Are cruise ship ghosts real? Or is it just the sound of the sea playing tricks on our minds?
Cruise ships are meant to be a paradise at sea, but for some passengers, they’ve turned into something far more mysterious — and sometimes, downright creepy.
Picture this: you’re alone in your cabin, the waves gently rocking the ship, and suddenly… the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Is it the sea breeze, or is something else going on?
Carnival cruise guests have been sharing their spooky stories with the Brand Ambassador for the cruise line, John Heald.
So, I’ve picked out some of the best – and done some extra digging across cruise forums – to see if that cabin you thought was designed for two guests actually has a spectral third sharing it with you!
1. Haunted rooms or just a series of strange coincidences?
This guest’s experience aboard the Carnival Magic on Deck 7 is a spooky one, no doubt. The story starts with lights flickering, phones ringing, and unexplained banging sounds.
But it’s the sense of a “presence” that adds a layer of discomfort – who wants to feel like they’re not alone, especially on vacation?
What makes this account even more intriguing is the response from the cruise staff. They didn’t flinch or try to explain away the oddities; instead, they swiftly moved the guests to a different deck. Could it be that they had dealt with similar reports before?
Could this have been a ghostly encounter, or are there other factors at play? The quick accommodation change hints at a bigger story, but the question remains – is it possible that the cruise line is more aware of these occurrences than they let on?
Maybe there’s more to the tale than what we’re hearing.
2. A ghostly makeover in the middle of the night?
This one definitely gives chills. Imagine being on your cruise, enjoying your time at sea, and then hearing strange noises from your bathroom in the middle of the night.
That’s exactly what happened to this guest’s friend aboard the Carnival Sunshine. She heard what sounded like makeup being moved around, but when she checked in the morning, everything was untouched.
It’s easy to brush off a late-night noise as a bad dream, but the fact that she knew what she heard and was so unsettled by it that she wouldn’t return to the same room is worth noting.
Could it be that something – or someone – was messing with her things while she slept? Or perhaps it’s just a strange coincidence, like a plumbing issue or a cabin settling noise.
Either way, it’s a reminder that not everything at sea is as relaxing as it seems.
3. A visit from beyond the grave?
This story from the Carnival Magic is certainly one of the more intense encounters, especially when it involves a loved one who’s passed away.
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to see someone sitting on the edge of your bed – someone you know has already passed. It’s not only unsettling, but downright eerie.
What makes this story even more compelling is the initial confusion. The wife thought it was her husband sitting there, but he was sound asleep beside her.
The fact that she then realised the person she saw was someone she knew personally, and that this was someone who’d recently departed, adds an emotional layer to the whole encounter.
Was it a visitation from beyond, or could it have been a trick of the mind, perhaps influenced by the confusion of being at sea or the darkness of the night?
4. Matter-of-fact balcony cabin hauntings – no big deal?
This one’s short, sweet, and strangely matter-of-fact. The guest casually mentions having a haunted balcony cabin, but it’s the way they drop that little nugget that makes it so intriguing.
“We reported it to the Steward” – and that’s it. No further details, no emotional breakdowns, just an almost dry admission that something spooky happened, and they let the crew know.
What’s tantalising here is the fact they don’t elaborate on what exactly was going on in that haunted cabin.
What did the steward say? Did they get moved, or was it just shrugged off? The lack of explanation only adds to the mystery, leaving us wondering if it was a truly chilling experience or just another strange, unspoken part of cruise life that gets swept under the rug.
5. Queen Mary: A ship with a haunted reputation
The Queen Mary is known far and wide as one of the most haunted ships in the world, so it’s no surprise that this guest names it as the only ship they’ve experienced paranormal activity on. The history of the Queen Mary is as dramatic as its ghost stories.
Originally launched in 1936 as a luxury ocean liner, it later served as a troopship during World War II, where countless lives were affected. With such a rich and often turbulent past, it’s no wonder the Queen Mary has earned its spooky reputation.
Guests have reported sightings of apparitions, unexplained cold spots, eerie voices, and even the sound of footsteps echoing through empty halls.
The ship’s famous “Room B340” is particularly notorious, with many claiming to hear knocking, doors slamming, and even an ominous presence in the room. It’s no wonder that the Queen Mary is considered one of the most haunted ships, attracting paranormal enthusiasts from around the world.
She still offers ghost tours – she may have retired as a ship but guests can explore it as a museum from her base in California.
