Would you ask someone to edit the watermark out of a cruise photograph so you could keep it without buying it? I have seen requests like that in photo-editing forums, and as a creator, they really irritate me.
The request that sparked this discussion
In today’s video, I discuss a request presented as coming from a Royal Caribbean passenger who wanted the watermarks removed to save money. I am describing what I saw, rather than a verified cruise-line investigation. I am not identifying the person or claiming Royal Caribbean has taken action against them.
My view is simple: removing a watermark specifically to avoid paying for someone else’s work is stealing in the everyday sense. That is my opinion about the behavior, not a statement that a court has found this passenger guilty of a crime.
There is a person behind that photograph
A good cruise photographer does more than press a button. They help with lighting, positioning and the little details that can make a photograph worth keeping.
Lori and I know that firsthand. We were not especially happy with our wedding photos, but on a cruise afterward a photographer took time with us, adjusting our hands and even how our rings were positioned. We loved the results. Those photographs still have a place in our home.
I do not know whether the photographer in this particular situation receives commission from a sale, and I would not assume that. My point is that their work has value regardless of how they are paid.
You can disagree with the price
Cruise photos can be expensive. It is reasonable to compare packages, decide how many pictures you actually want or choose not to buy any. Taking your own photographs is another option.
In my video, I show a Legend of the Seas offer listing 10 digital photos for $100, 20 for $150 and 50 for $180. Those are the prices in the offer I discuss, not guaranteed fleetwide rates or a promise about your sailing. Check your own booking and onboard photo team for current prices and terms.
What Royal Caribbean’s published information says
Royal Caribbean’s Photo Cloud FAQ describes the service as a way to download purchased digital photographs after a cruise and says a photo package must be purchased onboard to access that service after sailing.
The line also has a separate FAQ about making copies at home, which points passengers to a copyright release for their digital or printed photos. Follow the applicable purchase and release terms. That is a different situation from editing an unpaid preview to avoid buying it.
Could a passenger be banned?
People have raised that question, but I have not verified a Royal Caribbean policy that specifically imposes a ban for removing photo watermarks. I am not reporting an announced ban or a confirmed penalty. Possible legal or contractual consequences would depend on the facts and applicable rules.
For me, the choice does not need a threatened ban behind it. If I want a photographer’s image, I should buy it under the offered terms or leave it. As someone whose videos have been copied without permission, I want other creators to receive the same respect I ask for.
Sources: My cruise news video; Royal Caribbean’s Photo Cloud FAQ and photo-copying FAQ. The ethical judgment in this article is my opinion.
Your turn