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13 Worst Cruise Ships in the World

13 worst cruises.

The cruising industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite more cancellations in recent news, we're hoping for a comeback in the near future. After all, more than 26 million passengers set sail in 2018 — a 3 percent year-over-year increase from previous years — so who's to say those numbers can't eventually return?

Carrying thousands of passengers on ships that are five times bigger than the Titanic, cruise lines have amped up the bells and whistles to convince travelers to ride the seas with them. From Broadway-worthy shows, to celebrity-inspired menus, to gigantic water parks and thrill rides, cruises can be an amazing vacation. However, with more than 300 cruise ships, not all of them can be winners.

Here, we take a look at the worst cruise ships to take. See which of the ships you should skip — and which to sail instead.

13. Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is actually a fabulous cruise line with many top-rate amenities, cabins and excursions. If you pick the right ship.

With 27 ships, there are bound to be a few that slip through the cracks, and for RCCL, one of those is Ovation of the Seas.

Reviewers are not impressed with the ship's cramped dining spaces and pool, average-at-best food and, as one reviewer puts it, "SO MANY GIMMICKS" — including robot bartenders that don't add much to the experience.

The one bright spot? The ship's size, which several reviewers note is, at the least, impressive. (Its maximum occupancy is nearly 5,000 passengers.)

*Note: Reviews and ratings come from leading cruise-review website  CruiseCritic.com .

Ovation of the Seas Reviews

Customer rating: 3 stars

Reviewers say:

• "She ain't pretty, she just looks that way." (gmlaetta)
• "I know why I choose Princess cruises!" (Amanda71)
• "Huge ship that wastes its time with underwhelming features." (soro01)

12. Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's other stinker is also part of its Quantum Class. When the ship was built in 2014, it was Royal Caribbean's largest ship. And at the time it launched, CruiseCritic loved it, giving it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. 

As the years have passed, though, the aging ship has been surpassed by even larger ships by Royal Caribbean, which means it was sent to China and no longer services the Caribbean market. And passengers have noticed.

Reviewers repeatedly express that the ship is intended for a Chinese audience, "with little or no consideration for the nearly 40 percent non-Chinese." 

Other complaints? Cold food and long wait times to board.

Quantum of the Seas Reviews

• "Like most western passengers we too had a very disappointing cruise." (desr4t)
• "I felt no one knew what they were doing." (j53)
• "This is not a vacation for the faint hearted!" (BezzyB)

Better Royal Caribbean Ships

If you're going to catch a cruise with Royal Caribbean, you will find that there are many new ships with 4-star customer ratings on CruiseCritic.

The best of the best? CruiseCritic editors give a coveted 5-star rating to Allure of the Seas. This mega-ship, built in 2009, can hold 6,400 passengers and offers a Central Park in the middle of the ship, outstanding restaurants and entertainment, and so much to do you won't get bored during a day at sea.

Customers give it high marks, too: More than 1,500 of the roughly 2,800 reviews are excellent 5-star ratings.

CruiseCritic's Managing Editor Adam Coulter describes the ship as "breathtaking, both in scale and ambition."

11. Princess Cruises' Majestic

Princess Cruises earned fame when one of its ships starred as "the Love Boat" in the '70s. And its 19 ships mostly get high marks from the CruiseCritic team and passengers.

But there's one exception: The Majestic, which despite earning a respectable 4.5 in the editors' reviews, strikes out with cruisers. 

The ship, which sails in Australia's waters, earns low marks for its poor design, crammed quarters, staff shortages and too-small theater.

"Majestic," it seems, is not an entirely apt descriptor.

Majestic Reviews

• "If you are between 70 - 90 yrs old, then this slow paced ship is designed for you. It was boring." (Wendyro)
• "Nice ship but not a lot of atmosphere." (c7009)
• "A lot of passengers on this cruise were very dissapointed and it was a shame." (vnibbs1)

Better Princess Ships

Five Princess ships have a superior rating of 3.5 stars, and two of those five also get 4.5-star marks from the editors at CruiseCritic: the Crown Princess and Emerald Princess.

Both ships can hold more than 3,000 passengers, with the Crown sailing in the Caribbean and the British Isles while the Emerald takes on Alaska and Hawaii. 

mjfun78 called the Crown Princess a magical cruise that did not disappoint, while coloradolovestocruise loved the Emerald Princess and called it "another excellent Princess cruise."

10. MSC's Meraviglia

The largest ship in the MSC line, Meraviglia holds nearly 4,500 cruisers, and travels to coveted destinations in Europe and the Caribbean.

But recent reviews have not been kind. 

The most commonly singled-out problems? Boring food, a lack of interesting on-board activities and unfriendly staff. One first-time MSC cruiser, rosyc, specifically compared the ship unfavorably to Carnival and Celebrity ships. 

Meraviglia Reviews

• "First time on MSC... Not sure I'll do it again." (EllaDuChien)
• "Poor food, sad, unfriendly staff and no customer support." (Rjrja20)
• "Worst cruise ever!" (rosyc)

9. MSC's Lirica

CruiseCritic editors gave MSC Lirica just 3 of 5 stars, matching customers in their lackluster response. 

Built in 2003, the Lirica is definitely on the older side of cruise ships, which never bodes well. And reviewers, many avid cruisers, routinely complain of horrible food and equally bad service — a losing combination.

Also lambasted: the amateurish entertainment offerings.

Lirica Reviews

• "We have done over 50 cruises. We usually go with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Cunard. A few with P&O. However, we had never tried MSC and so decided to do this. Biggest mistake I have made in my life." (gettinold)
• "Have travelled on other cruise lines, but this was the worst ever." (pdale)
• "Don't book this ship very poor." (Soreen)

8. MSC's Armonia

The oldest ship in a cruise line's fleet is bound to face complaints — who wants something old when there are so many new ships to try?

What's worse? This ship wasn't originally an MSC ship at all; it was built for Festival Cruises in 2001.

Traveling between Miami and Cuba, the ship's woes include poor-quality food, limited culinary options, unfriendly service and substandard cleanliness. 

Even the CruiseCritic pros give it only a 3.5 out of 5, and they are often very generous.

Armonia Reviews

• "Old, Tired, and Poor Service." (midwest60)
• "Ironically, MSC never sent me a post cruise survey, and I am truthfully not surprised." (TexasCruiseBella)
• "This ship needs to be retired or sent to another port where the standards are not as high." (guscave)

7. MSC's Preziosa

Debuting in 2013, MSC's Preziosa originally received rave reviews, having launched with a more modern cruising style to compete with larger lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian.

Unfortunately, the cruise industry is a fast-moving and fickle one, and in the years since, the ship's reviews have deteriorated. Cruisers don't complain much about the ship in terms of cleanliness or beauty. Instead, they find the food is cold — and old — service is sub-par, and the entertainment leaves something to be desired. 

Preziosa Reviews

• "There is not much to do on board. Just some dance lessons, stretch exercise and a trivia that is done in 5 languages. It's a pain to sit through that." (Tinkerbell8)
• "It was our first time cruising and it has certainly NOT given us the 'bug'!!" (LesC29)
• "We were excited to try a new cruise line and had high hopes of a great experience. We were disappointed. The ship is very glitzy but has very little comfort." (JennyPan)

Better MSC Ships

While MSC dominates this list with its four three-star ships, this doesn't mean it's a disappointment across the board; the rest of its 19 ships fare better.

While its low-rated trips cater to an international crowd, two of its North American ships in particular are nailing it: the MSC Divinia and MSC Seaside, the latter of which gets a nearly flawless score by the editors. 

"MSC Seaside is lively and fun, incorporating jaw-dropping entertainment, lots of outdoor spaces (it's a sun worshipper's paradise!) and family-friendly activities that include a 4D cinema, bowling, ziplines and a large water park," writes CruiseCritic editor Ashley Kosciolek.

Cruisers agree, citing its excellent shows and beautiful design as reasons to set sail. J-Chalmski even described a recent itinerary on the ship as "the best cruise we have ever been on!"

6. Previously Cruise & Maritime's Magellan

Cruise & Maritime's Magellan began its run as a Carnival Cruise Line ship in 1985. Nearly 25 years and two owners later, the ship was still sailing before the pandemic hit, and not racking up awards for awesomeness.

Customers lament low-quality cuisine, amateurish entertainment, overpriced excursions and (yes) persistent bad smells. This despite the fact that the ship was completely refurbished in 2015 by Cruise & Maritime, and that it's considered the cruise line's flagship. (What does that say about the line's additional boats?)

When Cruise & Maritime collapsed in July 2020, it put the Magellan up for sale. The Magellan should set sail again under its new ownership, Seajets, but only time will tell if it will earn better marks.

Magellan Reviews

Customer rating: 3 stars

• "Dreaded from start to finish." (BarryandU)
• "Cruise from Hell." (ChilledSun)
• "The food on this ship was shocking. Typically, it was to a standard I wouldn’t accept if I was cooking at home. On the plus side, nobody I knew gained weight from eating on the cruise." (SLydon)

5. Carnival Sunrise

Carnival Corporation has 30 ships sailing the seven seas, and most of them have excellent reviews.

Carnival is notorious for being "the fun ship" and budget-friendly. But alas, one ship made it onto the worst-of list: the Sunrise.

A CruiseCritic editor ranked it 4 out of 5 stars, which sounds like they were being kind to a heavy advertiser, as the reviews by passengers were much worse. 

Even the friendly editor admitted that the lines and crowds were impossible to escape, and said the ship is not at all a quiet one.

Sunrise Reviews

Customer rating: 2.5 stars

• "Book another cruise, it’s not a vacation, this experience only consists of many many lines." (Kikican)
• "Swimming was impossible — pools were so crowded you only had room to stand." (kbcm341)
• "We love cruising but this cruise is not good." (Dntmcgee7)

Better Carnival Ships

Carnival ships are beloved by reviewers, with thousands of reviews for practically all ships but Sunrise. With the majority of these ships nabbing 3.5 to 4 stars, the leader of the pack is Carnival Vista, which received a 5.0 from CruiseCritic editors and 4.5 stars from fellow passengers.

There is so much to do on this action-packed ship — including a water park! — that the editor spending 10 days aboard couldn't sample everything. Now that is a good time.

4. Costa's Deliziosa

Costa Cruises earned negative headlines when its Concordia ship sank in Italy nearly a decade ago, killing 32 people. Despite the disaster, the Italian-based cruise company still welcomes cruisers who love its ships.

But there are a few ships they don't.

One faring not so well on the list is the Deliziosa. You know you're in trouble when headlines warn "think again," "never again" and "beware."

The most common complaints are related to the ship's poor food, described at turns as "bland" and "cold;" subpar dining service (a few complained about getting sick from the cuisine); and hospitality desk staffed by employees with limited knowledge. 

Oh, and it doesn't help that in 2017, a crew member went overboard on the ship.

Deliziosa Reviews

Customer rating: 2.5 stars 

• "Buckle up kiddos, because you're in for quite a ride with this one." (snguyenx96)
• "Don't even know where to start." (JandBtravelers)
• "Will not meet expectations if you have cruised anywhere else." (andbolton)

3. Costa's Fascinosa

When CruiseCritic editors don't even provide a review of a ship, does that say something about the Fascinosa?

This dismally rated ship is knocked for its repetitive, less-than-savory food — one reviewer noticed its dinner desserts recycled as breakfast the next morning, while another slammed even its OJ as watery. The service doesn't fare much better, with many calling the staff rude and unenthused. 

Fascinosa Reviews

• "If you have self-respect, don't even book." (Maninu91)
• "I have cruised before, but this was the worst." (Anne346)
• "Dreadful avoid at all costs." (Patricia Pace)

2. Costa's Favolosa

Not to pick on Costa, but another ship that doesn't hit the mark, nabbing only a 2.5-star average review from cruise-goers, is the cruise line's Favolosa, which ironically means "fabulous" in Italian.

Like the Fascinosa, CruiseCritic's editors never bothered checking out the ship, which is probably for their own good; customer reviews knock the ship's subpar cleanliness, lack of food and beverages, and poor service. And, as many complained, water to drink isn't included in the price of the cruise!

Favolosa Reviews

• "Bad service overall, worst attitude I've ever seen on a cruise ship." (Sgonzalez100)
• "Every port we came to we could not wait to get OFF the ship." (sugarb204)
• "Do not throw away your money on this company and its ships." (bomag43)

1. Costa Venezia

More bad news for Costa. Launching this new ship in March 2019, the reviews have not been favorable.

Its maiden voyage sailed from Trieste to Dubai to Singapore to Yokohama to remain based in Shanghai.  Passengers wanted to enjoy luxurious cruising in China, but it appears Costa hasn't nailed this market quite yet.

Maybe it's just early sailing kinks?

