T4K3.news

Family shares horror story from disastrous cruise

The Wright family claims their £8,000 holiday was ruined by drunken passengers and unsafe conditions.

August 1, 2025 at 09:45 AM

Drunk passenger threw up next to us while we were playing scrabble on cruise from hell: Brit family describe hiding in their cabin as lager louts ran riot

A family's dream cruise turned sour due to rowdy passengers and poor service.

British family shares nightmare cruise experience

The Wright family from Sunderland recently shared their distressing experience aboard the MSC Cruises Virtuosa, a cruise they hoped would provide a fun family vacation. They spent £8,000 on a two-week journey along the Spanish coast, but their trip quickly soured due to excessive drunken behavior from other passengers and unsafe conditions at the pool. The children, Jack and Molly, faced a disturbing incident when one inebriated guest vomited near their table while they played Scrabble. Additionally, Molly developed an allergic reaction from soot that fell from the ship's funnels while swimming. Despite their complaints to customer service, the family's concerns were met with indifference, leading them to feel isolated and ignored during their much-anticipated holiday.

Key Takeaways

✔️

Family paid £8,000 for a vacation they expected to be family-friendly.

✔️

Excessive drinking turned the cruise atmosphere into one of chaos and discomfort.

✔️

Customer service failed to address the family's concerns adequately.

✔️

Rowdy behavior included a guest throwing up near the family while they played a game.

✔️

Molly suffered a medical reaction due to soot from the ship's funnels.

✔️

The family's request for a refund reflects wider dissatisfaction with cruise expectations and realities.

"The level of drunkenness was insane. It was worse than a Wetherspoons."

Mr Wright compares the ship environment to that of a notoriously rowdy pub, highlighting his discontent.

"They acted like we were the problem for wasting their time."

Mr Wright's frustration shows a perceived lack of empathy from customer service representatives.

"We probably had 12 hours of fun on a two-week cruise."

This reflects the family's disappointment over their overall experience and value for money.

"It became like Fawlty Towers."

Mr Wright's comment portrays the absurdity and chaos encountered during the vacation.

The ordeal faced by the Wright family highlights significant issues within the cruise industry, particularly concerning safety and customer service. Many families depend on cruise lines to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for their children. When that trust is broken due to excessive noise, offensive behavior, and inadequate hygiene standards, it not only ruins the individual vacation experience but also tarnishes the entire brand. The response from MSC Cruises, while acknowledging the family's disappointment, fell short of assuring them that their issues would be resolved effectively. This incident may prompt potential customers to reconsider their options when planning family vacations in the future.

Highlights

A holiday from hell with kids trapped in a cabin.
The cruise turned into a wild party we never signed up for.
We spent most of the trip hiding from drunk passengers.
An allergic reaction from soot ruined our vacation.

Concerns over cruise line practices and customer service

The Wright family's experience raises serious questions about safety, cleanliness, and the handling of complaints on cruises. The reported excessive intoxication and lack of hygiene could lead to negative publicity and customer backlash against MSC Cruises.

As the cruise industry navigates customer expectations, incidents like this could lead to lasting damage to brand loyalty.

🏷️

msc cruises sunderland family vacation consumer rights allergic reaction travel consumer complaints

Enjoyed this? Let your friends know!