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Subscribe to RSSGeorge Smith disappeared while honeymooning on a Royal Caribbean Cruise seven years ago, but his family believes more than 6,000 newly released documents may help solve this disturbing case. Dateline NBC's Dennis Murphy reports.
To hear some folks tell it, cruising is one of the safest forms of travel in the world.
To others, it’s an exceedingly risky proposition where you run the risk of robbery, sexual assault and death.
The truth? Few really know and those that do, aren’t talking.
The subject of the relative safety of cruising is once again in the news. On Nov. 22, Kert Clyde Jordan, 35, of Grenada was charged with engaging in a sexual act with a minor while he was employed as a waiter on the Carnival Liberty.
That news comes on the heels of several other incidents, including an outbreak of Norovirus that sickened 148 on Holland America’s Ryndam, the death of a Celebrity Eclipse passenger after a parasailing accident in the U.S. Virgin Islands and reports of a dead newborn found on the Carnival Dream in mid-October.
Worse, say industry critics, such seemingly isolated incidents are indicative of a much larger problem. “I would say that what the cruise industry claims [in terms of passenger safety] doesn’t correspond with the reality,” said Ross Klein, a professor at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and the publisher of CruiseJunkie.com.
“It’s probably a little better than it was in previous years,” said Klein, “but it still has a long way to go.”
That gap was supposed to be closed with the passage of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act last year. In addition to mandating 42-inch guardrails, peepholes in all passengers’ and crewmembers’ doors and on-deck video surveillance, the law also seeks to improve the process by which cruise lines report thefts, sexual assaults and other alleged crimes to the Coast Guard and FBI.
But despite the new law, the way incidents are reported is already generating controversy.
“The number of cases reported are in line with those reported in previous years and are fully in keeping with the requirements of the law,” said Lanie Morgenstern, director of communications for the Cruise Lines International Association, a cruise industry trade group.
Not so, counters Kendall Carver, chairman of the International Cruise Victims Association: “Instead of reporting all alleged crimes as required by law, they’re only reporting cases where the FBI opens a file and decides to take action — minus cases that are still open,” he told msnbc.com.
According to Carver, whose daughter, Merrian, disappeared from the Celebrity Mercury in 2004, the problem is much larger than the posted numbers suggest.
As evidence, he points to historical data that shows at least 100 alleged crimes per quarter on board cruise ships as recently as 2007–2008. By comparison, the most recent reports, which are compiled by the FBI and posted online by the Coast Guard, show six incidents in the second quarter of 2011 and none in the third quarter.
Part of the discrepancy lies in the way the numbers are reported. “There is potentially a slight disconnect between the number the public sees, which is the number of closed cases, and the number of cases that actually occur,” said Alana Juteau, spokesperson for Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), who introduced the bill. “There could be many open but those numbers don’t go on the website.”
Cases in point: Neither Kert Clyde Jordan’s alleged sexual assault nor the dead newborn found on Carnival Dream would show up in the statistics. Nor will the FBI discuss the cases due to their open status.
“The reporting of an incident doesn’t automatically mean there’s been a crime,” said Kurt Schmidt, a supervisory special agent in the Bureau’s violent crimes unit. “If someone is saying that we’re supposed to report all incidents, that’s not true.”
What is true is that when it comes to determining the number of onboard incidents, there’s a gap in the new law that you could steer a cruise ship through. On the one hand, the cruise lines are required to record all onboard complaints; on the other, the FBI is only empowered to report cases that are no longer under investigation.
So what’s a concerned cruiser to do? Given the disconnect between reporting and recording, the scale of the problem will remain a point of contention. As result, potential cruisers would be wise to take the precautions necessary to ensure their own safety and security:
- Sexual assault: “Public restrooms are a significant risk factor,” said Klein. “A woman should never go into a public bathroom alone after midnight.”
- Physical violence: “If someone is being belligerent or in your face, walk away,” he said. “It’s not worth ruining your vacation.”
