Cruise secrets: Never pack this unlikely thing in cruise luggage – it could be unlucky

One reason is that poisonous spiders would stow away among bananas and poison the crew.

Another is that because bananas emit ethylene as they ripen, this causes other fruit and vegetables nearby to go rotten.

This, in turn, would result in the crew going hungry – and increasing the chances of trouble brewing.

In reality, modern health and safety rules and superior food storage render these fears null on cruise ships these days.