Ship DJ Accidentally Plays Titanic Theme During Storm, Sparks Panic Among Passengers
In an incident that was equal parts humorous and harrowing, a cruise ship DJ inadvertently triggered a moment of panic when he played the iconic Titanic theme song, “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, during a brewing storm at sea.
The mishap occurred aboard the Ocean Serenade, a mid-sized luxury cruise liner sailing through the Mediterranean. As dark clouds gathered and the ship began to sway under intensifying winds, passengers had already grown visibly nervous. However, what followed turned the tension into confusion, disbelief, and—for some—sheer panic.
According to multiple eyewitnesses, the onboard DJ, 27-year-old Nathan Reeves, was performing a late-evening set in the ship’s main lounge when he decided to switch to a more relaxed playlist to “calm the mood.” Unaware of the rapidly deteriorating weather conditions outside, Reeves cued up the haunting flute notes of “My Heart Will Go On,” a track inextricably linked to one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.
“The timing could not have been worse,” said passenger Karen Delaney, 64, who was traveling with her grandchildren. “The lights flickered, the ship tilted slightly, and then that song started playing. People looked at each other like, ‘Is this a joke?’ A few even grabbed life vests.”
Another passenger, college student Jake Monroe, described the atmosphere as “surreal.” “It felt like a scene from a parody film,” he said. “Everyone was already on edge, and suddenly hearing Celine Dion’s voice echo through the lounge like a ghost ship soundtrack—it was too much. Some laughed, others ran to their rooms.”
Crew members quickly stepped in to reassure guests that there was no emergency. The captain even made an announcement over the intercom to clarify that the weather, while rough, posed no threat to the ship’s stability or safety. Meanwhile, DJ Reeves was reportedly mortified by the unintentional faux pas.
“I feel absolutely terrible,” he said in a later statement. “I had no idea the weather had turned so badly. I just thought it was time for a slow track. In hindsight, obviously, that was not the right choice. Lesson learned.”
Social media lit up shortly after the incident, with posts under the trending hashtag #TitanicVibesAtSea. One user joked, “When your DJ has a dark sense of humor,” while another posted a video of the moment the song began playing, captioned, “This is how I die, apparently.”
Despite the initial fright, the rest of the voyage went on smoothly, and most passengers were able to laugh about the incident by the next morning. The cruise line has not issued any formal comment, though insiders say DJ Reeves is not facing disciplinary action.
As for the passengers, they now have an unforgettable story—and a newfound appreciation for just how powerful song choice can be when you’re out at sea.