- Robbery: Don’t flash large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry and be extra cautious about big winnings in the casino. “Big winners are targets,” said Charles Lipcon, a maritime lawyer and the author of “Unsafe on the High Seas: Your Guide to a Safer Cruise.”
- Child safety: Despite the “happy bubble” atmosphere on board cruise ships, the reality is that they’re like floating cities full of strangers from around the world. “If you were in a city, would you let your 13-year-old go walking around alone at midnight?” asks Lipcon. “I don’t think so.”
- Foodborne illnesses: Norovirus and other gastrointestinal problems are transmitted via fecal-oral contact, which is why it’s important to wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face. Furthermore, advises Klein, “Avoid foods that people can get without using utensils.”
- Shore-based accidents: When it comes to parasailing, ziplining and other activities, be cognizant of your own physical limitations. “Be aware of your normal activity levels,” said Klein. “If you’re not likely to do it at home, don’t do it on vacation.”
And, finally, says Lipcon, be aware that the best defense is simple common sense: “Keep in mind that 10 to 12 million people go on cruises every year and, for most of them, it’s very safe,” he told msnbc.com. “The No. 1 thing I see where people get into trouble is when they just do something really dumb.”
More stories you might like:
- Woman killed after falling off Queen Mary
- End of tummy trouble? Norovirus vaccine in the works
- TripAdvisor goes solo while start-ups stake their claim
Rob Lovitt is a longtime travel writer who still believes the journey is as important as the destination. Follow him at Twitter.
Leave a Comment:
When will journalists stop quoting Ross Klein? He has no standing in the cruise industry and no expertise in the business. His stats on his website are inflated and include ferries and other passenger vessels beside cruise ships. Do some due diligence before quoting this guy who has zero credibility if you really look into his claims. Oh, and he complained about his cruises in order to get free cruises — check it out.
How do you all figure he is lying? He lost his child on a cruise...somehow I doubt he even goes on them anymore.
Sorry, but the motivation factor here goes to the cruise lines and their bottom line.
I don't see any bad motive's here on the part of Mr. Klien. He just doesn't get anything out of this.
Whether this article is truthful or not, it sounds like auggier is a cruise line executive or their PR team going into overdrive.......
Bingo!
WTF is the point of this article? Lets put more fear into the hearts of Americans... Lets take a cruise? WAIT my wife might get raped, I might get into a fight, and my child might go missing..........
Next in the news "So you thought your public library was safe, guess again?"
I always wondered about the safety of going on a cruise. Might be worth it to just save up for a nice vacation instead of risking it out in the middle of the ocean!
@Logres - Kendall Carver lost a daughter on a cruise ship, not Ross Klein. Learn how to read before criticizing the informed people who finished middle school.
@Claudia Vargas, these are just a handful of these stories. You take a chance no matter where you go on vacation. Ever watch the human trafficking movies where families go on vacation and their children disappear? Or hear of people's money being stolen. Vacations are never exactly safe but neither is living.
I've been on one cruise, and I plan to go on another within the next few years. Cruising is just as much fun as driving or flying to some destination that you've never been to before. Just use common sense, and pray all goes well.
edit double post >.< newsvine error
You know what they're not saying is that these cruise ships can handle up to 6200 passengers and that doesn't inlcude staff! These are truly floating cities and of course crime happens. I've never been concerned that someone was going to attack me and have never once felt unsafe on any of the several cruises I've been on. However, walking around in Jamaica, Rome, and Dominican Republic, there's been several times I've been concerned for my safety.
No place you go is 100% safe. Any place you go, you run the risk of being robbed, attacked, assaulted, and getting ill.
A large cruise ship is akin to a small town in both size and numbers of people. Booze is plentiful and so is the sunshine (with all that brings).
Whilst I do not condone any illegal act, (anywhere) we have to realize that being on a large ocean going passenger vessel has the same risks as going to the mall (or somewhat less as I have never heard of a gunfight on a cruise ship!) or vacationing in a large hotel anywhere.
Common sense should be applied.
auggier, i agree with you. Any fool with a pencil can come up with statistics that slant a subject to their personal liking, agenda.
