As long as you settle any real money in private, or better yet, off the ship, Carnival has no recourse. The cruise line isn't looking to bust people for playing small-stakes games with their friends; it's literally just enforcing the rules.

A cruise is supposed to be an exercise in absolute tranquility, but danger is on the horizon. One popular Caribbean port has declared a state of emergency.

It's illegal in some Caribbean nations, for example, to wear camouflage, and cruise-ship passengers can be detained if found wearing the outlawed gear. Mexico has really strict rules about bringing in vapes, and violating those rules can result in short-term imprisonment.

The cruise line has shared some thoughts on why it's still visiting locations that are under serious US State department travel warnings.