Violent Crime on Cruise Ships

[crewzr]

I am about to go on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal Princess in February and I am a little concerned, after seeing some alarming information online regarding violent crime on cruise ships.

 

Per the “Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act” (H.R. 3360), cruise ship companies are required to report crime statistics. I looked over the stats on the US Coast Guard website and saw that cruise companies reported MANY sexual assaults over the past couple of years, since H.R. 3360 was passed.

 

I’m not sure if all of the information below is accurate, but this is what I have found on online news reports and various other web pages:

 

- When you are on a cruise ship, you are under the laws of the country where the ship is registered (not the US). For example, the Royal Princess is registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. When we step on board the Royal Princess in February, the laws of Bermuda apply and the US has no jurisdiction regarding any crimes that are committed while the ship is out at sea.

 

- Cruise line employees are hired from non-US countries. Background checks are not part of the hiring process, so it is possible that many cruise ship employees have a criminal record.

 

- Most reported violent crimes on cruise ships are committed by ship employees.

 

- Although there is security personnel present, no REAL law enforcement is on board cruise ships while they are out at sea.

 

- The deadbolts on the cruise ship doors are pretty much useless, since a lot of ship employees have pass keys that will not only open stateroom doors, but will also bypass the deadbolts.

 

- Per several online news reports, few (if any) perpetrators of violent crime on cruise ships are prosecuted and convicted. In an online interview, one lawyer who specialized in dealing with cruise ships said that in his 30+ years in the business, he had only seen one cruise-related violent crime conviction. He stated that the perpetrators are often fired by the cruise line and returned to their home country, where they get off Scott-free. By the time that happens, it is impossible for US authorities to do anything about it. He said that cruise companies do this to avoid bad publicity.

 

Does anyone else out there have safety concerns? What are cruise companies doing to ensure the safety of their passengers? Considering the info above, can I be confident that my fiancé and I will be safe on our honeymoon cruise?

[Bryan&Roger]

60 something cruises later, cruising is safer than slipping in your shower. But then again, I'm a NOO YAWKER. Go and have fun.

JUST BRYAN:(

MENATSEA@AOL.COM

Legend 04/03 Coral Princess 10/03 Zenith 01/04 Brilliance of the Seas 04/04 Brilliance of the Seas 11/04 Golden Princess 05/05 Legend 05/05 Century 10/05 Voyager of the seas 10/05 Millie 12/05 Millie 12/05 Constellation 4/06 Constellation 4/06 Brilliance of the Seas 9/06 Legend 10/06 Island Princess 10/06 Insignia 3/07 Star Princess 09/07 Century 11/07 Star Princess 12/07 Coral Princess 12/07 Summit 3/08 Grand Princess 4/08 Caribbean Princess 10/08 Millie 12/08 Azamara 4/09 Island 6/09 Emerald Princess 7/09 Sapphire Princess 10/09 Sapphire Princess 10/09 Crown Princess 1/10 Diamond Princess 4/10 Crown Princess 7/10 Century 10/10 Mariner of the Seas 1/16-2/15 Round the horn QE2 3/11 CARRIBBEAN Princess 5/11 GEM 2/12,SUNBOAT lll, NILE, 3/17/12,ALLURE OTS 4/22/12,CARIB PRINCESS 5/3/12QUEEN MARY 2 6/10/12, SUN PRINCESS 7/8/12, QUEEN VIC 10/17/12 STAR PRINCESS, 12/05/12 ROUND THE HORN,EQUINOX 4/15/13 T/A , ROYAL PRINCESS 6/9/13, ROYAL PRINCESS 6/14/13, OCEAN PRINCESS 7/29/13, REFLECTION 09/30, QM2 11/19- TA,QM2 12/11, QM2 12/15-TA,

[Grandpaul]

We have been on 77 cruises on NCL, Princess, Celebrity, Royal Carib, and even Carnival. So that number of cruises would tell you we are happy cruisers. I have only seen one episode of what I would call "bad behavior". It was a guy at a blackjack table and he had a few too many. We have no concerns as far as safety. My wife travels around the ships on her own a lot and feels the same. We just came off a cruise and have 2 more booked so we feel very safe. Have a great honeymoon.

