How safe are cruises really? I wanna go with my 4 yr old daughter and significant & want her to be safe.?

Question

How safe are cruises really? I wanna go with my 4 yr old daughter and significant & want her to be safe.?

Answer 1

How safe are you in your store, neighborhood or movie theater? If you feel comfortable but aware of universal dangers you will be just fine. Things to consider with a four year old are options like cabins with a balcony and the rating of the child centers on the ship.

Answer 2

I Have been on about 20 cruises with four different cruise lines and have never felt unsafe.  All of the cruise ships used these days have many more lifeboats than ships did years ago. And the first order of business before the ship even departs the port is a mandatory lifeboat drill.  Each cabin has enough life vests for every passenger and if there are children traveling in the cabin they provide a child's size life vest.

Cruise ships have taken added measures as a result of 9/11 and now do background checks with the FBI database on all passengers.  In addition, passengers must now provide their personal information, including passport number well in advance of the sail date.  The cruise lines must provide a passenger manifest to immigration officials an hour before the ship departs the port.  All baggage going on the ship is scanned the same as at airports and all carry on bags go through the same type scanner that the airports use.

No one boards the ship without positive ID and the cruise card that is issued to you contains a photograph that is taken at the pier when you check in.  Thus whenever you leave or enter the ship they have a scanner that records you leaving or returning and that record includes a current photo.   And they routinely require you to remove sunglasses and caps to make sure that you match the photo taken at check-in.

Many of the cruises that I have been on have included many kids of all ages.  Cruise lines know that passengers will include kids and thus they all have special programs for kids of all ages from 3 up to 17.  They have professionally trained staff person to supervise the kids in fun and games and in many cases there are special areas of the ship reserved specifically for kids.  

When you read about persons falling overboard its probably because they were doing something they should not have been doing and were also probably drunk.  Its virtually impossible to just fall over a ship's railings or balcony; unless you climb up or over.

I have never really even seen anyone injured on ship from a fall or any other accident.  I consider cruise ships to be perfectly safe, even more so than staying in  a hotel because NO ONE gets on or off the ship who is not authorized.

Answer 3

While cruise ships are really quite safe, double hulled and little chance of sinking, you really don't want to take your daughter on a cruise unless you are sailing on Disney. For a general cruiseline, like Carnival or Royal Caribbean, the child will be bored to tears and make your life miserable.

Answer 4

Going on a cruise is absolutely safe. There are enough lifeboats for everyone on each side, twice the amount necessary in case of the ship listing sideways. As far as security, everyone on board is there for the same reason, to have fun. The crew is very friendly and helpful. I feel safer on a cruise than anywhere else. Go ahead and go for it. Enjoy the experience of a lifetime. All cruise lines have excellent daycare and activities for children.

Bon Voyage!!!

Answer 5

Oh you'll be fine and you'll have the best time of your life!!

Answer 6

I have  kids and have cruised since my oldest was 4. Safety has never been a problem, as long as you use common sense. In ports you want to pick activities that are appropriate. While on the ship there will be ship sponsored program that the kids can participate in, which also allows Mom and Dad to have some alone time.

You are invited to join this great Yahoo group, there is lots of info here, and you can also post questions you may have.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cruiseaddi...

(this group is a free yahoo group, there is no financial gain to anyone associated with this group and therefore doesn't violate Yahoo's policies on answers)

Answer 7

it is very safe, on Carnival the deck with the main pool in stead of rails has glass windows and the rails are very high, there is Camp Carnival and is divided by age, it is set up with a caring staff and lots of activities, with a kiddie pool too

how ever you still have to remember to use wisdom as at times it thing can move fast, like at ports that have to tender, it is still safe but you know the tolerance of you child and you may want to plan to leave ports a little after if you don't want to be in the first rush off the ship, it is not bad really but my children are pre-teen and teen

Answer 8

As safe as being in a city of 2000 strangers.

Answer 9

Go on a Disney cruise- we went last year with our 3 children and it really was the BEST family vacation we ever had! There is something truely magical about the whole trip, from the moment you step on the ship, to the time you step off at the end! Everyone on the ship goes way above and beyond to make your entire family feel special and your 4 year old will absolutely love all the princesses on the ship, as well as the kids club. I am what you would call a "paranoid" mom- my kids have never been looked after by anyone else but my parents. So of course, I had reservations about leaving them in the kids clubs on the ship. Well let me tell you, they actually cried when I would try to go and get them out! It is so much fun for them! We have been on several other cruise lines and without a doubt felt that Disney was the best and safest for families. Go on their website- Disneycruise.com and they will send you a free DVD!

Answer 10

They strive to keep their passengers safe. On day one, you will have a safety and life jacket lesson. This is a requirement. Then when you are in port and leave the ship, they check you going and coming back. They have a computer record of everyone who leaves. If someone is not back on the ship by the time they are ready to leave, they will announce your name and cabin number over the PA system telling you to contact so and so. They always tell you in advance about port hazards to. As far as the ships go, you are very safe. A person cannot fall overboard. They would have to climb a fence or barrier to do so. When you may have heard of someone falling overboard, usually someone drunk, they have to climb up first to do so. Remember, no cruise co wants to loose a passenger, for that would seriously hurt their reputation. I have been on 8 cruises so far, all with Princess cruise lines. I always felt safe, even on islands that I never heard of.