Are there ever times you feel unsafe while cruising?

[Medtech2]

I guess I am mostly interested while on the ship. Obviously you to use your common sense on and off the ship, but are there ever situations that have really made you feel unsafe?

No, never, but I am always aware of my surroundings. Common sense should be your guide. Some people, however, are more naturally high strung, looking for danger behind every turn.

 

You should behave how you would on land. In the theatre locate the exits, just in case. Scope out large crowds.

 

Never felt unsafe in any port, either. Of course, I don't walk down dark alleys at 3am, either...

[LrgPizza]

I was scared once. When I moved a ship-issued towel off a deck lounge chair after it had been unattended for over 2 hours. Of course, shortly after, here came the villain. Obviously I claimed it wasn't me, but I think they knew I was lying. I did fear for my life.

[MCAT48]

Once when we were in port the emergency alarm went off. We were in h2o and didn't hear the announcement that they were going to sound the alarm for crew. We were walking back in then the alarm went off. I panicked a bit, then a few minutes later they made the announcement that it was just a practice alarm for the crew.....other than that I've never was scared. :) but knowing they do practice emergency drills makes me feel safer.

[chloe173]

Yes, but not because of my fellow passengers.

 

While on the Sky last year, it was raining one night, and the seas were a bit rough. We were trying to get to the Outrigger Lounge for karaoke, and the quickest way to get there was to walk on the poorly-lit, wet, completely empty deck in my foam, non-grippy flip flops. I was scared I'd fall overboard, but clearly, I didn't.

 

Oh, and I also feel unsafe in the casino as they have these devious machines there that constantly steal my money.

[kirsty_r]

not on the ship - if your travelling with your daughter, she will be keen probably to meet the other teens. The teen section on your ship will be safe. Ensure she knows to ideally travel around the ship with someone, and if she gets lost to find guest services/staff member. Theres lots of cameras, and I have never felt unsafe. Set times throughout the day to meet up, ask her to let you know where your going etc. If your on one of the newer ships, look into the iconcierge system where you should be able to call each other. Maybe even agree to meet each other in public areas and walk back to the stateroom together rather than leaving her to walk it alone.

[Zoey]

I have never felt unsafe onboard. The only time I have ever even thought about the possibility of there being a chance something could happen was when we were on the Oasis of the Seas (huge ship) and our cabin was almost completely aft. I was coming back to my cabin one night by myself and i was about half way to the cabin and I looked behind and in front of me and the hallway was empty, and for a minute I thought how easy it would be for someone to open a cabin door and pull me in and nobody would know. But that was just for a second and then I knew the odds are very low and I am usually always with someone. Now if I was going with a child I would never let them walk the hallways by themselves , all you have to do is be smart on the ship just like you are at home and you will be fine.

 

Uh oh......I have been on a dozen cruises by myself and in the hallways by myself at night and never thought of that happening to me. Now that I think about it, I guess it could. I'm sure I WILL think about it next time.

 

The only time I get scared is if I allow myself to visit the buffet.:D

[SissasMomE]

Lighten up. I never said it was a bad question. I simply questioned the OP's motives. And THAT is being security conscious. A person who asks a question like that may very well be planning something. I am not saying this is the case here, but my skepticism has served me very well in the past.

 

Oh good grief - and I simply responded. Lighten up.

Edited February 11, 2014 by SissasMomE

[SissasMomE]

i was scared once. When i moved a ship-issued towel off a deck lounge chair after it had been unattended for over 2 hours. Of course, shortly after, here came the villain. Obviously i claimed it wasn't me, but i think they knew i was lying. I did fear for my life.

 

lol!!

[spidybabe]

Yes, I am afraid at times of being seriously in danger of falling in love with the sea so much that I might go to work for the cruise line.

 

But seriously - no. Not once. Ever. But then, I'm not afraid of much anyway.

 

AGREE

I wanna live on a cruise ship!!!!!

Ship a lot less scary than NYC

Safe sailing

 

 

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[duce95]

Only time was off the ship in Nassau. A jet ski vendor was arguing with another vendor over getting the sale from us and one of them pulled a knife. They argued for a bit and eventually one left.

We still had fun on the ski.

 

 

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[SissasMomE]

Only time was off the ship in Nassau. A jet ski vendor was arguing with another vendor over getting the sale from us and one of them pulled a knife. They argued for a bit and eventually one left.

We still had fun on the ski.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Wow - that is crazy!!

[GUEST080219]

Never felt unsafe on the ship and never in port.

And it is not like a small city unless of course your city registers every person entering the area, taking its picture and having CCTVs in every street and every public building.

