"I Paid $2K for a Bed Bug Cruise": Passenger Shares Royal Caribbean Story & Letter from Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the SeasPhoto byAndrewmits | Dreamstime

Bed bugs aren't supposed to be part of the all-inclusive package on a cruise vacation.

A woman is alleging an unsettling experience aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, claiming she and her family were subjected to a bed bug infestation.

The incident has sparked outrage online and raised questions about the cruise line’s handling of such matters.

Lagirlinaz, a Reddit user, detailed her ordeal on the popular platform, describing a three-day cruise on Navigator of the Seas that turned into a nightmare.

The family booked a balcony stateroom for a reported $2,000 but found themselves battling an unwelcome infestation.

"We had bed bugs in the balcony stateroom," Lagirlinaz wrote. "I paid 2k for the bed bug cruise."

Following the ordeal, the passenger received a response from Royal Caribbean offering a $500 onboard credit and a 30% discount on a future cruise. The cruise line expressed its apologies for the "experiences" but declined a full refund or upgrade.

"We understand how much our guests look forward to, and invest in their vacation and it truly is never our intention to impact our guests’ cruise negatively," stated Royal Caribbean in its response.

Photo byCruise Fever

But the cruise passenger was not satisfied with the offered compensation. She countered that the entire family was affected by the bed bug bites, including her son, Joshua, who required medical attention.

She also questioned the cruise line’s account of the incident, demanding to see the ship’s logs.

"I'm taking Valium now to help me sleep along with purchasing many items to be sure you didn't infect my entire house," Lagirlinaz wrote. "This is absolutely unacceptable and Royal Caribbean should do better."

The woman also claimed that the stateroom attendant had provided less than satisfactory service and that there were signs of a previous bed bug issue in the room.

She alleged that the cruise line had knowingly placed her family in a compromised stateroom.

Bed bug infestations on cruise ships are a relatively uncommon but serious issue. These parasitic insects can be difficult to eradicate and can cause significant discomfort and emotional distress to passengers.

Cruise lines typically have protocols in place to address such incidents, but the effectiveness of these measures has been questioned in some cases.

Many online commentators have expressed sympathy for Lagirlinaz and criticized Royal Caribbean's handling of the situation. The case highlights the importance of thorough inspections and preventative measures to protect passengers from such infestations.

As of this writing, Royal Caribbean has not publicly responded to the allegations. The cruise line typically investigates such matters internally and works to resolve complaints on a case-by-case basis.