Cruise safety?

Question

I told my friend that I was going on a cruise. She seemed somewhat bitter. She then proceeds to tell me that a cruise ship recently sank ... going to the same place I am. I'm not scared, I'm going on the ship and if I'm destined to die, I'm completely cool with that. I just can't seem to find any information on this "ship" that supposedly sank a month ago near Alaska. Is she just trying to scare me? (Key word : TRYING)

Answer 1

The closest I could find was a ship that sunk in November 2007.  However, that was on the other side of the earth, since it sunk in Antarctica.  Here is a link to the MSNCB story ...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21935099/

Note that no lives were lost ...

but all 154 passengers and crew, Americans and Britons among them, took to lifeboats and were plucked to safety by a passing cruise ship

Answer 2

first of all... I never heard of any cruise ships (besides the titanic of course) sinking. Also, even if it did sink they have great evacuation plans. The only thing you have to worry about is getting sick from the food court.

HINT HINT... DON'T GO TO THE FOOD COURT. if you do get there before anyone else, i would just avoid it all together. Besides that.... have fun!!! :)

Answer 3

Here's why you shouldn't worry: cruise ships that sail from or to US waters are regulated by the US Coast Guard, which inspects ships on a regular basis to make sure they are extremely safe.

It's true that in the past five years a ship that sank in Antarctica (no one was hurt), and another in Greece (two people did die). But both were NOT major cruise lines (both were fairly shady lines that don't even advertise in the US).  Stick to a big US line in a US area like the Caribbean, Mexico, or Alasak and you'll be totally fine.  

On government regulations (including Coast Guard inspections):

http://www.cruisesavvy.com/savvyguide/in...

On safety in general:

http://www.cruisesavvy.com/savvyguide/in...

BTW, if this is your first cruise, you might want to check out the Savvy Guide to cruises.  It explains a lot of this stuff including what to "know before you go":

http://www.cruisesavvy.com/savvyguide

Answer 4

OH!! don't tell me that!

My boyfriend is on a cruise right now!! :/

I hope she was just trying to scare you!

Answer 5

http://www.cruise-reviews.com/cruise_adv...

Answer 6

Ok cruise ships have been in accidents.  Mostly in NOrway there was one I think,  danger in them is being thrown overboard by your jealous boyfriend or getting poisoned or catching disease.  It is dangerous cos you are in an enclosed trapped place if you do not mind all this ...think this can happen even on land anyway..it is up to you.

Answer 7

I've been on cruises myself and I'm still alive.  Just go through the drills, pay attention to what the crew says about your vests and the boats and you should have nothing to worry about.  I'm not aware of what she's talking about but I know their have been some cruise ship accidents in the past 5 years.  Just like car accidents can happen, cruises can have their own problems as well.  It's a risk but it's very rare and I would just go on vacation and have a nice time. =)

Answer 8

I think she's just making it up because it has been a long time since any cruise liner sank near Alaska. She's just probably jealous because you're going on a cruise because you're awesome.

Answer 9

This is from CNN on Nov. 24, 2007:

More than 150 passengers and crew aboard a sinking ship in the Antarctic, which is believed to have collided with an iceberg, have been rescued to safety, officials said.

The Explorer finally slipped beneath the waves Friday evening, about 20 hours after the predawn accident near Antarctica's South Shetland Islands, the Chilean navy confirmed.

No injuries have been reported among those rescued after being forced to abandon the sinking vessel and travel on lifeboats in sub-zero temperatures.

The Norwegian cruise ship MS Nord Norge took the stranded passengers and crew on board, said a spokesman for Gap Adventures, which owns the sinking vessel.

The Nord Norge is now heading to King George Island, the nearest point, in the South Shetlands, the spokesman added.

Passenger ship Explorer reported problems near the South Shetland Islands, south of Argentina. The area is in a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom.  

The ship was on the 12th day of a 19-day tour of the southern Atlantic and Antarctic Peninsula.

