A passenger captured the haunting moment the cruise ship captain ordered all lights to be turned off and curtains drawn.

A tense moment aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship was caught on camera by a passenger and quickly went viral online.

The traveler, who goes by the TikTok handle @lillydapink, was in the middle of a 111-night journey between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, the Philippines when the atmosphere suddenly shifted.

As the ship entered the Sulu-Celebes Sea, the captain delivered a bone-chilling announcement over the loudspeaker, alerting passengers that the area was “known for piracy threats".

As a precaution, the vessel would be “operating at a heightened level of security alertness during this period,” which included the external promenade deck being closed overnight and “deck lights will be on to reduce the ship's external lighting".

The captain requested that everyone "turn off your stateroom lights when not needed, and close the curtains of your stateroom window or balcony," and continued by delivering instructions in the event of a piracy-related emergency, emphasizing that the passengers and crew’s safety is the ship’s highest priority.

“I assure you that measures to prevent any unlikely incident have been well planned and the likelihood of this happening on a big ship like Queen Anne is absolutely minimal,” the captain added.

Watch the moment below:

The eerie moment has amassed 8.9 million views on the social media platform, with viewers stunned at the reality of modern-day pirate precautions.

"Idk why but every time I hear about real-life pirates I’m always shocked/amazed that they really exist," one user wrote, while another quipped: "I'd lock myself in my room and order room service."

A third shared: "I used to work on a cruise ship and there are a few areas where you get piracy. We used to get a special security company that used to come on board with g*ns when we go past Somalia. You're safe."

The TikTok user shared additional update videos documenting the ship’s safety precautions as they navigated the sea, including clips of the dark rooms with the curtains drawn.

"So all the blinds were shut, and the lights were down to the minimum last night. The security did an amazing job keeping watch over the ship last night. Well done guys,” the user wrote in the caption.

While rare, these types of security measures aren’t unheard of. Pirates typically target oil tankers or cargo ships, not luxury liners but when crossing through high-risk zones, even cruise ships don’t take any chances.

Cunard later confirmed the scare wasn’t based on any direct threat, telling Business Insider: “As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions.

“There was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and our onboard experience remained uninterrupted,” the statement added.

The region between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines has historically seen piracy and kidnapping-for-ransom cases, most notably involving the Abu Sayyaf Group, a jihadist militant and pirate organization, according to MarineInsight.

From late 2016 to mid-2022, ships were advised to steer clear of these waters due to high abduction risks. However, with no recorded abductions since January 2020, the region’s threat level was officially downgraded to “low” in January 2025, per the outlet.

The Queen Anne accommodates 2,996 guests, and 1,225 crew members and is 1,058 ft long.

The cruise began in Hamburg, Germany, on January 7, 2025, and made stops in England, New York, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, China and more.

The ship returned to Hamburg on April 29, after stopping in Vietnam, South Africa, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Featured image credit: Kioharu / Getty

People are vowing to never go on a cruise after a passenger recently showed them what they look like at night.

When you think of your perfect vacation, what comes to mind? For a lot of people, they picture kicking back and relaxing on a massive ship while it sails across the vast oceans.

However, for others, they couldn't imagine anything worse.

One passenger has ignited that fear amongst a handful of people on the internet after they recently showed what a cruise ship looks like in the dark - and let's just say we won't be in a rush to book one any time soon.

Taking to TikTok, user @chasingthedream.hj posted a viral video that showed what the ocean looks like after the sun has set.

The clip, which has been viewed almost 10 million times, shows a boujee cruise ship with all the lights on on board the ship, allowing passengers to see what's going on around them.

However, when you move away from the main part of the ship and towards the railings overlooking the sea, that's when the real nightmare begins.

Have a look at the full video below:

This has left a lot of people with a newfound fear of cruises.

"The ocean is the most terrifying place on earth but the ocean at night is just a different beast," wrote one user, while another added: "The darkness, the depth, the power, the total helplessness... It terrifies me. I'm a marine biologist."

A third commented: "Not only dark but whats in the dark ocean following the cruise ship..."

Another person described it as a "deep black void of nothing," adding: "The way I would grip the handrails looking at the ocean at night. It actually was terrifying..."

And one user even recalled one of their own memories, writing: "l used to work on cruise ship, that sight of absolute darkness scared me so much, I run inside in panic, never go outside and look at the ocean at night time."

Another TikToker who also shared her experience was @victorias.way, who posted a video of her on her cabin balcony in the middle of the night - with nothing but a confronting curtain of darkness in front of her.

