Passengers travelling on a Carnival cruise have been told they may be ordered back to the ship if they fail to follow local swimwear rules during one island stop.
Carnival Cruise Line sails to a wide range of holiday hotspots, with itineraries covering places such as the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda from major US departure ports including Miami, Galveston and Long Beach.
The company also runs voyages from Australia, where Carnival Splendor takes guests to destinations across the South Pacific, New Zealand and the Australian coastline.
Travellers on that ship have now been reminded to respect local customs when visiting Lifou, an island in New Caledonia.
Lifou, also known locally as Drehu, is the largest of New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands and is home to Kanak communities with strong cultural and religious traditions. Cruise passengers usually arrive by tender near Easo, where local markets, beaches and excursions are part of the port call.
In a letter seen by CruiseHive, Carnival Splendor captain Eduardo Ferrone told passengers: “To observe the local customs of the island, a respectful dress code is essential.
“Swimwear should only be worn at the beach or by a pool and should be very modest in nature. G-strings, thongs, monokinis or mankinis should not be worn (even on the beach) and topless sunbathing is also not permitted at any time.”
That means guests who do not follow the guidance on bikinis and other swimwear could be sent back onboard, potentially missing the chance to explore the island, CruiseHive reports.
The warning also stated that if passengers ignore the rules, future visits to Lifou could be removed from itineraries altogether.
Carnival’s own website lists Lifou among the destinations where more conservative swimwear expectations apply.
“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 cruise liner 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.”
The guidance is not limited to the beach. Carnival’s description for its Melanesian Encounter shore excursion in Lifou says modest attire is required when visiting local villages, with knees, shoulders and midriffs covered. It also says short shorts and swimwear are not allowed in those settings, and that visitors should ask permission before photographing individuals.
Guests taking part in village visits may also be asked to remove hats and shoes before entering houses, another local custom listed in Carnival’s excursion notes.
For anyone due to visit Lifou, the safest packing option is a modest one-piece swimsuit, rash vest, board shorts or similar full-coverage swimwear, plus a sarong, T-shirt, dress or other cover-up for walking away from the beach.
Once back on the ship, Carnival’s dress code is generally more relaxed, particularly around the pool and leisure areas.
However, there are still some basic requirements for guests, including wearing shoes in indoor dining venues and covering up swimwear when away from the poolside.
Carnival’s dress code says swimwear is not permitted in the main dining rooms during the evening, whether the night is listed as Cruise Casual or Cruise Elegant. The Lido Restaurant has a more relaxed dress code, but shirts, bathing suit cover-ups and footwear must still be worn.
The cruise line also hosts ‘Cruise Elegant’ evenings, giving passengers the option to wear smarter outfits for a more formal night onboard.
Although smart clothing is recommended for those occasions, the policy still bans swimwear, sheer or see-through clothing and ripped or cut-off T-shirts in the main dining rooms.
There is another important New Caledonia requirement for Carnival guests to be aware of: passengers on South Pacific cruises calling at New Caledonia, including Noumea or Lifou, must bring printed proof of international travel insurance with cruise coverage. Carnival says guests who cannot show suitable proof at check-in may be denied boarding.
Carnival Splendor has upcoming Lifou calls scheduled for 15 June and 12 July 2026, with additional New Caledonia itineraries listed later in the year.