The 10 wildest cruise ship stories of 2018

In May 2018, the Carnival Dream cruise ship experienced a flooding episode that was captured on video by passengers.

According to Carnival, the flooding was caused by a water line break in the ship's fire suppression system and impacted around 50 staterooms. The cruise line offered affected passengers a full refund, a 50% future cruise credit, and the option to disembark early.

(Source: Insider)

In July, a Carnival Cruise ship rescued a Norwegian Cruise Line crew member who fell overboard off the coast of Cuba. The man had managed to keep himself afloat in the water for 22 hours, which Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, called "nothing short of miraculous."

CNN reports the Coast Guard said it searched more than 1,630 square miles of ocean.

(Source: CNN)

In July, a polar bear was shot and killed by guards from the MS Bremen of German cruise operator Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

The company claims that the animal was only shot once it became apparent the attacked guard's life was in danger and that the animal would not leave the scene. The bear's killing caused outrage among many as it was the tourists who invaded the animal's natural habitat.

(Source: Business Insider)

In August 2018, a female passenger fell overboard off a Norwegian Cruise Line ship in the Adriatic Sea and trod water for 10 hours before being rescued by the Croatian Coast Guard.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the woman was fit enough to tread water from practicing yoga and sang songs to herself to stop herself from feeling cold.

(Source: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

In September, a group of 1,300 men aboard Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas turned the ship into a bacchanalian party over the course of three nights.

The men, who were said to be attending a work conference on board the ship, brought along burlesque dancers wearing Playboy Bunny suits and reportedly harassed young female passengers.

Royal Caribbean has since offered passengers refunds.

(Source: Insider)

In September, a former waiter aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway was awarded $4.6 million dollars in compensation because the ship's doctor provided him with the incorrect medication that reacted so violently against his body's constitution that he had to have his arm amputated in 2016.

(Source: Newsweek)

In October, a couple revealed to "Inside Edition" that they discovered a hidden camera in their bedroom onboard the Carnival Fantasy last year.

"I said, 'Is that what I think it is?'" said Chris White, who was traveling on a three-day cruise with his wife, in the interview with Inside Edition. "And she looked at it, and she became concerned. And we were just really flabbergasted that there's a camera in the room, and it's plugged up, and it's working."

According to Carnival, a video transmitter was discovered in the cruisegoers' room and the device has been turned over to the FBI.

(Source: Business Insider)

In October, the Carnival Sunshine suffered a malfunction that caused the ship to list or tilt severely.

In a letter to guests, Carnival said the issue was caused by "an electric switchboard malfunction impacted the use of the fin stabilizers."

This nearly-disastrous event caused "pure chaos, screams, cries, panic," and left passengers aboard the ship shaken.

(Source: Business Insider)

On November 13, a 52-year-old American woman died on the Royal Princess while en route to Aruba. According to a USA Today report on November 14, authorities were treating the death of the passenger as a possible homicide after a man was reportedly seen choking the victim.

A USA Today report on November 20, stated that authorities in Aruba ruled her death unnatural, and that it was still being investigated.

The Royal Princess is operated by Carnival Corporation's Princess Cruises.

(Source: Business Insider)

(Source: USA Today)