Taking photos aboard a cruise ship

Eric Rose · Jan 17, 2015

I want to do a kind of street photography thing on a cruise I will be taking. Does anyone know first hand if it's ok to take photos of passengers on cruise ships? My guess is that there isn't any restrictions as long as you are polite about it, but who knows in this crazy PC world we live in.

bvy · Jan 17, 2015

There was a photographer in B&W magazine several years back who got some good candid "street photography" type photos aboard a cruise ship. I don't know the rules. I'm sure lots of people bring cameras and take pictures. In any case, you should be upfront about what you're doing, not sneaky. If no one complains, it's probably okay.

ruby.monkey · Jan 17, 2015

Check with the cruise ship's operators. Nobody else can give you an authoritative answer.

blansky · Jan 17, 2015

Since you are on private property, I don't think this can be thought of as street photography.

You may run into the same type of thing as say, in a mall or hotel.

People may have a "right to privacy" mindset on this type of thing.

I doubt the company would give you permission.

rbultman · Jan 18, 2015

Everyone is taking pictures frequently in cruise ships. If you are discrete, or mix real shots with 'fake' shots of the landscape, no one will likely be the wiser.

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Arklatexian · Jan 18, 2015

I would make sure that the person that I photographed was a close friend or, better yet, a member of my family. Anyone else could be with someone that they had rather not be photographed with. Also every cruise that I have been on have several professional photographers who make a living "taking pictures of people on cruise ships" and the cruise line certainly gets a percentage of the money paid to those photographers. While the cruise lines want you to have a good time money is money....Regards

Dan Daniel · Jan 18, 2015

blansky said:
Since you are on private property, I don't think this can be thought of as street photography.

You may run into the same type of thing as say, in a mall or hotel.

People may have a "right to privacy" mindset on this type of thing.

I doubt the company would give you permission.

I think this is the basic answer.

And so the basic approach might be to simply not ask. The old politician's aphorism, 'ask forgiveness, not permission.' The camera you use will also affect things. I had a Rolleiflex in a store and started composing a photo. A manager ran over and told me that no photos were allowed. As we were speaking, someone came along with his iPhone taking shot after shot of their displays and such, and no one cared. In a similar vein, when I go to shoot on the streets of a nearby shopping district, I dress like a tourist and no one cares. If I dress more 'urban' and 'arty,' people are more prone to react and pull back. When in Rome....

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 18, 2015

oldtimermetoo said:
I would make sure that the person that I photographed was a close friend or, better yet, a member of my family. Anyone else could be with someone that they had rather not be photographed with.

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas..."

Ken

lxdude · Jan 18, 2015

Dan Daniel said:
I had a Rolleiflex in a store and started composing a photo. A manager ran over and told me that no photos were allowed. As we were speaking, someone came along with his iPhone taking shot after shot of their displays and such, and no one cared.

This sort of thing happens a lot. Which proves that people instinctively know that digital isn't really photography!

AgX · Jan 18, 2015

The legal situation on sea ships is utmost complicated. Laws of most different countries apply depending on the Situation. Furthermore is a ship typically a privat surrounding where the landlord to some extend may decide on rules.

Ian Grant · Jan 18, 2015

Eric Rose said:
I want to do a kind of street photography thing on a cruise I will be taking. Does anyone know first hand if it's ok to take photos of passengers on cruise ships? My guess is that there isn't any restrictions as long as you are polite about it, but who knows in this crazy PC world we live in.

There's no restrictions as long as you aren't overly obtrusive, there will normally be a tream of photographers on board anyway as well as a minilab. The on board photographers are there to make money and normally display their prints every evening before dinner.

Ian

railwayman3 · Jan 18, 2015

I've been on cruises where there's a professional photographer, clearly identified as such, and I've no objections to that (don't have to buy the pictures!) Appearing on another passengers' casual pictures is unavoidable (they'll probably delete them anyway, if digital). But, even as a photographer myself, I I would object if I knew that someone was deliberately photographing me or my family either openly or candidly for commercial or other use.
We live in a "crazy PC world", but I'm not aware that common politeness and courtesy has yet been totally abandoned?

Peter Simpson · Jan 18, 2015

Just got back from a cruise. Cameras were everywhere, everyone was taking pictures of everything. I doubt you would have an issue.

BUT, and this is a huge but, if a member of the staff asks you to stop, then stop and do not attempt to start again somewhere else! On the ship, the staff speaks with the authority of the ships captain, and his word is law. He can have you thrown in the brig for the rest of the voyage if he wants, and there is no appeal.

ToddB · Jan 18, 2015

There is lot of good tip that you can use to get it done. I like the tip of mixing fake shots with real shot method. I use that in a lot of my street adventures. Works really well. I believe peope are going to very distracting in general and real not paying attention in someone lifting a camera sort of in there way. I'd say, shoot away. Just discretely. What camera were you thinking of useing?

Eric Rose · Jan 18, 2015

I don't plan on doing the "in your face" type of photography some do. More in the line of HCB. The camera of choice will be small and discreet.

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2015

Just like street photography but friendlier.

blansky · Jan 19, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Just like street photography but friendlier.

Like street photography but with free food and lots of drinks.

Wallendo · Feb 12, 2015

I have taken cameras on cruises with no issues, including SLR's, range-finders, end even cameras we don't speak about on this board. I am old enough to remember when almost all US cruises had Kodak ambassadors on board. I have never been asked to stop using my cameras.

There are several things to keep in mind.
1) there are a lot of scantily clad women around the pool area, many of them minors, so judgement and discretion are in order.
2) most "street photo" type shots will be present on shore. On the boat, you will find lots of harried people waiting in line.

In general, a rangefinder will identify you as a tourist photographer and you will likely be left alone. A nice appearing SLR will be confused with the D-SLR's used by the cruise photographers and you will likely be left alone.

As long as you stay out of the way, and don't appear to be stalking individuals, you should have no problems.

Ces1um · Feb 14, 2018

Been on quite a few cruises. Never had an issue with taking photographs- but to be honest I wasn't intentionally trying to photograph other people. Just wanted shots of the ship or of my family. My wife was pretty pissed off with one couple taking a couple's selfie that happened to get her in the background. Some people hate having photos taken of themselves.

Taking photos aboard a cruise ship

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