Hysterics As Plan To Get Free Cruise Cabin Upgrade Backfires Spectacularly

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

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

Liu and his boyfriend appeared to be on the La Casta Regal Cruise, according to a subsequent video shared by the poster. “Apparently this [saying you’re on your honeymoon to get an upgrade] is an old school trick,” a voiceover says in the clip.

The viral video begins with the couple sitting at table scattered with rose petals. A note overlaid on the video says: “When you lie about being on a honeymoon for a free room upgrade but they decide to announce it to the whole ship.”

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

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

The couple—awkwardly smiling—accept the drinks and clink their glasses as other bewildered guests and the staff gaze upon them.

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), last year saw cruise passenger numbers reach 31.7 million, surpassing pre-pandemic figures by seven percent. More than a quarter (27 percent) of these passengers were first-time cruisers, showing a growing interest in this mode of travel, according to the CLIA.

The forecast for cruise capacity rose by 10 percent from 2024 through 2028, “as cruise lines make ongoing, concrete progress in pursuit of net-zero emissions by 2050,” the CLIA report noted.

‘The Guilt’

Viewers on TikTok were in stitches over the couple’s antics and how their plan had hilariously backfired.

User theia noted: “the regret in your eyes,” and yongberry said: “The guilt i would have felt.”

“Imagine they said NOW KISS,” noted ceilingdemon. The original poster replied: “They told us to stand up but we didn’t haha.”

“As someone who hates being the center of attention, this would’ve been a nightmare even if I were truly on a honeymoon,” said aerie xoL.

User @rebel.love_song simply noted: “the rainbow drinks. I’m hollering.”

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

Asher said: “They really called you on your bluff lmao,” and karrantono noted: “They def understand the assignment.”

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

Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.