17-03-2025
Cruise line shares pirate warning, Carnival faces delay
Pirates seem like something out of another time, but they remain an issue in certain parts of the world.
It's incredibly rare that a cruise ship faces a pirate attack, but that does not mean cruise lines don't monitor potentially dangerous situations. Cruise ships might change their route, engage with local military as a deterrent, or take other steps to make clear that pirates should stay away.
In some very rare cases these include taking preventative measure like closing outdoor decks at night.
"Exceptionally trained ship security personnel are on call 24/7," according to the Cruise Line International Association. "Major cruise lines have sophisticated security departments run by former federal, state, and military law enforcement officials and are staffed by competent, qualified security personnel.
"Every ship sailing to or from the U.S. must have at least one crew member on board specifically trained in crime prevention, detection, and reporting."
One cruise ship, however, had to take steps to avoid a potential pirate attack. Doug Parker has the full story and more on the March 17 Cruise News is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Over the weekend, passengers aboard Cunard's Queen Anne were warned to stay indoors overnight as the ship sailed through pirate-prone waters between Darwin, Australia, and up to Manila in the Philippines.
The captain advised guests to turn off balcony lights, keep curtains closed, and avoid outside decks through the overnight hours as a precaution.
The Sulu Sea region is known for piracy, with armed groups targeting ships in the region.
Now, while cruise ships are rarely attacked, ships do carry defense systems like water cannons and sound-based deterrents. Queen Anne is on its maiden world cruise, which began in January.
The last reported cruise ships to actually be attacked by pirates are the Seabourn Spirit in 05 and MSC Melody in 09, both off the coast of a storm system is delaying the departure of Carnival Sunshine from Norfolk. Now originally set to leave for a six-night cruise yesterday, the ship will now be leaving this morning due to strong winds and heavy rains.
Now, passengers boarded the ship as scheduled, but the delay does mean one less stop in the Bahamas. This is the second weather-related delay for Norfolk this year, with a similar incident happening last month.
And Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas has submitted its corrective action report to the CDC that's addressing the over 50 infractions following a recent health inspection.
In February, the ship narrowly avoided a failing grade, scoring just 86 out of 100. Below 86 is failing. Strikes against them included improper food storage, hygiene issues, and mishandling illness reports.
Improvements in the corrective action report ... included stricter illness protocols, enhanced food safety measures, and better sanitation procedures. The ship is currently sailing and had no delay to any voyages.
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Have yourself a great Monday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.
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