Venezia Reviews

Customer rating: 1.5 stars

• "Worst cruise ever, bad food, long queue, terrible service, bad singer, snobbish crew." (cruise freek)
• "This cruise offered an amazing itinerary but it was terrible." (Lorrie200)
• "I first chose this cruise for the ports it was stopping at, what a mistake, the embarkation at Singapore should have told me what was to come ... how can it take 4 hours to board a ship." (Maggiee123)

Better Costa Ships

With no ship earning more than three stars, Costa is clearly not the best line to sail with. But not all Costa passengers have had horrible experiences.

CruiseCritic ranks Costa Mediterranea and Costa Magica as the top two ships by the Italian cruise company, owned by Carnival. Sail one of these, and you could have an experience that defies Costa's poor industry reputation. 

Wrote Sandystruis after sailing the Mediterranea: "Having read so many negative reviews, we were very skeptical and even contemplated canceling before sailing. Thank goodness we didn't. We have been on 13 cruises with different companies and this cruise was by far the best."

10 Worst Cruise Ships of 2024: Avoid These at All Costs!

April 1, 2024

In this article, we’re going to find out which cruise ships are the worst of 2024 !

I always feel a bit sorry for writing these articles, knowing there are people working on these ships who are passionate about their work and committed every day .

However, there’s no question that s ome ships are better than others . This does not mean that the ones you will see in this ranking are terrible.

I have traveled on some of these 10 ships and can assure you that I have had a good time . It may just happen that the cruise was not as good as others.

The ranking was made by analyzing the latest reviews for each ship from Cruise Critic and Tripadvisor .

I did not just do a mathematical average, as I think it can sometimes give distorted rankings. Instead, I interpreted the pros and cons to create a ranking that, from my point of view, was more complete.

Table of Contents

10. Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas

In the 10th place, we find Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas .

As the name suggests is part of the Quantum Class and was built in 2014. It was the biggest ship during its first sail and it looks like people loved it back then.

As time passed, the reviews’ ratings decreased mainly for the ship aging .

Some passengers also complained about the general organization onboard, with long wait times and not much support from the crew.

9. MSC Orchestra

The passengers of MSC Orchestra highlighted many problems that this ship has .

Firstly, not everyone liked the internal design . According to some reviews, the ship looks a bit old and not as fancy as some expected.

Many guests had trouble with the internet connection , which either didn’t work well or at all. Also, some people’s luggage arrived late, which was frustrating.

The entertainment wasn’t great for everyone . The level of the shows was considered ok but not as good as on some other cruise lines. The same for the activities on board that did not impress.

According to some reviews also the food had quite a space for improvement . Something was overcooked and something was cold. The buffet had more food choices and it was considered ok, even tho was a bit too crowded at some times .

A positive aspect was the staff that was overall considered helpful and always ready to make guests happy . So, the MSC Orchestra is in the 9th place and definitely needs to improve in some areas.

8. Costa Fascinosa

Costa Fascinosa is in 8th place. It’s the first one by Costa that we find in this ranking of the worst ships, but I can anticipate that we will see more ships by this company .

Many visitors were unhappy with the food on the Costa Fascinosa. The food quality was hit or miss and was often not seasoned enough.

The rooms and onboard facilities received mixed reviews . Some guests mentioned average accommodations, pointing out problems such as broken fridges or blocked views. Yet, some complimented the ship’s design.

A major issue for many was the boredom faced when shore excursions were canceled, leaving guests with very few entertainment options .

In some reviews, passengers also reported security and customer service problems . One of the complaints I’ve seen most often is the crew’s lack of enthusiasm.

A positive thing was the night entertainment , featuring talented performers and an engaging selection of shows.

7. Princess Cruises Majestic

The reviews of Princess Cruises’ Majestic reveal a complex picture of guest experiences, showing that the ship aims to offer a luxurious and memorable journey, but it frequently falls short in several key areas .

In particular, the passengers don’t like the design . Many spaces are considered too small and with outdated amenities.

Different reviews stated that c abins are too small just like the theater which, sometimes, cannot accommodate all the people that want to watch a show.

Lastly, some reviews say that the general entertainment is not good and that sometimes the cruise can be boring .

6. Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda is in 6th place among the worst cruise ships of 2024.

I have to say that I don’t really agree with this ranking position. I have personally traveled on Costa Smeralda, and I had a lovely time .

But let’s go on and see why some passengers did not like it.

First of all, some passengers complain about the language barrier . As you probably know Costa Cruises is an Italian company and not an American one.

Although I am Italian and therefore did not have these problems, I can assure you that all shows, announcements, and activities are always translated into English . So I struggle to understand the negative comments on this aspect.

On the other hand, I agree about the overall “ Italianness of the experience “.

The food, the activities, and the ship in general it’s designed for a more European audience and this may not appeal to Americans.

Could this be the problem that makes it rank among the worst cruise ships?

5. MSC Armonia

I must say that the presence of MSC Armonia in this list does not surprise me.

She is the oldest ship in the MSC fleet and for obvious reasons she faces criticism.

Most passengers complain about the limited number of activities on board and about the aging of the interiors .

No surprise, if you choose to travel on a 2001 ship you have to know what to expect.

Some reviews also complained about the food served onboard . It was described as limited in choice and not of high quality.

4. MSC Seascape

Incredibly, in 4th place, there’s of MSC’s newest ships, the MSC Seascape .

Passengers reported in the reviews several problems they found aboard this ship.

First of all, the biggest negative point concerns the quality of the food . Passengers complain about poor food quality in both the restaurant and the buffet.

Along with the food, the drinks system also encountered many complaints. Guests say they had to wait a long time to receive their drinks once they were requested . Some guests wondered if this was due to a low number of staff members.

The other aspect that should be improved is the general cleanliness of the ship , both for the common areas and the cabins.

In short, different aspects need improvement to move this cruise ship up in the ratings.

3. Carnival Sunrise

Position number 3 for Carnival Sunrise !

I must say that Carnival cruises rank quite well and often have high ratings from passengers.

Many people love the fun and entertainment on these cruises and the price is often very affordable .

Why does Carnival Sunrise rank among the worst cruises then? From what you can read in the reviews there is only one reason: the crowdedness of the ship !

Many reviews talk about the long queues you can find onboard and also about the very crowded pools.

This made it for many not a relaxing vacation but a stressful one !

I do not know why this Carnival ship has a higher number of these complaints. If you read the article on the Carnival Cruise Ships by Size you will know that Sunrise has several ships with similar tonnage. Therefore, I do not understand why these problems only show on this ship. Maybe it’s just poorly managed?

2. Costa Favolosa

In the second place, we find again a Costa Crociere ship. As you can see, it is the most featured cruise line in this ranking of the worst ships.

Costa Favolosa it’s quite an old ship. Build in 2010, so it is more than 14 years old .

What to say? Passengers found poor service overall . Many complained about the staff that were not as kind and attentive as they should be.

The food was another negative point : choices were very limited, and the quality was not as expected. Plus you had to wait a long time to get your drinks.

This one is another Costa ship that doesn’t hit the mark and gets only an average of 2.5 out of 5 .

Will it be a coincidence? Or does the low price of this company also lead to a lower service quality?

1. Costa Fortuna

What is the worst cruise ship in the world? According to the most updated reviews it’s Costa Fortuna!

Who is the fool who decided to travel with it? It’s me, Leo! 🙂

I must say that I traveled with Fortuna several years ago , I think about 10. Nowadays, it has become the smallest ship in the whole fleet as it was built in 2002 so over 20 years ago.

I see that, since then, the reviews have not improved and passengers continue to complain about various aspects.

Most of the complaints are about the ship itself, the food, and the overall service .

Some passengers complain that the ship is not well maintained and not as clean as it should be .

The food is not very good and is very limited . There is not much choice and only a few options are available for those with intolerances or for people following special diets.

To make matters worse, some passengers found the cruise a bit boring . There are not many things to do on board and the entertainment is not very engaging.

Perhaps one of the few positive things is the price . Many passengers say they paid very little for their cruise but still don’t like it if they consider the quality/price ratio.

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The 9 Worst Cruise Ship Disasters

See recent posts by Neil Gladstone

The Titanic may be the most famous ship disaster, but surprisingly, it’s not even close to being the deadliest wreck that ever occurred on a luxury liner. If you’re trying to dissuade someone from taking a cruise, you should show them this list of maritime misadventures presented in no particular order. Disclaimer: The vast majority of cruises sail without incident and are safe and not filled with poop. (Oh yeah, we’ll get there.) Get your plate ready for a buffet of high-seas horror.

1. RMS Titanic

The many experts in 1912 who considered the Titanic “unsinkable” were to be proven wrong on the boat’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Thomas Andrews had designed the ship to withstand head-on collisions and rammings from other ships. However, the North Atlantic Ocean iceberg that took down the vessel scraped through five of its 16 watertight compartments. The boat would have reportedly remained afloat if it had only gone through four. Like other systems at the time, the Titanic’s lifeboats were designed to shepherd passengers to nearby rescue ships, not take them to shore. Unfortunately, help was many hours away in the wee hours of April 15 when the boat was going under. The poor crew organization also caused many lifeboats to leave the ship at far less than full capacity. Plus, they only had enough boats for about a third of the onboard. As a result, more than 1,500 people died — either on the ship or in the icy waters, waiting for help. A recent theory suggests a fire that started in the hull before the ship set sail weakened the vessel’s steel walls, making it susceptible to an iceberg that normally wouldn’t have caused as much damage.

2. Eastern Star’s Dongfang zhi Xing

In 2015, Dongfang zhi Xing was traveling on the Yangtze River in China when a thunderstorm struck, and the boat capsized. Ships in the area were warned that bad storms were coming and told to take precautions, but it is unclear if the Dongfang zhi Xing ever received the warnings and continued to sail. The ship was met with winds of up to 72-85 mph, and ultimately, a downburst (a strong downward wind) caused the ship to capsize and sink. Out of the 454 people on board, only 12 survived, making the total number of dead 442.

3. Carnival Cruise Line’s Triumph

A generator fire on Carnival Cruise Lines’s Triumph (now called Carnival Sunrise) left the ship powerless, and a late-night comedy punchline was born: “The Poop Cruise.” Without working bathrooms, passengers were forced to drop their payloads into red “hazardous waste” bags and stuff them into garbage cans left in the hall. Passengers described carpets soaked with more than two inches of raw sewage. News reports described the scene as a “shanty town” and a “new circle of hell.” One passenger reportedly called her husband and told him that their 12-year-old daughter had Skittles for breakfast. It took four days for the Triumph to be towed from the Gulf of Mexico to Mobile, Alabama, where it was possible to smell the ship from the dock. Later, 31 passengers claimed long-lasting damage, including PTSD, and sued. After the verdict, 27 of them split $118,000, many earning less than $3,000 (minus legal fees) for their troubles.

4. Costa Concordia

One of the biggest passenger ships ever wrecked, the Costa Concordia had 17 decks, six restaurants, a three-story theater, and enough room for 4,200 vacationers. On January 13, 2012, Captain Francesco Schettino agreed to a request by the ship’s chief maître d’, Antonello Tievoli, and sailed closer to Isola del Giglio than normal. Why? Tievoli, a native of Giglio, wanted to impress and “salute” local residents. Unfortunately, Captain Schettino turned off the ship’s alarm for the computer navigation system and later admitted he thought he knew the waters well enough to navigate by sight. However, the ship’s first mate testified that the captain had left his glasses in his cabin and requested them. The Costa Concordia struck an underwater rock, capsized, and sank, killing 32 passengers. Schettino’s worst maritime sin? He abandoned the ship with 300 passengers still onboard. A Coast Guard officer in contact with the ship at the time of the sinking claimed he told Schettino to get back onboard. After being convicted of manslaughter and pursuing several appeals, Schettino only started his 16-year prison sentence in May of 2017. The salvage effort (the ship was completely dismantled) was the largest effort of its kind.

5. SS Eastland

Launched in 1903, the SS Eastland was a passenger ship based in Chicago and used for tours. Although the ship had noted listing (tilting) since its inception and some measures had been taken to rectify this, the SS Eastland was still suffering from being top-heavy when boarding for a cruise in 1915. The ship was meant to sail from Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana, carrying workers from Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne Works for a picnic. On July 24, 2,572 passengers boarded, with many congregating on the open upper decks. While still docked, the ship began to list to the port side, and reportedly, at some point, more passengers rushed to the port side, causing the ship to roll onto its side completely. Despite the river’s bottom being just 20 feet below and the shore being about the same distance, a total of 844 passengers and crew members died, including 22 entire families.

6. Royal Pacific

When the Royal Pacific was first launched as a passenger ferry in 1964, it could carry 250 passengers, 91 cars, and 16 trucks. Sold and converted into a cruise ship in the late 1980s, the boat’s maiden voyage was a two-night “cruise to nowhere” from Singapore and sailed by Phuket, Malacca, and Penang before returning home. At around 2 a.m., when most passengers were asleep, the crew heard a loud bang, and the plates on the buffet table crashed to the ground. A Taiwanese trawler, Terfu 51, had accidentally rammed the ship, leaving a six-foot gash in the side. As the trawler pulled away, there was a deafening sound of metal scraping against metal. The PA system wasn’t working properly on the boat, but the safety officer ran downstairs to survey the damage. When he returned, he told everyone to put on their life jackets. Reports vary about how many passengers were impacted — most tallies number 30 dead and 70 injured. Several passengers also complained that a mix of Greek-, English- and Mandarin-speaking crew members led to few people understanding what anyone was saying.

