Cruise Critics Banned by Carnival UK for Five Years
Two British cruise influencers have been banned from all Carnival Corporation sailings – which accounts for 93 cruise ships – and it’s not for the reason you would expect.
While Carnival understandably has a zero tolerance policy for fighting or other behavior that can put its guests and crew members in danger, Dan Wailing and Jay Cannon have been banned for at least five years after speaking out publicly about their negative experiences onboard.
“Following a review of your recent interactions with us, we believe that you have both clearly demonstrated that we cannot offer the holiday that you are looking for. It is thus no longer appropriate for you to travel with us, or any of the Carnival group brands,” Carnival UK wrote to the cruisers.
The ban extends to all Carnival Cruise ships, as well as sister-brands like Cunard Line, P&O Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
“I am sorry to have to convey this decision to you. Please note that this letter represents our final decision on this matter, and you will therefore not be permitted to travel with us for a period of 5 years, after which we may review,” continued the letter.
You may know Wailing and Cannon from running a popular platform called Sail Away Magazine – which includes both a print publication and a podcast component – where the duo gives honest, unbiased reviews about their cruising experiences.
Just about two weeks ago, the cruise experts released a scathing review of Carnival Miracle – which they described as “the worst cruise we’ve ever done.”
Most notably, the pair was shocked by their dirty cruise cabin – where they found “pubic hairs on the bedside table, what looks like semen stains on the luggage mat, mould and bacteria in the soap dish” – but the leadership team onboard addressed the situation and apologized.
Looking further back, they have also publicly criticized P&O Cruises after their sailing on Aurora was cancelled at the last minute and have spoken out about a negative phone experience with Carnival’s UK PR and marketing staff in which they described the team as “delusional.”
They also ran a public poll, in which the results showed 72% of cruisers felt that the cruising experience had declined under the leadership of Carnival UK President, Paul Ludlow.
Is This Censorship?
While Wailing and Cannon cannot confirm the exact reason they were banned, they can’t help but wonder if it was retaliation for their negative – but honest – feedback.
“We were paying customers. And what did we do? We simply spoke up about disappointing experiences — including poor communication during cruise cancellations, and a lack of accountability in situations like the recent Maleth Aero flight scandal,” Wailing wrote in an email to Cruise Hive.
“To us, it’s simple: this feels like censorship. A warning to other passengers who might think about posting a critical review or sharing an honest opinion on social media,” Wailing’s email continued.
Read Also: 15 Mistakes to Avoid on a Carnival Cruise
Understanding that there are always two sides to every story, Cruise Hive also reached out to Carnival Corporation for a statement but were told by a spokesperson that the company had nothing further to add.
It’s always possible that more has happened behind closed doors – such as unseen hostility coming from the frustrated cruisers – but there is no evidence of this at this time.
Alternatively, the criticism might have led Carnival leadership to worry about how the men might impact the experiences of others onboard – as was the case for two passengers who were banned from Villa Vie Odyssey last year after speaking out about the delays that plagued the residential ship.
“We have received over a dozen formal complaints from residents regarding your continuous complaints and negativity. This behavior has significantly impacted the morale and well-being of other passengers,” Chief operating officer Kathy Villalba said at the time.
However, the decision was overturned for at least one of the guests just a few months later.