Cruise lines try to avoid politics.
That’s mostly true for passengers as well. Yes, there’s nearly always someone, or a few people, wearing provocative hats or T-shirts, looking for a fight, but generally people leave the politics at home.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line passengers share their dining indulgences
Most people know that bringing politics on vacation can lead to fights when leaving them at home can help you make friends with people you may never have met on land. Sometimes that leads to people with different beliefs becoming good friends.
Cruise lines know that politics are a third rail so they almost always avoid them. Sports might play on the big screens and in public places, but news never does.
That does not stop passengers from asking.
People, at least some of them, wanted Carnival (CCL) (and other cruise lines) to show the presidential debates, and election night. The cruise line did not give in on the potentially divisive nights.
Inauguration, however, could be considered a less divisive night. The voting has ended, and the nation is supposed to come together behind its new president.
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Carnival won’t be showing the inauguration in public places.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival shares inauguration decision
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald was blunt in explaining his cruise line’s plans for the presidential inauguration.
“I had a lot of people ask me while I was answering questions on Saturday if we would be showing the presidential inauguration on the big screen tomorrow? As I have explained before we won’t be doing this,” he wrote.
That does not mean passengers can’t watch the ceremony.
“There will be coverage on the news station on your cabin TV or you can use the internet to watch. I do hope that is OK,” he added.
Heald also made it clear that the cruise line’s choice had nothing to do with political parties or who was becoming president.
“And before Mr and Mrs Glitterknickers jump on us for being ‘political,’ I should mention we have never shown any inauguration on the big screens,” he shared.
Most Carnival passengers seem to agree
While Heald’s post did not receive the thousands of comments, many of his posts do, most of those who did comment supported the decision.
“Good morning John, we are currently on the Venezia and I am very glad you’re not gonna be showing the inauguration. I’m on vacation to get away from the world and have a good time and if I want to watch it, I’ll just watch it on my iPad,” wrote Barry Walker.
Angie Harris Bourbeau was much more forceful in her comments.
“Thank you for not showing that crap tomorrow. All political stuff should be avoided while cruising,” she posted.
Roger Hubbard thinks Carnival is making the right decision.
“Totally agree not showing any news related stuff on the big screen if Carnival ever did it’ll take away the fun ship vibe please, Carnival just keep doing what you doing happy cruising y’all,” he added.
Some passengers think that passengers hoping to watch any event should plan to not be on a cruise.
“If anyone wanted to watch a live viewing of the inauguration, Super Bowl or New Year’s Eve in Time’s Square, you should have thought about that when you booked your cruise reservation. OFFS,” Nancy Tober Wainright posted.
(“OFFS” is “oh, for fun’s sake” in Heald’s vernacular).
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Pam De Marco summed up the overall mood.
“Enjoy your day off and thank you Carnival for not showing the inauguration in any of the public areas on your ships,” she wrote.
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