Louisiana man says he was about to board Carnival Cruise ship. But then the staff allegedly treated him like a criminal: ‘It all went ‘pbbt’ after that’

A Louisiana TikTok creator says what should have been the start of a relaxing Caribbean vacation turned into a frustrating ordeal that left him stranded in New Orleans, separated from his luggage, and wondering why a birth certificate he says he had used for years suddenly no longer qualified him to board a Carnival Cruise Line ship. BrianKeith66 (@briankeithw) documented the experience in a series of videos after he says Carnival denied him boarding on a closed-loop cruise departing from New Orleans for the Western Caribbean.

In his TikTok posts, he claims the issue centered on his birth certificate, despite presenting it alongside his driver’s license. “I started off with a great morning,” BrianKeith66 says in one video. He explains that he and his partner woke up excited for the trip to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, arrived at the cruise terminal in good spirits, and expected to board without trouble.

According to BrianKeith66, Carnival staff informed him that the birth certificate he had carried for nearly 60 years did not meet documentation requirements. He claimed he had successfully used the same document on a cruise less than a year earlier. But, he says, “it all went ‘pbbt’ after that.”

BrianKeith66 went to Bourbon Street, says his suitcases went on the cruise

The problem did not end with the denied boarding, BrianKeith66 alleges. He says he and his companion waited roughly three and a half hours before receiving just one of their checked suitcases. That bag, he jokes, contained only their shoes. “We’re gonna be wearing shoes around our necks tomorrow and covering up our personals,” he quipped.

BrianKeith66 also says cruise personnel escorted them from the terminal. “They escorted us out like we’re a couple common criminals,” he says.

After leaving the port, BrianKeith66 says they squeezed into a small Uber before checking into another hotel in New Orleans. He claims the first room they received was dirty, with an unmade bed, overflowing trash, and what his companion described as a “dookie towel” in the bathroom. Hotel staff later moved them to another room, he says.

Rather than let the disappointing day ruin the rest of the trip, Brian says they headed to Bourbon Street, enjoyed nachos, and tried to salvage the vacation. “My clothes got to go on the cruise,” he jokes in the video. “I hope they take pictures.” A later TikTok appears to show Brian’s suitcase arriving back home after the cruise ended about seven days later.

One viewer wrote, “It’s common knowledge to have a passport to go on a cruise.” Another commenter responded, “U don’t need a passport for a cruise!!!”

That response aligns with federal rules for many closed-loop cruises. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says U.S. citizens on qualifying cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port may travel with proof of citizenship, such as a government-issued birth certificate, plus a government-issued photo ID, rather than a passport.

Another commenter expressed skepticism, writing, “You’re definitely leaving something out of the story. I’ve been on 11 cruises now using birth certs and ID’s for my whole family.”

Brian replied with additional details. He said he had his driver’s license and birth certificate (BC). “This cruise left out of New Orleans and was going to West Caribbean,” he added. “Passport was not required, but an acceptable documentation. They stated my BC was not acceptable this year that I’ve used 10+ years.” He claims Carnival Cruise staff noted the seal on the document.

Carnival also states that U.S. citizens on eligible sailings may use a birth certificate and photo identification. The company does recommend traveling with a valid passport. The company also notes that guests are responsible for presenting proper travel documents and may be denied boarding if they do not meet documentation requirements.

As of publication, Carnival Cruise Line has not publicly commented on Brian’s specific allegations. The company does not appear to have issued a statement addressing his TikTok videos. In other Carnival Cruise alleged misadventures, in June, 2026, a family reported waking up in their cabin with backed-up sewage on the floor. They said they got a dinner voucher.