About a week ago Carnival Cruise Lines came up with a new policy on prohibited items. This list included such things as flat irons, heating pads, irons, steamers and plenty of other items. Some of the items such as those I just listed made sense; after all they are big time safety hazards, other items, not so much. Some of the more odd items listed were cameras, cell phones, laptops and hair dryers (really?) over 700 watts.
Naturally our natural propensity to hate anyone telling us what to do coupled with the mental imagery of thousands of frizzy haired female passengers collided to form the perfect shit storm of controversy. This storm resulted in a flood of calls to Carnival customer service representatives (you can’ t tell me they didn’t see that one coming). Of course, that didn’t solve the problem because the unprepared customer service reps did a thoroughly unacceptable job of answering customer questions about the list. Additionally, security personal were skewered in online effigy as the updated policy was being described by all sorts colorful adjectives ranging from unreasonable to fascist (those are only the ones that are fit to be printed).
Like clockwork an angry mob formed, pitchforks at the ready. The object of their anger was not necessarily the list itself as some of the items are indeed necessary. In fact, I’d be willing to wager even the most unreasonable passenger would agree that allowing firearms, knives and candles is generally speaking a bad idea. However, when Carnival went after hair dryers, curlers and straighteners they really stepped in it. I experienced this anger first hand, when I informed my girlfriend of this updated list. It was not a pretty sight, you’d think I worked for Carnival they way I was attacked.
Well, judging from the fact that Carnival has now backed off their stance on some of these items I’m thinking they too realized how bad an idea it is denying a woman the ability to properly primp. Thankfully Carnival saw the error of their ways and now lists these items under “miscellaneous concerns” along with a slew of other items which shouldn’t have been on the prohibited list to begin with. In addition to personal grooming devices electronics such as cell phones, cameras and laptops have been moved. These items are now acceptable as long as they pose no risk of safety.
If you would like to see the full list of what is now allowed or not allowed you can view it here.
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