It’s been a crazy year for cruise news, with outrageous stories ranging from luggage going on a wild cruise of its own to fights over the silliest things to massive post-cruise bills that could have been avoided. How many of these Top 10 stories do you remember from 2025?
Stolen Luggage Takes Cruises of Its Own
Following a February cruise on Carnival Magic, one family’s missing suitcase set sail on its own for several weeks. Thanks to Apple AirPods in the missing bag, they were able to track their belongings that remained on the ship long after their debarkation on February 16.
It was the AirPod’s serial number that finally helped crew members identify the missing luggage, which had been taken by another guest and claimed as their own. While the back-to-back-to-back thief was not identified, they did suffer the consequences and are now banned from all future Carnival sailings.
Roaming Charges Add Up Fast At Sea
Many guests budget carefully for a cruise vacation, even planning for some “extras” like souvenirs, fun in the casino, or a bigger-than-expected bar tab. But do you budget for a cell phone bill?
One Royal Caribbean guest should have done exactly that, as they misunderstood that the onboard internet service did not include cellular network access. Instead, their cell phone spent the week-long cruise updating, accessing locations, and otherwise racking up $1,300 in roaming fees.
Unfortunately, the guest was on the hook for the bill, which was not from the cruise line but from their cell phone company. An easy solution for future cruises? Put your phone is in airplane mode as soon as you step onboard!
Cruise Passengers Fight Over Chicken Tenders
I love a good chicken tender as much as anyone, but I don’t think I love them enough to come to blows. For some guests onboard an unidentified Carnival ship, the late-night snack was worth fighting over with a brawl that included profanity, tackles, and even flying shoes.
It’s unclear exactly why chicken tenders sparked such violence. Perhaps one guest took the last tender, or another guest didn’t appreciate the available sauces, or maybe someone was just too chicken to admit they were a wee bit hangry. That’s no excuse, however, and the brawl’s participants were likely banned from the cruise line.
Mayor Faces Down Cruise Ship
Many cruise destinations are imposing restrictions on cruise ships, either capping numbers of guests permitted to visit, overall number of ships, or the gross tonnage of vessels allowed to anchor or dock. But what happens when a ship ignores restrictions?
In Nice, France, the mayor was not so “nice” when Voyager of the Seas visited in July, just three days after the new restrictions were activated. When the ship anchored, the mayor took a police boat out to confront the cruise ship’s captain, claiming prosecution would follow if the ship did not depart.
While Voyager of the Seas did remain for the port visit, such unfriendly behavior and stricter enforcement of cruise ship limits might cause itinerary adjustments in the future.
Fast Fight Leads to Homeport Return
Wonder of the Seas did not have a wonderful start to her September 15, 2025 departure when an onboard fight resulted in such severe injuries that the Oasis-class ship had to return to PortMiami to debark two injured guests.
Local authorities were notified but it is unclear if charges were filed for the incident, and undoubtedly, Royal Caribbean would have investigated the altercation thoroughly and imposed consequences of its own. This could mean both guests may be banned from future sailings or could have to pay fines.
Guest Tumbles Over Edge of Infinity Pool
Falling overboard from a cruise ship is often tragic, but for one guest on Icon of the Seas, an overboard from the aft Hideaway Pool on Deck 15 was more comical and confusing than devastating.
A viral video showed the incident in July, including the guest bizarrely slapping their own behind before tumbling over a glass railing and out of sight. Fortunately, another glass safety barrier and a narrow walkway prevented what would otherwise have been a disastrous outcome.
It isn’t clear what precipitated the guest’s fall, but hopefully, they learned not to repeat such silly behavior.
Guests Banned After Throwing Chairs
In another altercation, this time aboard Carnival Sunrise in June, more guests were banned from Carnival Cruise Line after throwing chairs as part of their disagreement.
What started the fight near the ship’s pizzeria was never confirmed, but fights of any kind are a violation of the cruise line’s code of conduct and result in swift and harsh penalties.
The involved guests were confined to their staterooms with security guards keeping watch and are not welcome to return to any Carnival ship in the future.
Perfect Day Turns Perfectly Ugly With Pool Brawl
Perfect Day at CocoCay can be a fantastic destination, but some guests from Utopia of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas had a less than perfect day with a massive fight in the Oasis Lagoon, the destination’s large freshwater pool.
Multiple adults were involved with punches, angry splashes, profanity, pushing, and other physical manifestations of what should have been a fun visit to the private destination. Even the pool in the lagoon had to be temporarily closed!
Crew Member Goes Overboard Following Stabbing Incident
It isn’t always guests who get into fights during a sailing. Aboard Icon of the Seas in July, a disagreement between crew members turned violent, with one male crew member allegedly stabbing a female co-worker several times.
It is unknown what precipitated the attack, but the male crew member leapt overboard shortly afterward and did not survive. The female crew member was treated and expected to recover from the incident.
Though the attack did not appear random and no guests were involved, it is certainly a disturbing situation that such violence can occur even behind the scenes.
Dozens of Guests Involved in Cruise Terminal Brawl
The end of a cruise can be sad for sure, but worth fighting over? For at least two dozen people debarking Carnival Jubilee in Galveston on April 26, apparently something triggered enough high emotions to start a massive brawl.
The next-level debarkation chaos happened in the terminal’s luggage pickup area, and Carnival Cruise Line later confirmed that 24 guests were added to the line’s infamous “do not sail” list. Furthermore, the Port of Galveston Police Department was also likely involved, which could add even more charges to those involved.
What crazy cruise stories will set sail in 2026? Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for all the latest every day, bringing you the top cruise headlines, itinerary changes, announcements, and much more!