[beachbum53]

While there is no vacation area, on land or at sea, that is 100% crime free, I would be willing to bet that a cruise is the safest (in regards to crime) vacation that you could take. I'm sure that you could find crime statistics for anywhere that you would go on a honeymoon and/or vacation. Take the same precautions that you would take anywhere else that you would go. Don't make yourself a target. Keep your valuables locked up. While visiting a port, don't carry large sums of money with you. Basically, just use common sense. Relax and enjoy your cruise. Of much greater concern is the likelihood that you'll become addicted to cruising. And that's not a bad addiction to have.:)

[wwcruisers]

IMHO, there is a lot of sensationalizing by the media (and some websites) of crime stats on cruise lines. That being said, yes, crimes do occur at sea -- and in port -- and at home. The best advice I can give a new cruiser is to pack your common sense, just as you (hopefully) would when visiting a new city, on vacation. I think some folks get a false sense of security on a ship, and it leads them to do things that they otherwise would not (the infamous George Smith incident on RC comes to mind). Always be aware of your surroundings, lock your door, don't leave your valuables unattended -- and remember: drunk and stupid don't mix, at sea or on land! ;)

[Langley Cruisers]

Umm, wow - OK, well, I won't minimize your concern but I will add that I feel safer on a cruise ship than on land. The reason? While there can be and still is some crime on cruise ships, consider that each passenger has potentially paid hundreds or thousands of dollars to be there. Not so on land where anyone could break into your home or hotel room. A cruise is for vacation - people choose to be there.

 

Please don't overthink this and talk yourself out of a wonderful vacation. There are enough things to worry about in every day-to-day life; this should not be one of them.

 

Best to you.

.

[srlafleur]

With many cruises under my belt, I have never felt threatened on a cruise ship, in any way whatsoever. I'm pretty cavalier about wandering around the ship, freely and unescorted. I also feel pretty comfortable wandering around NYC, Boston, Rome, Barcelona, Venice and anywhere else I go (though I'm sensibly cautious and aware of my surroundings, of course).

I refuse to let myself be "bullied" out of enjoying life, by mere statistics.

Relax and enjoy your cruise.

Edited December 26, 2013 by srlafleur

[Tom47]

Hi

All cruise ships require all passengers to go thru airport style security--empty your pockets, hand baggage, thru x-ray etc. No weapons can be brought on board. Checked bags are also x-rayed.

There is a website that tracks crime/disasters on cruise ships http://www.cruisejunkie.com

We prefer Celebrity and have never been on Princess.

Tom:)

[fishycomics]

Is it a crime to Smile?

 

:)

 

 

[Kamloops50]

I am about to go on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal Princess in February and I am a little concerned, after seeing some alarming information online regarding violent crime on cruise ships.

 

Per the “Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act” (H.R. 3360), cruise ship companies are required to report crime statistics. I looked over the stats on the US Coast Guard website and saw that cruise companies reported MANY sexual assaults over the past couple of years, since H.R. 3360 was passed.

 

I’m not sure if all of the information below is accurate, but this is what I have found on online news reports and various other web pages:

 

- When you are on a cruise ship, you are under the laws of the country where the ship is registered (not the US). For example, the Royal Princess is registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. When we step on board the Royal Princess in February, the laws of Bermuda apply and the US has no jurisdiction regarding any crimes that are committed while the ship is out at sea.

 

- Cruise line employees are hired from non-US countries. Background checks are not part of the hiring process, so it is possible that many cruise ship employees have a criminal record.

 

- Most reported violent crimes on cruise ships are committed by ship employees.

 

- Although there is security personnel present, no REAL law enforcement is on board cruise ships while they are out at sea.

 

- The deadbolts on the cruise ship doors are pretty much useless, since a lot of ship employees have pass keys that will not only open stateroom doors, but will also bypass the deadbolts.

 

- Per several online news reports, few (if any) perpetrators of violent crime on cruise ships are prosecuted and convicted. In an online interview, one lawyer who specialized in dealing with cruise ships said that in his 30+ years in the business, he had only seen one cruise-related violent crime conviction. He stated that the perpetrators are often fired by the cruise line and returned to their home country, where they get off Scott-free. By the time that happens, it is impossible for US authorities to do anything about it. He said that cruise companies do this to avoid bad publicity.

 

Does anyone else out there have safety concerns? What are cruise companies doing to ensure the safety of their passengers? Considering the info above, can I be confident that my fiancé and I will be safe on our honeymoon cruise?

 

If you have been looking at the "Cruise law " site I would take what is said with a grain of salt . He makes his money by suing the cruise lines.

His view is biased even if the facts later prove him wrong.

[chengkp75]

I am about to go on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal Princess in February and I am a little concerned, after seeing some alarming information online regarding violent crime on cruise ships.

 

Per the “Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act” (H.R. 3360), cruise ship companies are required to report crime statistics. I looked over the stats on the US Coast Guard website and saw that cruise companies reported MANY sexual assaults over the past couple of years, since H.R. 3360 was passed. These are now required to be all complaints of crime, not necessarily all that are valid, let alone those prosecuted. And the percentages are nearly all much lower than in the US generally.

 

I’m not sure if all of the information below is accurate, but this is what I have found on online news reports and various other web pages:Hopefully you are not basing your decisions on what is posted by Walker on the Cruise Law News page. He is notorious for distorting facts.

 

- When you are on a cruise ship, you are under the laws of the country where the ship is registered (not the US). For example, the Royal Princess is registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. When we step on board the Royal Princess in February, the laws of Bermuda apply and the US has no jurisdiction regarding any crimes that are committed while the ship is out at sea. Not completely true. The FBI has some jurisdiction in cases involving US citizens, and a few other instances, but as far as your "rights as a US citizen", many no longer apply

 

- Cruise line employees are hired from non-US countries. Background checks are not part of the hiring process, so it is possible that many cruise ship employees have a criminal record. Pretty much true, but it is not in the cruise line's best interest to have these types aboard.

 

- Most reported violent crimes on cruise ships are committed by ship employees.Won't go that far. There was at least one case this year, in Alaska if I remember, where a passenger sexually assaulted another passenger.

 

- Although there is security personnel present, no REAL law enforcement is on board cruise ships while they are out at sea. This is true, but most of the cruise line security have some prior law enforcement background.

 

- The deadbolts on the cruise ship doors are pretty much useless, since a lot of ship employees have pass keys that will not only open stateroom doors, but will also bypass the deadbolts. Not sure about Princess, but this is not something I would generalize to all ships. I know that NCL has master key cards for emergency evacutations that are stored in the Hotel Director's safe and given out in emergencies.

 

- Per several online news reports, few (if any) perpetrators of violent crime on cruise ships are prosecuted and convicted. In an online interview, one lawyer who specialized in dealing with cruise ships said that in his 30+ years in the business, he had only seen one cruise-related violent crime conviction. He stated that the perpetrators are often fired by the cruise line and returned to their home country, where they get off Scott-free. By the time that happens, it is impossible for US authorities to do anything about it. He said that cruise companies do this to avoid bad publicity. To some extent, this is true, as with Disney this year, but generally this causes a lot of bad PR as well, which the lines want to avoid.

 

Does anyone else out there have safety concerns? What are cruise companies doing to ensure the safety of their passengers? Considering the info above, can I be confident that my fiancé and I will be safe on our honeymoon cruise?

 

I would say that you will be safer on your cruise than at many overseas resorts. Crime can happen anytime, anywhere. Remember, the crew are earning what is generally a middle class income in their home countries, and are more interested in doing anything necessary to keep the job, rather than jeopardize it by committing a crime onboard.

[Kamloops50]

Hi

All cruise ships require all passengers to go thru airport style security--empty your pockets, hand baggage, thru x-ray etc. No weapons can be brought on board. Checked bags are also x-rayed.

There is a website that tracks crime/disasters on cruise ships www.cruisejunkie.com

We prefer Celebrity and have never been on Princess.

Tom:)

 

I have never had to do what is mentioned above. Yes you go thru a metal detector and bags are xrayed , I've never emptied my pocks ,or taken shoes off.

Some of the security officers are former military personnel mainly MP's , Rangers or something similar.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Kamloops50

[Keith1010]

I feel more safe on cruise ships then any other place I can think of other than sitting in my own home.

 

Keith

[MSN-Travelers]

I am about to go on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal Princess in February and I am a little concerned, after seeing some alarming information online regarding violent crime on cruise ships.

 

....

 

Does anyone else out there have safety concerns? What are cruise companies doing to ensure the safety of their passengers? Considering the info above, can I be confident that my fiancé and I will be safe on our honeymoon cruise?

 

The crime rate for rape on a cruise ships is 82% less than rate for on land in the US and the rate for violent assault is 98.8% less aboard ship than on land in the US. If you are going to focus purely on statistics, you are much safer taking your honeymoon on a cruise ship than you are taking one on land.

 

Not trying to minimize being the victim of a crime anywhere but . . . Just curious . . . what prompted this sudden concern?

 

Enjoy!

Edited December 26, 2013 by MSN-Travelers

[garyj4]

I am about to go on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal Princess in February and I am a little concerned, after seeing some alarming information online regarding violent crime on cruise ships.

...

 

We went on one cruise with NCL. We did not see or hear of any violence on the cruise. We did see a few people who were intoxicated, but the staff was right there to defuse any issues.

 

We felt completely safe on the cruise ship and most of the ports of call. Just use common sense and you should be fine.

 

Enjoy.

[cb at sea]

You are just as likely to be a victim of crime at home, or in a hotel, as on a cruise.

 

If you are too worried, this won't be the vacation for you.

[aaronteach]

I am about to go on my honeymoon cruise on the Royal Princess in February and I am a little concerned, after seeing some alarming information online regarding violent crime on cruise ships.

 

Per the “Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act” (H.R. 3360), cruise ship companies are required to report crime statistics. I looked over the stats on the US Coast Guard website and saw that cruise companies reported MANY sexual assaults over the past couple of years, since H.R. 3360 was passed.

 

I’m not sure if all of the information below is accurate, but this is what I have found on online news reports and various other web pages:

 

- When you are on a cruise ship, you are under the laws of the country where the ship is registered (not the US). For example, the Royal Princess is registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. When we step on board the Royal Princess in February, the laws of Bermuda apply and the US has no jurisdiction regarding any crimes that are committed while the ship is out at sea.

 

- Cruise line employees are hired from non-US countries. Background checks are not part of the hiring process, so it is possible that many cruise ship employees have a criminal record.

 

- Most reported violent crimes on cruise ships are committed by ship employees.

 

- Although there is security personnel present, no REAL law enforcement is on board cruise ships while they are out at sea.

 

- The deadbolts on the cruise ship doors are pretty much useless, since a lot of ship employees have pass keys that will not only open stateroom doors, but will also bypass the deadbolts.

 

- Per several online news reports, few (if any) perpetrators of violent crime on cruise ships are prosecuted and convicted. In an online interview, one lawyer who specialized in dealing with cruise ships said that in his 30+ years in the business, he had only seen one cruise-related violent crime conviction. He stated that the perpetrators are often fired by the cruise line and returned to their home country, where they get off Scott-free. By the time that happens, it is impossible for US authorities to do anything about it. He said that cruise companies do this to avoid bad publicity.

 

Does anyone else out there have safety concerns? What are cruise companies doing to ensure the safety of their passengers? Considering the info above, can I be confident that my fiancé and I will be safe on our honeymoon cruise?

 

My husband & I have been on quite a few cruises, and have never had a problem with crime. In fact, the security team on board are very responsible and mindful of the comfort of the passengers. On our first cruise (Carnival), some teenagers were jumping in the deck pool, using foul language, etc. The security guy asked them to stop, but they ignored him. Eventually, they left the pool area. They next day, the kids weren't by the pool. We asked a pool steward about them and were told that they had been taken off the ship and had to make their way back home on their own. On another cruise (Celebrity Alaska repositioning), we were leaving San Francisco when the ship suddently stopped and turned back to the port. We heard later that a woman got beligerent in the dining room and was taken off of the ship. You have to realize that the ship had to redock, they had to close the casinos and shops, etc.

 

We have never experienced a feeling of danger on ships. I feel more safe there than perhaps walking down a street in any town or city here. Even on excursions, the leaders are very safety conscious. Whenever I read about someone falling off of a ship, I think--too much alcolhol and acting outrageously. Relax and enjoy yourself. Cruising is a great way to travel and see the world.

[icat2000]

More likely to die or be injured in a car accident that suffer a violent crime-related incident on cruise ship.

Edited December 26, 2013 by icat2000

[spookwife]

Does anyone else out there have safety concerns? What are cruise companies doing to ensure the safety of their passengers? Considering the info above, can I be confident that my fiancé and I will be safe on our honeymoon cruise?

 

 

you are as safe there as you are in any large city or any all inclusive resort in Mexico

 

yes it happens. practice the same precautions as you would in any foreign country.

Edited December 26, 2013 by spookwife

[laurav]

I have cruised over 75 times and have never once experienced anything closely resembling a crime (well maybe a bad meal that bordered on criminal).

 

You are safer on a cruise ship that you probably are in your own community. Literally MILLIONS of people cruise all over the world every year and the statistics regarding reported crimes aboard ships show that they are truly few and far between. You also should be aware that if you were to go on a land vacation to Mexico, Europe, Canada or any other foreign country you would also be subject to the laws of that country.

 

I am sure you realize that the press does like to SENSATIONALIZE anything they can and that things do happen everywhere but if/when they happen on a cruise ship it is just that much more sensational.

 

As with anything you do in life you have to practice good judgment and care and don't put yourself in harms way. When you are on shore practice the same habits that you would anywhere in the states; be aware of your surroundings, don't flash jewelry and wads of cash, don't get drunk and disorderly and treat people with respect and kindness.

 

You will thoroughly enjoy your honeymoon on the Royal Princess and congratulations!

Edited December 26, 2013 by laurav

[Hlitner]

One must carefully analyze statistics. There are about 3 million cruisers per month and in most months the number of reported sexual assaults is usually no more then 2 or 3. So that is about one "reported" sexual assault per million cruisers. And some of those "reported" assaults are crew against crew. I put the word "reported" in quotes because that is what the statistics represent. Not all reported sexual crimes actually happen...as anyone in law enforcement can attest. So lets assume you live in a city of a million folks where there is one "reported" assault in a month. Would you be concerned about your own safety?

 

Hank

[dsrdsrdsr]

- When you are on a cruise ship, you are under the laws of the country where the ship is registered (not the US). For example, the Royal Princess is registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. When we step on board the Royal Princess in February, the laws of Bermuda apply and the US has no jurisdiction regarding any crimes that are committed while the ship is out at sea.

 

- Cruise line employees are hired from non-US countries. Background checks are not part of the hiring process, so it is possible that many cruise ship employees have a criminal record.

 

Your contract is under US law, so if anyone commits a violent crime against you, you can still sue. Besides, the laws of Bermuda also prohibit violent crime; and crime against Americans is (as I understand it) a crime in the USA even if it happens abroad, so as soon as the ship docks in the USA, the perpetrator can be arrested.

 

As for the second one, if you think about it, you'll know it's rubbish. Cruise lines pay the highest wages going in their recruitment areas. Why would they hire any old bum off the streets? They can afford the best available crew, so they hire the best available.

[Lerin]

 

Does anyone else out there have safety concerns?

No.

 

Use the same precautions you would anywhere and you will probably be fine. :cool:

Life is too short to worry that the boogeyman is lurking around every corner.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Lerin

[sherilyn70]

Per the “Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act” (H.R. 3360), cruise ship companies are required to report crime statistics. I looked over the stats on the US Coast Guard website and saw that cruise companies reported MANY sexual assaults over the past couple of years, since H.R. 3360 was passed.

"Many" is a very subjective term. What are you definining as "many"? 100 reported over the course of 1 year, 2 years, 5 years? On how many cruise lines total? 100 out of 5,000,000 is very statistically low so it needs to be put into proper perspective.

 

I read about a procedure being done to me on wiki... found that there has been 96 instances report over 5 years with 4% ending in death. That means nothing until you know how many were performed in general. I got to the hospital, found out they do 100 a year just in their facility... multiply that across all the major hospitals in each state and the number becomes extremely miniscule. A number of reported instances means very little unless you have the number of total people that could have had an issue given along with it.

[crewzr]

... Not trying to minimize being the victim of a crime anywhere but . . . Just curious . . . what prompted this sudden concern?

 

Honestly, what prompted the concern was when I went to Youtube and typed in "cruise ship crime". Watching all of the news reports about women and minors being raped by crew members and people disappearing without a trace off cruise ships... well, that was enough to get me worried.

 

You are just as likely to be a victim of crime at home, or in a hotel, as on a cruise.

 

Yes and no. At home, I have a deadbolt that no one else has a key to. On a cruise ship, staff members have pass keys that will bypass the deadbolt.

 

I have cruised over 75 times and have never once experienced anything closely resembling a crime (well maybe a bad meal that bordered on criminal).

 

You are safer on a cruise ship that you probably are in your own community. Literally MILLIONS of people cruise all over the world every year and the statistics regarding reported crimes aboard ships show that they are truly few and far between. You also should be aware that if you were to go on a land vacation to Mexico, Europe, Canada or any other foreign country you would also be subject to the laws of that country.

 

I am sure you realize that the press does like to SENSATIONALIZE anything they can and that things do happen everywhere but if/when they happen on a cruise ship it is just that much more sensational.

 

...

 

You will thoroughly enjoy your honeymoon on the Royal Princess and congratulations!

 

Thanks! and yes... I definitely realize that the media tries to sensationalize things just to get higher ratings.

 

Based on a number of the responses here, I think some of you may have misunderstood my concerns. I understand that luggage is scanned and there is proper pre-boarding security, so other passengers are a non-issue. I'm not worried about them.

 

Any concern I would have would be sharing a ship with hundreds of employees of questionable origin, who have not been properly screened by a criminal background check, who can bypass my stateroom's deadbolt with their passkey.

 

Also, in the event any of them commit a crime, they are often sent back to their home country by the cruise line before US authorities can get ahold of them... All in the name of preventing bad publicity for the cruise line (having violent crime convictions on their crews' records).

 

Yes, I understand that statistically it is unlikely that crime will occur, but I think my concerns are valid. I saw proof of that in the online news broadcasts, reporting stories of women and children being raped by crew members who had passkeys, entering locked staterooms. Even if they are rare, these crimes DO indeed occur and can be life-changing.

 

Will this affect my decision to cruise? Absolutely not! But I do think that it is something that we all need to be cognisant of.

 

...As with anything you do in life you have to practice good judgment and care and don't put yourself in harms way. When you are on shore practice the same habits that you would anywhere in the states; be aware of your surroundings, don't flash jewelry and wads of cash, don't get drunk and disorderly and treat people with respect and kindness...

 

I couldn't agree more. While in an unfamiliar area, you need to exercise caution and stay aware of your surroundings. I see a lot of people on this thread downplaying the dangers with an "it couldn't possibly happen to me" attitude. Well, it is just that very same false sense of security that victims are made of.