{"id":1595,"date":"2016-12-05T18:16:29","date_gmt":"2016-12-05T18:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.241.231.59\/?p=1595"},"modified":"2017-01-29T01:32:56","modified_gmt":"2017-01-29T01:32:56","slug":"top-cruise-ship-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vosvado.com\/top-cruise-ship-risks","title":{"rendered":"The Top Cruise Ship Risks (they’re not what you think!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I almost can\u2019t believe it. I\u2019ve booked a cruise! And being in the business of travel safety, I am understandably quite keen to know everything possible about how to stay safe onboard a big-a$$ ship!<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve done ridiculous amounts of research on cruise safety statistics and accident reports over the past week, and my findings have been both reassuring and terrifying. Kind of like life in general. 😄<\/p>\n

If you think about it, one of the biggest problems with being on board a ship is the difficulty in escaping during an emergency. I\u2019m not just talking about a Titanic-style sinking; I\u2019m also talking about fires, power failures that bring down the on-board sewage facilities, and so forth.<\/p>\n

I was shocked to learn that, until 2014, there were no official agencies responsible for collecting cruise ship mishap reports!<\/span> We can blame this on the cruise industry, itself. For tax purposes, most ships are registered in countries that are both financially advantageous, as well as lax on oversight. A huge win if you\u2019re a cruise operator; not so awesome if you\u2019re a passenger looking for safety data.<\/p>\n

As of 2014, however, the US Congress passed regulation requiring the Department of Transportation to compile monthly statistics<\/a>\u00a0on cruise ship crime for all ships that operate within US ports (note: this does not include ships that drop anchor\u00a0elsewhere).<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this reporting does not extend to other cruise hazards (e.g., piracy, sinkings, etc.)<\/p>\n

Luckily, there are a few grassroots groups who have taken it upon themselves to dig up the cruise industry dirt. One is a Canadian professor and cruise buff by the name of Ross Klein. His website–Cruise Junkie<\/a>–is chockful of dismal but useful statistics.<\/p>\n

Another site to check out is Cruise Minus<\/a>. These folks not only compile data from industry, the media, and academia; they also invite passengers to submit their own reports of calamities at sea. It makes for a strangely intriguing read.<\/p>\n

I relied heavily upon the abovementioned websites and their referenced links for my data gathering. Herein, I summarize my findings for anyone who might be interested in taking to the high seas.<\/p>\n

\""cruise

Yes, this is your pillowcase. And yes, this is your stuff inside.<\/p><\/div>\n

Biggest risk at sea: CRIME<\/h4>\n

Yep, just like on dry land, your biggest risk is actually your fellow humans<\/span><\/strong>. Theft is by far the number one issue, but sexual and physical assault aren\u2019t uncommon. Indeed, with the new DoT monthly data compilation that is now publicly available, overall crime reports have jumped 408{5b94df0808d5051ae4460ba229ec68b809d99f898aebd4fa5019c7ba642362c2}. Obviously, the crime itself hasn\u2019t rocketed upwards; rather, it\u2019s the knowledge thereof. But still, when one thinks of embarking on a cruise, it\u2019s a bit disheartening.
\nThere is also a disturbing trend of homicide and disappearance. If a US citizen is involved (and this goes for all crimes at sea), the FBI will investigate the case. However, statistics show<\/a> that only ~16{5b94df0808d5051ae4460ba229ec68b809d99f898aebd4fa5019c7ba642362c2} of murders lead to an actual conviction.\u00a0With no police on board, it\u2019s simply too difficult to maintain a hygienic crime scene at sea, and unless pending Congressional legislation is passed, there is no timeliness requirement for the FBI\u2019s involvement.<\/p>\n

How to protect yourself:<\/strong>
\nTreat a cruise like you\u2019d treat a visit to a big city. Stay vigilant. Keep an eye on your stuff. Be aware of your surroundings and your fellow passengers\u2019 behavior. In your stateroom, don\u2019t leave valuables lying around. Hide them, lock them up<\/a>, or better yet: leave them at home.<\/p>\n

If you do<\/em> fall victim to a crime, read your ship’s Security Guide (required by law) and follow the procedures outlined with respect to criminal activity.<\/p>\n

\"norovirus

Riding the porcelain pony….<\/p><\/div>\n

Second biggest risk: NOROVIRUS<\/h4>\n

Like with most things in life, the best defense is a good offense. Hand gel<\/a> is better than nothing, but research has shown that the most effective way to get rid of the virus on your skin is via a good scrubbing for 30 seconds with soap and hot water. You know the drill: this is especially important before you eat!<\/p>\n

It may seem antisocial, but try to avoid touching your fellow passengers<\/span> (handshakes, hugs). You\u2019ll also want to minimize contact with communal surfaces<\/span> like counters and handrails. Common serving-utensils at buffets can be grasped with a tissue, or at least be sure to use hand sanitizer after you serve yourself a scoop of macaroni salad. Lastly, try to only use your own bathroom facilities.<\/span> Norovirus is spread via fecal material, so avoiding areas where such matter may accumulate is a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

Oh, and if you catch norovirus anyway? Quarantine yourself, notify the ship\u2019s doctor, and wait it out. It\u2019ll pass in a day or two. Just be sure to stay hydrated while you\u2014ahem\u2014convalesce. 😝<\/p>\n

\""wearing

At last, a reason to use our lifeguarding skills!<\/p><\/div>\n

MINIMAL RISK\u00a0(but you want to know about it): SINKING<\/h4>\n

So it turns out that sinking is incredibly rare<\/span>. From 1980 to 2012, only 16 cruise ships sunk, and most of them were sailing in challenging conditions…like around Antarctica or in a typhoon. And even when they do sink, Ross Klein (he of the aforementioned CruiseJunkie website) states: \u201cShips don\u2019t sink with everybody dying. The chances of loss of life are pretty minuscule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, there is a disturbing theme reported by survivors of sinkings: the ship’s crew may not be able or willing<\/span> to help you.<\/em><\/span> Best to have a plan of action, just in case.<\/p>\n

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:<\/strong><\/p>\n