Nearly 30 million people cruise each year, and while it's generally a safe way to travel, many onboard incidents that do occur can be avoided.
The best way to avoid terror on the seas
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When something goes horribly wrong on a cruise, it makes headlines. After all, the last thing anyone expects is for a luxurious, peaceful vacation to end in sickness, injury, or even death. And being in the middle of the ocean, far from the help you'd normally get, adds to the idea that this is the ultimate travel nightmare. But despite the sensationalism surrounding these events, they are actually pretty rare. Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, assures cruise skeptics that "cruising is an incredibly safe form of travel, with most cruises sailing without issue each and every day." Cruise safety statistics back this up. Between 2005 and 2011, 100 million people cruised, but just 448 major cruise-ship accidents were reported (including 16 deaths) and an average of 17 passengers falling overboard, according to Maritime Injury Guide.
Despite the odds against it, though, accidents and unforeseen issues can arise—just as they do on land. "Cruise lines have strict rules and protocols onboard, put in place with guest and crew safety as the top priority," says McDaniel. Translation: Those rules are there for a reason, so you should pay attention. While all cruise passengers should familiarize themselves with their ship's rules and regulations before sailing, they should especially heed the following safety rules, which most people don't take seriously enough.
Swim at your own risk
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Before you jump into a cruise ship's swimming pool or sink down into a hot tub during a day at sea, know this: "While some cruise lines have introduced lifeguards in recent years (Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian have lifeguards on all ships), many cruise ships don't have lifeguards onboard," warns McDaniel. While cruise lines have clear signage at each pool to indicate if a lifeguard is not on duty, there have been serious accidents and drowning deaths recently onboard cruise ships. That's why McDaniel says "all cruisers should be aware that, for the most part, cruise ship pools are not monitored, and all swimmers should swim at their own risk." Here's what else you should know before booking a cruise.
6 Cruise Safety Rules People Don't Take Seriously Enough, Source:https://www.rd.com/advice/travel/cruise-safety-rules/
