A Queensland woman has claimed she suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after being exposed to a toxic stench aboard the Carnival Adventure cruise ship, with other passengers also reporting foul odours and unclean cabins that left several people vomiting in the corridors. Elicia Squires, 38, said she fell ill within minutes of boarding the four-day cruise from Sydney's White Bay in August, and blamed diesel exhaust fumes in her uncleaned cabin, which reportedly still contained a previous occupant's medication and needles. The claims raise concerns about hygiene and safety standards on the vessel, which affected multiple passengers across different areas of the ship.

Squires said she experienced high blood pressure, dry retching, a low heart rate, migraines, breathing difficulties and mild hypothermia throughout the trip, and was largely bedridden until the final day; her GP later told her the symptoms were consistent with severe carbon monoxide poisoning. Another passenger, known only as Natalie, said a strong sewage-like smell in her internal cabin forced her five-year-old son to sleep on the floor near Guest Services at 2am, and that staff described the odour as a common occurrence; despite being moved cabins, she said the smell persisted.