As spooky season approaches, you may find yourself dreaming of getaways that come with a bit of a scare factor. Luckily, you don’t have to give up your love of cruising to get it.
There are numerous haunted ships you can visit, such as the Queen Mary, as well as cruises that will take you to haunted destinations like New Orleans or London.
Plus, if you like thrills and chills that you’re for sure are fake, you can find them thanks to spooky cruise ship venues like Disney’s Haunted Mansion Parlor or Carnival Cruise Line’s Fortune Teller Bar.
In This Article:
Haunted Ships to Visit
For spine-tingling experiences, visit these ships that are almost guaranteed to be haunted, with the most haunted of them all — the RMS Queen Mary — taking the lead.
The RMS Queen Mary
The Queen Mary is arguably not only one of the most haunted cruise ships in the world, but also one of the most haunted spots in America overall.
The Queen Mary has a long, long history. Originally operating for the Cunard Line, the ship launched in 1936 and, over the years, in addition to offering passenger service, also served during World War II.
In 1967, Cunard retired the Queen Mary and she took up a new home in Long Beach, California, where she became a tourist attraction.
Today, visitors can stay on the Queen Mary, in one of the ship’s guestrooms or suites. They can dine at multiple restaurants. They can even host a wedding on the ship.
Queen Mary (Photo Credit: GagliardiPhotography)
However, it’s the ship’s paranormal attractions that really steal the show. Multiple Haunted Encounters tours are offered, taking guests around the ship, teaching them about its history, legends and ghost stories.
So, who are some of the Queen Mary’s most iconic specters? There’s supposedly a ghost of a murdered individual still living in one of the staterooms. In one of the pool areas, you might spot the ghost of a drowned child. Another ghost includes that of a father who committed filicide.
If you really want a spooky stay, consider booking cabin B340, which supposedly sees poltergeist-like activity, including water turning on and off throughout the middle of the night and blankets being pulled off the beds.
The Star of India
While not a cruise ship per se, this is still a historic ship worth visiting if you’re into both maritime history, as well as supposedly haunted spots.
The Star of India is the world’s oldest active sailing ship, situated at the Maritime Museum of San Diego (very close to the San Diego cruise port, so this a great activity to plan for, if you’re looking for things to do in the vicinity).
Star of India (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte)
Launched in 1863, the ship has experienced its fair share of drama, including a mutiny and cyclone, being trapped in ice and numerous reported grisly deaths.
Now, rumored ghosts include that of a sailor crushed in the ship’s chain locker, that of a unlucky stowaway who fell from the top mast and that of a captain who committed suicide.
The Berkeley Steam Ferry
Also now located at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, the Berkeley Steam Ferry was a commuter ferry built in 1898. Not only was it the first propeller-driven ferry on the West Coast, but also the largest commuter ferry in the country, with capacity for 1,700 passengers.
Berkeley Steam Ferry (Photo Credit: Delpixel)
The ship may not have as gory of ghosts as the Star of India or the Queen Mary, but employees still say it might be haunted, due to the role the ferry played in rescuing victims during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, as well as its collision with another ship in 1890.
Rumored Cruise Ship Hauntings
While the above vessels are pretty much guaranteed to contain a few resident ghosts, you might not be all that impressed. After all, these ships are old! They’ve experienced disaster! Of course they’re haunted!
Instead, you want to know about the haunted cabins that you can find on today’s modern cruise ships.
(Photo Credit: zef art)
While haunts on modern cruise ships aren’t as widely documents (because think of what a PR nightmare that might be!), you can still find cruise ship passengers that report spooky goings-on in their cabins. Here are a few recent stories we dug up.
Royal Caribbean’s Many Spirited Stowaways
In May 2025, a Royal Caribbean cruiser posted in a Facebook group, saying that they had a pretty “active” cabin in their last cruise on Explorer of the Seas.
They said they had an oceanview cabin on the ship’s second deck. At night, they typically leave the bathroom light on, with the door cracked. Multiple nights, they said that they felt an apparition walking back and forth in front of the bathroom door.
Then, the poster woke up around 4:30–5 a.m. one morning to see a specter standing over her husband. The ghost was an older, balding gentleman with dark hair, a green shirt and tan pants. The presence wasn’t threatening, but still there.
Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas (Photo Credit: Mikko Hietanen)
Some commenters said that the poster must’ve been taking good advantage of their drinks package. However, other commenters gave the claim some credence.
The original poster implied this wasn’t their first experience with the supernatural. As such, some theorized the poster brought the ghost on board with them, rather than the ghost living in the stateroom aboard Explorer of the Seas.
Others pointed out that, while its uncommon, people do die on cruise ships, which could lead to spectral stowaways.
Meanwhile, others chimed in with their own Royal Caribbean ghost sightings.
Room 9264 on Freedom of the Seas
One commenter said that they were staying in Room 9264 on Freedom of the Seas. At night, the motion light outside their bathroom was triggered — and triggered and triggered and triggered again, over and over throughout the night.
Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock
Both people staying in the room swore they saw an apparatus, and that part of the room was colder.
Room 9307 on Independence of the Seas
Another said they were in Room 9307 on Independence of the Seas and they woke up thinking their child was calling them around 3 a.m.
Hearing nothing after awakening, they smelled a foul, feces-like odor that began to dissipate quickly. They went to the bathroom, turned on their light and saw a small woman standing next to them in the mirror.
Independence of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze / Shutterstock)
Still, another commenter mentioned feeling a presence in their cabin on Jewel of the Seas, while one said that they saw a ghost in the theater on Harmony of the Seas (and that they later found out that one of the ship’s actors committed suicide on the ship years before).
