A cruise ship passenger has stirred up a bit of unease by drawing attention to a spooky detail found on board. Whether you’re dreaming of a sunny escape to the Bahamas or an adventurous trip to Alaska, the interest in cruise vacations is increasing.
According to the AAA, around 19 million Americans are expected to embark on cruises this year, marking a 4.5 percent rise compared to last year.
But if there’s one thing that might make you think twice about setting sail, it’s this revelation.
No, it’s not about the off-putting habit some guests have, which a woman living on a cruise ship dubbed her biggest annoyance.
Recently, a passenger exposed a disturbing detail he noticed, giving many people an unsettling feeling.
John, one half of the duo Hazel and John who run the @chasingthedream.hj TikTok account, posted a video sharing his eerie observation.
The video gained significant attention, amassing 13.3 million views.
“Cruises are great until you realise…” the video narrates as John points out, “How dark the ocean gets at night.”
Initially, the video shows a well-lit cruise ship pool during the night, then shifts to the view of the ocean from the ship’s railings.
However, instead of the ocean, there’s just an expanse of darkness.
“You can imagine how scary it would be if you did actually fall over the edge here,” John commented. “I mean look – absolutely pitch black.
“It’s the blackest black you’ve ever seen.”
Many people hadn’t considered this aspect of cruising, and watching it in a video is truly haunting.
One person remarked: “I get the heeby jeebies looking at any body of water at night. The vibe is just ominous..I have to look away.”
“Same here. A body of water at night is pure terror,” another concurred.
“Not only the dark, but what’s in the dark ocean following the cruise ship…” someone else mused.
“That’s when I’ll be in my room with the windows closed, room service and Netflix on lol,” another added humorously.
Another individual mentioned they’re crossing ‘going on a cruise trip’ off their bucket list.
Meanwhile, one traveler recounted: “I remember my first cruise, looking out into the ocean at night and only being able to see the distant lights of another ship.
“It made my stomach drop how dark it was, like we were floating in a void.”
A former cruise worker shared: “That sight of absolute darkness scared me so much, I’d run inside in panic, never go outside and look at the ocean at night time.”
While John pointed out the fearsome thought of falling overboard in the darkness of night, it’s important to note that such incidents are infrequent.
A report by the Cruise Lines International Association documented 212 overboard incidents between 2009 and 2019, averaging 19 annually.
Of these, 48 incidents resulted in successful rescues, according to the report.
These numbers may initially sound concerning, but considering the vast number of passengers on over 300 cruise ships worldwide, the likelihood remains very low.
Still, if the thought of being alone in a pitch-black ocean terrifies you (it certainly does for me!), you might prefer to stick to vacations on land.