Frightfully Fabulous Halloween Costume Contest Official Terms & Conditions

EVENT OVERVIEW 

Get ready for a spook-tacular time aboard Carnival Magic! Our Frightfully Fabulous Halloween Costume Contest invites guests to showcase their creativity and compete for a share of a $10,000 prize pool.

All guests are welcome to participate. While pre-registration is encouraged, all participants must confirm their registration in person on embarkation day to be eligible to compete. Participants must agree to the contest Terms of Agreement in order to compete.

HOW TO REGISTER 

Online Pre-Registration
Guests will have the opportunity to pre-register online before the cruise begins. During registration, participants must select one category to compete in. Each guest may only compete in a single category.

Onboard Registration
On embarkation day, all participants must confirm their registration in person at the official registration station in Vibe Nightclub on Saturday October 25th from 4pm – 8pm and Sunday, October 26th from 10am – 2pm. Once registration closes, no additional entries will be accepted.

  • Guests who pre-registered online will have access to a dedicated express line.
  • Upon check-in, contestants will receive their assigned Preliminary Round time slot.

Preliminary Round

  • Date/Time: Sea Day 2, October 28th 10am – 3pm
  • Location: Vibe Nightclub

All confirmed participants must arrive at their designated time to model and showcase their costume. Up to 8 contestants per category will advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-Final Round

Semi-finalists will receive a notecard in their stateroom with details and instructions for the next round by 10pm on Sea Day 3. Contestants must wear the same costume from the Preliminary Round.

Final Round

The Top 3 finalists from each category will return to the stage in the Main Lounge for the final round. Final winners will be determined by a combination of judges’ scores and audience applause.

JUDGING CRITERIA 

Contestants will be evaluated on the following:

  • Creativity & Originality
  • Craftsmanship & Attention to Detail
  • Theme Execution
  • Presentation & Performance
  • Audience Reaction (Final Round only)

DISQUALIFICATION GUIDELINES 

Participants may be disqualified for any of the following:

  • Wearing costumes that are inappropriate, offensive, overly revealing, or that include obscene words or images, political figures or references, weapons (real or fake), masks, or full-face coverings.
  • Wearing costumes that are disrespectful to any culture or are not family-friendly.
  • Engaging in disruptive or disrespectful behavior toward other contestants, guests, or team members.
  • Failing to confirm registration on embarkation day.
  • Being absent or arriving late for any scheduled competition round.

Carnival Reminder: Costumes must be family-friendly, respectful, non-political, and free of weapons, nudity, obscene imagery, or full-face masks.

JUDGING & AWARDS 

  • Judging will be conducted by a panel of Carnival team members.
  • All decisions are final and binding.

Prize Breakdown:

  • Category Winners (6 x $1,000): $6,000
  • Grand Prize – Best Overall Costume: $4,000
  • Total Cash Prize Pool: $10,000

Categories:

  • Best Makeup / Special Effects
  • Most Creative / Original Costume (DIY)
  • Best Group Costume (3+ participants)
  • Best Couple / Duo Costume
  • Scariest Costume
  • Best Character (TV/Movie/Book)

Grand Prize: $4,000 awarded to the Best Overall Costume .

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

  • Contestants must be present for all competition rounds to remain eligible.
  • Carnival reserves the right to modify the contest structure, rules, or schedule at its discretion.

COSTUME CONTEST TERMS OF AGREEMENT 

All participants are required to sign the following terms to compete: 

By participating in the Frightfully Fabulous Costume Contest, I agree to abide by all contest rules and guidelines. I acknowledge that the Cruise Director’s decision in selecting winners is final. I understand that costumes will be evaluated based on creativity, craftsmanship, theme execution, presentation, and performance, and that audience reaction will also be considered during the Final Round. I understand that failure to comply with any rule or guideline may result in disqualification. 

Participant Signature: ______________________  Date: ___________