Standing on the deck of a cruise ship with the ocean stretching out before you, it’s tempting to think about dropping a line over the side. For starters, the thought of fishing on a giant ship is hilarious. Second, you literally have dozens of fish below you! After all… the water’s right there, you’ve got time to kill, and catching dinner sounds like a cool story to tell back home, right?
But here’s the problem: fishing from a cruise ship is strictly prohibited, and getting caught can result in a lifetime ban from that cruise line. And nobody wants to get banned over some stupid basa or salmon.
Why Cruise Lines Ban Fishing
As hilarious as it would be to bring a fishing line on a cruise, you actually can’t. Cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and more explicitly prohibit fishing from their ships for several serious reasons. First, there’s the safety issue. Fishing lines, hooks, and equipment can pose hazards to other passengers, especially in crowded deck areas. A wayward hook or tangled line isn’t just annoying, it’s dangerous, and could cause serious harm. And nobody wants to spend their cruise on the ship’s hospital.
Beyond safety, there are strict maritime regulations and environmental laws that cruise ships must follow. Many cruise routes pass through protected marine areas where fishing is illegal, and cruise lines can face massive fines if passengers are caught fishing in these zones. The companies simply can’t risk the legal liability or the damage to their environmental reputation, especially when cruises are already expensive enough as it is.
What Happens If You Get Caught Fishing
If crew members spot you fishing, they’ll confiscate your equipment immediately. Depending on the severity and whether you’ve caused any incidents, you could be confined to your cabin for the rest of the voyage. The ship may even remove you at the next port, and you’ll be responsible for arranging your own transportation home.
More importantly, the cruise line will likely ban you from booking future cruises with them. This isn’t an empty threat. Major cruise lines maintain databases of banned passengers, and these bans are taken seriously. Some travelers have learned this the hard way, thinking a quick fishing attempt wouldn’t matter. Leave the fishing gear at home, enjoy the cruise ship upgrades you hopefully scored, and save the fishing for when you’re on dry land. Besides, why would you want to cook fish on vacation? Beyond that, where would you even cook it? It’s not like your cabin has a stove or air fryer. Just stick to the food the cruise ship provides.
