SUN LAKES, AZ (AZFamily) — A Pittsburgh Steelers-themed Caribbean cruise endorsed by the team has been canceled, leaving fans who paid thousands of dollars seeking refunds from the travel company.
Kevin and Leslie O’Brien, who live in Sun Lakes, are longtime Steelers fans. Their home is filled with memorabilia like signed jerseys and helmets.
“I typically have the American flag on the front yard. We’ve got the Steeler flag flying for football season. So you know, we’re definitely drinking the Steeler Kool-Aid,” Kevin said.
When they heard about a Steelers Caribbean cruise endorsed by the team, they paid nearly $6,000 for the trip organized by Seaside Events. The cruise was scheduled for May 2026 and promised opportunities to meet former Steelers players.
“We love to cruise, first of all. And then we’re also Steelers fans. So cruising and Steelers all at the same place — like, yeah!” Leslie said.
The couple had been on similar cruises with another travel company and said it’s a chance to mingle with other fans and meet players, past and present.
“For me, meeting my heroes from back in the day is just amazing,” Kevin said. “They’re so appreciative of you. Just wanting to know them, talk to them about stuff — I think they just enjoy still the camaraderie that the Steelers fans have with them.”
Leslie O’Brien became concerned when a friend who also booked the trip told her about problems with the company’s website.
“Their website was down. It said ‘currently in the huddle’, and it had a picture of a cruise ship on it. And she said it’s been down like this for a couple of weeks,” Leslie said.
When Leslie O’Brien tried to contact Seaside Events, she only reached voicemail, and her emails bounced back as undeliverable.
The situation became more urgent for the O’Briens when Kevin learned he would be laid off from his job after 10 years with his company.
“I’m unfortunately going to be unemployed here next month. I’m going through a layoff through my company for 10 years and unfortunately about to be laid off. And so the money that we spent on that is not something we could just lose. We definitely want to get that money back,” Kevin said.
The couple reached out to On Your Side for help. After contacting Robert Chamberlin, CEO of Seaside Events, he responded that “it is with great regret that we must inform our guests the May 2026 fan cruise will indeed not be moving forward as planned.”
One day after On Your Side got involved, the O’Briens received an email explaining the cancellation and offering them a full refund. They were told the money is on the way.
“I was really looking forward to that. And pretty disappointed now that that’s not happening,” Leslie said.
The O’Briens have since booked a competing Steelers “Legends” cruise offered by another company for spring 2026.
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