5. P&O
The oldest cruise line in the world gets a bad grade in terms of being environmentally friendly, according the Friends of the Earth study. Rated in the bottom ranks, P&O gets a ‘D’ for their sewage treatment system and an ‘F’ in the air pollution that they generate. The food, service and smells on the ships also paint a bleak picture, with guest complaints against rude staff, restaurants being closed all at the same time and odors that have caused many people to rename the company “Pee and Odor”. Consider P&O one of the cruise lines to avoid in 2015 until they literally start cleaning up their act.
4. Carnival
With a history of four fires and two other major mechanical issues, this family-friendly cruise company doesn’t have the best track record in the last 8 years. The major incident occurred in 2013 when 4,000 passengers were stranded in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico for four days with no hot water and more non-functioning toilets than functioning ones. Along with this awful history, these cruises are overcrowded and often full of drunken adults and rowdy kids. Mediocre food, small sun decks and way too many activities to choose from coupled with small cabins that you can barely turn around in make this cruise company one to avoid in 2015. If that isn’t enough to make you avoid Carnival, consider that two people have gone overboard this year.
3. Thomson Cruises
This cruise line has come under pressure in the last few years for its horrible on-board service, low food quality and filthy cabins and ships. Other complaints range from not enough sun chairs on any of their ships to rude staff members and dirty sheets upon arrival. Thomson also stands out as the only cruise line to have a port of call in Lebanon, a country with travel warnings mentioning kidnapping, bombing and terrorist threats. With a downward spiral of amenities and potentially dangerous itineraries, we suggest avoiding this cruise line in 2015.