Are you Auggier's twin?
Figures lie and liars figure . . . .
To auggier, and to auggier I agree with you...I'm not a journalist; I am a former cruise ship officer and US Merchant Marine. How about me, will I do? Crime is rampant in the cruise industry. Have you ever worked on a cruise ship? Have you ever been raped on a cruise ship? Have you ever had to look for a loved one that was lost at sea? Listen to those of us trying to tell you the truth...ever heard of don't kill the messenger? Mr. Klein is correct regardless of his motives; actually, it is far worse than he reports. That is the truth.
Mr. Klein - creating a new profile and pretending to be a former cruise ship officer named Shari doesn't help your case. No one believes you.
Cruise ship lines are not registered in the US and your rights according to the law when victimized at sea are vastly different from those you have on American soil. One need look no further than the obstruction the cruise lines utilized when investigators were trying to solve a potential murder at sea. Good press comes first, passenger safety comes last. Why anyone would want to waste a week in a floating Holiday Inn Express with cafeteria food stopping at the Fisherman's Wharf equivalent of every port is beyond me.
Hey Pedestrian, I agree with you. I went on one cruise, on Royal Caribbean, and you're right on the money when you say it's a floating Holiday Inn Express with cafeteria food... add in the crime and they may as well just dock in Compton California for a week. They're dirty, the food stinks, the entertainment is amateur and you get what seems like an hour in port by the time you're tendered off the ship. Never again.
Don't waste your money, cruises are a RIP OFF.
Sounds like cruising isn't your cup of tea. Then fly, drive, or take the train.
I have been on 14 cruises and my girlfriend on 9. The only incident on any of those cruises happened on my first one.
At about 2 AM I was taking a stroll on deck before going to bed when I came across three kids (late teens or early 20s) laughing as they were throwing deck chairs over the side. After bitch slapping them and punching one that tried to fight back I grabbed one and pretended to get ready to throw him over the side-it scared the sh*t out of him!
I am sure that if any of them told their parents about it "they were innocently minding their own business when out of the blue a madman attacked them for no reason."
You punched a kid, wtf is wrong with you? I'm guessing you left out the part where you politely asked them to stop before going in and assaulting them.....
You go hdrider. If more parents bitch slapped their kids when they were younger kids like this would not be throwing chairs over the side.
Sam, quit being a naive liberal. Kids that are throwing chairs over the side will not respond to "politely asking them to stop".
Rampant drug use in the late 60's led to bad parenting in the 70's which led to a bunch of liberal idiots who do not discipline their children, instill good character and teach right from wrong.
This was the turning point for our country to take it's turn downhill.
@Small, I'm pretty sure you have know idea what the definition of Liberal is. Yet your tiny brain loves to label everything that constitutes human rights as "liberal". Any successful country needs a proper mix of everything. 100% conservative or 100% liberal just doesn't work.
He said late teens or early 20's. These are not kids.
Still, a cruise ship population is just a reflected cross-section of the whole population. And people tend to be more belligerant now; and less likely to help if near a crime.
Lie and liars Danno, really? Mr. Klein isn't a liar and neither am I. The dangers are real and so are the victims.
Nice cleavage.... DUDE !
BWAAhahahaha
How grown up you must feel! This is constructive.
There are a lot of cruise ship around the world, and they carry a lot of passengers. What's the "normal" average crime rate for that number of people, not aboard ships?
Flylowguy hits the nail on the head - numerators are useless without denominators. Crime rates on cruises should be calculated using the number of person-days "at risk" (total days spent on cruises by all passengers during the same time period). The results could then be compared to crime rates in various cities to see whether cruise ships are really the hotbeds of crime the article makes them out to be.
Not to mention the neurotics that thrive on news like this.
100 crimes per quarter equates to about one crime per day. with the number of cruise ships and their aggregate population that number becomes minuscule.
I had to chuckle at, "...potential cruisers would be wise to take the precautions necessary to ensure their own safety and security:...."
The suggestions sounded like everyday precautions all should practice. Also, there are no ghettos and barrios you may accidentally wander into.