"After what I saw, I couldn't sleep all night," she wrote. "This is the most terrifying thing I've ever laid eyes on," she added on the video's overlay text.

However, others seemingly disagreed, offering up a new perspective about it all.

"I don’t know why people see this as a shock. You’re literally in the middle of the ocean. You put your trust in the staff and captains. I love cruises and all of the excursions," this person wrote.

And this user also stated: "I work at sea... I find the darkness at night while at sea to be refreshing. When you come from somewhere saturated with light pollution, actually seeing the Milky Way is a great thing to behold."

What do you think?

Featured Image Credit: TC Lin/Getty

A woman who spends her life living on cruise ships has revealed the dark sides that others may not have considered.

Lynnelle, a 53-year-old content creator behind the YouTube channel Poverty to Paradise, decided in 2024 to trade in her toxic job, broken marriage, house, and car for life on the open sea.

Now, with over 70,000 subscribers tuning in, she’s sharing the unfiltered truth about what full-time cruising really looks like — and it’s not all umbrella drinks and ocean views.

“So you’ve been watching all the YouTube videos and you’ve seen all these people living on the cruise ships and you are just about ready to sell your house, pack everything up and come live on a cruise ship,” Lynnelle says.

“Before you do that there are some things you need to know. It’s not all paradise and glitz and glamour but there are some things that might make you pause.”

She originally planned just 90 days at sea.

“When I first started doing this I was not planning to live on cruise ships. I was going through a transition and I saw some deals here and I thought let me go through this for 90 days while I think about what I’m going to do with my life and it turned out this is perfect for me.”

But even though it works for her, Lynnelle warns that there are eight major realities would-be sea nomads need to come to terms with first.

1. Space: Say Goodbye to Roominess

If you think cruise cabins are cute and cozy, try living in one permanently.

“Take your current bedroom, cut it in half and squeeze a queen-size bed a couple of night stands and everything you need to live into that half of a bedroom,” Lynnelle explains. “That’s what your cabin is going to look like.”

2. Noise: Thin Walls, Loud Neighbours

The cruise ship soundtrack isn’t just the ocean breeze — it’s karaoke, theatre shows, scraping pool chairs, and other guests’ private activities.

“The cabins on cruise ships are paper thin so if you are the type of person who wants to spend a significant amount of time in your cabin you need to think about that,” Lynnelle warns.

“I have heard so many things that were disturbing to me that I pulled the pillow over my head and put ear plugs in.”

“You hear everything, depending what deck you are on. You might hear noise from the theatre, karaoke singing, one time I heard the scraping of pool chairs up on the Lido deck because I was right below it. Also, the neighbours when you can hear their ‘extra-curricular activities, their snoring, their arguments, their TV blasting.”

3. People: It’s Hard to Hide from Social Interaction

If you're the type who enjoys solitude, cruising might test your patience.

“I am not a shy person but I am very quiet and introverted … so a lot of times I just enjoy my own company and enjoy being by myself,” she says.

“If you are an introverted person and you don’t like to be socially interactive you might want to rethink living on a cruise ship because you are going to be in places and people are going to talk to you."

“Even if you get a private table somebody is going to come and say ‘hey, how you doing’ and strike up a conversation with you."

“You are on a ship so unless you sit in your room the whole time, which I don’t suggest you do, you’re going to see that same chatty couple at breakfast, lunch, dinner and you cannot escape them.”

4. Seasickness: The Ocean Has No Chill

Location on the ship and seasonal weather can make a huge difference in how your stomach handles the motion.

“Depending on where you are on the ship – particularly at the very front of the ship or the very back – you are going to feel the motion of the ship from the waves,” she says.

“If there’s a storm, forget it, you’re going to feel it wherever you are on the ship."

“If the motion of the ocean bothers you then that’s something you definitely want to think about.”

Higher decks = more motion, and possibly more nausea.

5. Cost: Not As Cheap As You Think

Living at sea isn’t necessarily a money-saver — at least not unless you play it smart.

“Living on a cruise ship can be upwards of (USD) $80,000 to (USD) $100,000 or more and that’s just for the cruise itself,” Lynnelle explains.

“That’s not including any of the extras you want to get like specialty dining, pictures, souvenirs. All that other stuff adds into the cost of cruising.”

She’s managed to reduce her own expenses dramatically. “My average is USD $2000 per month,” she says — which adds up to about USD $24,000 annually, thanks to her cruise loyalty perks and savvy deal-hunting.

