Cruise ship travelers found themselves in an unusual predicament after receiving stringent instructions from the captain during what was supposed to be a serene holiday voyage.
Those on board Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship encountered one of the realities of global sailing on a massive luxury liner.
The cruise departed from Germany in January for a 111-night journey and was recently making its way between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines, navigating the Sulu-Celebes Sea.
However, traversing these waters brings certain risks, not related to turbulent seas or inclement weather.
During the trip, the ship’s captain announced over the loudspeaker that they would be maintaining a ‘heightened level of security alertness’ due to passing through areas notorious for piracy.
Consequently, passengers were informed that the external promenade decks would be closed at night, and only essential open-deck lights would be used to reduce the ship’s visibility.
Guests were also requested to turn off stateroom lights when not needed and to keep their curtains closed.
A video captured by a guest of this announcement has been shared widely on social media, with many expressing surprise at the occurrence.
One TikTok user commented: “Well that sounds terrifying.”
To which the TikToker replied: “Not really it’s just safety precautions the risk is very low.”
Another remarked: “Idk why but every time I hear about real life pirates I’m always shocked/amazed that they really exist.”
A third person shared: “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 comment read: “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.”
@lillydapink I didn’t know there were pirates around this area. We are crossing from Darwin to Manila #cruisetok #cunard #fyp
Although ships routinely take precautions, actual assaults on cruise ships are uncommon since pirates generally target oil tankers and container vessels.
A Cunard spokesperson informed 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.”