7. SS Morro Castle

The story of the SS Morro Castle is so dreadful it’s surprising no Hollywood producer has turned the tale into a horror movie. Director Fritz Lang collaborated on a script about the tragedy, and named it “Hell Afloat” (which is a pretty apt description), but it was never made. Between 1930 and 1934, the SS Morro Castle regularly shuttled 480-plus passengers between Havana and New York. While onboard, there was no Depression to worry about and no Prohibition, which meant plenty of booze-filled partying. However, the September 1934 return sail from Cuba to the Big Apple seemed cursed. On September 7, Captain Robert Wilmott complained of stomach trouble after eating dinner and retired to his cabin, where he later died of an apparent heart attack. Chief Officer William Warms took command, and a few hours later, around 3 a.m. on September 8, a fire started in one of the storage lockers. The crew’s attempts to fight the fire were haphazard and inadequate, and soon, the blaze couldn’t be contained. Many crew members abandoned the ship, leaving confused passengers to fend for themselves in the dark, smoky hallways. Some jumped from the deck to their death in the water. Rescuers lined up on the Jersey Shore to meet the lifeboats carrying passengers. The next morning, the burning, black hull of the SS Morro Castle ran aground at Asbury Park, New Jersey. Of the 549 people aboard the cruise, 86 guests and 49 crew members died.

8. Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas

A cruise can be an oasis of calm in rough waters, but it’s also a petri dish of disease where viruses ricochet from passenger to passenger. In 2014, the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas cruise from New Jersey to the Caribbean earned the dubious honor of being the ship with more sick passengers than any other boat trip since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started keeping statistics more than 20 years ago. An estimated 700 passengers and crew members were sick at some point. Most cruise ship illnesses result from norovirus, that causes inflammation of the stomach and large intestines and regular trips to the “head.” If you’re wondering how to stay healthy on a cruise with sick passengers, plenty of handwashing (and avoiding ill people) is key. Bugs pass quickly through contact with ship railings, bathroom doors, and buffet food.

9. MTS Oceanos

Built by a French company and first launched in 1952, the MTS Oceanos was purchased by a Greek company in 1976. On August 3, 1991, Oceanos set sail for East London, South Africa, and headed north for Durban, led by Captain Yiannis Avranas. The ship reportedly headed into 40-knot winds and 30-foot swells, and thus, the typical sail-away outdoor deck party with British entertainers Moss and Tracy Hills was moved to an indoor lounge. The sea conditions worsened that night, leading to the ship rolling from side to side, and eventually, an explosion was heard due to a lack of repairs for the waste disposal system. This all led to the ship losing power and water filling its generator room, so the generators were shut down and the ship was led adrift. A distress call was sent and answered by numerous South African helicopters and a Dutch container ship. Shockingly, the captain and many crew members were among the first to be airlifted to shore, leaving the entertainment staff to coordinate the rescue efforts and help passengers to safety. All 571 passengers and crew members were saved by the time the ship sank nose-first into the sea.

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THE TEN WORST CRUISE SHIPS IN THE WORLD

By greykangaroo , August 13, 2019 in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

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greykangaroo

All Australians who love cruising and who spend their many thousands of dollars on cruises should read this.

How many realise  that the ships we get down here in Australian waters are the northern hemisphere cast offs from passenger criticism or in advanced age.

Check out the Ovation of the Seas and Princess's Majestic.

We won't even talk about the Sun Princess.

https://www.farandwide.com/s/worst-cruise-ships-c8eb6e9ffd384546?utm_campaign=worstcruise-90aa9f23dd7e4f9b&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=oat&utm_term=FINANCE_US

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Thanks for posting, some would not agree with that list.

One cannot single out Majestic Princess, there are a number of identical 'Royal Class Ships' and more on the way to Princess and P&O UK.  They are ok, not great, as I missed the walk around balcony on Royal Princess.  True the 1000 seat theatre cannot fit the 3500 pax, but most ships have that problem.

Yet neither Ovation or Majestic are advanced age, and actually the opposite - very new!

There are reasons Ovation and Quantum are rated lowly, and it's not because they're cast offs or anything wrong like that.

1) Both serve in the Chinese market - which based on cruisecritic US reviews have given them worse scores than the rest of the fleet due to the local experience. I.e. not a ship but environment/passenger issue.

2) Both had dynamic dining which also had a lot of criticism, compared to other ships. That isn't in place now, but the ratings remain.

So, the rating may be a fact, but it doesn't mean anything bad about it operating here, nor does it mean that any passenger would have a worse experience on it here than any other RCL ship.

13 minutes ago, greykangaroo said:   All Australians who love cruising and who spend their many thousands of dollars on cruises should read this. How many realise  that the ships we get down here in Australian waters are the northern hemisphere cast offs from passenger criticism or in advanced age. Check out the Ovation of the Seas and Princess's Majestic. We won't even talk about the Sun Princess.     https://www.farandwide.com/s/worst-cruise-ships-c8eb6e9ffd384546?utm_campaign=worstcruise-90aa9f23dd7e4f9b&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=oat&utm_term=FINANCE_US

Funny it says Majestic Princess got 4.5 from cruise critic, the same as the ships they say are better ships.

18 cruises on 9 different ships across 4 cruiselines from 3N to 29N from 130 to 3500 passenger capacity - enjoyed them all.

Interesting that most of the ships listed were either designed for a non-American market or are European cruise lines. And I bet most of the negative reviewers were from the US. 

I'm not a fan of the Princess Royal class ships though, I much prefer the smaller ships even if they are older.

17 minutes ago, The_Big_M said: Yet neither Ovation or Majestic are advanced age, and actually the opposite - very new!   There are reasons Ovation and Quantum are rated lowly, and it's not because they're cast offs or anything wrong like that. 1) Both serve in the Chinese market - which based on cruisecritic US reviews have given them worse scores than the rest of the fleet due to the local experience. I.e. not a ship but environment/passenger issue. 2) Both had dynamic dining which also had a lot of criticism, compared to other ships. That isn't in place now, but the ratings remain.   So, the rating may be a fact, but it doesn't mean anything bad about it operating here, nor does it mean that any passenger would have a worse experience on it here than any other RCL ship.

I've sailed on the Ovation three times and the Quantum of the Seas  inaugural voyage of 42 days from New York to Singapore.

I've had a gut full of that class.

Before you tell us of your experience, let's not have any of that junk about 'why did you sail on it then"?

The reason is simply that the Ovation was doing cruises that we wanted to do. No other ship was available

The picture they have for the Majestic is an inside on a Sun class ship 🙄

rabbitoh_777

Any Worst Top Ten list that doesn't include the old and stinky Sea & Sun Princesses is simply  a "Fake News" puff piece!

Avoid them like the plague unless the cruise is well under two weeks in length and then say your prayers...

7 minutes ago, cheznandy said: The picture they have for the Majestic is an inside on a Sun class ship 🙄

Afternoon Chez. I thought the cabin fit out looked a little ancient. 😍

A lot of fake news in that article, but what's new? 

25 minutes ago, mr walker said: 18 cruises on 9 different ships across 4 cruiselines from 3N to 29N from 130 to 3500 passenger capacity - enjoyed them all.

Mr Walker? Are you the Phantom? I used to love those comics.

Of all the ships we have sailed on, my choice is the Serenade of the Seas. We did the Arctic Circle on it.

The Diamond lounge is fabulous. Couldn't wait till 4.30 pm every day.

This is the most generous service we have ever received on any ship

16 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: Interesting that most of the ships listed were either designed for a non-American market or are European cruise lines. And I bet most of the negative reviewers were from the US.    I'm not a fan of the Princess Royal class ships though, I much prefer the smaller ships even if they are older.

I agree, ships like Sapphire Princess, Crown Princess, Ruby Princess, Golden Princess, Coral Princess, Pacific Princess are my favourites in the Princess fleet.

Aus Traveller

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said: Interesting that most of the ships listed were either designed for a non-American market or are European cruise lines. And I bet most of the negative reviewers were from the US.    I'm not a fan of the Princess Royal class ships though, I much prefer the smaller ships even if they are older.

A very interesting observation. 🙂

1 hour ago, rabbitoh_777 said:   Any Worst Top Ten list that doesn't include the old and stinky Sea & Sun Princesses is simply  a "Fake News" puff piece! Avoid them like the plague unless the cruise is well under two weeks in length and then say your prayers... ☠️

We have a different opinion of the Sea and Sun Princess. We have sailed on these ships many times and have a couple of cruises booked on the Sea P. We quite like them. I suppose one reason is that any cruise is a good cruise. Another reason is that the Sea Princess sails out of our home city, Brisbane.

mum and son

22 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said: We have a different opinion of the Sea and Sun Princess. 

I love the Sea Princess, one of my faves. 

I've never been on a bad cruise, but the ship I disliked the most was Voyager of the Seas - because I felt a bit like I was in a shopping mall in LA. It's a personal thing...

I have only cruised on one Princess ship - Sea Princess. Although we had a great cruise (all our cruises have been great one way or another), it was the most run down and tired looking of all the ships we've been on. The main problem with SP was the plumbing. The crew were constantly fixing blocked or overflowing toilets and water leaks from ceilings. Worn fixtures are only visual and don't bother me but damaged carpet or broken furniture can be a hazard. (The cruise was about six years ago and may have been refurbished since then).

44 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said: We have a different opinion of the Sea and Sun Princess. We have sailed on these ships many times and have a couple of cruises booked on the Sea P. We quite like them. I suppose one reason is that any cruise is a good cruise. Another reason is that the Sea Princess sails out of our home city, Brisbane.

All opinions are welcome, it is afterall only mine.

We all have different reasons for cruising, mine doesn't include paying a premium for a sub-standard service or accepting first world hand me downs like those two tired old rust buckets and being contented because it sails out of our homeport.

This has more to do with this pair being the only real choices year after year (except for one Circ. Pac. I can recall) to be offered to Australians for World, Circle Pacific or Cherry Blossom cruises all above a minimum 38 nights duration.

To have a new fit for purpose ship like Majestic in that list over these two clunkers beggars beyond belief. To me it feeds into the Aussie mindsets of "she'll be right mmmate" we will put up with what ever bones you Multi-Nationals want to throw us and be happy with it. What's more we will pay a premium over & above that than anyone else in the world does for the pleasure as well, just give me a cheap drinks package.

How many cruises over 14 days have you spent on the Sun Class ships just as an interest?

Have you ever been on Diamond, Sapphire or even Golden Princess before it being P&O'ed?

3 hours ago, cheznandy said: The picture they have for the Majestic is an inside on a Sun class ship 🙄

I don't think it is. The Sun class cabins are a bit wider so can fit a double chest of drawers between the beds in twin configuration. And the fridge unit is between the bathroom and the cabin door not next to the wardrobe, with the TV above it.

Maybe it's one of the smaller ships like Pacific, or a ship that no longer exists. I haven't cruised in an inside cabin on a Royal class ship though - maybe they are that small. 😲

2 hours ago, Aus Traveller said: We have a different opinion of the Sea and Sun Princess. We have sailed on these ships many times and have a couple of cruises booked on the Sea P. We quite like them. I suppose one reason is that any cruise is a good cruise. Another reason is that the Sea Princess sails out of our home city, Brisbane.

So do I. We've done two cruises on Sun (13 nights and 20 nights), and on on Dawn (17 nights) before she went to P&O. We're about to board Sea for the 35 night Hawaii cruise. I much prefer the layout of the public areas on the Sun class ships, where the Wheelhouse bar is a decent size, and Crooners is the whole of the deck 7 atrium area instead of being crowded out by shops.

I also like Diamond which has a decent Wheelhouse Bar, but didn't like Golden as much.

SinbadThePorter

12 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: We've done two cruises on Sun

I've done two cruises on Sea and experienced a propulsion failure which necessitated overnighting in Cairns, a fire in the library due to leaks from heavy rain, and a complete ship wide electrical blackout which delayed departure by 5 or 6 hours.

I'm not tempting fate again.

I also liked Diamond and her layout. I'm hoping Sapphire is more of the same when she comes out here.

5 minutes ago, SinbadThePorter said:   I also liked Diamond and her layout. I'm hoping Sapphire is more of the same when she comes out here.

So am I, we've booked a PNG cruise on Sapphire.

22 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: So am I, we've booked a PNG cruise on Sapphire.

I've been watching that one. It also departs from Brisbane.