The largest cruise ship currently can house about 6200 passengers. That doesn't include staff. The cruises I've been on housed about 4000 passengers and about 2000 staff. It truly is a floating city.
Shari, thanks for your post. My wife and I have 2 friends (females) who just returned from cruise and it's a total party boat! Drunk people having sex all over and being vdieotaped. Sex with a maintenence guy, and this was just one of our friends. It's maddness and mayheim on these ships. I wouldn't take a cruise but these women love it and are scheduled to go again soon.
That's a bunch of untruths! There isn't sex going on all over the place! But will say this, if your wife wants to go, you better buck up and go with her, she may be the one having sex all over the place! If you go, it might be with you and if you don't, who knows which maintenance man it might be!!!!!!!!!!
Boy the lies ans stories that get told! That's as bad as the guy that wrote this article!!!!!!
Been on a lot of cruises over the years....NEVER experienced this. Perhaps you've exaggerated a touch......There may be sex going on behind closed doors, but not on deck!
Dang! I've apparently been cruising on all the wrong ships! Sex with maintenance men! It's MADNESS I tell you! LOL! I've never, ever seen public sex, and I've been on party boats before. Guess I missed all the fun!
People need to use common sense just as they would for any other type of vacation travel. If you wouldn't want your young children in a rowdy bar in your home town, then don't take them on a "booze cruise" with you since the whole ship will be the bar. If you aren't comfortable with rowdy 20- and 30- somethings reliving their college spring break days, then avoid those kinds of cruise vacations all together.
Too many Americans, in particular, think that the kind of security they enjoy in their own hometowns should apply and be available to them the world over. That's just not the case. Going on a cruise is no different than traveling to a foreign country. Keep your guard up, keep your eyes open, don't start trouble and you'll likely have the time of your life aboard ship.
Common sense isn't very common.
I'll hire Steven Seagal (without his fighting dress) to be my bodyguard to follow me around on my first cruise. Wouldn't wanna get skanked by some foreign dude with a chip on his shoulder who should be in a maximum security prison instead of swabbing toilets on a cruise ship.
I think you'd want to take a cruise on a cruise line based in the US, then. They have stricter hiring standards than the ones based in foreign ports. Or take a cruise on a name-brand line, like Disney. They have a lot more to lose from spots on their reputation, so I'm sure they take security seriously.
I've only been on one cruise, so I know that doesn't make me an expert. But, my husband and I had a wonderful time. All of our excursions, including zip lining and parasailing were very safe and the people running the excursions were very nice and informative. And I always felt safe on the ship. Granted, my husband and I did not gamble nor did we hang out at the dance clubs late at night. I really think it is a matter of what you decide to do while on your cruise and making sure you take precautions to be safe. Like it has been previously mentioned, thousands of people take cruises every year and enjoy safe, fun trips.
My family and I have also only been on one cruise. We researched a cruise line that was good with kids. We investigated it thoroughly. We did kid friendly shore excursions and always felt safe. We also didn't stay up crazy late and stayed together as a family (my child was 5 at the time). It was extremely fun. I felt we were well taken care of. I have a lot of food allergies and they cooked me a special meal every night with no extra charge. I'd do it again. It's been two years and my son still talks about the Bahamas.
Kronkite, thanks for your imput but truth is, it has nothing to do with being American and the problem is "the time of your life" can turn into "your worst nightmare"...if you survive at all. The passengers and crew who lost their lives would have certainly declined attending the party if they knew they were not going to come out of it alive. The average death rate for the entire industry is one death every two weeks...not the best place to take anyone on vacation, let alone the kids.
Bollucks. That is completely absurd.
Please site your reliable sources on this "fact" you've posted.
The average death rate for the entire industry is one death every two weeks...
Does that include the 90 year olds nearly on their deathbed? The 400 lb guys that die of a heart attack after the chocolate buffet? If that stat includes ALL deaths, that's very believable.
