The Scariest Things That Ever Happened On Cruise Ships

Many people use the summer season as a time to book trips. They might plan a lazy beach weekend or a trip abroad. A lot of people even book cruises; they get to enjoy beautiful waters, eat an abundance of food, and drink to their hearts’ content. Usually, those water-filled excursions are relaxing and fun. Sometimes, though, things get a little chaotic out on sea. And these cruise ship horror stories prove it.

Cruise ships will always be popular, though. They’re always packed with a lot of fun entertainment. Most have activities and bars on board, along with swimming pools and, sometimes, a celebrity act or two.

Even though this list shouldn’t scare you away from booking a cruise, it’s important to know that cruise ship disasters happen somewhat frequently. An unexpected shortage of food could occur or someone on board may sustain an injury that requires immediate medical attention. The situation could be just a memorable blip or it might send passengers home earlier than expected.

Here are some of the most disastrous events that happened on cruise ships. They may make you want to rethink your summer plans.

 1. The Tilted Ship

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzQmSD5grf1/”]

This Carnival Cruise went awry quickly.

In 2018, plates and bottles smashed to the ground after an error with a Carnival Cruise ship’s fin stabilizer. In fact, the faulty part derailed the entire excursion, and the ship had to dock in the Dominican Republic for repairs and maintenance. The episode was so scary that many of the ship’s passengers cut the trip short and flew to their various homes. Luckily, the cruise crew identified the problem early.

2. The Costa Concordia Disaster

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BsiRbxVgpF3/”]

A little tilt is scary, sure.

But a small tilt can easily turn catastrophic if the ship’s captain doesn’t move quickly and efficiently. One such thing happened when the Costa Concordia, which operated from 2005 until 2012, tilted. During the wreckage and confusion, 32 passengers and crew members lost their lives. It took over six hours for people to fully evacuate from the ship. And photos of the event are absolutely frightening.

3. The Pirate Attack

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BmOQvz0l60R/”]

Few people think pirates still roam the seas.

They most certainly do, though. And CBS News reported that in 2005, pirates actually attacked a Seabourn Spirit cruise ship. The band of ship robbers initiated the takeover by firing a grenade while the ship was close to Somalia. Passengers went down to the dining area for safety, however. And nobody sustained any serious injuries in the attack.

4. The S.S. Eastland Disaster

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BlMEtqDg7i2/”]

The S.S. Eastland suffered many fatalities in 1915.

Interestingly, though, the ship captains docked the entire vessel to host a gathering for Western Electric employees. Reportedly, 844 passengers and crew members passed after the ship rolled onto its side. Choppy waters or tumultuous sailing weather had nothing to do with the accident. And it’s a bit eerie to realize a ship doesn’t have to be out in the middle of an ocean for a disaster to strike.

5. Carnival Triumph’s Sewage Disaster

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/VxNgLKMIA3/”]

This trainwreck of a cruise ship incident occurred in 2013.

The Carnival Cruise ship passengers expected to hang out in the Caribbean for four idyllic days. Instead, their holiday turned tragic. And everyone endured hardly livable conditions on board after the ship caught on fire and lost power. The sewage got more than a little clogged. Let’s just say, people referred to this particular voyage as the “Poop Cruise.”

6. The Marital Murder

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvt1O-yFqaV/”]

The passengers can be dangerous too.

Kristy Manzanares was enjoying herself on an Alaskan cruise ship back in 2017. Things took a truly horrific turn in 2017, though. The woman’s husband, Kenneth, fatally attacked during a moment of intense rage and aggression. What caused Kenneth to snap? According to an acquaintance who spoke to the aggressor, Kristy “wouldn’t stop laughing” at him.

7. The Viking Sky’s Power Loss

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZCDpglYD4/”]

When a ship loses power, things tend to get chaotic.

In March of 2019, for example, the Viking Sky cruise ship was traveling around Norway when they lost power in one of the most treacherous areas of the trip. At least 890 passengers witnessed the windows shatter. The cabins also flooded due to the dangerous weather conditions. Thankfully, no one passed, but 20 people sustained injuries.

8. Royal Caribbean Cruises Spread Illness

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BwcPA–lJZH/”]

Passengers of the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas cruise ship will remember their trip forever, for all the wrong reasons.

During the Oasis of the Seas voyage, a whopping 500 passengers caught a gastrointestinal disease. The huge cruiseliner was meant to sail through the Caribbean, but so few people could even stomach the voyage. Consequently, the captain cut the entire trip short. The good news is that the passengers all received refunds for their troubles.

9. The Antigua Robbery

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzYiiJyoSqQ/”]

This cruise made everyone a lot more stressful.

In fact, it’s hard to picture a situation where being robbed at knifepoint wouldn’t make you a little uneasy. In February of 2018, two French passengers were out and about in Antigua while their MSC cruise ship docked. And in a horrible turn of events, the aggressor in a violent robbery stabbed one of the passengers in the abdomen. Fortunately, the authorities found and charged the suspects.

10. The Carnival Splendor Fire

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzTCLpChKa3/”]

A fire started and the electricity went out.

Passengers on the 201o Carnival Splendor cruise faced challenging situations instead of the nice vacation they planned. After the fire started and the power completely halted, vacationers had to survive on Pop Tarts and hot dog salads. They definitely didn’t get the luxurious buffets they paid for. Luckily, nobody was hurt, but their holidays were cut short.

11. The Possible Murder

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzYSisYhfw5/”]

Some people lose their lives in very suspicious circumstances.

And a woman in her 50s passed after a serious of particularly confusing events. Princess Cruises revealed that one of their ship’s passengers died on board during 2018. But the company didn’t elaborate on any of the details. In fact, reports suggested passengers saw the woman jump overboard. However, USA Today noted that witnesses allegedly watched a man choke the victim before her body ever left the ship, which was sailing near Aruba at the time.

12. The Missing Honeymooner

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzRnq3phSeQ/”]

Passengers actually go missing on some cruise ships.

And George Smith IV, who celebrated his honeymoon in 2005 with a tour of the Aegean Sea, experienced this first hand. Smith was with his new wife, Jennifer Hagel Smith, on the Brilliance of the Seas ship, before he vanished. On the man’s last known night, though, he reportedly drank heavily and had a loud argument with other men on the ship.

13. The Mass Robbery

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzYm3wWhlWx/”]

Robberies can happen any time, but when there are 22 victims, the story gets a little fishier

Things were especially confusing during a robbery in 2012. Over two dozen Carnival Cruise Line passengers lost their passports and other valuables while eating at a restaurant in the Mexico leg of their trip. No one sustained any injuries, but Carnival did suspend the tour for future sailings, according to CNN. The company also agreed to work with the victims to figure out a reimbursement plan.

14. Norovirus Outbreak

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/ykdu6NhsYS/”]

Hundreds of people got sick at once.

Illnesses spread quickly in inclosed spaces. So in 2010, when a Celebrity Cruise ship had a norovirus outbreak, everyone suffered. The vessel departed from North Carolina and ended up as the site where over 400 passengers — approximately one out of every four person — fell ill. They all contracted the disease. Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and a low-grade fever. No thanks.

15. Invasion Of Privacy

[fm_instagram url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BzYb2UHl4HK/”]

You don’t expect a cruise ship to install cameras in your private lodgings.

But one couple had their privacy expectations completely shattered during a 2018 Carnival cruise. In particular, Chris and Dana White found a recording device in their room during a quick water excursion. Understandably, they felt like the entire company egregiously invaded their space. The Carnival cruise line reportedly denied that the camera was actively recording, but the White family disagreed.