Carnival Cruises has issued a major crackdown on wearing revealing swimwear in certain destinations, reminding passengers to respect local customs. Australians love nothing more than a day at the beach, but for travellers heading to the popular cruise destination of Lifou in New Caledonia, bikinis and other revealing swimwear are not permitted outside the ship.
According to Cruise Hive, guests on board Carnival Splendour, which departed from Sydney on June 2, were given a notice regarding dress code expectations before their eight-night South Pacific sailing. The ship’s first port of call was the picturesque island of Lifou.
Before arriving, each passenger received a letter from the ship’s master, Eduardo Ferrone, delivered to their staterooms. The letter reminded cruisers of the dress code and what is and is not permitted in some ports. Passengers have been advised to avoid wearing anything super revealing, such as two-piece bikinis, G-strings, monokinis, and mankinis while visiting the island. Topless sunbathing is also strictly prohibited.
Dress Code Applies to All Public Areas
The dress code not only applies to beaches but also to all public areas on the island, including markets, churches, and community gathering spaces. Lifou is a beautiful island in New Caledonia, known for its indigenous Kanak culture.
“We kindly ask guests to respect the local culture and rules in the ports we visit,” Carnival states in its dress code guidelines. The cruise line specifically identifies Lifou as a destination where local customs call for more conservative attire, a rule that has been in place for some time.
“Some destinations, such as Lifou, which is a tribal island, are populated by proud indigenous people whose culture is based on respect, and in many cases are highly religious,” the letter states. “The communities in these locations also request visitors to wear traditional one-piece or full-piece swimsuits and refrain from wearing bikini or monokini-type swimsuits while at the beach.”
Carnival’s Existing Guidance
News.com.au understands the swimwear crackdown reflects guidance that Carnival already shares with guests on its website. Carnival warned passengers that failing to respect local customs could jeopardise the cruise line’s ability to continue including Lifou on future itineraries.
The dress code reminder comes as cruise lines continue to enforce destination-specific rules that may differ from some on-board policies. While Carnival generally allows casual resort wear during the day, guests are expected to ensure their clothing is respectful to fellow travellers and appropriate for the setting, according to its website.
Passenger Reactions Online
The cruise line’s swimwear policies have been a hot topic of discussion among passengers online. “Wear what you want,” one Reddit user wrote. Another argued that revealing swimwear is already quite common on board the ships, stating that “there are people wearing that type of swimwear on deck 24/7.”
Others felt guests should be more mindful in family areas. “Maybe wear it at adult-only excursions and the adult-only hot tub,” one commenter suggested. “Carnival is for families, and there are a lot of kids on these cruises.”
Others agreed that people should respect the local customs of where they are visiting. “Once you get off the ship you are no longer ‘on a cruise’, so respect the local customs, cover up,” one said. “If you don’t like it stay on the ship and sit by the pool.”
Another highlighted the importance of respecting other nations’ customs as a tourist. “Lifou is a tribal island home to the Kanak Indigenous people, whose culture is based on respect and is highly religious,” another added. “The local community has specifically requested these dress rules, as wearing inappropriate swimwear can cause cultural friction and may lead to cruise ships being banned from Lifou permanently. Bottom line, bring a modest one-piece swimsuit and a rashie or cover-up. Respect the local kastom (tradition). Their country, their rules.”
The cruise took off from Sydney, and passengers are reminded to adhere to these guidelines to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience for all.