56 minutes ago, rabbitoh_777 said: How many cruises over 14 days have you spent on the Sun Class ships just as an interest?   Have you ever been on Diamond, Sapphire or even Golden Princess before it being P&O'ed? Cheers r   ☠️ 😎  

I had to pull out my cruise file. We have been on the Sun class ships for 25 cruises that were longer than 14 nights. Four of these were actually B2Bs making much longer than 14 nights. The longest in those 25 cruises were long segments of a world cruise (3 times) and the 47 night Indian Ocean cruise.

BTW I did not include our several cruises to NZ because they are 14 nights, not more than 14 nights.

We have been on other ships for long cruises (Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Golden Princess, Grand Princess, HAL Ryndam).

In booking the Sea Princess we definitely do not feel we are just settling for second best. We enjoy cruising on the ship. We find the service excellent and the staff very friendly. The cabins are a bit small, but we can live with that.

3 minutes ago, SinbadThePorter said:   I've been watching that one. It also departs from Brisbane.

The fare from Sydney has been slowly creeping upwards. I think it's about $300pp more than when we booked it. It might be due to the falling AUD. I haven't been watching the Brisbane fares though. The Sydney fare is higher than I like to pay for an inside cabin but hopefully there will be a price reduction further down the track.

52 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: I don't think it is. The Sun class cabins are a bit wider so can fit a double chest of drawers between the beds in twin configuration. And the fridge unit is between the bathroom and the cabin door not next to the wardrobe, with the TV above it.   Maybe it's one of the smaller ships like Pacific, or a ship that no longer exists. I haven't cruised in an inside cabin on a Royal class ship though - maybe they are that small. 😲

It is Sun class inside cabins, the longer narrower cabins ones that run across the ship, not down.

I have been in them a few times on the Dawn Princess and have one booked on the Sun Princess.

The cabin you describe is the cabins that run down the ship with an angled door when you walk in.........these are a different layout. We push the bed against the wall, and the drawers fit next to it.

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The 8 Worst Cruise Ship Disasters

Somali pirates, icebergs, and coral reefs have ruined many would-be vacations.

Gregorio Borgia | AP

Carnival Triumph:  What was supposed to be a four-day jaunt to the Caribbean became an eight-day nightmare when an engine fire left the ship floating in the Gulf of Mexico without power, air-conditioning, or a working septic system.

[ RELATED: Cruise From Hell Set to Limp Ashore Tonight ]

Carnival Splendor:  Carnival's Splendor suffered a similar fate as Carnival's Triumph in November 2011. Both were stranded by engine fires, though the Splendor was left floating in the Pacific Ocean. After three days the Splendor and its 4,500 passengers were towed back to the San Diego Bay.

Costa Concordia:  This Italian cruise ship ran aground on a reef off the coast of Tuscany, Italy, in January 2012 and toppled onto its side. Of the 4,200 aboard, 32 died and 64 were injured, according to the Associated Press . The half-submerged ship is still being removed.

[ PHOTOS: Costa Concordia Disaster: One Year Later ]

Seabourn Spirits:  In 2005, while 100 miles off the coast of Somalia, pirates in speedboats attacked the small cruise ship. The pirates fired on it with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before the captain changed course and got away. None of the ship's 300 passengers were hurt, and the ship made it to the Seychelles where the rocket damage was repaired.

Celebrity Mercury:  More than 400 of the 2,600 passengers and crew onboard the Mercury were stricken ill in 2010 in what the Centers for Disease control deemed a norovirus outbreak . The virus caused widespread vomiting and other gastrointestinal ills on the ship, which left from Charleston, S.C.

Norwegian Dawn:  At least 62 cabins were flooded when a 70-foot wave smashed into the Dawn, in 2005. About 300 of the ship's passengers disembarked early, in Charleston, after the storm had passed.

S.S. Eastland:  In 1915, just three years after the Titanic sank, the S.S. Eastland passenger tour ship rolled over while in port in downtown Chicago. More than 840 of its 2,500 passengers died in the accident.

RMS Titanic:  The original cruise ship disaster, the "unsinkable ship" struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage in 1912 and sank into the icy water, killing more than 1,500 of its 2,200 passengers and crew.

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The world’s worst cruise ship disasters

Tragedies aboard cruise ships live on in infamy as the sinking of RMS Titanic, the biggest cruise disaster in history, bears witness. Ship-technology.com lists the worst ever cruise ship disasters.

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RMS Titanic

The sinking of RMS Titanic in April 1912 remains the worst, and the most infamous, cruise ship disaster in history. The sinking of the biggest passenger ship ever built at the time resulted in the death of more than 1,500 of the 2,208 people onboard.

The accident occurred when the ship hit an iceberg while cruising at its maximum speed of 23k on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The massive loss of life in the North Atlantic Ocean resulted mainly from hypothermia.

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RMS Titanic was the second of three Olympic-class ocean liners operated by White Star Line. It was constructed by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast in three years and was designed by the naval architect Thomas Andrews.

RMS Titanic measured 269.11m in length, 28.042m in breadth, had a gross tonnage of 46,328t and comprised nine decks. The cruise ship was equipped with 20 lifeboats for 1,178 people.

The steamship’s three propellers were driven by two four-cylinder, triple-expansion, inverted reciprocating steam engines and one four-blade low-pressure Parsons turbine.

RMS Lusitania

The sinking of RMS Lusitania in May 1915, after being hit by the German military submarine U-20, caused 1,201 deaths during a voyage from New York to Liverpool. She was considered the largest, fastest and most luxurious ship in the world at the time of her launch in June 1906.

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The Lusitania disaster resulted in the death of many Americans and became one of the major reasons behind the US entering World War I.

The German submarine targeted the submarine as a naval ship, as it was also carrying war weapons for the British.

RMS Lusitania was built by John Brown and Co. of Scotland and completed its maiden voyage in September 1907. The steamship was owned and operated by Cunard Company; a rival of White Star Line, which owned the Titanic.

RMS Lusitania had an overall length of 239.8m, beam of 26.7m, draft of 10.2m, depth of 18.4m, gross tonnage of 31,550t and ten decks. It was designed to accmmodate 2,165 passengers and 827 crew members. It was equipped with four 375kW generator sets and possessed a service speed of 25k and a maximum speed of 26.35k.

RMS Empress of Ireland

RMS Empress of Ireland, which sank in the Saint Lawrence River in May 1914, claimed the lives of 1,012 people out of the 1,477 people onboard. It was the second major cruise ship disaster after the Titanic disaster. The Ocean Liner operated on the North Atlantic route between Quebec and Liverpool in England.

The passenger steamship collided with the 6,000t Norwegian collier, the Storstad, following a thick fog which engulfed the river. Just five of the 42 lifeboats could be launched into the water due to the listing of the vessel on her starboard side. The accident was aggravated by the cold conditions, failure to close the ship’s watertight doors and failure to close all portholes aboard.

RMS Empress of Ireland was owned by Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. It was designed by Francis Elgar and built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering. The ocean liner was launched in January 1906 and completed her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Montreal in June 1906.

The cruise ship was 168m long, its beam measured 20m and gross tonnage was 14,191t. The ship was equipped with two steam engines and two quadruple expansion propellers, which provided a maximum operating speed of 20k.

MS Estonia, formerly known as Viking Sally, Silja Star and Wasa King during different periods from 1980 to 1993, sank in September 1994 during its voyage from Tallinn to Stockholm, resulting in 852 deaths, while 137 people were saved through rescue operations.

The cruise ferry accident was caused by rough sea conditions in the Baltic Sea, when wind speeds ranged from 35mph to 45mph. The bad sea conditions forced the ship to initially list on the starboard side and later sink completely.

The ferry was constructed by Meyer Werft at its shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, in 1980. The ferry, initially named Viking Sally, was delivered in June 1980 to its first owner Rederi Ab Sally. The vessel was operated by EstLine from 1993 to 1994.

MS Estonia measured 155.43m in length, 24.21m in breadth, had a draught of 5.55m, a gross tonnage of 15,598t and featured nine decks and ten lifeboats. The vessel was equipped with four 4,400kW diesel engines connected to two propeller shafts, and had an operational speed of 21k. The cruise ferry had capacity to accommodate 2,000 passengers and 460 cars.

SS Eastland

The SS Eastland disaster in July 1915 claimed more than 844 lives out of the 2,500 people onboard. The disaster occurred when the ship listed while being still tied to a dock in the Chicago River during preparations to cruise to Michigan City.

The probable causes of the disaster are believed to be the flaws in its design and construction, inadequacy of its ballast tanks and overloading. The accident occurred when the passengers embarked the ship. The ship initially listed to the starboard side and further to portside, throwing off passengers and trapping some in the interior cabins.

SS Eastland was owned by Michigan Transportation Company and operated by Chicago-South Haven Line. It was constructed by Jenks Ship Building Company, which specialised in constructing freighters but had no prior experience in construction of passenger vessels. The vessel was launched in May 1903.

The cruise ship had an overall length of 275m, width of 38m and gross tonnage of 1,961t. It was equipped with two triple expansion steam engines, four scotch boilers and two shafts. The vessel was designed for a top speed of 16.5k. It was equipped with 11 life boats and 37 life rafts.

Saint-Philibert Cruise Ship

Saint-Philibert was a twin screw-propelled small cruise ship that met with disaster in June 1931 resulting in the loss of about 500 lives, sparing just eight passengers while on its homeward run on the Loire Estuary in France.

The disaster was induced by harsh storms driving the passengers to take shelter behind the machinery casings, which caused the ship to list over. It was further struck by a wave causing her to sink. The ship, which carried approximately 500 people during the voyage, exceeded the normal carrying capacity by about 80%.

The inadequacy of the ship’s speed to face such waves, lack of coverings for shelter and absence of communication equipment further aggravated the situation. Besides, the captain and crew were considered unqualified.

Saint-Philibert cruise ship measured 32m in length and 6.4m in breadth, and had a draft of 2.74m and gross tonnage of 189t.

SS Admiral Nakhimov

The SS Admiral Nakhimov disaster in August 1986 resulted in the death of 423 people, mostly Ukranians, out of the 1,234 people onboard. The accident occurred in the Tsemes Bay near the port of Novorossiysk enroute Sochi.

The cruise ship collided with the large bulk carrier Pyotr Vasev at a speed of five knots, causing it to sink within a few minutes. The accident was caused by negligence of the captains of the two ships. The captain of Pyotr Vasev failed to heed the warning announced from SS Admiral Nakhimov, while the captain of Admiral Nakhimov was absent on the bridge at the time of the tragedy.

The passenger liner was originally named SS Berlin III and operated on the Crimean-Caucasian line. It was owned by Norddeutscher Lloyd and constructed by Bremer Vulkan.

SS Admiral Nakhimov had an overall length of 174m, beam of 21.02m and gross tonnage of 17,053t. It had a capacity to accommodate 1,125 passengers and 354 crew, and a cruise speed of 16k.

Aleksandr Suvorov

Aleksandr Suvorov, a river cruise ship of the Valerian Kuybyshev-class, met with disaster in June 1983 resulting in the death of 176 people out of the 415 people onboard, while cruising on the Volga-Don basin in Russia. The blame for the accident was placed on the captain who failed to prevent the accident and had not provided a proper order.

Just prior to the accident, an auction to be held at the cinema hall was announced, leading the passengers to the upper deck of the ship. The ship, which was cruising at a speed of about 13.5k at the time, crashed onto a bridge, failing to pass through the second span of the bridge. A freight train passing through the bridge was also affected by the crash, causing some cars to derail and fall on the ship.

Volga-Don Shipping Company was the operator of the ship at the time. Slovenské Lodenice constructed the vessel in Komárno, Czechoslovakia. The ship was restored after the accident and is currently operated by Vodohod.

Aleksander Suvorov has an overall length of 135.75m and width of 16.8m, and is comprised of four decks. It can accommodate 400 passengers and 83 crew, and runs on a 6CHRN36/45 (EG70 -5) diesel engine.

SS Morro Castle

The SS Morro Castle disaster in September 1934 resulted in the loss of more than 137 passengers and crew out of the 318 passengers and 240 crew onboard. The cruise ship was on its 174th return voyage to New York City from Havana.

The disaster was caused by a fire, which emanated from the cruise ship’s library and engulfed the entire ship. The fire was worsened by bad weather, inadequate crew and the ship’s design, which incorporated easily flammable interior materials. Just 12 lifeboats were launched out of the many lifeboats capable of rescuing 408 people.

The ship was owned by Agwi Navigation Co. and operated by Ward Line. It was constructed in 1930 at a cost of approximately $5m by Newport News Shipbuilding. The vessel completed her maiden voyage in August 1930 and served Ward Line along with its sister vessel SS Oriente for four years.

SS Morro Castle was 155m long, 21.6m wide and 11.9m deep, and had a capacity to carry 489 passengers and 240 crew. The steam turbo-electric liner was propelled by two turbines and sailed at a speed of 20k.