6. Healthcare: Prepare to Pay Out of Pocket

Need to see a doctor at sea? Get ready to open your wallet.

“I am 53 and I am pretty much healthy but a lot of people have health issues where they can’t live on a cruise ship or they can but they are going to need special care,” Lynnelle explains.

“If you have some pre-existing health conditions where you need to go to your doctors on a regular basis then living on a cruise ship is probably going to cause some drawbacks for you.”

She once had to get treatment for an infection on board — the appointment alone cost $150, not including medication.

7. Food: Not As Varied As It Seems

Sure, cruise food is a highlight… until it’s not.

“I hear a lot of people complain about the food being monotonous,” Lynnelle says.

“I was on one cruise ship for two months straight and even though there was a variety of food … it can be monotonous and so if you are not into eating the same food and you get bored easily that is something you need to take into consideration.”

Cruise menus tend to repeat on a weekly cycle — and after months at sea, you’ll likely be able to recite them by heart.

8. Wi-Fi and Loneliness: The Hidden Emotional Toll

Connectivity at sea is expensive — and not always reliable.

“If you are a person who, on a regular basis, is Facetiming people and you’re on social media all the time, the Wi-Fi on cruise ships is not very reliable,” she admits.

“About 75 per cent of the time it is great but the other 25 per cent of the time you want to pull your hair out because it’s like ‘ah, I have paid for this Wi-Fi but I am not getting coverage’.”

But the biggest challenge of all? Emotional isolation.

“It’s hard to make lasting friendships because the nature of cruising is transient, so those people will only be on the ship with you for maybe 10 days but after that they move on their merry way,” Lynnelle explains.

“I’m not saying you can’t make friends on cruise ships but, for the most part, especially if you are cruising solo like I am, you need to find people you click with but it is difficult."

“If you are a social butterfly or someone who needs to have deep connections with a person all the time then this might not be the lifestyle for you.”

Featured image credit: David Sacks / Getty

A cruise exclusively for swingers hosts almost 7,000 promiscuous people for a seven-night sexy sail around the Caribbean, leaving from Miami. While many rules, such as monogamy and mandatory clothing, go out the window, there are a few very strict rules.

The Bliss Cruise, held on board Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, is a very laid-back holiday in more ways than one, but breaking a few compulsory rules could land you in the ship’s jail.

Like any resort or passenger vessel, there are a few basic rules that guests have to follow, such as, being at least 21 years old and respecting other passengers. However, there are other rules that if you were expected to follow on any other holiday, you would likely leave a scathing Tripadvisor review.

The kinky cruise hosts 6,700 guests. Credit: Bliss Cruises

Consent is necessary, but clothing is not

Nudity is more than welcome in certain areas including the outside decks, play rooms and saunas, but clothes must be worn in other areas such as the ship’s restaurants.

Thankfully, given the nature of onboard activities, consent is non-negotiable, and if it is not respected, passengers could see themselves thrown off the ship at the next port.

In a statement on Bliss’ website, the trip's organisers wrote: "No means no. Anyone that doesn't understand this or is making unwanted advances could be subject to expulsion from the ship at the next port, without a refund."

Surprisingly, sexual activity is restricted to private areas including guests' cabins and designated play areas, of which there are at least three on board the huge ship.

The cruise holiday said: "Guests violating any rule pertaining to sexual activity in forbidden places may be removed from the ship by its security team at the next port of call. No refunds will be issued."

Another absolute no-no on the spicy ship is approaching staff and requesting they join in with polyamorous pastimes, as anyone who partakes will “lose their jobs” if caught.

Even medicinal cannabis is not allowed on board. Credit: Creative Images Lab/Getty Images

Ship staff turn passengers into police if caught with certain substances

While sex toys and kinky outfits are more than welcome at check-in, other performance enhancers such as illegal substances are strictly banned and could land guests a hefty punishment.

Bliss Cruise states in rule five: "Illicit and illegal drugs of any type, including medicinal marijuana, are not permitted on the ship.

"If found during the check-in process at the terminal, the cruise line will deny boarding.

"If found on the ship, the cruise line can and will most likely jail you until a port is reached where you will be handed over to the authorities, and possibly face criminal prosecution."

Emphasizing how important the rules are on board, the trip’s organizers also added that “no refunds will be issued if denied boarding or removed from the ship”.

Featured image credit: Bliss Cruises