What was supposed to be a relaxing, sun-soaked family adventure cruising along the Spanish coast ended up being anything but for Iain and Sally Wright from Sunderland.
The couple had envisioned quality time with their two young children and elderly mother on a luxurious two-week voyage aboard MSC Cruises’ Virtuosa.
But instead, they found themselves trapped in what they described as a floating nightclub—complete with drunk passengers, foul language, and a serious health scare for their daughter.
£8,000 for Chaos at Sea
The Wrights had spent a staggering £8,000 on the cruise, hoping for a child-friendly escape filled with sea views, waterslides, and family fun.
Alongside their kids, Jack (11) and Molly (8), and Sally’s mother, they boarded the ship on July 12 with high hopes.
But by the time they reached Majorca, midway through the trip, they were desperately looking for a way off.
Iain, an author, said they ended up spending most of the time locked away in their cabin just to escape the rowdy atmosphere.
“It was worse than a Wetherspoons on a Saturday night,” he said.
Drunken Guests and Vomit by the Pool
The couple described the onboard vibe as more of a wild 18–30s party than a family cruise.
Constant loud swearing, long queues for drinks, and rising levels of drunkenness created a “horrible atmosphere,” Iain explained.
One particularly low point came when the family was playing Scrabble by the pool deck, only to have a drunk guest vomit right next to their table.
The mess, which smelled horribly, wasn’t cleaned for over an hour.
“It’s basic hygiene,” Iain said, worried about germs and illness on such a packed ship.
Soot from the Funnel Ruins the Pool Experience
The troubles didn’t stop there. The next day, Jack and Molly came back from a pool session covered in black soot.
It had apparently “rained down” from the ship’s funnels as the vessel left port.
Molly’s swimsuit was stained, and the soot clung to her skin.
At first, staff casually brushed it off, saying it “sometimes happens.”
But things got more serious two days later when Molly began to itch uncontrollably and broke out in hives.
Medical Scare and Poor Staff Response
Concerned, the family went to customer services and saw the onboard doctor, who diagnosed Molly with an allergic reaction caused by exposure to an external substance—most likely the soot.
She was given hydrocortisone cream and suffered for 24 hours.
What truly shocked the Wrights, though, was how dismissive the cruise staff were.
“It felt like we were the problem for even bringing it up,” Iain said. “Their only goal was to shut down our complaint rather than help.”
Trapped in Their Cabin for the Rest of the Trip
With nowhere to relax on the chaotic ship, the family ended up retreating to their cabin for the remainder of the cruise.
“There were no quiet areas, no place to get away,” Iain recalled.
“We just felt defeated. It was like living through a bad sitcom.”
He said they even considered leaving the ship in Majorca, halfway through the holiday. “We felt like we were left with no choice.”
A £9 Voucher Instead of a Real Apology
After lodging complaints, the Wrights were offered a £9 ticket to a premium show on the ship as a kind of peace offering—but it felt like a slap in the face.
“We spent thousands and they gave us a show ticket?” Iain said, still baffled.
The experience, he said, was deeply disappointing for the kids and left the whole family feeling let down.
“We probably had about 12 hours of real fun in 14 days,” he admitted.
Calling for a Refund and Proper Acknowledgement
What the family really wants now is a sincere apology and a partial refund to help recover what they lost.
“It wasn’t about the money at first—we just wanted a great family time.
But now, that money could go toward the kind of holiday we actually hoped for.”
They insist they would never travel with MSC Cruises again.
MSC Responds but Action Remains Pending
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for MSC Cruises said they “regret that the Wright family’s experience did not meet expectations.”
They also noted that since they hadn’t heard anything further from the family, they would now reach out directly to address the concerns properly.