I Watched Netflix’s “Poop Cruise” Documentary—and It Only Made Me Want to Cruise More
When I saw that Netflix had released a documentary titled “Poop Cruise”, I knew immediately I had to watch it. As someone who’s been on more than 50 cruises and shares ship reviews for a living, how could I not? The name alone is so absurd it almost dares you to press play.
The film dives into the infamous 2013 Carnival Triumph (now Carnival Sunrise) voyage that turned into a media circus after an engine fire left the ship adrift in the Gulf of Mexico with limited power, no air conditioning, and, yes, sewage backing up in the hallways. The headlines dubbed it the “Poop Cruise,” and the name stuck. The documentary leans into the drama, with former passengers recounting their five-day floating nightmare and archival footage showing long lines, makeshift toilet situations, and plenty of understandably cranky vacationers.
And I’ll be honest—it was funny. Not because people were suffering, of course, but because the whole thing was portrayed with a kind of dark humor that felt more like a mockumentary than a serious exposé. The over-the-top narration, the cheesy re-creations, the slow-motion shots of cold hot dogs being served… it felt like Netflix knew they had something wild on their hands and just ran with it.
But here’s the thing: watching Poop Cruise didn’t make me want to cancel my next sailing. If anything, it made me reflect on just how much cruising has evolved, and how much the industry learned from this incident.
Most cruisers today will tell you that ships are cleaner, safer, and more technologically advanced than ever. I’ve been on everything from small expedition vessels to floating cities with roller coasters and robot bartenders. The idea that this is what cruising looks like is so outdated, it’s almost comical. If you’ve never been on a cruise, watching Poop Cruise might give you some serious doubts. But for those of us who know the joy of waking up to a new port each day, or having unlimited soft serve after a dip in the hot tub, it’s just a bizarre blip in an otherwise amazing industry.
In fact, the documentary kind of reaffirmed my love for cruising in a weird way. Because even in the worst of circumstances—without working plumbing or the comically labeled poop lasagna—people still found ways to laugh, connect, and get through it together. That sense of community? That’s something you do find on cruises. Just, hopefully, with more functioning toilets.
So, yes, I watched Poop Cruise. I laughed. I cringed. I was grateful I wasn’t on that ship. But did it make me want to stop cruising? Not a chance. If anything, it reminded me how much I love being at sea, and just how far the cruise industry has come since 2013. You can watch my full take on the Poop Cruise documentary on YouTube!
Next stop: deck chair, sea breeze, and a frozen piña colada in hand.
