How safe are cruise ships?

Words by Samantha Priestley

The quick answer is, cruise ships are very safe. The bigger cruise ships, especially, are like floating mini cities, with doctors, security officers, CCTV and fire officers onboard. Staff are highly trained in safety procedures, and cruise lines are regulated by the International Maritime Organisation, meaning they must all follow the same strict cruise ship safety rules.

Of course, incidents do occur. Considering the vast numbers of people cruising every year all over the world, accidents and issues are bound to crop up. But it’s good to know that, when they do, your cruise ship is ready for them.

When an acrylic glass panel broke on a water slide on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in 2025, it went viral after passengers filmed the slide gushing with water from the gap after a guest had used it and suffered an injury. Yes, sometimes accidents do happen, though something like this is incredibly rare.

It’s more likely a passenger will take a tumble down some stairs and suffer a few bumps and bruises than anything more serious. But, in the event of an injury occurring, doctors and medical staff are available, and the medical centre on your ship is staffed 24 hours a day to support passengers’ safety on cruises.

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It’s easy to see how much security has tightened on cruise ships over the years. From the moment you get onboard and go through airport-style checks, to the strict swiping of your key card every time you disembark and embark, security is a top priority.

“Passengers will probably notice onboard security measures, including CCTV, security personnel, and restricted-access areas,” says Mark Barton, cruise expert at Avanti Travel Insurance. “And if something does go wrong, cruise lines have well-established incident response protocols coordinated with maritime authorities.”

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A good example of how seriously cruise ships take security is the 2025 incident at Southampton when there was a bomb threat near the cruise terminal. P&O’s Ventura was docked at the terminal at the time, with passengers still arriving to board.

The captain made the decision to evacuate the ship, which caused some frustration amongst passengers, especially when it turned out to be no real threat. But cruise ship staff can’t be too careful and must always follow strict safety protocols at sea.

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For anyone who watched the Netflix documentary, The Poop Cruise, which takes us through the aftermath of a fire onboard Carnival Triumph in 2013, fires on cruise ships are an alarming thought. In this particular incident, the fire resulted in a loss of power, which caused sewage to flow all over the ship. Gross, but the incident did lead to improved safety measures on cruise ships, meaning it’s extremely unlikely to ever happen again.

One of the first things covered in the documentary was the call for all passengers to go to their muster station, and it was surprising how many people didn’t know where that was. “Before departure, passengers take part in a mandatory muster drill, so they know where the emergency station is and what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency,” says Barton. “Cruises operate with advanced navigation, fire detection, and safety systems.” So make sure you identify your station next time you’re onboard!

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Thankfully, the days of the Titanic disaster, when there weren’t enough lifeboats for all the passengers, are well and truly over. “Lifeboats and life rafts are available for every passenger and crew member, and the crew regularly trains for all types of emergency scenarios,” says Barton.

Lifeboats are located on the deck, on the sides of the ship. As mentioned, it’s important that every passenger attends the muster drill, which takes place soon after you’ve boarded. Even regular cruisers must attend the drill, which covers how to properly put on and wear your life jacket, where your muster station is, and what to do in the unlikely event of an evacuation – a vital part of cruise ship safety procedures.

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Although it does happen on rare occasions, it’s very difficult to fall from a cruise ship. Barriers are high and you can’t fall overboard unless you’re climbing on those barriers. On the rare occasions this does happen, staff know what to do. When a child fell from a Disney cruise after sitting on the railings, and her father jumped in to save her, both were quickly picked up by the tender boat and returned to the ship.

At Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay Island, a passenger was walking along the pier filming the ship on his phone when he walked straight off the edge and into the water. He was immediately picked up by a jet ski. Falling overboard is not a regular occurrence, but staff are highly trained and know how to respond if they need to – reinforcing the safety of cruise ships.

Safety concerns are most likely going to be minor and if you do have concerns during your cruise, you can speak to guest services. Most issues can be resolved onboard and creating an official record helps if you need to follow up later.