Is Cruising Safe?
Within the first 24 hours of sailing, everyone is required to participate in a safety drill that includes trying on a life jacket and locating your assigned lifeboat, on the odd chance that you need to use it. Ships must follow many rules and regulations that assure passengers’ (and crewmembers’) safety while on board.
The Coast Guard conducts rigorous inspections of all ships operating from U.S. ports, ensuring that they comply with its emergency-response requirements. Also, international regulations require most ships to have smoke detectors, sprinklers and low-level emergency lighting for escape routes.
Ship’s crews work 24 hour round the clock shifts to ensure safe passage through the waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, North Pacific, Panama Canal and all other bodies of water.
Security is often managed by Israeli personnel as well as other highly trained men and women from a variety of international backgrounds. To embark or disembark a ship, measures of tight security that rival if not exceed that which the airlines follow are exercised safely and efficiently.
In short, cruising is one of the safest means of travel available. Throw in a couple of Tequila Sunrises and Pina Coladas, and you’ll only be worried about where the heck the bar server is for the next round.