SS Andrea Doria

The SS Andrea Doria collided with the eastbound Swedish passenger liner Stockholm due to poor visibility caused by a thick fog. The disaster took place in July 1956 near the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, while cruising towards New York City resulting in the death of 52 people, while 1,660 people were rescued.

It is considered the world’s first major radar-assisted collision at sea, as the cause of the accident is assumed to be from the misreading of the radar. It was struck just aft and below the starboard bridge, and sank after 11 hours.

The ocean liner was owned by Italian Line and constructed by Ansaldo Shipyards of Genoa, Italy, at a cost of approximately $30m. It was launched in June 1951 and set out on its maiden voyage in January 1953.

SS Andrea Doria measured 212m in length, had a beam of 27m and a gross tonnage of 29,100t. It featured ten decks and was equipped with two steam turbines providing a top speed of 23k.

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10 Photos Taken By Passengers Who Were Disappointed With Their Cruise Vacation

There are plenty of things that can take a cruise vacation from dream to disappointment faster than you can say "pina colada."

A cruise vacation is supposed to be the perfect blend of relaxation and entertainment. You can choose to spend the day in total chill-out mode sipping cocktails by the pool or in excitement overdrive at the bars, shows, and countless onboard activities. Between the open sea and the revolving door of new cities and destinations, a cruise promises great views and constant variety. What's not to love?

Well, ask any of these disgruntled tourists and they'll tell you exactly what can go wrong on the perfect  cruise vacation. Whether it's the quality of the boat itself, the undesirable company on board, or the lackluster entertainment, there are plenty of things that can take a cruise vacation from dream to disappointment faster than you can say "pina colada."

10 Who Needs A Headboard Anyway?

Given the nature of the limited space available on cruise ships, it's fair to assume your bedroom won't be as spacious as it would be in other, non-floating hotels. But there comes a limit to every tourist's understanding when they discover their room is essentially just a mattress shoved up against an inaccessible door.

9 Sometimes A Nap Is More Interesting Than The Cruise Itself

There's relaxing, and then there's just plain boring. Unfortunately for this tourist, their cruise vacation fell on the wrong side of this fine line. With its dull, uninspiring tour guide and boring, uneventful excursions, this cruise vacation turned out to be essentially a very expensive nap.

8 They Weren't Kidding When They Said The Deck Could Be Slippery

This is definitely not how this tourist expected to be spending her dream vacation. Just a few days into the trip, an unfortunate slip on some wet stairs sent her flying back from a beautiful beach destination to Florida , where the trip had started just a matter of days before. Not ideal.

7 There's Nothing Like Relaxing To The Sound Of Hammers And Drills

You can't beat the sound of the open sea: the gentle splashing of the ship breaking through the waves, the familiar squawk of seagulls flying overhead, and the deep stillness of a calm ocean. While this should be the soundtrack to a calm cruise vacation, instead these tourists were treated to the noise of ongoing maintenance and construction work.

6 Some Boats Can Be A Little Too Rustic

Not every tourist needs the five-star accommodation and fancy gadgets of a big cruise liner. Some are more content with a simple, more rustic vibe. But even they would have to agree that this boat is in need of some serious TLC, and a good lick of paint while you're at it.

5 They Didn't Even Try To Hide The Rust On This Boat

Everyone knows that the photos on a company's website are often not completely reflective of the real experience. They're usually not too far off, though - maybe just slightly smaller and older than the shiny, wide-angle lens suggested. But this run-down, rusty boat isn't just misleading, it looks like it might not even pass a safety test.

4 Not Quite The Sea View That Was Advertized

After being told that their itinerary was changing mid-trip, these tourists were whisked away from their first boat and transferred to this new cruise ship. As if the disruption and change in the plan weren't frustrating enough, they then got stuck with a view of a busy, working industrial site.

3 A Crowd Of Young Kids Doesn't Usually Bring Much Peace And Quiet

Children are often lots of fun to be around. They have infectious laughter and perpetual optimism. But there are some times in life when you want to get away from their non-stop chatter and games and just relax to the sound of silence. Like when you're on a cruise.

2 Long Waits In The Rain Can Ruin Any Vacation

After getting passed from person to person for their cruise vacation pick-up, this family was relieved to finally get to the port. That is until they were made to wait for 20 more minutes in the pouring rain with no umbrellas. At least it can only get better after that, right?

1 Getting Sunburnt Before You Even Board Is Not A Great Start To The Trip

Having to wait in line is never a fun time, especially when the sun is beating down on you relentlessly and you have no shade for relief. Long lines like this are definitely a downside to sharing a cruise vacation with hundreds of other people.

Know Before You Go

The 12 Worst Cruise Ship Disasters of All Time

May 31, 2018 by Justin Andress View All On 1 Page

For most travelers, cruise ships hold the promise of a journey filled with adventure and luxury in equal measure. Passengers can visit several different ports, meet fellow travelers, and experience the world aboard a vessel that comes complete with bars, restaurants, crafting classes, and climbing walls. A modern cruise is like taking a trip inside a super mall, only on the water. Of course, there’s a dark side to traveling the world in an enclosed environment run by human beings. If anything goes wrong, real calamity can follow. From an unforeseen technical malfunction to an outbreak of disease, any number of problems can arise while you’re out exploring on a cruise ship. That’s when your dream vacation can become a waking nightmare. Here, for your consideration, are history’s most devastating cruise ship disasters.

1. Titanic, 1912

Consider this one the mother of all cruise ship disasters. On April 14, 1912, the supposedly unsinkable ship carrying 2,200 people sank into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As it happened, the only unsinkable thing on the Titanic was Molly Brown, a newly wealthy Denver citizen who rallied the remaining lifeboats and helped pluck several survivors from the frigid waters. In the end, more than 1,500 people met their fate aboard the doomed cruise liner.

17 Worst Cruise Ship Cabins to Avoid

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If you’re planning a cruise, you might be wondering about the best and worst cabin locations, and which staterooms you should avoid.

I’ve been on more than 25 cruises, and while I’ll take any room as long as I can cruise, there have definitely been a couple of cruise cabins that I’ll try to never book again.

In this post, I share the 17 worst cabins on a cruise, including which cabin locations you should avoid on a cruise ship. I’ll also share a few cruise tips to help you as you’re deciding on the best cabin to book on your next cruise.

Cabins to Avoid on a Cruise

1. some cabin types – inside or balcony.

Many people have strong opinions about the best type of cruise cabin. Some will say you must cruise in a balcony cabin or not at all! Others insist they’re only there to sleep, and an inside cabin is perfect.

However, this is always a personal choice and there’s no right or wrong answer here.

For some people, an inside cabin will be a mistake. You may feel claustrophobic and miss the natural light that will come from a window or balcony door. Others won’t be bothered at all.

Wondering is an inside stateroom is for you? Read this post about the benefits of inside cabins to find out:  7 Reasons to Book an Inside Cabin

Related:   Are Balcony Cabins Worth it on a Cruise?

2. Cabins Under the Lido Deck

When it comes to some of the worst cruise ship cabin locations, cabins under the lido or pool deck should be avoided. This is especially true if you have a balcony cabin.

Why are these cabins so bad? Early in the morning, crew will be cleaning the pool deck and it down. Then, they’ll be placing the lounge and deck chairs around the pool and deck space. This shuffling and scraping can go on for an hour or more.

Add to this the noise of the cruise music by the pool, you may find this disturbing if you’d like to read a book or quietly relax on your private balcony during the day.

The best and most desirable cruise cabins will be on decks sandwiched between two passenger decks. In other words, make sure to have cabins above and below your stateroom.

Related:   Aft Balcony Cruise Ship Cabins Pros & Cons

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3. Cabins at the Front of the Ship

If you tend to get seasick, avoid booking cabins that are all the way forward on a cruise. Cabins at the front of the ship tend to have the most movement, especially in rough seas.

Although I’m not usually affected by motion sickness while cruising, on a past cruise leaving from New York, I could definitely feel the swaying and rocking in my forward cabin, much more than elsewhere on the cruise ship.

The best cruise cabin locations in terms of movement will be those that are midship. If you want to prevent motion sickness , make sure to book cabins in the middle of the cruise ship.

Related:  Bonine vs Dramamine: Which is the Best Motion Sickness Medicine on a Cruise

4. Guarantee Cabins

While guarantee cabins aren’t always bad, they do come with some risk. When you decide to book a guarantee cabin , you’re booking an unassigned cabin in a certain category, such as inside, oceanview or balcony.

These cabins are less expensive, as the cruise line will choose the cabin for you. You may get a cabin upgrade, but you have no control over your cabin location. If you don’t like your cabin or it’s location, there’s very little you can do.

So, if you’re picky about your cabin for any reason, never book a guarantee cabin!

Related: The Pros and Cons of Booking a Guarantee Cabin

5. Obstructed cabins

Some of the worst cruise ship cabins are obstructed cabins. In fact, if there’s any cabin I definitely try to avoid, it’s these.

To be fair, they aren’t really that bad… but they can be a bit disappointing.

Our family had an obstructed balcony cabin on the Regal Princess (see photo below) and it was great to have the extra balcony space and a place to feel the fresh air and ocean breeze. We did enjoy coffee on our balcony and were able to relax on our own space.

We knew what we were booking – an Obstructed Balcony Guarantee Cabin , so this isn’t a complaint. But I did wonder, how obstructed can it really be? Take a look…

I know someone who booked an ocean-view obstructed guarantee cabin who was even less happy that me. Why? Her view was the full side of the lifeboat. She told me that she would have preferred an inside cabin as she literally saw nothing outside her window.

So, the lesson here is just know what you’re booking. It’s likely to be a very good price, so it can be worth it, but you’ll want to make an informed decision.

Related:  How to Save Money on a Cruise: 27 Tips, Tricks & Hacks

6. Connecting Cabins

Unless you’re in need of connecting cabins for your own family cruise , avoid these cabins if at all possible. Connecting cabins have a door in between, and it’s far from soundproof! Just imagine the sounds of a loud TV or music playing, couples arguing or a baby that doesn’t sleep.

In speaking with many cruisers who’ve unfortunately had these types of cabins, we know to check the cruise ship deck plan and avoid these cabins at all costs! Your travel agent can also help you with this, just make sure to ask.

Related:   17 Cruise Cabin Essentials Every Cruiser Needs

7. Cabins too Near or Far from the Elevator

Cabins too close to the elevators do have some drawbacks. On most cruise ships, the area in front of the stairway and elevators can be a gathering place and it may get loud at different times of the day or night.

If you think this might bother you, you’re best avoiding cabins close to the elevators.

However, these days cruise ships can be really big with long hallways. Having a cabin near the elevator or stairs may be really convenient. If you have some difficulty walking, you may even prefer cabins in this area of the cruise ship.

8. Cabins Next to the Laundry Room

Some cruise ships have a couple of self service laundry rooms on passenger decks. Before you book your cabin, make sure to check where these are located on the cruise ship deck plan.

While it can be convenient to have a place to wash and iron clothes during your cruise, you probably want to avoid cabins that are just too close!

9. Cabins Near the Kid’s Club

Did you know that many cruise ship have some cabins located near the kid’s club? While these staterooms can be fantastic for families with kids and teens, they are best avoided by everyone else!

Cabins located near the cruise ship kid’s camp will have kids coming and going, parents chatting, babies crying… you get the idea. The kid’s club can usually be found at the back of the ship, on the highest decks.

Related:   20 Ways to Save on Your Family Cruise

10. Cabins Under the Disco or Night Club

Are you a light sleeper? Another bad cruise cabin location is directly under the disco or nightclub. While cabins are relatively soundproof, you will probably still hear the thumping of the music. Unless you’re going to be partying all night, you can find a better cabin to book.

Recommended:  25 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About Cruise Ships

11. Cabins Near Designated Smoking Areas

I don’t like the smell of smoke much, so I try to avoid it when I can. While most cruise ships don’t allow smoking on balconies, they do have some designated smoking areas around the ship. Often, there will be one located on the port or starboard side of the main pool, and one at the aft pool area.

If you’re sensitive to the smell of smoke, take this into account when picking your cruise cabin. Avoid balcony cabins located near smoking areas.

12. Cabins Under or Over the Casino

Cabins near the casino can be noisy and sometimes smoky. Try to avoid cabins above, below or nearby the casino for the most comfort.

13. Cabins Under the Buffet

Cabins located under the buffet can be noisy with foot traffic during the day, and it may be noticeable during the morning, especially if you’re a light sleeper.

We actually had a funny situation that happened to us on a past cruise, in our cabin under Princess Cruises Caribe Cafe . There must have been a rolling cart that wasn’t attached, as one night we kept hearing the sound of rollin back and forth above our heads!

It was really the only time during all our cruises, so this doesn’t happen often. However, it’s a good reminder that booking cabins flanked between two passenger decks is always a good idea.