[cls711]

To the OP. I'm a mom who began cruising alone w/ my son when he was about 11. We had some very firm ground rules. He would usually meet a group of kids on the first day in the teen club or arcade. I would hover in the area that 1st day. After he had established a group he wanted to hang with I insisted that I meet them and knew names, parent's names, cabin #'s and parents cell #'s. (this was before every 5 yr old on the planet carried a cell phone)

 

As for rules:

I would always be informed of the plans and a change of plans meant finding me to inform me of change. He knew where I would be, I knew where he would be.

 

Either find me and check in once an hour or if I'm in the cabin call in once an hour. Last thing he wanted was me showing up in my bathrobe because he forgot to check in! He never missed a check in time!

 

No going into anyone's cabin, EVER. All hanging out was done in public areas.

 

No swimming or hot tubs unless I was on deck. I don't think the other kids ever even knew I was there, but I was. I would find a perch and watch. When they were done, my kid would give me a wink and I'd slip away.

 

No going ashore without me. Port days were our time together.

 

Now that kids all have cell phones, I would tell you to let your daughter have hers with her when she is away from you. Sending a text is only .50 and receiving is only .05. Or you can use the NCL concierge texting app that costs about $8 per cruise and you can text all you want.

 

All that being said, it sounds pretty strict, but it allowed him some freedom while still allowing me peace of mind. I was always shocked that soooo many of the other kids had no rules and no parental supervision. Bottom line is we both had a great time. We cruised together a dozen times until he got old enough where traveling with the Mom was not cool. Sigh

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[bigmandog]

I was on the Pride of America last month and the doorbell to our cabin rang at 1 am. I jumped up to answer and my mother cut me off to look out the peep hole. Thank god she did. There was a middle aged man who was completely naked at our door. I felt so safe I was just going to answer.

The next evening we were informed that this man (after he left when we didn't answer) damaged some railings when he fell down. The staff informed us his wife was "keeping an eye" on him the remainder off the cruise.

I don't know if he was lost or was a flasher. It raised my awareness level either way.

[Red-Sol]

I have never felt unsafe on any NCL cruise...however there was this one time on Royal:

 

It was formal night in one of the MDR's. I was seated at the table with my dw and another couple. We were all dressed very nicely albeit not really formally. (I had a collared shirt, tie, dress slacks, nice shoes) As I looked around there were a few 400 pound "gentlemen" in tuxes. As they stared at me they had the looks of daggers in their eyes. I can only conclude that I didn't meet their expectations as to what they considered formal attire.....now those dudes were some scary looking people! :D

 

And that attitude from some of the Royal passengers is why I will never sail them again! :)

[EileenN]

As for safety on the oceans, we were on board the NCl Dawn when she got hit with a "Rogue Wave". Quite a bit of damage and water problems which left us aware that some things can happen on a ship.

 

Safety on board??? I was gambling in the casino a few years ago and won a decent amount of money very late one night. I was alone in the casino and the ship was very quiet. As usual they made a loud fuss about the win and many gamers came over to wish me congrats. When I left to go to my room with the cash, I asked for an escort from security and felt better.

 

Always protect yourself and be aware of your surroundings...

[SissasMomE]

To the OP. I'm a mom who began cruising alone w/ my son when he was about 11. We had some very firm ground rules. He would usually meet a group of kids on the first day in the teen club or arcade. I would hover in the area that 1st day. After he had established a group he wanted to hang with I insisted that I meet them and knew names, parent's names, cabin #'s and parents cell #'s. (this was before every 5 yr old on the planet carried a cell phone)

 

As for rules:

I would always be informed of the plans and a change of plans meant finding me to inform me of change. He knew where I would be, I knew where he would be.

 

Either find me and check in once an hour or if I'm in the cabin call in once an hour. Last thing he wanted was me showing up in my bathrobe because he forgot to check in! He never missed a check in time!

 

No going into anyone's cabin, EVER. All hanging out was done in public areas.

 

No swimming or hot tubs unless I was on deck. I don't think the other kids ever even knew I was there, but I was. I would find a perch and watch. When they were done, my kid would give me a wink and I'd slip away.

 

No going ashore without me. Port days were our time together.

 

Now that kids all have cell phones, I would tell you to let your daughter have hers with her when she is away from you. Sending a text is only .50 and receiving is only .05. Or you can use the NCL concierge texting app that costs about $8 per cruise and you can text all you want.

 

All that being said, it sounds pretty strict, but it allowed him some freedom while still allowing me peace of mind. I was always shocked that soooo many of the other kids had no rules and no parental supervision. Bottom line is we both had a great time. We cruised together a dozen times until he got old enough where traveling with the Mom was not cool. Sigh

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Not strict at all. You sound like a good mom! Kudos to you! I agree with everything you posted.

[OCruisers]

We've never felt unsafe on the ship.

