“Trainwreck: Poop Cruise” Is the Grossest Netflix Doc You’ll Laugh All the Way Through

You’ve got to ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk? If the answer is yes, go ahead and shit in this red plastic bag. And with that, let’s get into my Trainwreck: Poop Cruise review, shall we?

TL;DR: Trainwreck: Poop Cruise is a short but unforgettable entry in Netflix’s disaster documentary series. It’s gross, it’s funny, and it’s exactly the kind of morbid curiosity binge that will make you laugh, gag, and question every vacation decision you’ve ever made. It’s not the heaviest episode in the series, but it might be the most absurdly entertaining.

Netflix’s Trainwreck: Poop Cruise Review

The Setup: The Real Story Behind Netflix’s Trainwreck: Poop Cruise

Picture it: you’re on a Carnival cruise, expecting fruity drinks, warm sun, and maybe a little karaoke. Then the power cuts out, the toilets stop working, and someone hands you a red biohazard bag with a look that says, “You’re on your own.”

That’s Trainwreck: Poop Cruise in a nutshell. The documentary covers the now-infamous 2013 Carnival Triumph disaster, when an engine room fire left thousands of passengers and crew stranded at sea for five days with no power, no air conditioning, and no working plumbing. Director James Ross delivers this chaotic tale with slick pacing and just the right balance of sympathy and sarcasm.

Why Trainwreck: Poop Cruise Works as a Netflix Disaster Doc

This episode of Trainwreck doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. It’s not an investigative exposé; it’s a well-produced retelling of a ludicrous vacation disaster. What makes it work is the tone: funny but not dismissive, empathetic but not melodramatic. The interviews—including a young girl who recalls the chaos and a standout crew member—add warmth and absurdity in equal measure.

Abhi, the ship’s chef, completely steals the show. His description of layered toilet paper and excrement as “poop lasagna” is both horrifying and genuinely funny. His blend of dark humor and lived experience gives the episode its most memorable moments. You need that kind of levity when the subject is, quite literally, human waste.

Key Moments You’ll Never Unsee

• Red Bag Distribution: The crew begins handing out red biohazard bags for… personal use. That’s when passengers realized this wasn’t just a minor inconvenience.
• The Smell: One woman describes walking through a hallway that went squish under her shoes. If you’re eating during this doc, you’ve been warned.
• Deck Camping: With the AC out and cabins sweltering, passengers dragged mattresses to the top deck. Privacy was gone, modesty evaporated, and things got weird fast. It was basically a chaotic, smellier version of a music festival at sea.
• Lettuce Sandwiches: With refrigeration offline, meal options dwindled to the barest minimum. Bread and iceberg lettuce became the culinary highlight—an unforgettable downgrade from shrimp cocktails.
• Going Viral: When the ship drifted close enough to catch a cell signal, photos and video clips hit the internet. “Poop Cruise” became a viral media circus overnight.

Tone & Style: Classic Trainwreck

The documentary’s biggest strength is its tone—a confident mix of shock, dark comedy, and empathy. Like the rest of Netflix’s Trainwreck series, it doesn’t sensationalize the suffering, but it doesn’t shy away from the ridiculous details either. It trusts viewers to find the balance between laughing and wincing.

At just under an hour, Poop Cruise moves quickly. It hits every major beat, shows just enough archival footage to build context, and peppers in smart editing choices—including a few cheeky animations—to keep the mood digestible without undercutting the discomfort.

Personal Take: Would I Still Go on a Cruise?

Honestly? Probably. I’m am a little squeamish, but if push comes to shove (or flush comes to failure), I can adapt. But would I ever forget this documentary while packing for a future trip? Absolutely not. It’s burned into my brain.

Even though it’s one of the more low-stakes episodes in the Trainwreck series—no fatalities, no conspiracies, no class-action lawsuits—it still stuck with me. It’s the kind of ludicrous, all-too-real meltdown that Netflix captures perfectly in Trainwreck: Poop Cruise. You’ll cringe, you’ll laugh, and you’ll think, “What would I do in that situation?”

Where It Ranks in the Series

Let’s be real: Poop Cruise isn’t top-tier Trainwreck in terms of scale or emotional intensity. It’s not as haunting as the Astroworld episode or as rage-inducing as Woodstock ‘99. But it’s probably the most watchable in a casual sense—easy to digest, bizarre enough to stick with you, and weirdly fun.

For me, it was one of those “clear your schedule and press play” drops. I even set a reminder. No regrets.

Netflix’s Trainwreck: Poop Cruise Review—Final Thoughts

Trainwreck: Poop Cruise is short, sharp, and weirdly delightful. It delivers everything you’d expect from this kind of documentary: unforgettable characters, absurd real-life chaos, and enough toilet trauma to keep you out of the ocean for a while. If you can handle a little filth (okay, a lot), it’s absolutely worth your time.

As for me? I’ll never look at a red bag the same way again.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5)

Tony Simons

Tony has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and over 14 years of writing experience between multiple publications in the tech, photography, lifestyle, and deal industries.