Gulf Coast Cruise Guests Confronts Scammer in On Board Hot Tub Showdown
(KMDL-FM) One of the best parts of going on a cruise, if you ask me, is people-watching. You see folks from all walks of life doing all sorts of things. Guests on a recent cruise out of the Port of Galveston, Texas, got to see something interesting, and you can see it too: a cruise guest finding and confronting someone they believe scammed them out of more than $1,000.
I am sure you are asking, "Which Carnival Ship did this happen on?" Well, it's not our friends at Carnival that are in the "dirty spotlight". That honor falls on MSC Cruises, a popular global cruise line that is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Which is kind of ironic because last time I looked at a map, Switzerland was nowhere near an ocean.
But that's beside the point. Here's what happened. Vanessa Phillips explained how the scenario unfolded via a post on Facebook. Basically, this is the abridged version: she met a "former associate" on an MSC cruise in 2025. They agreed to sail again together in August of 2026. Which brings us to the August 30th sailing in question.
Cruise Guest Says She Was Scammed Out of $1,100 - How Did It Happen?
Phillips maintains the former associate created bogus booking numbers and invoices, and concocted an elaborate scheme surrounding a cruise reservation that didn't exist. She believed the former associate to be on the "up and up," so she sent payments of close to $1,100.
READ MORE: Carnival Cancels Sailings Out of Galveston: Is Your Cruise Affected?
It was shortly after the money was sent that the former associate ghosted her. As you might imagine, Phillips was concerned about getting her money back, so she called the MSC Cruise customer support number and was told that the former associate had only paid $524 for the cruise in question.
Rather than stay home and be mad, Phillips took matters into her own hands and decided to book the same cruise the former associate had booked aboard the MSC Seascape. That vessel departed Galveston on August 30th.
See The Video: Cruise Guest Confronts Scammer - Caught Him in the Hot Tub
She found the former associate sitting in a hot tub on board the ship and decided a confrontation needed to happen. She posted video of the confrontation on her Social Media accounts. The language, as you might imagine, is not safe for work. If you're offended by curse words, you probably don't want to have the volume turned up.
We should note that there was no physical confrontation, only strong language. The case has been referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as Phillips is pursuing the possibility of fraud charges. Phillips also removed a video explaining the situation on another social platform after she found the "former associate" was being harassed online.
Cruise Scams Happen More Often Than You Might Think - Here's What to Know
We offer this story to you as a cautionary tale: if you see or hear of a cruise itinerary or deal that sounds too good to be true, it just might be. There are plenty of scammers who pose as travel agents too. Some of their tactics include "hacks" for extra onboard privileges and upgrades.
READ MORE: 8 Insider Secrets Everyone Who Cruises Should Know
Our advice: use a trusted travel professional or book directly through your cruise line of choice. And remember, even on the open ocean, what seems to be might not always be what you think it is.
By the way, have you ever wondered how healthy those cruise ship hot tubs are? How about the buffet? Here's your answer.
Gulf Coast Cruise Ships Ranked By CDC Health Inspection Score
Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells