Cruise ship passengers found themselves in a strange scenario after getting harsh instructions from the skipper on what should have been a peaceful holiday experience.
One of the true risks of traveling the world in a huge, opulent ship was revealed to passengers on Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise liner.
The ship recently sailed through the Sulu-Celebes Sea between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines, as part of a 111-night journey that began in Germany in January.
However, there are risks associated with doing so, and we’re not talking about rough seas or inclement weather.
Although cruise ships are renowned for their luxury, precautions must be made to shield passengers from unfavorable situations. (Image via Getty Stock)
The ship’s captain warned passengers that they would be operating at a “heightened level of security alertness” at one point during the voyage via a loudspeaker broadcast. This is due to the fact that they were traveling through piracy-prone areas.
In order to reduce the ship’s visibility, passengers were informed that the external promenade decks would be shuttered overnight and that only necessary open-deck lights would be left on.
Additionally, visitors were asked to keep their curtains drawn and to turn off their stateroom lights while not in use.
A guest’s video of the news has been making the rounds on social media.
A TikTok user commented, “Well, that sounds terrifying.” Another said, “I don’t know why, but every time I hear about real life pirates, I’m always shocked/amazed that they really exist.” A third said, “I used to work on a cruise ship and there are a few areas where you get piracy. We used to get a special security company that used to come onboard with g*ns when we go past Somalia. You’re safe.”
Although ships frequently take measures, genuine cruise ship attacks are uncommon because pirates usually target container ships and oil tankers.
Since then, a Cunard representative told Business Insider: “Our Captains may issue precautionary alerts when passing through specific zones as part of routine maritime procedures.
“The ship and its passengers were not in any particular danger, and our experience aboard remained unhindered.”
Getty Stock Image is the featured image.