 

We always did check in times when our children were young and still cruising with us.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[artist47]

As for safety on the oceans, we were on board the NCl Dawn when she got hit with a "Rogue Wave". Quite a bit of damage and water problems which left us aware that some things can happen on a ship.

 

Safety on board??? I was gambling in the casino a few years ago and won a decent amount of money very late one night. I was alone in the casino and the ship was very quiet. As usual they made a loud fuss about the win and many gamers came over to wish me congrats. When I left to go to my room with the cash, I asked for an escort from security and felt better.

 

Always protect yourself and be aware of your surroundings...

 

I can relate. I was aboard the Monarch (RCI) when she foundered and partially sank off Sint Maarten. I was also evacuated off the Seabreeze (long before Noah's flood) on the voyage when she "mysteriously" sank.

In neither case, did I ever feel my life was in danger, and in both cases, felt very confident in crews and Captains. But I agree: always be aware of your surroundings.

 

With regard to your mention of your casino winnings: you are a tough and smart cookie. I live in Reno, Nevada...what you are doing (asking for an escort) is just plain common sense and good old "horse sense". Very intelligent move on your part. People in Reno (and Las Vegas) get roughed up and robbed every single day. It just doesn't make the news because, well...here in town, it's not news...it's just another person who did not take the proper measures to ensure their own safety. A friend of mine recently won a $250,000 jackpot. She refused to allow her name or her photo to be published. Another very smart cookie.

 

Good for you...safe sailing to you and all.

[barnacle_boy]

As a young man who did many cruises as a teen, I think I can give you some insight into the possible dangers your daughter could face if she does not remain vigilant. You should know that my experiences are far from typical, and represent some of the worst incidents that can occur to children.

 

You shouldn't automatically assume that your daughter will be safe in the teens club. A Cunard child supervisor was arrested several years ago and convicted on several counts of making, possessing, and distributing child pornography during his time working aboard QM2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. It's extremely unnerving as he was my supervisor on roughly a dozen cruises on Cunard ships. He was a bit off, and, in hindsight, he did take an unusually strong interest in certain children. I believe I know some of the children he sexually molested. The whole incident brought into perspective how lax the vetting process for child supervisors can be. The chances of this happening to your daughter are extremely low, but it nonetheless remains a possibility. If you or your daughter feel uncomfortable around the staff at the teens club, you shouldn't hesitate to voice your concerns.

 

Alcohol can be a huge problem. If a teen wants to get ahold of a bottle of beer or liquor, whether ashore or at sea, there's very little standing in their way. Although it is clearly illegal and against every company policy, there has never been a shortage of young adults willing to purchase alcoholic beverages for underaged teens aboard cruise ships. Sometimes they are merely looking for money, but sometimes they have wicked intentions. There have been several instances when boys in their early 20's have purchased a considerable amount of beer for underaged girls in our group of friends. After the girls were clearly intoxicated, the boys would then invite those girls back to their cabins. In those situations, I always felt uneasy to the point that I would not do anything to prevent them from going. In hindsight, I know I should have done something because at least one incident led to the sexual assault of a poor underaged girl I had gotten to know over the course of the cruise. It has been mentioned here before, but it cannot be stressed enough. Tell your daughter that it is never ok to go back to anyone's cabin, even with friends she "knows." In my experience, these predatory young men usually target smaller groups. Strength in numbers. The bigger the group of friends your daughter has, the better.

 

Another possible issue, depending on your own personal standpoint, is the issue of consensual intimate activity amongst teens. Hooking up, for better or worse, has become a central part of modern culture for many young adults, and it has found its way aboard cruise ships. That is not to say that all, or even the majority of, teens hook up on cruises. In my personal experience, a small minority engage in making out, and an even smaller number of older teens (16-18) engage in some form of intercourse. To be honest, this is consistent with teenage behavior ashore, but the ship provides many more opportunities and places to "get down," if that is what they intend to do. For example, the upper aft decks of RCI's largest ships usually have a few teen couples making out late at night. Obviously you cannot stop your daughter from working around any rules you impose, but the best way to limit these additional opportunities is to enforce strict rules regarding where she should be at certain times of the day.

 

Again, my personal experiences regarding child pornography and sexual assault aren't typical, but I hope they will serve as useful warnings about the possible risks that teens may face while at sea. Being vigilant and setting a few strict rules with your daughter will go a long way to help prevent the worse from happening to you.

[artist47]

As a young man who did many cruises as a teen, I think I can give you some insight into the possible dangers your daughter could face if she does not remain vigilant. You should know that my experiences are far from typical, and represent some of the worst incidents that can occur to children.

