Answer: Crimes of any kind are extraordinarily rare, and the passenger is more vulnerable ashore than onboard the ship. Most crimes against passengers are crimes of opportunity, such as petty theft, which can usually be avoided.
Question: What types of things can passengers do to help prevent being a crime victim?
Answer: Passengers should take basic common sense precautions such as: (1) leaving their valuables locked in their cabin safe when going ashore, (2) traveling with an organized group instead of alone, and (3) limiting shore transportation and tours to those companies and drivers contracted or approved by the cruise line.
Question: I would never travel with anything very valuable, but if someone did, would they be better off locking it in the hotel/cruise line's main safe?
Answer: Cabin safes are often provided for cruise passengers to permit them to store their valuables in a secure location to which they have immediate access and control. It is always better for a passenger to use the safe in their cabin than not to use it at all.
In summary, passenger cruise lines exist to provide a safe, relaxing and enjoyable vacation experience for the cruise passenger. In order to do so, security needs to be sufficient to fully address the potential security challenges of the particular itinerary, without being so conspicuous as to cause concern to the passengers. Good cruise ship security is almost transparent and quietly effective. The goal of the cruise security professional is to create a secure environment that allows the passengers to enjoy their vacation experience without any concerns about their security.
In these days of terrorism, cruise lines are working even harder to protect their passengers, crew, and ships. Governments have partnered with the cruise lines to increase security in port. Passengers can do their part by being more vigilant, but you are still much more likely to be the victim of a crime than of a terrorist attack. Be alert, protect your belongings, and have a safe cruise vacation!