6. A ghostly light show and a toilet with a mind of its own
This story from the Carnival Triumph sounds like something straight out of a supernatural comedy! The strange light flickering and the unpredictable toilet are both eerie and oddly funny, making it feel like the ghost was just having a bit of fun with the guests.
The lights randomly turning on and off, sometimes even in the middle of the night, is a classic sign of paranormal activity. But when the ghostly shenanigans escalate to the toilet flushing by itself at 3 a.m., things get taken to another level of bizarre.
The fact that both the guest and her daughter were aware of the strange happenings but chose to laugh it off, calling it a “ghost,” shows how comfortable they had become with the situation.
And then, when they had a party in the room, the lights flickering continued, with everyone joining in on the joke. It’s funny how a group of people can go from being startled to completely embracing the oddity, as if the ghost was part of the party too.
7. A haunting epic like no other
This is an epic tale of the supernatural that could easily belong in a ghost story collection. The level of detail in this experience and the emotional rollercoaster involved make it one of the most memorable accounts of ghostly activity at sea.
It all starts on the famous Queen Mary 2 (QM2), where the guest and their friend begin to notice strange tapping noises. At first, it’s easy to dismiss, but as the occurrences continue, the eerie feeling sets in.
A few days into the cruise, the friend suffers a choking fit, a near-death experience that seems oddly connected to the strange energy aboard the ship. After they disembark in New York, things take a darker turn for our narrator.
What follows is the most haunting part of this saga: instead of running away, the guest decides to engage with the entity. Over three days, they communicate with the spirit through tapping responses.
What started as a few knocks soon became a full-blown exchange of yes/no answers. Over time, the spirit reveals itself as not just a spectral being, but with its own personality, humour, and even a dark side. It’s a remarkable turn of events, moving from fear to curiosity, and from scepticism to belief.
The fact that this guest had been a staunch sceptic – someone who worked in the logical, absolute world of computers for 25 years – makes the experience even more profound. Their openness to the supernatural, despite years of training to think in absolutes, adds a layer of authenticity to the story.
This story is truly unique because of how it evolves: from mere taps in the night to a full-fledged communication with the spirit. It’s a haunting experience that doesn’t just leave the guest shaken, but forever changed. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, this account is hard to ignore.
8. A shadow in the room
This encounter aboard the Allure of the Seas is one of those stories that sends shivers down your spine while still leaving you with a few questions.
The fact that three people in the same cabin all experienced something strange at the same time is significant.
The guest wakes up to what they think is their friend standing by the bed, only to realise that the figure looks like a man — an unsettling detail that immediately turns the whole situation from a simple dream into something much more eerie.
The most chilling part is the stateroom attendant’s reaction. Instead of dismissing the story, he nonchalantly confirms that “people die on the ship.” His lack of surprise raises more questions than it answers…
There’s always the funny side too…
Beyond the real stories of ghost encounters on cruises, there were plenty of light-hearted responses too.
Here are three of the best:
Your cabin stewards can feel like ghosts sometimes, in a good way – they may not always be visible, but they’ll be able to work wonders in your room without you noticing, and leave some fun surprises too!
It’s not a poltergeist creating these towel animal marvels – but a cabin steward who just knows how to make your cruise that little bit extra special.
I’m sure some people feel seen by this. A bit harsh maybe!
You don’t need me to explain this one – a bit cheeky, and honestly most of the things that go bump in the night probably can be explained by your fellow passengers!
Final word
So, what’s the verdict? Are ghosts really haunting the high seas, or are these stories simply the result of our imaginations playing tricks on us in the middle of the night?
It’s tough to say. The common thread in so many of these tales is the sense that something unexplainable is happening – whether it’s flickering lights, strange sounds, or the feeling that you’re not alone.
Some of us might dismiss these experiences as coincidence, but for others, the thought of a ghostly presence can make a cruise feel like a whole new adventure.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying that some of these stories add a little thrill to the cruise experience.
For the more curious (and perhaps the brave), the idea of encountering a ghost might actually make a cruise even more exciting. After all, there’s a whole world of paranormal mysteries waiting to be uncovered on board.
So, what about you? Would hearing these ghostly tales make you second-guess booking your next cruise, or would they tempt you to pack your bags and bring along a ghost-hunting kit instead?
Perhaps, like many before you, you’ll find that the ocean isn’t the only thing that’s a bit mysterious. Either way, you’ll have a story to tell when you get back home!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
