Hysteria as plan to get free cruise cabin upgrade backfires spectacularly

A video of a couple who were greeted with “regret” and “guilt” after pretending to be on their honeymoon to get a free cabin upgrade has gone viral on TikTok.

The video, captured in Vietnam’s Halong Bay, was posted by Ricky Liu (@ricky.liu) and has garnered 14.7 million views since it was shared on December 19.

Liu and her boyfriend appeared to be taking the La Casta Regal cruise, according to a later video shared by the poster. “Apparently saying you’re on your honeymoon to get an upgrade is an old trick,” a voiceover says in the clip.

The viral video begins with the couple sitting at a table strewn with rose petals. A note superimposed on the video reads: “When you lie about being on your honeymoon for a free room upgrade, but they decide to announce it to the entire ship.”

The camera then pans to a team of waiters approaching the table with a tray of multi-colored drinks placed in front of the two men.

With the sound of Whitney Houston’s song “I Will Always Love You” playing in the background, smiling staff see the couple projecting the lights from their phone cameras, while swaying back and forth to the sound of the song .

The couple, smiling awkwardly, accept drinks and toast as other perplexed guests and staff look on.

This viral post comes amid a resurgence in cruise travel in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the number of cruise passengers reached 31.7 million last year, surpassing pre-pandemic figures by seven percent. More than a quarter (27%) of these passengers were first-time cruise passengers, demonstrating growing interest in this mode of travel, according to CLIA.

Cruise capacity forecasts increased 10% between 2024 and 2028, “as cruise lines make continued, concrete progress in pursuing net zero emissions by 2050,” the CLIA report notes.

“Guilt”

Viewers on TikTok were left angry over the couple’s antics and how their plan hilariously backfired.

User Theia noted, “the regret in your eyes,” and Yongberry said, “The guilt I would have felt.”

“Imagine they say NOW KISS,” Ceilingdemon noted. The original poster responded: “They told us to get up but we didn’t haha.”

“As someone who hates being the center of attention, this would have been a nightmare even if I was really on my honeymoon,” aerie xoL said.

User @rebel.love_song simply noted: “The rainbow is drinking. I’m screaming.”

“Not the waiters waving with their phone flashlights,” Lordofnothing wrote.

Asher said, “They really called your bluff lmao,” and Karrantono noted, “They definitely understand the mission.”

News week contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.

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