Few folks ever find themselves in one, but every cruise ship has a compact jail called “the brig.” The term is short for brigantine, a marine vessel used for temporary confinement. On rare occasions, the crew handles an individual caught doing something flagged as grounds for arrest. Of course, some of the reasons for passenger detainment are fairly obvious, like assault or drug possession. However, there are a few lesser-known illegal acts that could get you arrested on a cruise ship. Here are six of them.

Violating environmental regulations: Dumping waste overboard, including throwing trash or other materials into the ocean, can violate international maritime laws and result in arrest.

Unauthorized access to restricted areas: Entering areas of the boat that are off-limits to passengers, such as the bridge, engine room, or crew-only sections, can lead to detainment.

Bringing prohibited items onboard: The cruise line may prohibit certain items, such as drones, certain weapons, or even live flowers or plants. Possessing these items might result in confiscation and potential arrest.

False emergency alarms: Triggering false fire alarms or falsely reporting emergencies can disrupt operations and warrant arrest.

Gambling violations: While typically allowed on cruise ships, strict regulations prohibit cheating or engaging in unauthorized gambling activities. Either could lead to arrest.

Tampering with safety equipment: Interfering with or tampering with the ship’s safety equipment, like lifeboats, life vests, or fire extinguishers, is an arrestable offense.

Before boarding a cruise ship, make sure you understand the cruiseliner’s standards for both conduct 

Typically, cruise ship crews prefer cabin detainment over brig arrest. What’s more, individual incidents are overall pretty rare compared to the millions of passengers taking cruises every year. From January to March 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported 47 serious incidents, including assault, theft greater than $10,000, and one missing person. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) estimates that 35.7 million people will board cruise ships in 2024.

Sources: Cruise Hive, U.S. Department of Transportation