Carnival Cruise Line confiscates child’s toy over specific rule everyone must follow

Parents were left fuming after Carnival Cruise Line confiscated their child's Christmas present ahead of departing for their holiday.

With the festive season only just behind us, many families headed to the open seas to celebrate 25 December on a cruise ship.

And with 2.5 million passengers every single year, you can bet your bottom dollar that many of them were travelling with Carnival.

A subsidiary company of parent firm Carnival Corporation & plc, it is part of the largest cruise line business in the world.

But ahead of journeying on their Carnival cruise ship for Christmas, one family said their festivities were 'ruined' after their child was left with 'no gift to open from Santa on Christmas morning'.

One of Carnival's ships, the Carnival Dream (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Christmas 'ruined'

The customer emailed John Heald, who works as Carnival Cruise Line's Brand Ambassador and senior cruise director.

In messaging Heald, they explained they had bought the present from Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, before heading to Miami where the cruise would depart.

"We were on the [ship name redacted] for Christmas," the email - which was shared by Heald - said.

"We were at Walt Disney World before we embarked on the cruise."

John Heald offered a fair response to the irritated Carnival cruise passenger (Desiree Navarro/Getty Images))

They continued: "We had bought my son a Star Wars nerf gun for a Christmas surprise at Disney and they confiscated it from us at security at the port.

"We had to go over to a special table where they took it, gave us a claim slip and at the end of the cruise, when back at port we claimed it back.

"Christmas ruined. How can anyone at Carnival Cruises think this is real. How would you like to see your children have no gift to open from Santa on Christmas morning.

"Who makes these f****** stupid rules?"

Don't bring toy weapons on board. It's simple. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Why it was confiscated

Responding to the customer, Heald was straight to the point on all things weapon-like, real or not.

"Thank you and of course I understand the disappointment both as a father and as brand ambassador, I really do," Heald started off by saying in response.

"But it is listed in the prohibited items and this is a great reminder for anyone thinking of bring on a replica toy, sword, lightsaber or a replica weapon of any kind that it will be confiscated."

Earlier on in December, Heald had stressed the issue of bringing toy weapons on to cruise ships.

Issuing a warning at the time, he said: "Please make sure you don’t wrap any toy weapon or anything that can could be mistaken for something like that."

And it makes sense, really, as such an item could cause mass hysteria on a boat where there's nowhere to go if you as a passenger think there is a real threat. Maybe go for a Mickey Mouse or Buzz Lightyear toy next time.