Ever wonder why those tiny cereal boxes vanished from the Carnival breakfast buffet? Well, a recent social media post from the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, explained the reason, while also giving cruisers a big warning about foreign ports.
The conversation on cereal boxes took an interesting turn, steering into a topic that some cruise passengers don’t even think about when preparing for a day in port: trying to sneak food off the ship.
It all started when a Carnival cruiser came to Heald with a pretty relatable parent problem. Missing those single-serving cereal boxes, they explained how handy they were for kids to munch on during the day, especially when heading off to explore a new port.
“Why are the small individual boxes of cereals not available in the buffet at breakfast? My kids like to snack in these during the day, so thought it might be handy to grab a couple each morning before going ashore,” the passenger said.
“You are forcing us to buy zip lock bags to put some cereal in and smuggle it off the ship. Give your passengers what they want. Everyone eats cereal so bring us those boxes and more choices of cereal.”
Heald explained that the cruise line did indeed used to carry the mini-size cereal boxes, but it soon became a broader problem across the ship.
“Yes, when we used to have them in those small boxes, people would take many of them. Not to eat at breakfast, but to take back to their cabins or to take home and it was just not practical,” Heald stated in his Facebook post.
So, enter the more practical (though less pocket-sized) dispensers.
But then came the important part of the post, the part you really need to pay attention to:
“Remember most of the places we go to do not allow this and if you are caught by the local authorities is bringing food off the ship they may treat you in a frosty manner. And that will not be, greeeeeeat.”
Let’s be honest, grabbing a little something extra for later seems harmless, right? But think about it from the perspective of the places you’re visiting. They often have some strict rules about the types of food that can be carried into their ports, making sure nothing unwanted is introduced and becomes a health or safety issue.
So, what kind of snacks could cause a surprisingly “frosty” welcome?
It’s not just obvious items like leftover meat. Here’s a closer look:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables: These can carry pests and diseases that could devastate local crops. Imagine introducing a bug that could wipe out an entire island’s banana harvest.
- Meat and poultry: These can carry animal diseases that pose a serious threat to local livestock. This often includes processed meats as well.
- Dairy products: These can harbor bacteria and viruses that local animals, and even people, are not accustomed to.
- Certain processed foods: Depending on their ingredients and origin, some packaged items may also be restricted by local regulations.
Believe it or not, even something as seemingly harmless as cereal in a Ziploc bag could raise concerns with authorities in some ports.
In a previous post Heald elaborated on this saying, “You cannot take food off the ship. Most places we visit have very, very strict rules about taking food such as meat, cheese, pastries, bread, etc off the ship. And some will have fines you will have to pay if you do. So please do not try and either enjoy lunch ashore or return to the ship to eat. I know you have children but these are the rules for everyone.”
Most of the comments on John Heald’s Facebook post said they understood the reasoning behind the removal of the cereal boxes. One practical cruiser suggested simply purchasing snacks in port, while another pointed out that the cruise line is not intended to be a personal snack provider for excursions.
As one commenter plainly stated, “The ports the ship visits also doesn’t want to you bring food off the ship!!!”
Another said something most of us were thinking when we saw this story: “With all the other awesome eats cereal is at the bottom of the list.”
Of course, we all have our version of comfort food, and sometimes it’s nice to grab something familiar at the start of a day, even if it is a bit of breakfast cereal.
Want to keep from any trouble in port? Here’s what you should do:
- Pay attention to onboard announcements: The crew will often provide important information about local regulations.
- Check your cruise line’s website or app: Many offer destination guides with details on prohibited items.
- When unsure, it’s best to leave it on the ship. Don’t risk ruining your vacation because of a possible snack-attack.
One comment put it this way: “As for ziplock cereal smuggling—let’s just say the port authorities don’t find Cheerios nearly as charming as your kids do. Customs officials take “Special K” a little too literally.”