I've been on 5 cruises (4 NCL, 1 Celebrity) and I'd go on another one tomorrow if my finances would allow. I've never felt unsafe on a ship (Belize is another story, super ghetto). Everyone has an opinion about cruises, no doubt it's not for everyone.
Too bad facts and opinions are getting mixed up here in the article AND comments.
SHARI U R AN IDIOT!!!!!!!!
Fact or opinion? ...this figure comes from ICV and Ken Carver. I am a fellow board member. The facts I have stated are correct. You are blindly following the herd son...and not doing it very wisely.
6 cutters and 2 tads and over 13 years at sea (not all of it in good weather), i have no desire to cruise anymore for those that do good luck.
If i ever change my mind it will not be for one of those Aircraft carrier want a bees , i will try a barefoot cruise with just hand full of people .
Cruises......Floating petri dishes for people without real friends, served by crews who treat you as a 'mark' (someone to exploit).....Yuk!!
There are party boats and non-party boats, and a full spectrum in between. Do some research and pick the kind of cruise you want. Of course, there will always be the crime of opportunity(e.g. pushing a spouse overboard), but that sort of thing gets reported and dealt with every time. I've been on four cruises and never seen any overt crime on any of them.
Now, illness like norovirus is really just a crap-shoot, it happens to the best ships occasionally. As the article says, just be careful.
Absolutely! Although many of the major cruise lines are owned by the same company, each line has its niche, depending on what you want. Extremely kid-friendly? Disney. Booze cruise? Carnival. Gargantuan party boat? Celebrity. Laid-back and upscale? Holland America. Mix of everything? Norwegian. I've only ever cruised twice and both were with the same line (Holland) when my sister worked for them. Both cruises were very relaxing, with quality amenities, shore excursions and virtually no rowdiness. However, both were a wee bit pricier than comparable cruises with other lines. Still, just like hotels, cruise ships run the gambit. You've got your Ritz-Carltons and you've got your Holiday Inns...do your research before choosing a line, route, and boat.
bWAAhahaha! Perfect wording.
It would seem that almost as many people are jumping off ships as jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. It has NOTHING to do with cruising but has something to do with suicide.
Since no agency in the world has a mandate to keep records of crimes at sea, a "complete" list is unavailable. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has just adopted a proposal submitted by the United Kingdom, the Bahamas, the Phillippines, and the US. This resolution formally recognized the serious nature of crimes at sea and have invited Member States to submit proposals to the IMO Legal Committee to consider the issue.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=8504
Above is the one cutter i never sailed on (that i wanted too), it just was not meant to be ;-(
Only U.S military vessel of her kind that gets underway.
Reporting responsibilities for cruise ships sounds a lot like those for amusement parks. If a settlement can be made out of court for amusement park injuries and fatalities then there is also the nondisclosure clause built in. That way, the public doesn't hear about it past the first ambulance call, and , when is the last time you ever heard about a theft or rape in an amusement park? NEVER is about right. These parks and cruises draw people from all walks of life. They have millions of visitors every year, don't fool yourself, with those types of demographics there's gonna be a bad egg or two in every bunch.
Having been on nearly a dozen cruises myself, starting from the age of 11 or so, I've never felt like I was in danger on a ship (cruising with my parents, extended family, and just with friends over the years). I agree with the commenter who regards crime rates of general populations as compared to a cruise ship. Cruising is traveling, but people forget that. Are there risks? Sure, but a cruise ship isn't a death trap at sea the way it seems "Shari L Cecil" would have you believe. Industry experience or not, you seem a little preoccupied with the "horrors of cruising" rather than the fantastic vacation opportunity I've always enjoyed them as. YMMV, but I'm going on my next cruise in three weeks, taking my girlfriend with me, and expecting to have an AMAZING time!
People engaged in risky behavior in any bar scene are always going to be "victims" by definition. They are not fully aware of what's happening and make easy targets for "less than reputable" sociopaths
I have been on 16 cruises and been to every continent except Africa and have had the most exciting experiences in my life on a cruise ship. The crews are polite, helpful, and bend over backwards for the guests - even the rude guests. I have traveled in oceanview cabins, balconies/vernadahs and suites and, in my opinion, you have to really work at "falling" overboard unless you are engaging in risky behavior or some place you're not supposed to be anyway. I have met people and made friends with folks who live all over the world.
