The “Fun Ship” line Carnival Cruises is threatening unruly cruise passengers with $785 fines for rowdy behaviour following several reports of fights breaking out on international sailings.

Carnival has amended its ticket contract to include a fine for “disruptive behaviour” – and confirmed it also applies in Australia.

“Disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated and any guest whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety or well-being of other guests or crew will be detained onboard and/or disembarked at their own expense and will [be] banned from sailing on Carnival in the future,” the Miami-based company stated.

Carnival has confirmed to Cruise Passenger that the new rule will apply to its entire global fleet.

“Our commitment to the health, safety and security of all of our guests and team members is being demonstrated through the implementation of various measures to assure that our ships remain a welcoming, family-friendly place, including a revised guest code of conduct,” the statement read.

In an email to MoneyWatch,

“Cruise ships, like virtually all parts of travel and tourism — including airlines, amusement parks, sporting events and camping facilities — are experiencing an increase in more agitated behaviour by a small number of guests,” a spokesperson for the company said.

“Our commitment to the health, safety and security of all of our guests and team members is being demonstrated through the implementation of various measures to assure that our ships remain a welcoming, family-friendly place.”

The introduction of the fine comes following fights breaking out on Carnival cruise ships in recent months, including in September when about 30 people were caught on video fighting between the pool and one of the ship’s many bars.

Previous to that incident, there was a brawl on Carnival Elation in July, and another in a nightclub on the Carnival Magic in June required the Coast Guard to escort the ship as it returned to New York.

According to data from the Department of Transportation (DOT), in 2018, cruise lines reported 120 alleged crimes from the following categories: homicide, suspicious death, missing US national, sexual assault, kidnapping, assault with serious bodily injury, firing or tampering with vessel, and theft of over $10,000.

In 2018 Carnival said it was “deeply concerned” after a brawl broke out on the Carnival legend and police were called to take a family off the ship.

A month earlier, P&O’s Pacific Explorer also had to call police.

“Safety and security of our guests and crew is our number one priority,” said Jennifer Vandekreeke, then Carnival Cruise Line Vice President and General Manager Australia in a statement.

“We apply a zero-tolerance approach to excessive behaviour that affects other guests. In line with this policy, we contacted the NSW Police to attend Carnival Legend at Eden today to remove a large family group from the ship that had been involved in disruptive and violent acts.