If you and your family are considering a peaceful, relaxing excursion on a cruise ship, let us first congratulate you on having made an excellent decision. Cruise ships can be some of the most enjoyable holiday choices around, giving you and those you love an unforgettable trip and helping you to forget the rat race for a few weeks.
However, one of the most common concerns about cruise ships is whether or not they’re safe. The question of “are cruise ships safe?” is one that many prospective passengers have asked. It makes sense; after all, you’re sailing fairly far from land, and that means you might feel like you don’t have an easy escape if something goes wrong.
For the most part, it’s fair to say that cruise ships are safe, but there are a few safety tips you can observe if you want to make them even safer for yourself. Here are some of the things you can do to ensure a safe and happy cruise trip!
Research your cruise company thoroughly
Of course, the vast majority of cruise ship operators are safe and trustworthy, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to all of them.
As such, it’s a good idea to do as much research as you possibly can on the cruise ship operator with whom you’re choosing to travel, ideally before you make a booking.
This way, you can look for common problems identified by previous travellers, and if one of them is a lackadaisical attitude towards safety, then you know it’s probably best to look elsewhere.
Learn to swim
For the most part, cruises tend to go off without a hitch, but, unfortunately, there’s always a remote chance that something could go wrong with the ship.
If this happens, the cruise ship operator will definitely have safety protocols in place (if they’re trustworthy, that is - see previous point), but learning to swim will help immensely.
This means that if you do find yourself in a tricky situation, you’ll have an additional survival tool that will make it much easier for you to get to safety.
What’s more, many cruise ships have pools, so learning to swim will give you an extra way to enjoy yourself!
Listen to safety drills
Cruise ship operators like Disney will usually walk you and your fellow passengers through a lengthy safety drill during your trip. This could happen when you arrive, or it could even happen multiple times over the course of your cruise.
It’s very, very important to listen to those drills. If you don’t, you might miss vital information that could save lives; not just your own or your family’s, but those of fellow passengers as well.
Make sure to pay close attention during safety drills, and ask questions of the operators if you have any lingering doubts about your cruise ship’s safety procedures.
Make friends, but don’t be too trusting
It’s easy to get into a spirit of camaraderie on a cruise, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Making new friends is one of the most joyous experiences in life, and doing so on a cruise ship can feel doubly rewarding.
However, some passengers might be unscrupulous or untrustworthy individuals who are looking for an opportunity to steal your valuables (or perhaps even worse).
If someone you’re talking to keeps insisting on returning to your cabin or trying to get you alone, you may wish to attract the attention of a cruise ship official, as they could have nefarious motives.
Cruise Ship Safety: Incident and Accident Analysis
Don’t drink too much
We know it sounds like a buzzkill, since you’re embarking on a cruise to have fun, after all, but make sure that you keep your alcohol intake to sensible levels, especially if you’re travelling alone.
While the cruise ship staff will, of course, have passengers’ best interests at heart, it’s not their job to stop you from drinking too much alcohol. If you do so, you may find that your judgement is impaired.
A cruise ship could be an especially dangerous environment in which to feel this way, as you might find yourself making irrational decisions that could endanger you or your fellow passengers.
Watch your keycard and possessions closely
Your keycard is one of the most important items you possess for the duration of your cruise. It’s what gets you into your room, which is (presumably) where you’re storing all of your valuables.
Do not, under any circumstances, give your keycard to anyone else unless they’re a member of staff and they can prove it (and even then, you should ask what they want it for).
If you lose your keycard - or, worse, hand it over to someone else - then you might find your valuables stolen, and you may even run into trouble with the cruise ship operator.
Cruise Ship Security: Analysis of Theft Incidents
Observe restricted area policies
It might be tempting to wander into a restricted area or to see what the crew is up to in the staffroom, but don’t let a cruise ship’s convivial atmosphere fool you - these areas are restricted for a reason.
Of course, most passengers won’t need this advice, but again, if you’ve consumed too much alcohol or you’re giddy from a particularly companionable social interaction, you might feel impelled to do something silly.
Be sure that you always observe restricted area policies; don’t go anywhere you’re not supposed to, because not only will you incur the ire of the cruise ship operator, but you might accidentally do something that damages the ship or endangers its passengers.
