After the captain gave severe instructions on what should have been a leisurely vacation, cruise ship passengers found themselves in a peculiar scenario.
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.
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.
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 announcement has been making the rounds on social media, with many people commenting on how surprised they were by it.
According to one TikTok user, “Well, that sounds terrifying.”
“Not really, it’s just safety precautions, the risk is very low,” the TikToker retorted.
Another said, “Idk why but every time I hear about real life pirates I’m always shocked/amazed that they really exist.”
A third added, “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.”
And another commented, “To be honest, if a cruise or passenger vessel was attacked by Pirates, the response from naval vessels would be swift and sudden, moreso than if it was a regular merchant vessel.”
Although ships frequently take measures, genuine cruise ship attacks are uncommon because pirates usually target container ships and oil tankers.
A spokesperson for Cunard has since told Business Insider: “As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions.”
“There was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and our onboard experience remained uninterrupted.”
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