rules themselves. “Just to be clear. When you book a cruise you waive your rights. The captain is the only authority on the ship. You must follow their rules. Period,” one explained. Another added, “The rights you might think you have ARE NOT the same at sea. It’s THEIR rules.”
Can She Sail Again?
While Carnival allows appeals for lifetime bans, they’re rarely overturned. Maddie’s case is a reminder that smuggling alcohol is a practice that is bad enough, and flaunting the behavior online, is even too much for most social media users to have too much sympathy.
As one commenter shared, “I’m not judging. But once I realized how much I love to cruise I just won’t take the risk of losing my privileges.” Another summed it up neatly: “Carnival ain’t playing no more.”
Not the Only TikToker to Be Banned
TikToker Courtney Murley also faced a lifetime ban from Carnival Cruise Line after posting a viral video that appeared to show her smuggling alcohol onto Carnival Conquest. She shared her ban letter publicly, which confirmed Carnival’s strict stance: guests caught violating alcohol policies—and then broadcasting it on social media—can expect swift and lasting consequences.
Murley later claimed the video was satirical and no actual alcohol was smuggled, but Carnival emphasized that posting such content alone was enough to justify the ban. The letter warned that any attempt to book future cruises would be canceled, with deposits forfeited.
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