14. Cabins Near Crew Stairs & Work Areas

These cabins be a tricky to spot, but you’ll want to try not to book any cabins located near crew doors, entrances and work areas. Crew will often use their own stairways to access passenger hallways, and if this door opens a lot, it can be a bit noisy.

Another area to avoid is anywhere near crew work areas or entrances. Sometimes, there are small work areas tucked into passenger hallways, where the crew and housekeeping may wash or store items. The way to find these spaces is to look on the deck plan and see where there are empty spaces that are undefined.

Related:   Tipping on a Cruise Ship – The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities

15. Cabins Near the Ship’s Anchor

Having a cabin located near the ship’s anchor might be disturbing on port days. If you’re bothered by noise and vibrations, this can be a real problem.

A member of my Life Well Cruised community shared this tip, which she unfortunately experienced on a past cruise. She explained how she could hear the anchor (loudly) early in the morning when docking at ports, as well as when departing.

I’ve also been told that you may hear the pop down platform door, and crew talking loudly as they manoeuvre in and out of port.

If you think this might bother you, check with the cruise line or travel agent to try and avoid this cabin location.

16. Interior Facing Balcony Cabins

On Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class cruise ships, there are some unique balcony cabins that you may just want to avoid. These balcony cabins face into the “neighbourhoods” of the cruise ship. While these cabins certainly have an appeal, if you like any privacy or enjoy an ocean view, these just aren’t the best.

In fact, when we cruised on Oasis of the Seas, we consider booking a Boardwalk balcony cabin to be one of our past cruise mistakes , that we wouldn’t repeat.

Related:   17 First Time Cruiser Mistakes to Avoid

17. Free Cabin Upgrades

This might be surprising, but many cruise passengers who receive a free cabin upgrade end up being disappointed in their new cabin. If you’re not picky about your cabin, this can be great. However, if you’re even a bit choosy, not so much.

Once you’ve taken the time to find your perfect cabin and book it, make sure you mark it as “no upgrade” with the cruise line or travel agent.

As you can imagine, many people think they want a free upgrade. So when the travel agent or cruise line asks “would you like an upgrade if one becomes available?” , most people say yes. The problem is that just like the guarantee cabin , this means that the cruise line can upgrade you to a higher category, but it can be in any location on the cruise ship.

Plus, a higher cabin category doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be upgraded to a balcony or a suite. You may only be upgraded to a higher category within the same cabin type.

Most of the time, once the cruise line changes your original cabin by upgrading you, you can’t change back, so beware of this when picking a cabin.

Video: Best and Worst Cabins on a Cruise

Need more information about how to avoid the worst cruise cabins and choose the best? In this video we share the tips and secrets you want to know.

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Final Thoughts on the Worst Cruise Cabins to Avoid

In this post we’ve gone over 7 tips to avoid the worst cabins on a cruise ship. From not-so-great cabin locations to obstructed cabins and beyond, I hope that this post can help you to identify which staterooms not to book.

One of the most important things when booking a cruise, is choosing the cabin that works best for you. If you’re booking early and have a lot of choice, why not avoid the worst ones and pick the very best!

Have you ever had a cabin that you were disappointed in? Is there a cabin location or type that I should add to this list of worst cruise cabins?

Happy Cruising!

P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Let’s connect:

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26 Comments

I must take exception to the advice regarding cabin location ans ship movement. Before any comparison can be made, it is necessary to determine why the ship is moving, and in what direction. The two causes of discernible motion are wave height/swells and wind. Given the enormity of ships these days, any executive officer will tell you that the entire side of the ship acts like a sail, catching the wind which causes side-to-side motion. Whether you are forward, midship or aft on the ship, the motion is exactly the same. And because of the sheer mass of the ship, such movement is relatively slow, and would require sensitive instruments to measure any significant difference in that sensation between lower and upper decks. As for wave height and swells which cause more of an up-and-down motion on the ship’s front-to-back axis, it could be argued that the bow of the ship takes the brunt of the motion as it rises and falls with the ocean’s surface. But the fact is that as the bow rises, the stern drops, and as the bow falls, the stern rises, all rotating around a fulcrum or pivot point somewhere midship. To truly state that there’s less motion the further aft you go would require being in the aft and forward parts of the ship at the same time through the exact same sea conditions, Scientifically speaking, I don’t think that anyone has ever been able to do this.

Thanks for the explanation, scientifically speaking. I can say, anecdotally, that in our experience and those of many others, that forward cabins generally do feel more movement, when there are rougher seas and wind.

I can’t speak as a seaman, so I’ll defer to you on this. But as a cruise passenger and speaking from this perspective, I do believe forward cabins can feel more motion.

That said, I’ll keep this in mind and see what others think. You brought up an interesting point!

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Completely agree with the Bonus #10 – the anchor. We were awaken every morning between 6:00 and 7:00 every time we docked. It was a beautiful large aft cabin with a balcony (great for pictures when leaving) that was not worth it.

That’s really too bad, and not something obvious when booking the cabin either. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the advice, but I want to tell about one of our cruise experiences that was impacted by our location on the ship. To get the best price, we didn’t have a choice of location, so we rolled the dice and hoped for the beat. We were in the aft portion of the ship right over the propellers and our room shook day and night! The closet rattled continually and there was a squeak somewhere in the ceiling that was very annoying when trying to get to sleep. Never again! I agree that the best place is in the middle of the ship and just a few cabins down from the stairs & elevators.

Oh my goodness Cathy, poor you!! Definitely wasn’t the best cabin location – it’s really too bad that it even affected the nights on board.

Thanks for sharing your cruise story 🙂

You were right about deck choice as well as cabin location. We cruised with 8 friends and wanted same deck close proximity cabins. We didn’t realize it until later in the day that we were right under the enormous water slide and bucket dump. It compared to the loud and sudden flushing sound of the toilet but magnified by 5 or 6. It was bad enough for them to issue a 50% refund.

OMG you really have a “bad cabin” story! I can’t imagine the “bucket dump”. I’m glad that you did get some compensation.

Thanks for warning others!!

Hi this is our 1st cruise and have been given a balcony room at the front of the ship but what I am worried about is we have the world stage show room below us and as I am a light sleeper will it be noisy

There is a good chance that you will not hear noise even above the theater. The shows don’t run very late or very early. That said, the front of the ship is more likely to have more movement. It might be just fine, or it might bother you if seas get a bit rough. If you can talk with the cruise line or your travel agent and see if there is a cabin slightly more mid ship, you might be happier. Just chat with them about it to see if they can advise you on your specific ship. I’m sure they want you to have the best experience possible. Don’t stress 🙂

As we have to have an adapted cabin we have very little choice in type or location. A cruise ship never has many adapted cabins and they sell out very quickly. I tried to book a cruise recently and of the 3 I’d short listed I got the final cabin on the third choice 2 hours after the cruise went on general sale.

I’m glad you were able to get an adapted cabin. You brought up a good point and tip for people. Booking early for these cabins is definitely beneficial.

Have a great cruise,

I’m so glad you mentioned connecting rooms. We are a family of six and every time I look for connecting rooms, one of the rooms is booked. If I wasn’t so vacation-starved, I would quit looking. (LOL)

Instead, we always settle for two rooms next to each other and we get extra key cards for everyone in our group.

They aren’t always easy to find, especially when you need them. Good tip though about neighboring cabins and key cards.

Intrigued by your web page and the various passengers’ comments. I’ve only taken holidays in very small boats (old Hurtiruter , DFDS and current Stena inshore ferries and Red Sea diving liveaboards). Personally I loved feeling these boats move, even some engine hum. Secret is that these boats don’t DO onboard ‘entertainment’ other than a cabin TV and a small cinema, so people are nearly as quiet as in a Premier Inn. 5 dives a day leaves even the Young flattened enough to sleep the night through. Babies on ferries seldom seem to cry. I’d recommend any of these rather than a big ship journey – and on diving trips you even get into the sea.

Very interesting. There are smaller cruise ships, but it sound like you enjoy the experiences you’re doing now.

Thank you for your advice. We took a cruise on the Norwegian cruise line and booked an inside cabin and when we open the door all you could smell was a sewer line overflowing. We complained and they would give us a little bit off another cruise. No thanks. We then decided we would always book a balcony room overlooking the ocean. Well, what we got with Royal Caribbean was an inside balcony overlooking people eating at a restaurant.

Oh no! Yes, those Oasis class ships have interior facing balconies. Some people love them, but they are not the ocean! I make sure to ask, on these ships, for ocean view balconies.

Really appreciate you sharing this Maggie!

My friend got a cabin over the IMAX. Said he could feel the sound vibrations. He would definitely avoid this room from now on

Oh no! Thanks for sharing. This is definitely one to add to the list

first cruise was below ice cream parlor. Late night scraping of wrought iron chairs against the floor.

Oh my!! Thanks for sharing!

I am a TA and I always tell my clients that I will keep them away from the noisy decks and book them in between sleep deck cabins. Thank you for this list

Sounds great!

Are cabin was at the front of the ship the deck above was a gym every morning we get woke up by some one using a runnying machine which we could hear direcltly above are cabin Ventura Lido deck 7 to 17 October 2023

Thanks for sharing. Under the gym can definitely be a less than desirable cabin location

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12 cruise ship horror stories that will make you want to stay on land

Cruising can be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations a family can plan . With meals, entertainment, activities, and housekeeping included in the cost of your room, there is virtually nothing to worry about.

The popularity of cruises continues to rise. In fact, the latest State of the Cruise Industry report by Cruise Lines International Association estimated that 28 million passengers will cruise in 2018 . This is up from 26.7 million in 2017 and 25.2 million in 2016.

But with CLIA's report of nearly 450 cruise ships currently sailing worldwide and the unpredictability of mother nature, not every passenger on a cruise ship will experience the vacation of their dreams. In fact, in some cases, cruising can be a downright nightmare .

Here are some of the most unfortunate incidents that have happened on cruises in recent history.

More than 500 passengers became ill on Royal Caribbean cruises within 2 months.

In January, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Cruises announced that 47 passengers on The Grandeur of the Seas, which departed from Baltimore, reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness . A cruise from Singapore to Australia had over 200 reported cases of illness, and 332 cases of illness were reported on a cruise from Florida.

50 staterooms were affected by a flood on a Carnival Cruise Line ship.

Nearly 100 passengers aboard a seven-day cruise on the Carnival Dream received a refund and 50% off of a future cruise after their staterooms and hallways were flooded.

Carnival Cruise Line provided a statement to INSIDER, which explained that the flooding was caused by a waterline break in the fire-suppression system of the cruise ship.

A crew member was killed during a lifeboat drill.

A cruise ship crewmember on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas was killed in September 2016 during a lifeboat drill. He was sitting with four other crew members in a lifeboat when it disconnected from the ship and fell 33 feet from the deck into the water in Marseille, France.

Passengers got stuck on a "cruise to nowhere" during Hurricane Irma.

Passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line ships Sky and Escape had to make an early return to Miami in September 2017 due to Hurricane Irma. Because it was nearly impossible to find hotel accommodations, the cruise line allowed displaced passengers to board the Escape on a "cruise to nowhere" until the storm passed.

Luckily, they had access to food, water, and alcohol and were not charged for the trip.

A man fell off one cruise ship and was rescued by another.

In January 2015, a passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise fell off of the ship near Cozumel, Mexico. A passenger sitting on his balcony on the Disney Cruise Line ship Magic heard screams for help. The Disney Magic rescued the man, who was treated and flown back home to the United States.

Elevators and toilets stopped working on a Carnival Cruise.

In March 2013, toilets and elevators stopped working halfway through a seven-day cruise on the Carnival Dream.

"There's human waste all over the floor in some of the bathrooms and they're overflowing — and in the staterooms," passenger Gregg Stark told CNN of the incident.

Carnival cruise lines had to fly passengers back to Florida. They received a three-day refund and a half-price cruise in the future.

A ship with more than 4,000 passengers became stranded after a fire.

A fire in one of the diesel generators of the Carnival Triumph killed its propulsion, causing the ship to become stranded back in February 2013. The passengers had limited food and few working toilets and elevators while they waited for the ship to be tugged to shore.

A cruise ship lost a passenger's dialysis machine, and then kicked her off the boat.

A passenger was checking in for her Jamaican cruise in May 2012 when Carnival told her that they couldn't find her portable dialysis machine . The passenger, who needed nightly dialysis, was then escorted off of the ship without an explanation. The ship proceeded to sail away with the rest of her luggage, and presumably the lost medical equipment, on board.

Carnival issued an apology, refunded her ticket, and offered her credit for a future cruise.

Men hired to mingle with passengers were booted off a gay cruise and marooned in a war zone.

In June 2012, a group of men were hired to mingle with passengers on a Holland America gay cruise. When passengers saw photographers and videographers filming the men, they worried that pornography was being filmed on the ship. The men were forced off the ship at the first port-of-call , which was Tunisia — in the middle of the Arab Spring uprising.