 

You shouldn't automatically assume that your daughter will be safe in the teens club. A Cunard child supervisor was arrested several years ago and convicted on several counts of making, possessing, and distributing child pornography during his time working aboard QM2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. It's extremely unnerving as he was my supervisor on roughly a dozen cruises on Cunard ships. He was a bit off, and, in hindsight, he did take an unusually strong interest in certain children. I believe I know some of the children he sexually molested. The whole incident brought into perspective how lax the vetting process for child supervisors can be. The chances of this happening to your daughter are extremely low, but it nonetheless remains a possibility. If you or your daughter feel uncomfortable around the staff at the teens club, you shouldn't hesitate to voice your concerns.

 

Alcohol can be a huge problem. If a teen wants to get ahold of a bottle of beer or liquor, whether ashore or at sea, there's very little standing in their way. Although it is clearly illegal and against every company policy, there has never been a shortage of young adults willing to purchase alcoholic beverages for underaged teens aboard cruise ships. Sometimes they are merely looking for money, but sometimes they have wicked intentions. There have been several instances when boys in their early 20's have purchased a considerable amount of beer for underaged girls in our group of friends. After the girls were clearly intoxicated, the boys would then invite those girls back to their cabins. In those situations, I always felt uneasy to the point that I would not do anything to prevent them from going. In hindsight, I know I should have done something because at least one incident led to the sexual assault of a poor underaged girl I had gotten to know over the course of the cruise. It has been mentioned here before, but it cannot be stressed enough. Tell your daughter that it is never ok to go back to anyone's cabin, even with friends she "knows." In my experience, these predatory young men usually target smaller groups. Strength in numbers. The bigger the group of friends your daughter has, the better.

 

Another possible issue, depending on your own personal standpoint, is the issue of consensual intimate activity amongst teens. Hooking up, for better or worse, has become a central part of modern culture for many young adults, and it has found its way aboard cruise ships. That is not to say that all, or even the majority of, teens hook up on cruises. In my personal experience, a small minority engage in making out, and an even smaller number of older teens (16-18) engage in some form of intercourse. To be honest, this is consistent with teenage behavior ashore, but the ship provides many more opportunities and places to "get down," if that is what they intend to do. For example, the upper aft decks of RCI's largest ships usually have a few teen couples making out late at night. Obviously you cannot stop your daughter from working around any rules you impose, but the best way to limit these additional opportunities is to enforce strict rules regarding where she should be at certain times of the day.

 

Again, my personal experiences regarding child pornography and sexual assault aren't typical, but I hope they will serve as useful warnings about the possible risks that teens may face while at sea. Being vigilant and setting a few strict rules with your daughter will go a long way to help prevent the worse from happening to you.

 

Your post should be a "sticky" and pasted to the cabin door of every passenger who has children aboard. Thank you for posting this.

 

I have a daughter, and she grew up on cruises...however, she also grew up with a fierce mother. I completely agree with everything you said. My daughter, if she were on this board, would also agree. I have heard her stories, and they aren't very confidence inspiring. But thanks to her grandfather, and to my (forced) training, she is now a college student who teaches classes in Krav Maga. I cannot say how thankful I am to you for posting this...you are absolutely right and I did not have it in mind, when I first read the OP.

 

As an aside: Please let me say, stop feeling guilty about that one particular incident. Couda, woulda, shoulda. All of us, at one time or another have missed the boat, or missed cues, or missed something that could have helped someone. You are not responsible for what happened, and you are not the perpetrator. You cannot be all things, to all people and certainly, although hindsight is 20/20, there may have been no avoiding the issue, even if you had said something. Please stop beating yourself up. You are a human being. Not god. Peace.

Edited February 11, 2014 by artist47

[karoo]

No-although on my last cruise out of Rome, some of the passengers from a local European culture were very threatening and aggressive. Would fly into rages, screaming, shouting, kicking, throwing things over very minor things. Not used to witnessing this behaviour and being female found it very threatening and scary.

[Barb Nahoumi]

When we arrived at roatan, the captain came on and said if you don't have a planned excursion then he recommends not getting off the ship. Pretty scary thing for them to say after arriving.

 

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The captain of the Pearl said the same thing to us, when we arrived in the Colombian port. This was on the Panama Canal cruise in 2009. Actually, our horse & buggy excursion in Cartagena, had a police escort.

[BlueJai]

I have never really felt scared while on board, and am thankful when I see all the security cameras around.

 

In port, the only times have been in Jamaica. Our first cruise stopped in Montego Bay - the very first port and the first time I saw armed guards in a 'shopping area'. I was so scared and couldn't wait to get back to the safety of the ship.

[sailingnut]

I usually cruise solo and never had a problem on a cruise~~the one time I went to San Juan~~I realize I should have never gone down the back streets at night looking at shops~~never, ever do that one again! I felt so safe when I was back on the ship! I guess I did not use much common sense with that one!:)