And other travel stories you may have missed last week.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: a German town now has the authority to protect nudists; airport authorities catch a man allegedly smuggling cocaine in his wig; and a cruise liner tilts 14 degrees due to strong winds.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
CRUISE TILTS SIDEWAYS DUE TO STRONG WINDS
Passengers aboard Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess experienced a harrowing moment when the ship tilted sideways during its 14-day return trip from Sydney to New Zealand. Rough seas and winds of about 75 knots caused the ship to tip 14 degrees on February 26.
Videos and photos show pool water spilling out, kitchen equipment flying off counters, glass cases shattered with luxury goods scattered on the floor, and passengers clinging to railings to stay upright.
The cruise, carrying 3,090 guests, reported 16 injuries but no structural damage. A spokesperson assured, “Our crew responded quickly to correct the situation, and at no point was the safety of the ship compromised.”
NO.2
CLOTHED TOURISTS FACE BAN AT GERMAN NUDIST BEACH
Rostock, a city on Germany’s northern coast, has had enough of clothed beachgoers harassing naturalists. Beach wardens now have the authority to ban individuals from nudist beaches following complaints of harassment.
Moritz Naumann from Rostock Tourism told CNN that while multiple complaints have been received, this new power will only be used in cases of conflict. Rostock’s nine-mile coastline includes nudist, mixed, and textile-only beaches. Visitors to naturalist beaches are reminded to follow etiquette and respect others’ personal space.
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Related: 5 Essential Tips You Need to Know Before Visiting a Nude Beach
NO.3
AUTHORITIES FINE TOURIST $520 FOR WADING INTO TREVI FOUNTAIN
Unruly tourists have returned to Italy. Three visitors from New Zealand were caught wading in Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain, an 18th-century landmark.
Police escorted the tourists out, but one managed to break free and jump back into the water. A spokesperson confirmed alcohol was involved. The tourist was fined $520 and banned from the attraction for life.
NO.4
MAN ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE COCAINE IN WIG
A 40-year-old man was arrested at a Colombian airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine to the Netherlands. His method? Hiding 19 capsules of the drug in his wig.
An X-ray scan at security revealed the capsules, leading to a body search. A video of security officials cutting open the toupee to uncover the drugs has gone viral. The 220 grams of cocaine were valued at $16,590.
Related: The 16 Most Outrageous Things TSA Intercepted This Year
NO.5
SOUTHWEST PLANE NARROWLY AVOIDS RUNWAY COLLISION
A Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided a collision at Chicago Midway International Airport last week when a private jet appeared on the runway during landing. The Southwest pilots performed a go-around, and the plane landed safely.
The incident, captured on video, has raised concerns about aviation safety following a series of crashes and near-misses. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homedy told Fox News that the issue did not appear to involve air traffic control. “It appears this was a failure of the flight crew from Flexjet [private jet company] to listen and abide by the instructions of air traffic control.”
Passengers reported that the situation onboard remained calm, with most unaware of how close the planes came to one another.
