Is cruising still safe-

Bill Ooten / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: May 9, 2007

The subject of cruise line safety continues to spawn much debate as reports of incidents on board cruise vessels continue to circulate. Disappearances, onboard illness, reports of criminal activity and human error resulting in passenger injury seem to have convinced a lot of people that cruising is no longer a safe option for vacationers. But, has cruising really become all that unsafe- And, do the numbers of reported incidents warrant a closer examination into the practices and procedures on board cruise ships-

Perhaps a look at some actual statistics and facts about cruise line travel can actually help with that determination.
During the three-year period ending in December of 2005 the cruise industry as a whole reported having carried a total of 31 million passengers. During this three-year period a total of 182 crimes and 24 disappearances were reported. Of the 24 disappearances, 12 were judged to be suicides and one was ruled an accidental death. The causes of the 11 other disappearances still remain unknown due to a lack of any sort of evidence. As for the 182 crimes reported, one must still look at the number of crimes versus the number of total passengers in order to gain a clear statistic perspective about the actual level of criminal activity on board cruise vessels for that period. Based on the number of total passengers, the actual cruise ship crime rate was at one per 200,000 passengers- far lower than the rate of 465.5 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants of the United States.

No matter what benchmark is used, the actual number of reported incidents of serious crime from cruise lines is still extremely low. It is also important to note that the most serious incidents reported have involved the excessive consumption of alcohol.

So, what this all means statistically, is that the average person is much more likely to be the victim of an accident or crime while driving to the grocery store in his or her own hometown than they are on a cruise ship. Why then, do we continue to see so much debate and attention over cruise line safety- Many have simply concluded that the recent increase in media attention has contributed to greater suspicions of inefficiency and lax security measures on the part of the cruise lines.

As for the reports and attention given to the outbreaks of onboard illness, one might need only to apply some fairly simple and reasonable logic in order to understand the reasons behind them. Remember that the number of incidents of illness, when compared to the vast number of passengers that cruise every year, is still very low.

The plain and simple truth is that large numbers of people in somewhat confined quarters are more likely to spread certain respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases from person-to- person contact. It may not be romantic, but it is still a simple fact of life.

Cruise ships are certainly not the only places where large groups of people are likely to get together in confined spaces, however. You are as much at risk of contracting an illness in a movie theatre, concert hall, airplane, nursing home, school or even a hospital. And since respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases tend to percolate a few days before any symptoms appear it seems to be a fairly logical assessment that one or a few passengers have actually brought these "illnesses" on board with them.

The cruise line can't prevent another passenger with the flu from coughing or sneezing around other passengers, nor can they be responsible for the sanitary habits of each individual on board.

If Bob, the vacuum salesman from Toledo, has a "stomach bug" and doesn't sanitize his hands before laying a big handshake on another passenger, we might simply assume that if that other passenger forgets to wash his or her own hands before they eat that they will catch "Bob's bug." If that scenario plays out a few more times on board, then several other passengers are also likely to catch the bug. There really is no mystery as to how 100 passengers might wind up ill during a cruise. But, is it really fair to blame the cruise line for such an outbreak- Think about it, do we blame our employers or ask for an investigation into the company every time someone inadvertently spreads a virus to some of their coworkers-

There is virtually no place on land or sea that is totally free of risk. There is crime, illness and potential danger wherever we go. You might bump into "Bob" and his stomach bug at the drug store, or at a five star resort in the Caribbean.

And there is nothing preventing an otherwise unidentified criminal from passing you on the street or even sitting next to you on the deck of a cruise ship. It is for this very reason that so many travel resources post personal safety tips for travelers. And though the statistics certainly don't support the idea that a traveler is at any more risk on board a cruise ship than any other vacation, individuals need to always remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings regardless of where they travel.

It is important for us to examine all of the facts carefully before we simply proclaim that something as a whole has become unsafe. If you're considering a cruise vacation and have specific questions or concerns about the security on board these vessels, take the time to contact a travel professional. They should be able to address all of your questions, and hopefully offer you a greater education on cruising in general.
 
Bill Ooten is a travel consultant for Battlefield Travel in downtown Culpeper. He can be reached at 825-1393 or .