How Safe are Cruise Ships?

Are you worried about the ship going down during your cruise vacation? Well, rest be assured, cruise ships are relatively safe. The saying, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” can be compared to cruise ships. Most accidents occur from people being too drunk and falling off balconies (or the ship). Other injuries are caused by people slipping and banging their heads. There are many raised platforms that people trip on when carelessly walking on deck. Also, some decks can become slippery when there are wet conditions. Did you know that there have only been 20 passenger fatalities in the past 20 years?

First of all, all ships require that the crew go through safety training before they are allowed to join the team. Safety regulations from the SOLA (Safety of Life at Sea) ensure that all crew members are getting adequate training in the result of danger.

All cruise ships that were built in 1986 are required to have boats that operate on diesel engines in the case of a breach. Other safety measures are:

All staircases are fitted with smoke alarms and have readily available fire extinguishers

Ample lighting the case of an emergency

Emergency alarms that are audible even in the quietest cabins

Data recorders (blackboxes) on all ships

Many people take cruises because they are very safe and for the most part, crime free. Cruise lines are very strict about safety and they are very strict international safety and security regulations that govern cruise ships. There are many trained cruise line security professionals that are on every ship. Many times, cruise ships are much safer than being anywhere else in the world. However, there are things to mitigate anything happening to you. One crime factor on ships is theft. Just like a hotel, it is better to place valuables in a safe or in a hidden location. However, this is probably the last thing you are worried about after purchasing one of your all inclusive cruise deals. Regardless, you can never be too trustworthy with cabin stewards and stewardesses. If you do suspect that some of your property was stolen out of your cabin, make sure to notify the hotel manager immediately. Mainly, use plain old common sense. If there is something valuable that is in plain site; hide it!

Ship fires are not common, but can occur. In the event that there is a fire on the ship, don’t panic! Follow the exit lights (there’s low-level lighting) and follow the other passengers to safety. If you’re in your cabin, lightly touch the handle. If it’s hot to the touch, wet a towel and wrap it around the handle. Gently open the door and see whether there’s a fire in the hallway. Make sure to bang on your neighbors door to notify them of the fire and go to the nearest fire exit and never use an elevator when there’s a fire.