Carnival cruisers warned not to wear common type of clothing in ports
When packing for a Caribbean cruise, most people choose comfortable, lightweight clothing ideal for hot, humid weather. First-time cruisers often worry about cruise line dress codes that may be enforced on the ship, but most don't consider that ports of call may have their own rules for how travelers can dress when visiting their country.
Whether you're packing for a cruise or any international trip, failing to research the laws and restrictions of the countries you're visiting can be a big mistake. Foreign laws can vary greatly and significantly differ from those of the U.S., and ignorance of a law is not a valid excuse for non-compliance.
"If you break laws in another country – even by mistake – you could be deported, fined, or imprisoned," the U.S. Department of State warns in its international travel guidance.
In some countries, laws with strict penalties even apply to clothing, including a type of clothing commonly worn by American vacationers. A Carnival cruise passenger recently shared a warning about a surprising restriction on camouflage clothing that several Caribbean countries enforce after her son was sent back to the ship for violating it as they went ashore in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.
Camouflage is illegal in several common Caribbean cruise ports
After being caught off guard by Jamaica's ban on camouflage clothing, the passenger wrote to Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald on his popular Facebook page to urge him to alert Carnival cruisers about the rule.
"John, I just thought I would post this because I think many of your fans don't know that it is not allowed to wear camouflage clothing in Montego Bay," the unidentified passenger wrote in a message that Heald shared in a May 19 Facebook post.
Jamaica is one of several Caribbean countries that bans camouflage clothing and accessories. Why? So that there's no confusion between civilians and military personnel. In the Caribbean, laws prohibiting camouflage clothing are strict and even apply to children.
Related: Do you need local currency in Mexico or Caribbean ports?
"My 12-year-old son came off the Horizon and was sent back to the ship by police and made to change his clothes. Just saying you should tell people who do not know of this rule," the passenger explained.
Consequences for violating a country's camouflage ban vary, but can be much more severe than getting sent back to the ship in some cases. Cruise passengers could face hefty fines and even jail time for wearing camouflage in certain Caribbean ports.
Caribbean cruise destinations that ban camouflage clothing include:
Carnival ambassador recommends not wearing camouflage in any cruise port
Carnival and other cruise lines typically alert passengers about camouflage bans and other port rules they should know via onboard newsletters and other cruise communications, but sometimes passengers miss these notices.
To avoid a potential problem in port, Heald suggested that passengers just avoid camouflage altogether when dressing for port days on a cruise.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line sets record straight as sister line adds food fine
"Perhaps I can suggest you don't wear it anywhere ashore? I know the idea of wearing camouflage is not to be seen...but someone will notice if it's not allowed," Heald said.
Even in Caribbean destinations where camouflage is not banned, it's often considered disrespectful, so it's best to just avoid packing it at all.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 11:47 AM.