As far as diseases "caught" on cruise ships, common sense should prevail. You can get similar diseases from grocery store shopping carts!
My husband and I have taken four of our grandchildren (11 - 15) on a cruise and they had a ball in the teen clubs and other activities available to pre-teens.
Cruising is safe, fun for all ages and a great way to vacation!
Best and safest way to cruise is going one-way such as on the QE II or a big container ship with several births for passengers. On the big freighters you don't have the climbing walls, live entertainment, casinos or exorbitant buffets, but you do get your own birth with private bathroom on most ships, 3 good meals a day plus snacks, satellite TV/Internet on most, and peace and quiet on the high seas. It's also much cheaper than the Carnivals and Holland Americas out there. Out and back makes it more of a target for bad guys while going one-way such as New York to South Hampton or Los Angeles to Sydney tends to filter out the riff raft and are usually more mature people on a business combined pleasure sailing.
Most travel agents can set you up for a one way sailing on such freight lines as Hapag-Loyd, Evergreen, COSCO, etc. And it's cheaper. Most of the newer freighters can maintain 30 knots in smooth seas.
Please tell me you're joking, Mark. "Cruise" on a freighter? No entertainment, climbing walls, casinos or buffets, just your hole in the wall you share with rats. How appealling, sign me up, LMAO!
@ Mark:
I hope you didn't really mean "several births for passengers" or that your "births" are private, without a doctor or midwife in attendance.
Did you mean Berth?
Mark, these cruise line passengers do not know the meaning of Adventure. They need to lug their entire house and hospital around with them on whilst on vacation.
People engaged in risky behavior in any bar scene are always going to be "victims" by definition. They are not fully aware of what's happening and make easy targets for "less than reputable" sociopaths
I have been on 16 cruises and been to every continent except Africa and have had the most exciting experiences in my life on a cruise ship. The crews are polite, helpful, and bend over backwards for the guests - even the rude guests. I have traveled in oceanview cabins, balconies/vernadahs and suites and, in my opinion, you have to really work at "falling" overboard unless you are engaging in risky behavior or some place you're not supposed to be anyway. I have met people and made friends with folks who live all over the world.
As far as diseases "caught" on cruise ships, common sense should prevail. You can get similar diseases from grocery store shopping carts!
My husband and I have taken four of our grandchildren (11 - 15) on a cruise and they had a ball in the teen clubs and other activities available to pre-teens.
Cruising is safe, fun for all ages and a great way to vacation!
I would never take a cruise, being stuck on a ship with all those boring people would be hell for me.
They aren't boring for a minute! Cruises aren't for everyone and I understand that. But they aren't boring... You'll need to come home and relax from a great time. Besides seeing all those good looking women running around, that will keep your old blood pumping!
You can't go on any vacation, go to several countries, eat like a king and only on pack your bags only once and travel all over. Casino's, show room wit vegas style shows, shopping, cheap liquor, live music, lounging around in your swim trunks, Go to sleep at night and wake up in a different country. Then all the different shore excursions. Hand feeding wild Stingrays, swimming with the Dolphins, shopping, going to the beach, learning about the history of that country, or setting at the bar and get drunk.
BORING? NOT!
Thanks for setting me straight, you I could talk to. I am all in favor of attractive women and bellying up to the bar, good food and live entertainment are also a plus. The thought of not being able to get off if it is not as advertised still bothers me, which line do you like?
I guess you never leave your house then! All of those boring people everywhere you go! The people on a cruise are the same people you meet anywhere you go. What do you do that makes you so exciting?
I agree , oh the sea stories i could tell you but newsvine does not have enough bandwith. My cruises did not have zip lines and such though but i guess you get what you pay for lol.
