Imagine you’re bracing through choppy seas, swallowing back a hint of seasickness, clinging to the dream of a tropical paradise… only to spot your suitcase casually drifting past the window like it booked its own island-hopping adventure.
South-East Asian ferries are famous for bumpy rides, unpredictable weather and the occasional existential crisis, but Sunday’s trip from Thailand’s Koh Tao to Koh Samui may have just taken the top spot as the worst one yet.
Mid-voyage, stunned travellers watched as their luggage bobbed by the boat – a surreal, slightly comedic horror movie moment captured on TikTok by @charlottewalacw, @alice.zamparelli and @oli.norman. Alice Zamperelli summed up the mood with the caption, “lost all our luggage (because) of incompetent crew members”.
It’s believed the bags were stored unsecured on the upper deck and, thanks to rough conditions, were ceremoniously thrown into the ocean.
Passenger Norman reported that at one point “the front of the boat was properly submerged”, which feels like an understatement.
The crew stopped the ferry to scoop up a few renegade suitcases before calling in a speedboat to retrieve the rest – an upgrade most travellers wish they’d get under less dramatic circumstances.
Despite the chaos, Norman insisted Koh Tao “is so worth it”, adding that he avoided soggy clothes only because he kept his luggage indoors.
Not everyone was as lucky, Zamperelli said she hadn’t yet recovered her belongings and that securing the 50,000 baht recompensation (AU$2,382) took “five hours of tears and broken English”, which frankly sounds like the ferry and the emotional journey.
The islands off Thailand’s east coast are known for choppy seas during the rainy season from May to October, though each spot has its own quirks – which is a polite way of saying: check the forecast and maybe zip-tie your suitcase to your leg.
The incident is a timely reminder that while thousands of travellers cross these waters without trouble, things can go sideways quickly when the weather misbehaves.
Still, luggage drama aside? The beaches are spectacular, the islands are magical, and at the very least everyone now has a great story – plus a newfound respect for dry bags.
Images: TikTok