According to the Wisconsin Gazette , the men were hired models who had "limited money, no Tunisian visas, no means of return passage and no ability to speak the local language." The men sued RSVP Vacations and Holland America.

32 people died when the Costa Concordia ran aground and sank.

In January 2012, the Costa Concordia, a 4,200-passenger cruise liner, was brought too close to shore in Italy and struck rocks, which tore a giant hole in its side. The ship ran aground and sank.

The captain of the Concordia was eventually sentenced to 16 years in prison after 32 passengers died. His charges included delaying evacuation and abandoning ship before all of his passengers and crew had been rescued.

More than 1,300 people were stranded on a Viking Sky cruise ship.

In March 2019, over 1,300 people were stranded on a Viking Sky cruise ship after the ship experienced engine problems off the coast of Norway because of stormy and rough weather.

Some of the passengers were airlifted off of the ship individually and some had to wait 24 hours for relief, according to The Washington Post. Small boats could not be used because of the weather conditions and some passengers told the paper that waves got so rough that one broke doors on the ship and threw passengers across the room. 

Videos from people who said they were on the ship showed water inside of the ship and said that waves were 30 feet high. After evacuating 479 passengers by air , the conditions improved and the captain decided on a new plan, according to the AP. The ship was docked so the remaining passengers and crew could evacuate.

A cruise ship in Venice lost control and crashed into a smaller boat.

The MSC Opera, a massive cruise ship, crashed into a smaller tourist ship, the River Countess, after the Opera's engines reportedly got stuck.

The incident, which happened in Venice, Italy, in June 2019, left four people on the dockside injured . 

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• Budget-Friendly Hotel Chains

15 Travelers Share Their Worst Cruise Ship Experiences So You Don't Make The Same Mistakes

Have you been considering hopping on a cruise? It can be a tempting vacation, but these terrible cruise experiences may just change your mind. If not, at least read these cruise ship stories so you know what to expect the next time you board. Check them out and vote up the ones you don't want to repeat.

Heard Music All Day And Night From Their Room

From Redditor u/ JoeSchmo8677 :

Had a promenade view room on the mariner of the seas. Outside our windows were speakers that piped the music into the promenade. From our room, all we could hear all day and night was the thump of the bass. Couldn’t sleep. Awful. Never get a promenade view room.

One Lady Put On A Show For The Whole Cruise

From Redditor u/ BlazerBeau :

Parked in St Martin - cruise ship directly across the pier had a drunk lady on her balcony completely unclothed putting on a show for a few hundred folks from our ship watching. Even the comedian mentioned it in his show.

A Guy Jumped Off His Balcony And Was Saved By A Lifeboat

From Redditor u/ bestbet33 :

I worked on a cruise ship for a couple of years and this would be the most memorable thing to happen while I was on board. A guest gets cut off from the bar and makes a scene. Finally, after a lot of screaming, security gets him to go back to his cabin. Apparently, he redirects his anger towards his wife in the cabin. His wife is having none of it and kicks him out of the room onto the balcony. The man decides to jump off the balcony (I mean, why not at this point?). Luckily, a lifeboat a couple of decks down catches him. While he was unhurt, likely due to the fact he was drunk, he was kicked off the ship a few hours later at the next port. The wife opted to continue her cruise husband-free. Can't say I blame her one bit.

Crew Member Quit And Tried To Swim Home

From Redditor u/ Puzzleheaded_Job835 :

Cruise down in Australia, one of the crews who were from one of the Pacific islands decided to quit as the ship was leaving his home island. Jumped overboard to swim home (literally). The problem was it was about a mile away when he jumped. He had to be rescued.

Didn't Have A Working Toilet For Four Days

From Redditor u/ elp22203 :

Norwegian Cruise to Bermuda. Our stateroom toilet did not work for the first four days of the cruise. They told us a working toilet was not an expectation and sent us a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. We still laugh about that! Not an expectation? And somehow strawberries were going to make it all better?

A Chatty Couple Got Distracted And Went Missing

From Redditor u/ qpgmr :

This excessively chatty couple was on the zipline/jungle hike excursion in Costa Rica - they were really pretty annoying. We all finished the course back at the business and were chilling out with cool drinks waiting for the bus to take us into town for a couple of hours of touring. The bus came and we all piled on and discovered we were short two passengers. The local guide was freaking out and finally starting matching up waivers to people and discovered a chatty couple was missing.

All the locals in the business nearby went on a massive search for them. We ended up sitting there for three hours while this was going on and the guide was terrified she'd lose another one so we couldn't get off the bus.

She finally called the port and was told to just come back immediately, there was only about an hour before final check-in.

We raced back, never slowing down, drove directly onto the pier right to the foot of the gangplank. Got aboard with five minutes to spare. Afternoon ruined for 20 + people. The lead guide was in tears, she was certain the line was going to cancel her company's contract for losing two passengers.

We found out that the missing couple was on board: apparently, the chatty pair didn't want to wait for the bus, so they hailed a cab and went back to the ship. For three hours they had been telling us all about their grandchildren, RV, home renovations, political views, thoughts on the state of country music, etc, etc but never thought to mention they were leaving.

We ran into the others from the excursion on board and half-jokingly agreed we'd all take turns going to their cabin and beating on the door all night.

Wherever the Stouts are now, I hope you never cruise again.

A Disney Cruise Scarred A Child

From Redditor u/ loveallmyrolls :

I was on the Disney Cruise ship for the first time ever.. They call us out of our rooms to do the whole safety talk and they decide to go into detail about how fast you would perish if the ship sunk. And I'm over here crying cuz I don't wanna perish. Then they send us off to Disney shows and food.

Their Cruise Neighbors Used Garbage Bags As Luggage

From Redditor u/ Chellesavinggreen :

I was on a Carnival cruise and the people across from my room used black garbage bags as luggage with airport tags. Never went on Carnival again.

Ended Up On The Wrong Cruise

From Redditor u/ valiamo :

Carnival Sunshine sailed out of Cozumel 2 years ago.

Early in the morning when it docked, I could hear their captain telling the passengers that they were in port and that clothing was required... (I thought I was dreaming....) Later that day the Sunshine is heading out to sea and we watch a young lady dancing without clothes on the chair on her balcony.

Turns out it was the Bare Necessities’ cruise!

Watched Someone Get Sick In The Lunch Line

From Redditor u/ Aprilismissing :

Only been on one cruise. We boarded, went up to Lido to find some lunch. While waiting in line for a burger at Guy's, a chick barfs straight onto the toppings bar right in front of us. We decided to skip lunch. We were still docked too so it's not like she was seasick. Probably too much pre-gaming.

An Older Gentleman Was Kicked Off The Ship For Drinking Too Much

From Redditor u/ toledotouchdown :

An old piano player joined the ship after touring with bands for the last 30 years. He told me he was excited to have a regular job where he will be able to be around for more of his grandkid's events. Well, the first night aboard he drinks like a fish, falls down the stairs and busts up his face. He has kicked off the ship the following day.

A Woman Fell Into The Water Between The Ship And The Dock

From Redditor u/ Vanity_Faire :

I got a little story.

On the Carnival Triump (now the Sunrise) in 2017, my mom and I were chilling in the lobby. I forget which port we were at but someone came over the intercom saying some sort of code on the starboard side.

Word quickly spread around the cruisers that the code meant man overboard. So I, like everyone else, went to go see what was happening.

A lady had had a bit too much to drink and fell into the water between the ship and the dock. She was fine, laughing away and making jokes.

Props to the crew and dock workers. They got to her right away.

Went To The Bathroom Before Boarding And Got Caught In A Shady Conversation

From Redditor u/ sdo17yo :

Before our cruise started in Miami, we had 4 hours to spare so we decided to let the porters take our luggage and go to a nearby outdoor mall by the water that one of the ship employees recommended.

We got there it was fine. We had a late Cuban breakfast at one of the restaurants. On the way out, I needed to go to the bathroom before taking a taxi back to the port.

At this secluded bathroom area, this one sketchy guy tried to sell me an iPhone. I told him I was not interested. He kept insisting and kept knocking the price down to like $10. It was a bathroom far away from the rest of the mall and since it was early in the day, there was no one around still.

My interaction with the guy was about 10 minutes. It was a little scary. At any point, I thought he would pull out a pistol or a knife. It really started off my cruise on the wrong foot.

Trapped With An Inappropriately Dressed Man In A Hot Tub

From Redditor u/ Anibunny :

It was an Alaskan Cruise and at one of the ports, we stayed in a hotel on land. The hotel had some outdoor hot tubs with a gorgeous view of the mountains. Each tub was large, could accommodate several people, and had a large wooden fence on three sides so that you could really only focus on the view. It was fun just relaxing in a hot tub while it was absolutely cold outside... just being alone with my thoughts. I managed to get a tub to myself for a while.

Soon, a man in a robe showed up with a bottle of Jameson and asked if he could join me and that he had been in the tub one over, but the other people there "weren't cool" with him drinking. I said I didn't mind.

He takes off his robe and he is wearing only a rabbit fur jockstrap that he proudly tells me where he got it and gets in. (I suddenly realized it probably wasn't just the booze that bothered people.)

The rest of the evening was him taking swigs from the bottle and telling me stories about how lame people with "yobs" are and how he is just a free spirit trying to enjoy life.

Didn't Realized There Was A Storm But Everyone Else Did

From Redditor u/ PaPa_ZeuS :

Wasn't wild for me but for everyone around me it was. One night our ship went into a storm and the swells were causing the ship to rock back and forth significantly. Throwing people and stuff back and forth. Why was this not wild for me? Well, when the staff makes the beds they decide to tuck those sheets tighter than a vice grip and I was too lazy to untuck them so I was sound asleep basically vacuumed sealed to my bed. I was completely unaware the storm even occurred until the next day. Suck it storm.

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Best and Worst Cabins on Cruise Ships

What are the best and worst cabins on cruise ships - and why? Where and what are the best cabins on a cruise ship is a question about location ( cruise deck plans ), fares and price-inclusive amenities. Where and what are the best and worst staterooms are among the general questions for first-timer cruisers.

Staterooms are like tiny homes at sea, and choosing your "best" is kinda personal. Your choice also will depend on the company, vessel, room size, type/view, deck location, amenities. Not to forget the special offers with super low-priced promo deals that could change everything you know on the subject. Find out more secrets at our stateroom tips and tricks .

Types of cabins on cruise ships

Cruise ship cabins are often referred to as "staterooms" or "cruise accommodations". Their furnishings can range from "comfy" to "luxurious". The cheapest tend to be smaller than an ordinary budget hotel room. The largest staterooms (suites) rival many land-based luxury resort accommodations  - both as sizes and amenities, but mostly as prices. Cabin rates are per person and usually based on double occupancy (excepting studios). Prices range widely by cabin types, sizes, deck location, amenities, company's and vessel's ratings, also by destination, season, itinerary, travel agency, inclusions, and bonuses, promotion deals, etc.

• Inside cabins are the cheapest, located in the ship's interior (an inside corridor), no window, capacity up to 4 guests.
• Oceanview/Outside cabins - about 15-20% more expensive, with windows which don't open or porthole, the cheapest of this type may have a partially (or substantially) obstructed view.
• Balcony cabins (also called Veranda) - 30-40% more expensive than Inside; have outside chairs and a table, often with 4-star amenities.
• Mini-suite and full Suites (multi-room accommodations) - some of the most expensive, with a private veranda, bathtub (hot tub), a large sitting area, 2 closets. Suites and Interior cabins tend to sell out first (partly because there are fewer of them, partly because they offer, respectively, extremely good value and the cheapest fares).
• Grand Suite and all Penthouse, Owner's, Presidential and the like suites - the most expensive and the largest cruise staterooms at sea (separate living and sleeping areas, a wide variety of bonus amenities and perks). Sizes vary according to line and ship, reaching up to 5,000 ft2 in the case of NCL's Garden Villa suites. At the modest price of only US $30,000 per week you'll enjoy a private sauna and open-air Jacuzzi, your very own kitchen, a private elevator entrance, the best butler service money can buy and the best luxury available on a cruise ship.

On big ships, you'll find a number of cabin categories within each cabin type. This is according to location, size, features, quality of view, etc. Cabin rates vary not only by type and size but also by category. For a particular cabin type, brochure/online prices usually apply to the lowest category. In your cabin, every square inch is usable since the price of ships is generally determined by the number of their beds/berths. So luggage fits under the bed, while the items you unpack will be stored in closets and drawers.

Which cruise ship cabins to avoid?