It had already been to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and was on its way to the Danco Coast, on the peninsula's tip, when the incident happened.

Capt. Carlos Munita of the Chilean navy said they received a distress call from the Explorer, saying the vessel had hit an iceberg around 10 p.m. ET Thursday.

But Gap Adventures spokeswoman Susan Hayes said it was not an iceberg but a "submerged piece of ice."

The Explorer, which carries a Liberian flag, had a number of different nationalities on board including 24 Britons, 17 Dutch, 14 Americans, 12 Canadian and 10 Australians, Gap Adventures said.

Other nationalities include Argentineans, Belgians, Chinese, Danes, French, Irish, Japanese, Swiss, Colombian, Swedes and Germans.

John Warner, a spokesman for Gap Adventures, said the captain and chief officer initially stayed on the ship to make sure everyone was evacuated and to see if they could repair the damage, but they later abandoned the ship.

British Coast Guard spokesman Fred Caygill told The Associated Press the ship had a hole "the size of a fist" in the hull.

"We believed it has been hulled, it has a hole the size of a fist and some cracking in the hull of the ship, it's taking water and it's listing about 21 degrees," he said.

The temperature in the area is said to be at around minus 5C, with a sea temperature at around minus 1C, forecasters told the Press Association.

Stephen Davenport, senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, said:"It wouldn't take long for hypothermia to set in at that kind of temperature in the sea.

"They do get very bad storms down that way, and gale force winds especially, because there is no land in the way," he told PA.

Lt. Matt Alex from the US Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center said the boat is owned by Gap Adventures, based in Toronto, Canada. E-mail to a friend

Answer 10

She's just mad she can't go, maybe she spent all her money on something esle.  I don't know if a ship sank but it wouldn't matter with her either way.

Answer 11

The odds against anything happening is remote. Relax and enjoy your trip....if you can.

Answer 12

It depends how the weather is at that place, at the time you are going. Also, if a cruise ship sinks somewhere where you are going, you are most likey sailing on a different cruise trip. I have been on many cruises before. Don't worry.

Answer 13

To put it simply, the ship will not sink.

You have nothing to worry about.

Have fun

Answer 14

No offense, but your friend seems a bit jealous of you. I've been on a cruise, and it is amazing. The chances of it sinking is slim to none. I heard about that cruise ship also, but I'm not sure where you could find the story.

Have a great time!!

Answer 15

Kind of and kind of not,

recently I heard a cruise ship sank but It was near th carribean not anywhere close to alaska. also it wasn't a big cruise it held about 250 people.You dont have to worry im pretty sure she is scarring you.

Answer 16

You can't find it becuase it was in Antartica and it was a small cruise ship. If you are going to Alaska you will be on a bigger ship. They do a safety drill at the beginning of every single cruise and there is enough boats for everyone to get off safely.

here is a website for that sinking

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/1...

Answer 17

What was the ships name? Cruise line? Make a few inquiries and figure it out yourself. I have bee on 3 cruises and going on another this next April. I FEEL COMPLETELY SAFE ON A SHIP.

Answer 18

Yes, the likely hood of a ship sinking is just plain way too...toooooo........tooooooooooooo low. There is always the possibllity of disaster, but you seem perfectly ready so GO ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!

PS: I didn't find anything about the sunkin ship either!

Answer 19

just  relax it!!!!!

Answer 20

I went on a cruise and had the time of my life.  I cant wait to go on another one.  We no longer live in the Titanic ages.  Cruises are very safe, like a floating city and any intances with them are very rare.  I think she is jealous and is trying to scare you.

Answer 21

let me just tell u i think they are pretty safe and she is just mad u get to go on a cruise. they are awesome!!!!!!i have been and i think 5 with my family and they are pretty safe to me

Answer 22

I never heard of that sank ship...Id be more worried of having things stolen while on the ship..This happens a lot. Other then that try not to loose all your money gambeling and have fun!