Top 10 WORST Things to Happen on Cruise Ships

#10: Boat Brawl

After a nice vacation, most people will leave in a state of relaxed bliss for a bit. But one group of boat tourists had nothing but aggression immediately. In 2025, after spending seven days in the Caribbean aboard Carnival Cruise Liness boat, Carnival Jubilee, the ship arrived at port in Galveston, Texas. However, some tourists were still holding grudges from a basketball game during the journey. Soon after arriving at the debarkation customs area, a massive brawl erupted, a portion of which was filmed and put online. In the end, one passenger, Ethan Meritt-Clark, was arrested for attacking an older man who tried to stop the fight, and 24 people were banned from further trips with Carnival.

#9: Cozumel Carnival Cruise Collision

Sometimes, when on a vessel, other boats can get pretty close. Usually, theres still loads of distance, and everything is fine. However, in 2019, the Carnival Glory and Carnival Legend cruise ships got way, way too close while near the port in Cozumel, Mexico. When the Glory attempted to dock as the Legend had already done so, its stern smashed into the Legends bow. The Legend sliced into the Glory, completely destroying large portions of multiple decks. Despite the very visual collision, with the Glorys Platinum Restaurant being thankfully empty at the time, only 6 people required treatment for minor injuries. Its believed heavy winds played a major factor in this dramatic collision.

#8: Entertainment to the Rescue

Theres a long-held tradition that a ships captain should be the last to leave when being rescued. Apparently, this isnt something Yiannis Avranas followed. In 1991, he was in charge of the MTS Oceanos as it went to Durban, South Africa. A big storm contributed to an explosion, causing the boat to lose power and begin flooding. With no alarm sounded and the ship appearing to sink, on-board entertainer Moss Hills went to the bridge, only to find it empty. Hill used the radio to call for help and then took charge as other entertainment staff helped to organize the passengers and keep them calm. When the rescue helicopter arrived, Avranas reportedly insisted on being rescued first. After everyone was saved, the Oceanos then sank.

#7: Pacific Sun's Injury Storm

The seas can be a violent entity. As such, storms out there can wreak havoc on boats. In 2008, P&O Cruises Australias Pacific Sun ship was north of Auckland, New Zealand, during an eight-day trip. However, while in the ocean, a massive storm struck, causing 23-foot waves and 50-knot winds to crash into the vessel, forcing it to roll up to 31 degrees. Unsurprisingly, this caused a lot of danger for the passengers and crew. In 2010, CCTV footage from inside the Pacific Sun was released. One video from a restaurant showed crew, passengers, and equipment being thrown violently from side to side. This carnage resulted in over 42 people getting injured.

#6: Seabourn Spirit's Pirate Heroics

In 2005, the Seabourn Spirit was traveling in Africa for a 16-day trip. While on its way to Mombasa, Kenya, two small boats of Somali pirates approached the ship. The group fired weapons, including an RPG, one of which stuck into the Spirit but thankfully didnt explode. With the danger to everyone onboard, the crew sprang into action. Without using any firearms, the ships master-at-arms, Som Bahadur Gurung, used the long-range acoustic device or LRAD. However, he was struck, non-fatally, by a bullet. As the captain tried to ram the pirates with the Spirit, Michael Groves dragged Gurung to safety. He then turned on the sonic weapon, deterring the pirates. In 2007, Gurung and Groves were awarded medals by Queen Elizabeth II.

#5: Runaway Ship

The footage of this 2019 incident looks more like a disaster film than real life. In 2019, the MSC Opera experienced engine troubles in Venice, Italy. Unable to stop the boat from driving forward as backup plans failed, the captain blared the sirens, causing tourists and locals to run for safety. The massive ship smashed into the wharf and the already-docked Uniworld river cruise ship, the River Countess. The much smaller ship suffered massive damage, and five people were injured. This incident sparked locals and politicians to call for more restrictions on cruise ships in Venices waters. The Operas captain and bridge staff were deemed at fault for the incident and sentenced to jail, which was later commuted to fines.

#4: Explorer of the Disease

At one point, the Royal Caribbeans Explorer of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world. The company would rather everyone focus on that than on what happened in 2014. Shortly after leaving Cape Liberty, New Jersey, disease began to run rampant through the vessel. By the time the ship docked at Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 281 passengers and 22 crew members had reported symptoms of the highly infectious norovirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, quickly arrived to assess the situation. In the end, nearly 700 people aboard had norovirus. The CDC confirmed that this was one of the worst outbreaks they had seen in 20 years.

#3: The Poop Cruise

In 2013, while in the Gulf of Mexico, the Carnival Triumph experienced a fire in the engine room. While that was quickly dealt with, the damage caused the ship to lose power. On top of food and water requiring rationing, the sewage system was backed up. This forced human waste to leak all over the ship, hence the colorful nickname of the cruise, as the passengers were stuck aboard. It took four days for the Triumph to be taken by tugboats to a port in Mobile, Alabama. However, two months later, the ship escaped its moorings during a storm, causing significant damage to another boat. To make sure a fire like that doesnt happen again, Carnival announced a $300 million plan to upgrade its fleet.

#2: Murder at Sea

In May 2025, the MSC Virtuosa left Southampton, England, for a two-day cruise to Bruges, Belgium. 60-year-old retired stunt performer James Messham was onboard reportedly as part of a bachelor party, as several were being held. Yet soon after embarking, brawls allegedly happened as the alcohol flowed freely. However, a couple of hours after the Virtuosa had departed, and while the vessel was still in British waters, horror struck. A violent altercation took place, resulting in Messham being severely injured. While the crew and a trained medic guest tried to help him, Messham sadly died. Two men were soon arrested for murder and were released on bail as the investigation continued.

#1: The Disappearance of Rebecca Coriam

In 2011, Coriam was working aboard the Disney Wonder as a youth worker. She sent her parents a message that she would call them the next day. Sadly, she didnt and didnt arrive for her next shift. The investigation found CCTV footage in the early hours of Coriam looking distraught while talking to someone on one of the boats internal phones. After another crew member checked on her, Coriam left and wasnt seen again. Disney believed she went overboard accidentally when a rogue wave hit the ship. However, the controversial police investigation and doubts about Disneys explanation contributed to several theories, including that Coriam was murdered as part of a love triangle or for other motives. Coriams family sued Disney, which was settled in 2016.

What was your worst experience onboard a cruise ship? Let us know below.