Everything You Need to Know About Bed Bugs on Cruise Ships

Cruise ships are floating hotels. Hundreds of thousands of people embarking and disembarking each week. onstant turnover. Luggage coming on board from all over the world.

That’s the key thing to remember.

Bed bugs don’t actually live on ships. They travel with people. They hitch a ride in suitcases, clothing, backpacks, and occasionally soft furnishings.

A guest might unknowingly bring them onboard after staying in a hotel the night before embarkation. Or they could come from a previous cruise, a flight, or even public transport. Once they’re in a cabin, they settle in fast.

This isn’t a cruise-specific issue. Hotels, trains, cinemas, and even libraries deal with the same thing.

First, don’t panic. Cruise lines deal with this more often than they’d like to admit, and they have clear procedures.

Head straight to Guest Services and report it. Don’t try to handle it yourself. And definitely don’t start throwing things away.

Most cruise lines will inspect the cabin quickly and discreetly. If bed bugs are found, you’ll usually be moved to a new cabin straight away. The original cabin will be taken out of service for deep cleaning and treatment.

Most lines will also arrange for your clothing to be laundered at high temperatures, which is one of the most effective ways to kill bed bugs and their eggs. If they don’t offer this, then ask. And demand it to be free.

It’s inconvenient, yes. But it’s not something you’re expected to just live with.

I mean, it’s not something your insurance would cover. But, in my opinion, the cruise line should offer you something! On board credit, a spa voucher, partial refund, free upgrade. Something.

The key is reporting it immediately and keeping everything documented. Photos, dates, cabin numbers, and names of staff you spoke to can all help if you need to follow up after the cruise.

You can’t eliminate the risk entirely, but you can massively reduce it.

When you first enter your cabin, do a quick check. Pull back the sheets slightly and look around the mattress seams and headboard. Bed bugs are tiny but visible, and you’re looking for small dark spots or live insects.

Keep your suitcase on the luggage rack, not on the bed or sofa.

Using packing cubes or zippered luggage liners can also help. And when you get home, wash your cruise clothes on a hot cycle straight away, just in case.

These aren’t extreme measures. They’re simple habits that frequent travellers often follow without thinking twice.

Here’s the honest bit. Bed bugs on cruise ships are rare. When they do happen, they’re usually isolated to one cabin and dealt with quickly. Social media makes it seem like a widespread issue because one video can travel faster than any actual infestation.

Cruise lines have a huge incentive to keep this under control. A single unresolved case can turn into a PR disaster.

So yes, it’s unpleasant. No one wants to deal with it on holiday. But it’s not something that should put you off cruising altogether.

If anything, cruise ships are often better monitored than many land-based hotels.

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