I, only go on Carnival and never ever had any problem! They clean your room twice a day along with doing the towel animal at night. You have many choices for dining, The Buffet, the fine dining room, pizza and hamburger bars, in room service. Now Gourmet rest. that's real cheap $25 per person and your treated like royalty.
Other lines are fine too! Carnival USE to have problems with young ones, but they put a stop to that. But they are awesome!
Realist, I have been accused of being intelligent, I have no problem with the people every where I go, just wouldn't want to be stuck on a ship with a few thousand of them drunk.
Wayne, I'm with you on Carnival. I've only been on one cruise, but they definitely pay attention to what is going on with the passengers. My husband and I have traveled all over the country and into Canada and never once when we put the "Do Not Disturb" sign out and leave it out have we ever been checked on. As a result it never occured to us to let the cabin attendant or whatever they are called know that we prefer not to have anyone in the room when we are not there and will let them know if we run out of something, we happily save the planet by reusing towels. After about 48 hours we were eating breakfast one day and heard our name being paged. My husband went down to see what was going on, thinking something had happened back home maybe, and it turned out they were making sure we were okay, because the sign had stayed out for so long. Talk about attentive. We've stayed in hundreds of hotels some ranked pretty high and never been checked on. I was very impressed by that level of attention. I work in family services and if people knew even a fraction of what happens everyday in our towns and cities they would consider a cruise ship one of the safest places in the world to be when comparing number of people to number of incidents. High schools that are the size of small towns have a visible police presence these days. I didn't notice a single security person when on board. I'm sure they were there, but so unobtrusive that we never felt like we were in the next best thing to a slum as far as safety went. No one can keep an eye on every nook and cranny of every single place so to expect there to be NO crime on board ever is not realistic and as has been stated unfortunately the situation with the baby can happen anywhere and certainly was not the fault of the cruise line.
Chances are if "they are boring" it is because you probably are.
I am not a huge cruise fan... I am much more the adventure traveler (having been to several remote areas of the world camping and trekking, etc.). But, a cruise once in a while (like the holiday cruise I am going on in 2 weeks with my husbands family on the MIL dime) is a-okay. We do a bit of people watching, the piano bar is always a favorite, the food is always good, and getting out of the cold for the caribbean is alright by me for 7 days. It's in the 30's here and will be in the 80's there! It's a good alternative for a group of us that want to do lots of different things. None of us are heavy drinkers and avoid the clubs at night but do enjoy one or two by the pool in the afternoon.
I've been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Holland America. I'd say Holland America followed by Royal Caribbean would be my picks for lines to go on based on my own experience. Carnival has left me wanting something different and Princess was mediocre at best.
I have never experienced any of the problems listed other than a little sea sickness from rough seas in the south pacific... just came with the territory.
We have been on over 10 cruises in all parts of the world on three different cruise lines during the past 20 years and never experienced any of the above mentioned problems. There are cruises for the young and old and everything in between and selecting the right cruise at the right time of the year is important.
You need to be diligent about your safety everhwere these days. It's not only on cruise ships. Personally, I have cruised at least ten times, without any problems. Then again, I don't engage in risky behavior, i.e., walking to back to cabin all liquored up holding my just won $2,000.00 -
Whenyou take into account how many people these massive ships carry on a monthly basis, it's not surprising that some unpleasant things do happen. The days of "The Love Boat" are gone......
I, have been on many cruises and never once anything went wrong! Now what they're saying is cruising problems aren't the cruise ships fault!
Like the girl dying after parasailing, that's done on shore excursions! The woman killing her baby on board, has nothing to do with the cruise ship. Those that stay up all night getting drunk, isn't the cruise ships fault or what anyone does when they're ashore.
Now about the rape of a minor by an employee is a cruise ship problem!!!!! Or employee stealing is their fault. But if someone is robbed by another guest. That's not the cruise ships problem. But trying to catch the thief is there place to do. But not their fault!
We have some jerk that wrote this article that has his head up his a--! Trying to create more problems and scare people away from a great vacation.
99% of what he wrote actually has nothing to do with the cruise! They've proven that people bring that illness aboard with them and pass it on. It would be the same on a train, bus, plane or going to the grocery store and grabbing a cart.....
