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Cruising should be all about cocktails on deck, sea breezes, and exploring new ports — not dealing with cyber fraud in the middle of the Mediterranean.
But that’s exactly what happened to one couple whose relaxing P&O cruise turned into a financial nightmare.
And if you’re not careful, it could happen to you too — especially with cyber scams getting smarter in 2025.
Let me tell you what happened — and more importantly, how to avoid becoming the next target.
It All Started Like Any Other Cruise…
Stephen and Karen Ratchford were experienced cruisers, setting off on a Mediterranean getaway in October 2024.
They were looking forward to sunshine, great food, and a few ports they’d never seen before.
But during a port stop in Split, Croatia, everything changed.
“We suddenly lost access to our phones — completely. And then things got worse,” Stephen later explained.
What they didn’t know at the time was that cybercriminals had pulled off a sophisticated SIM swapping attack — and it cost them over $32,000.
What Is SIM Swapping, and How Did It Happen on a Cruise?
This wasn’t some amateur hack. SIM swapping is a growing cybercrime trend where a hacker tricks your mobile provider into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card (or eSIM) they control.
Once they have that number, they can:
- Receive your texts and calls
- Reset your email and banking passwords
- Authorize bank transactions or credit applications
- Even bypass 2FA codes if they’re sent by text
That’s exactly what happened to the Ratchfords. Once the hacker gained access, they:
- Took out loans in their names
- Applied for overdrafts
- Racked up a £150 (~$195) mobile bill through premium messaging
- And potentially compromised their entire digital footprint
Can you imagine realizing this… while you’re on a ship in a foreign country, with limited access to help?
Stephen called it “absolutely horrendous,” and honestly — that’s an understatement.
Why You Should Care (Even if You’re Cruising in 2025)
If you think this can’t happen to you, think again.
- SIM swapping has been on the rise in 2024 and is expected to grow even more sophisticated in 2025.
- Scammers don’t need your phone — they just need your personal info (which, let’s face it, many of us unknowingly share online).
- You could be in the middle of the ocean when your bank account gets drained — without warning.
So whether you’re sailing to Alaska or the Caribbean, it’s time to take a few simple steps to lock things down before embarkation day.
How to Protect Yourself from SIM Swapping — Before You Set Sail
After reading what happened to the Ratchfords, I went straight into “what if that were me?” mode.
I’ve always been cautious when traveling, but this scam hit a little too close to home — especially since I use my phone for everything on cruises: banking, boarding passes, texts, even ordering drinks through cruise apps.
The good news? There are easy steps you can take right now to reduce the risk — without being a tech expert.
1. Set a PIN With Your Mobile Carrier
This is the most important (and least talked about) step.
🟢 Call your mobile carrier and request to set a “port-out PIN” or “account protection PIN.”
It’s a password that’s required anytime someone tries to change your number or transfer it to a new SIM.
Without that PIN, a scammer can’t sweet-talk their way into hijacking your number.
I didn’t know this was even a thing until I heard about SIM swapping — but it’s one of the most effective protections.
2. Ditch Text-Based 2FA (Use an Authenticator App Instead)
You know those codes your bank or Gmail sends via SMS? Those can be intercepted during a SIM swap.
🛑 Stop relying on SMS-based two-factor authentication.
✅ Instead, switch to an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator). These apps generate codes right on your phone — offline — so even if your number gets stolen, your logins stay safe.
On my last cruise, I used Authy for everything — and it made me feel so much more secure knowing my codes weren’t floating through the mobile network.
3. Lock Down Your Social Media Profiles
Hackers often collect personal info from Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to guess your security questions.
🕵️♂️ Don’t give them clues like your:
- Birthday
- Mother’s maiden name
- First pet
- Favorite school
- Where did you grow up
🎯 Set your profile to private if possible, and remove details that don’t need to be public.
On my last profile sweep, I realized I had “Graduated in 2012 from XYZ College” and my dog’s name in a caption — classic security question answers.
4. Watch for Phishing Texts & Emails
Before SIM swapping, scammers may send phishing links to gather just enough info to impersonate you.
🚫 Never click suspicious links or respond to “account verification” texts — especially while you’re traveling.
📞 If in doubt, go directly to your provider’s website or app and contact support from there.
5. Don’t Leave Your Phone Number on Cruise Paperwork (When Possible)
It’s not always avoidable, but be cautious about where you write or share your mobile number, especially in port terminals or guest books at tourist stops.
The less it’s floating around, the safer you are.
Travel Smarter in 2025
The truth is, cyber scams like SIM swapping aren’t going away.
If anything, they’re getting bolder and more frequent — especially with travelers who are temporarily disconnected, distracted, and on public Wi-Fi.
And while the cruise lines do a great job of keeping you safe onboard, they can’t protect your digital identity.
By taking just a few minutes to lock things down before you cruise, you’ll save yourself days (or weeks) of stress, paperwork, and lost money.
As Stephen Ratchford put it best after losing $32,000 during his trip:
“Awareness is key. The more people know about this, the safer they’ll be.”