Do with all this information what you will, but, if you’re looking for a seriously scary time, you might consider booking one of the above-mentioned rooms on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, just to see if anything happens.
Haunted Cruise Ship Venues
While we often think of cruise ships as lively spots to have fun in the sun, with nary a shadow around, some cruise ships are rolling out venues that have a certain spooky appeal, such as the Haunted Mansion Parlor on two Disney Cruise Line ships, and the Fortune Teller Bar on Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras.
Disney Cruise Line’s Haunted Mansion Parlor
Disney Cruise Line introduced its Haunted Mansion Parlor on Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny. An adults-only space, this bar is themed after the Disney parks attraction and movies of the same name.
The décor, special effects and even the drink menus make a nod to the Haunted Mansion franchise.
Disney Treasure Haunted Mansion Parlor (Photo Credit: Kent Phillips)
One fun touch? The parlor comes with a game of sorts. The story is that the parlor belonged to a sea captain and his fiancé, and no one knows quite why the two disappeared. Clues are hidden around the bar, allowing passengers to suss out what exactly happened.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Fortune Teller Bar
On Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, you can saddle up to the Fortune Teller bar and see what exactly the souls of the departed have in store for you. The bar has a New Orleans’ French Quarter vibe that befits the ship’s name.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Fortune Teller
The drinks are just as fun as the atmosphere, with cocktails that change color, as well as even one that contains real bits of gold.
Haunted Halloween Cruises
In addition to haunted cruise ships and haunted cruise ship venues, some cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages and Carnival Cruise Line, host specifically haunted or spooky-themed cruises around the Halloween season.
If you’re a fan of all things spook-tacular, you’re going to want to book one of these cruise itineraries fast.
Carnival Cruise Line Frightfully Fun Halloween Cruises
Throughout the month of October, Carnival Cruise Line hosts its Frightfully Fun Halloween Cruises, which include lots of fun extras, no matter your age.
There’s a Patch the Pumpkin Pirate deck party (featuring a 12-foot-tall pumpkin-headed pirate). A specialty cocktail is available at the atrium bar, called Patch the Pumpkin Punch. Pumpkins are hidden around the ship.
Carnival Cruise Line Halloween Sailing (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Halloween activities include horror movie showings, Halloween-themed live music and spooky crew-led activities. Costume contests are on tap as well (just with a few special rules, such as no real or fake weapons, no masks or face coverings, and nothing obscene).
Disney Cruise Line’s Halloween at Sea
Through late September and until Halloween, Disney Cruise Line hosts its Halloween at Sea, which is just as boo-tiful as its park Halloween festivities.
Disney Cruise Line Halloween (Photo Credit: Disney Parks)
Expect a Mickey Mouse-querade, Halloween-themed meet and greets with characters and Halloween desserts and beverages found throughout the ship.
Make sure to plan to attend the pumpkin tree lighting that takes place the first night of each cruise, and listen to the spooky stories!
Margaritaville at Sea: Sail the Haunted Seas
Margaritaville at Sea runs its Sail the Haunted Seas event through October as well, with lots of fun Halloween activities and specials taking place across the boutique cruise line’s ships.
Margaritaville at Sea Haunted
The cruises’ glow parties get a Halloween makeover. Halloween cocktails are being served at the bars. Costume contests and trick-or-treating across ship venues allow you to score some sweet treats. Don’t forget to start your day with a Halloween coffee, either.
Virgin Voyages Halloween Voyages
But even Margaritaville at Sea allows the entire family on board. What if you’re looking for some seriously adults-only Halloween fun?
In that case, look to Virgin Voyages. The adults-only, millennials-and-younger-focused cruise line allows you to enjoy the spooky season to its fullest without once almost tripping over a kiddo dressed like the latest superhero.
Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship at Night (Photo Credit: AVOXY)
There are, of course, costume parties and contests; Halloween-themed entertainment; spooky activities; and exclusive Halloween dining and drinking.
Haunted Cruise Destinations
You don’t need to sail on a haunted cruise ship or a Halloween-themed cruise to enjoy a little spooky goodness.
No matter what time of year you’re sailing, no matter the ship, consider a cruise itinerary that will take you to some of the most haunted cruise port cities in the world. Here are just a few options.
New Orleans
It doesn’t get any more haunted than New Orleans! Many cruises depart on round-trip Caribbean itineraries from the city — including cruises from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans (Photo Credit: L Paul Mann)
Consider arriving early or staying late and indulging in one of the many, many haunted tours, or just doing a little sightseeing on your own, by visiting the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the LaLaurie Mansion or the Hotel Monteleone.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
During a cruise to Jamaica, visit the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, where you can potentially catch a glimpse of one of the Caribbean’s most famous ghosts, that of the White Witch.
View of Montego Bay, Jamaica (Photo Credit: Nathalia_Guaus_Patricio)
If you have ample time, you can explore elsewhere around the island, visiting haunted spots like the abandoned Duppy Church (a “duppy” is literally a Jamaican folklore ghost, so this church is basically named “the Ghost Church”), or the ruins of Edinburgh Castle, built by Jamaica’s first serial killer on record.
London
And, if you’re taking a European cruise that starts or stops in London, make time to visit the city’s many, many haunted spots, from the Tower of London to Highgate Cemetery and beyond.
Read Also: What You Need to Know on Cabin Cruise Door Decorations
You’ll find no shortage of haunted tours, including pub-focused tours, if you want to blend your spirits with…well, more spirits.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
