There have been many articles and posts written regarding the rules on cruise ships and the punishment for breaking said rules. The rules regarding sneaking booze onboard a ship to save money are always a question of first-time cruisers and even some who are just hoping that the rules have changed. But “rum running” is still not allowed, and if caught you are still likely to lose your booze. But it won’t get you banned unless you are a habitual offender.
However, if you are looking to be the star of your friend’s latest YouTube video and you decide to jump from your 11th-floor balcony into the water, you are going to very quickly get banned. At least that is what Nick Naydev experienced after he decided to launch himself off of Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas that was docked in Nassau, Bahamas. In addition, he was removed from the ship and forced to find his own way home which ended up being a costly plane ticket. But he was not alone on his flight home as Royal Caribbean also asked his friends to leave the ship immediately.
Although he was not seriously injured from this childish stunt, he did later tell interviewers that he was sore for several days and could barely walk after the incident. It is rather miraculous that he was not hurt as the jump was approximately 100 feet. Later he revealed that he was still drunk from the night before which makes it even more amazing that he lived to tell the story of getting banned from an entire cruise line.
In an effort to stop other passengers from attempting such reckless acts, a representative from the cruise line did announce that they are exploring the possibility of legal action against Mr. Naydev who is a resident of Vancouver, Washington. It is not lost on the management of the cruise line that in 2018 there were more accidental man overboard incidents reported than in any year in the past decade. Cruise lines are looking at many ways to keep passengers safe when near the rail of a ship. And acts like this not only risk lives but can encourage young passengers to attempt this very dangerous act, expecting minimal punishment and instant Internet fame. But the reality is that Mr. Naydev is very fortunate to only be banned from Royal Caribbean ships for life and not facing recovery from a life-altering injury.
