A cruise ship passenger has revealed how one seemingly innocent comment during lunch left fellow travellers stunned, after he accidentally mentioned a word that some people believe should never be spoken at sea.
Content creator Marc Sebastian, who documented his experiences aboard Royal Caribbean's nine-month Ultimate World Cruise, discovered that spending extended periods on a ship involves more than simply following the usual passenger rules.
From unusual traditions to superstitions passed down through generations of sailors, there are certain things that experienced cruisers take surprisingly seriously.
And according to Marc, he learned about one of those traditions in particularly awkward circumstances.
What is the word you're apparently not allowed to say on a cruise ship?
The word that caused such a dramatic reaction was "Titanic".
Marc explained that he had been discussing the size of his cruise ship with other passengers when he casually compared it to the famous ocean liner that sank in 1912.
He reportedly told the group that their ship was only around 100 feet longer than the Titanic.
While he considered it an interesting historical comparison, the people around him apparently saw things differently.
Recalling the incident in a TikTok video, Marc said: "When I tell you that, utensils dropped, okay. Waiters gasped. Dead silent."
He admitted that he had absolutely no idea his comment would cause such a reaction.
One of his friends eventually explained that mentioning the Titanic while travelling on another ship is considered bad luck by some passengers and crew members.
Marc joked that nobody had warned him about the superstition before he boarded.
Why do some people refuse to say Titanic on cruise ships?
The superstition is connected to the sinking of RMS Titanic, one of the most famous maritime disasters in history.
The British passenger liner struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 14, 1912, and sank during the early hours of April 15.
More than 1,500 people lost their lives during the disaster, which occurred on the ship's maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.
Over the decades, the tragedy has become deeply embedded in maritime history and popular culture.
Some sailors and passengers consider references to famous shipwrecks unlucky while travelling at sea, particularly when discussing disasters involving vessels similar to their own.
Others simply regard such comparisons as insensitive or inappropriate during a holiday.
However, these beliefs are superstitions rather than evidence that mentioning a particular ship could influence the safety of a voyage.
Is the word actually banned by cruise companies?
Despite Marc's experience, there is no evidence that Royal Caribbean has a company-wide policy prohibiting passengers from saying the word Titanic.
His story describes the reaction of people around him, rather than an official restriction enforced by the cruise operator.
Passengers are not generally subject to penalties simply for discussing the historic shipwreck.
The distinction is important because maritime superstitions can vary significantly between different crews, passengers and cruise lines.
Some travellers might avoid the subject entirely, while others would have no hesitation discussing the Titanic's history.
Marc's experience nevertheless demonstrates how strongly certain traditions can influence the atmosphere onboard.
How did people react to his story?
After Marc shared his experience on TikTok, viewers were divided over whether the reaction was understandable.
Some compared the superstition to the theatrical tradition of avoiding the name Macbeth inside a theatre, where the Shakespeare play is sometimes referred to as "the Scottish play".
Others suggested that discussing a shipwreck while sailing could make superstitious passengers uncomfortable.
However, plenty of viewers found the supposed restriction amusing, arguing that a historical event should not be treated as a forbidden subject.
One commenter joked that they would struggle to avoid discussing famous maritime disasters during a cruise holiday.
What other unusual traditions exist on cruise ships?
Marc also highlighted several other customs he encountered while travelling onboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas.
One involved the ship's ceremonial godmother, a tradition in which a prominent individual is chosen to symbolically bring good fortune and protection to a vessel.
For Serenade of the Seas, that honour belongs to actress and television personality Whoopi Goldberg.
Marc noticed framed photographs of Goldberg displayed onboard, reflecting her ceremonial connection to the ship.
He also encountered the increasingly popular practice of cruise passengers hiding small rubber ducks around vessels for others to discover.
The activity, sometimes known as cruise ducking, has become a social tradition among passengers, with some families bringing dozens of ducks aboard to hide during their voyage.
Marc admitted he found the enthusiasm surrounding the activity rather baffling, although many travellers enjoy the informal scavenger hunt.
Should passengers avoid mentioning the Titanic?
There is no universal cruise ship rule requiring passengers to avoid the word, and the decision largely comes down to personal preference and consideration for those around them.
While some people view the subject as unlucky, others regard it as an important part of maritime history that can be discussed respectfully.
For Marc, the incident was simply another unexpected discovery during his time at sea.
And although his comment may have caused an awkward silence at lunch, it also introduced thousands of viewers to a superstition they might never have encountered before.