After analyzing their deck plans, we'll list here the most famous ships and their "worst" cabins. The "bad cruise cabins" issue is not about amenities, but about location - and noise. Cabins located nearby the ships' elevators or with some public areas above (restaurants, bars/clubs, kids areas), or near public bathrooms may present some noise concern during the day or late at night.

what does a cruise ship cabin look like (details/amenities)

• All cabins have twin beds, usually convertible to create a queen bed, while suites may have king-sized beds. Family cabins may also have pull-down or bunk-beds (loft beds attached to the wall), sleeper sofa or an additional twin bed.
• All have a small safe to lock in it all valuables while onboard (passports, credit cards and cash, fine jewelry, iPads), at least 1 large wall-mounted mirror, individually controlled air conditioning.
• All have private bathrooms with showers, basic bathroom amenities (typical for a motel, including a hairdryer), ship toilets operate by power suction.
• All have a phone (wake-up call option, synchronized to ship's time). Nowadays all ship cabins also feature a flat TV and a DVD player, a mini-bar and a small refrigerator (cans and bottles for sale; if you bring your own drinks, ask the steward to empty it first).
• All have a reach-in closet, a shelf for life-vests, storage drawers (suites usually have walk-in closets with several shelves). Higher categories cabins also have a desk with a chair.
• Power outlets are minimized to avoid fire risk. Near the bed (and the desk) there are  1 or 2 low-wattage (120V 60Hz) outlets for laptops.

A good cruise travel agent could be of great assistance to you (using agency services is highly recommended for first-timers) guiding you through all the grades and deckplan codes for the nuances of features, best locations and the best-worst staterooms on a particular boat.

Special types of staterooms (crew, single, family, Spa, accessible)

• Crew cabins are located on one of the crew decks (on some ships located below the waterline/under the water), while cruise ship staff cabins are in the passenger areas.
• Single cabins (aka Solo cabins) are generally difficult to find. The world's best ships with single cabins belong to the fleets of such famous operators, like Fred Olsen and P&O on the UK market and NCL Norwegian Lines. The best of all ships with single-occupancy cabins is the NCL Norwegian Epic, boasting 128 of its 100 square foot (9,3 m2) "Epic Studios" - specifically designed for solo travelers, and features a full-size bed and a large round window looking out into the corridor.
• Family cabins - many of a standard size for its category, but with more beds and bathrooms, providing more privacy for parents. The best lines with family cabins are Carnival, Disney, Celebrity, Princess, and NCL.
• Accessible/Disabled cabins are special accommodations for passengers with mobility challenges. These rooms have wheelchair access, wide doors (doors are even automatic on some ships), a bathtub with grab bars, roll-in showers, portable ADA kits for guests with hearing impairments, closed-captioned televisions.
• SPA cabins - Spa-deck staterooms with direct access to the ship's Spa and Fitness complex.

What are the best cabins on cruise ships (amenities)?

In a concise manner, the best luxury cruise cabins are to be found on Regent Seven Seas and NCL ships, while the cheapest cruise cabins are offered by all HAL and Carnival ships (honored also with the "best standard cabins" reward). NCL (Norwegian Lines) is well appreciated for offering a great variety of staterooms. NCL offers even garden and courtyard suites, and some of the best family cruise suites at sea featuring a separate living and dining area and exclusive access to a private courtyard with a pool and Jacuzzi. The Regent Seven Seas line is praised for its all-outside all-suite ships and best luxury.

The largest (by category) and absolutely affordable to most cheap cruise cabins are always "the deal" on Carnival ships. The Carnival's standard cabins are the industry's largest and very well-equipped (even the lowest Small Inside category). As for Holland America cabins, they are 25% larger than those of other premium brands.

Carnival, Disney, and Royal Caribbean are well known for having more than decent interior cabins - the Carnival's being most spacious, and those of Disney - most family-friendly. The Disney Deluxe Inside Stateroom accommodates 4 persons with a convertible sofa and a pull-down bed and also features a split bath. The Royal Caribbean ships of Freedom and Voyager class are honored for their unique inside cabins with windows looking out on the Royal Promenade (a tip - if traveling with kids, choose the most affordable Promenade Family Stateroom - an interior accommodation 300 ft2 /28 m2 in size and capacity of 6 guests).

• The best BEDS on ships. The Oceania line is the winner when it comes to beds - its Tranquility Beds feature Euro-Top mattresses, plush duvets, deluxe pillows, even Egyptian cotton linens. If you like to make the best budget ship vacation deals without sacrificing comfort, then Carnival is your game with the line's world-famous Comfort Bed System.
• The best BATHROOMS on ships. The Crystal ship's suites have separate tubs, multi-head massage showers, double vanities, and of course - the marble tiling. For standard cabins, NCL leads by having 3-sectioned bathrooms - the sink is in the middle, while a separate toilet and shower section are positioned on either side. Disney ships are also ranked for their family-friendly split bathrooms.
• The largest CLOSETS on ships. Regent and Silversea lines get the 1st prize for having the largest walk-in closets. The storage spaces include a hanging section, numerous drawers and shelves, and places for shoes. The best cheap option is Carnival with its faux walk-in closets.

Where are the best cabins on a cruise ship (location)?

Choosing the best cruise cabin location on your ship is a matter of personal choice. Generally, your cabin will be located either on lower (higher) deck, mid-ship, forward or aft (rear), with some pros and cons to all these locations. Booking a "guarantee" cabin is an open deal - you pay for a cabin category (not a specific stateroom) - best prices are guaranteed, but not necessarily the best location.

• Lower Deck cabins - cheapest. The cheapest are the lower deck Interior staterooms. The main advantage (besides the price) is a smoother ride. Main disadvantages - you're using constantly elevators/stairs, more engine noise/vibrations, the sound of the anchor dropping (if you're near the ship's front).
• Higher Deck cabins - more expensive. You'll feel more motion (not suitable if you're prone to seasickness). But you're closer to the best ship amenities - entertainment and dining venues, onboard pools, Spa, bars and lounges, etc.
• Midship cabins - less motion and a central location. The main disadvantage - more traffic outside. Also, check the lifeboat locations (lifeboats may significantly obstruct your view).
• Forward cabins - the most motion, wind and spray, smaller windows (often recessed or slanted). Forward located suites provide larger than average balconies.
• Rear (Aft) cabins - more motion than the midship cabins, but less than the front ones.

Best cruise ship staterooms by type and cruise line

Best-view cabins.

Best-view cabins are located forward (at the ship's front/bow) or aft (at the ship's stern). These rooms have the largest balconies and widest ocean views. Front staterooms are with oversized floor-ceiling windows. For the best choice of such rooms choose Carnival or Royal Caribbean.

Best "Large Balcony" cabins

Aft balcony cabins have the ship's largest private verandas, and there are just a few (6-10) such rooms per deck. They are lined up along the stern and give more terrace space and privacy. Aft cabins located in the ship's corners are usually with wraparound balconies.

Larger balconies also have the "hump cabins", located where the vessel's superstructure changes from narrower to wider. Most verandas there are angled and with curvy outlines. For more hump cabins search in the fleets of Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises.

Best "Low-Motion" cabins

The "best cabins for seasickness" are located at the ship's edges (top decks, bow, and stern). The worst area in the front section, as the bow is first hit by waves. Higher deck front cabins fell more the up and down motion, while for the aft cabins the motion is less noticeable. The most stable cabins are located midship and on lower decks (closer to the waterline).

Best "Low-Noise" cabins

Quietest staterooms are far away as possible from congested public areas and venues. Light sleepers should avoid staterooms located near pool deck/lido deck, elevators, hallways, laundry facilities, casino, theater, kids clubs, disco nightclub.

• Avoid cabins located forward on lower decks - where the ship's anchors are located. Lowering and raising the anchors generate a lot of noise.
• Avoid lower decks aft rooms are near the ship's engine rooms - where diesel generators create a constant hum, all the time of the voyage.
• Avoid cabins under the Promenade Deck - an outdoor deck space where passengers are often walking and talking (usually loud).

Best Handicap cabins (for passengers with disabilities)

Passengers with mobility impairment must choose near-lift cabins which are easily accessible from the onboard passenger elevators. Special handicap cabins are available on all large cruise liners. A limited number of wheelchair-accessible rooms are available on most ships, including luxury mega-yachts. Search the vessel's deck plans for the best location, type, and size.

Best Spa cabins

Thermal Suite and spa lovers must book staterooms located near the ship's wellness complex. In close proximity, they will find heated loungers, thalassotherapy pool, saunas, and massage rooms.

Most cruise ships have designated "spa staterooms" (inside, oceanview, balcony, and suite) located on the Spa Deck or 1 deck above or below the Spa. Some ships (especially top-luxury) have rooms with direct Spa access (via a staircase in the spa) or via an exclusive elevator. For more Spa cabins search in the fleets of MSC, NCL, Costa, and the luxury lines (Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal, Azamara).

Where are the best cruise SUITES?

On the Silversea ships Whisper and Shadow - the 1-bedroom "Royal Suite" is 1,352 ft2 or 126 m2 (the 2-bedroom version is 1,697 ft2 (158 m2), the "Grand Suite" is 1,435 ft2 or 133 m2 (2-bedroom is 1,780 ft2 (165 m2) and the "Owner's Suite" is 1,553 ft2 (144 m2). The last category "top luxury cruise suite" prices start from the modest US $850 per person per day!

Suites on the NCL ships Gem, Jade, Jewel and Pearl are the "affordable choice". Norwegian Pearl's "Garden Villa" has a staggering size of 2320 ft2 (216 m2) plus a huge balcony measuring 1035 ft2 (96 m2). Norwegian Jewel's two Garden Villas are combined into an almost 5000 ft2 (465 m2) "cruise mansion". Floor-ceiling windows, plenty of deck furniture, separate bedroom, fabulous private bathroom with hot-tub, 2 additional bedrooms (with their own private bathrooms), living room, dining room.

About the worst cabins on cruise ships / which staterooms to avoid. First of all, there's no such thing as "the worst cabin" - simply because to offer a bad product (even for cheap money) is not the proper way of doing a multibillion-dollar cruise travel vacation business. However, always try to avoid locations near elevators and public spaces, with at least 1 deck between your cabin and any crowded place - pools, dining and bar venues, children areas, lounges, nightclubs.

Find out more secrets at our  stateroom tips and tricks .

Tom Cruise's Worst Movie Ever, According To Rotten Tomatoes

1986's "Top Gun" decidedly propelled Tom Cruise toward stardom, while the actor had already made his mark with "Risky Business" and "The Color of Money," two films that helped underline his dynamic range as a performer before his rise to fame. From this point on, Cruise would go on to star in a string of projects that cemented his superstar status, but like any performer, a few films failed to impress audiences and critics for many reasons. No, I am not talking about the disastrous "The Mummy" — the first and final entry in the doomed Dark Universe — but the lowest-rated Tom Cruise film, at least according to Rotten Tomatoes. I'm talking about Roger Donaldson's 1988 film about making drinks and money: "Cocktail," which currently sports an abysmal 9% on Rotten Tomatoes.

There is good reason for this overwhelmingly negative consensus, as "Cocktail" feels like an unsavory product of its time, what with its tendency to lean into sexism for laughs, or an overt reliance on hyperconsumerism. Iffy themes and treatment of certain subject matter aside, the film's narrative feels hollow, where no amount of charm is enough to fill this gaping void. It is an unrealistic fantasy that fails to entertain even with the suspension of disbelief, and Cruise's natural charisma feels squandered on something so empty. However, despite the film's often irritating lack of self-awareness, "Cocktail" deserves a viewing due to its hyperspecific appeal to a time devoid of responsibilities, with Cruise playing an exceedingly suave bartender who feels progressively irredeemable, but suddenly gains a saint's conscience by the end. Here's what you can expect from "Cocktail."

Read more: The Dark Knight Rises Ending Explained: Batman Ends

Cocktail Fails To Highlight Cruise's Strengths As A Performer

After serving in the army, Brian Flanagan (Cruise) arrives in New York City with ambitious dreams, eager to make quick money after bagging a cushy job. However, dreams often shatter, and he has to make do with bartending by night while attending business school by day, with experienced bartender Doug Coughlin (Bryan Brown) teaching him how to flair and impress patrons. After experiencing the high of impressing women and being semi-popular due to his skills, Brian begins to dream bigger, dropping out of business school to eventually open a chain of bars — an impractical decision in favor of pursuing something with a mentor who constantly eggs him to throw caution to the wind while being emotionally insensitive to those around him.

An inevitable falling out occurs between the men, and Brian decides to go to Jamaica to make his dreams come true, where he meets Jordan (Elizabeth Shue), whom he treats rather horribly, but his actions are painted as flawed as opposed to being deliberate transgressions. This is where "Cocktail" feels the most grating, as Brian is intended as a protagonist worth rooting for, but only comes off as an obtuse jerk, incapable of treating women like human beings or introspecting about his innermost desires. This aspect would have worked if the narrative rooted Brian as an antagonistic figure who indulged in morally soulless escapades for the sake of making money — something which Cruise could have embodied perfectly, like that of his shrewd, unhinged character in "Collateral."

The narrative intent of "Cocktail" only feels more questionable with time, along with its mixed messaging that both condones and chastises moral bankruptcy, peppered with a dozen misogynistic jokes and attitudes clogging up an already barebones holiday adventure.

Read the original article on SlashFilm