How people try to create something out of nothing just shows how sick they are and huge mental midgets...... I, recommend cruises to everyone and can't wait to go on the next one.
Such Crap!
Wayne, you seem like a really nice guy. I think you're not understanding the point of the article. It's not "crap" that people die, turn up missing, or are raped on cruise ships. And the uncomfortable truth of the matter is that the cruise lines really go out of their way to NOT report it. So you let your hair down and party a little too hard on a ship that markets "partying hard"....some of you guys act like partying hard is the crime but getting raped isn't. Yikes!
I think that the articles are not necessarily trying to say cruising is dangerous. I think the point is that cruise ships tend to under-report crime. PLEASE UNDERSTAND that cruise ships are not registered in the U.S. so do NOT have to abide by our reporting laws. I appreciate that people are trying to force cruise ships to be honest when reporting crimes. Just because they don't have to report doesn't mean they shouldn't.
In any case, I want the cruise ships to be honest with their reporting. That way, I can make an INFORMED decision when deciding where to take my children. When we travel out of the country I go online to the US STATE DEPARTMENT and check out the country I'll be visiting. They have great info and I can make INFORMED decisions.
BTW, I've taken 10 cruises so far....5 with my children. We're going on our 6th cruise with the kids on the 26th of December out of San Juan and I CAN'T WAIT! Personally, we have never had or seen any problems. I've cruised with both RC and Carnival.
Happy sailing!
I agree with Wayne's World!!!
I think I'll take NoOneCares part on this thread. This article is about crime reporting, not about whether the crimes are committed or whose fault it is. I think I would WANT to know about which cruise lines have the highest number of robberies, etc, so I know which ones take security seriously, and which ones take a "buyer beware" approach.
Personally, I don't think I would ever take a cruise. Aside from the issue of being stuck on a boat with a bunch of strangers, who could be carrying some deadly disease for all I know (I have a pathetic immune system, I catch everything!) there is also the issue of activities. I'm not a drinker, or a gambler, and I think I'd be sick of the library in just a short time. I'd go stir crazy just laying around in the sun, so a cruise is not for me.
Are cruises dangerous? About as dangerous as anywhere else. And that is only because cruises involve people, and people commit crimes and do other stupid stuff. You aren't going to get away from it no matter where you go. It's just a matter of using your head, not taking your antique diamond necklace with you, and keeping the wad of cash in your wallet to yourself.
I have been on 5 cruises and had a great time on each one. I've always stayed in a suite where I have my own balcony and as others have stated, you are not going to just fall overboard. There was one port which I felt uneasy about getting off at, so we didn't. We heard from other passengers that they felt unsafe, but you can find that anywhere. The service we had was unbelievable. The crew all seems to know your name after the first day and these are the big ships. The food was great and they have specialty restaurants that are rated top 5. It's common sense and being aware of your surroundings that keep you safe. As far as food illness, wash your hands. They turn over food every four hours for food safety reasons. I wash my hands constantly due to touching railings up and down stairs. I've never gotten sick. I will continue to cruise for my vacations. This article certainly won't keep me way.
Bon Voyage!!!
It's terrible when anybody is the victim of a violent crime. However, I don't think cruise ships are floating death traps. In several of these stories, the victims knew their attacker before getting on the ship.
Just thinking about the general atmosphere on the cruises I have taken, if I am not generally safe there, wow, where the heck am I safe?
If you took away all the guns in the world, there would be a rise in skillet murders. There are murder genes loose in the universe.
You're on a boat with 2000 strangers and an unlimited supply of alcohol! I'm not saying cruise in fear (I've been on 2 cruises and had a blast) just use some frickin' common sense! Case in point. I had just settle in to my cabin after a long night of partying. About 30 min later, I hear someone trying to unlike my door. This was going on for a few minutes before I got up to see who this person was. It was a women that drunk off of her ass thinking that MY room was HER room. Now had I been some deranged psycho, something really bad could have happened to her.
As said earlier. Use common sense!