CRUISE sHiPs!!!!!!!?

Question

I am going on a cruise in march, and I was wanting to know the probability of a ship actually sinking. What if is does sink, what is the likely hood of being rescued?? Also, I have heard a lot about getting stomach viruses on cruise ships....is this likely or not....and are there doctors, and medical staff on board ALL cruise ships??

thank you for your help

~ worried traveler.

Answer 1

Just think about this. There are over a dozen cruise lines operating all over the world and each of the major lines has multiple ships. Some, like NCL and Royal CAribbean and Princess have about a dozen ships. There has not been a cruise ship accident resulting in a sinking since July 1956 when the Andrea Doria collided in fog with another ship. Since that time navagations systems have improved 1,000% and there probably has not been a collision in your lifetime.

Second, the very first order of business when your cruise starts, most often before you pull away from the dock, is a safety drill. The drill requires you to get a life vest from your cabin; there is a vest for every passenger on board, and put it on and go to your life boat station. There are enough life boats for every passenger to have a seat in one. (Remember the cause of all of the deaths when the Titanic sank was there were not life boats for everyone.) In certain ports where the ships cannot pull right up to the dock, like Gran Caymon, the life boats are used to transports passengers to shore. So the boats are in good shape and the staff knows how to use them.

The key to staying away from stomach viruses is to wash your hand often. Or use hand sanitizers. Many ships now have a sanitizer station at the entrance of all restaurants on ship and other places where food is served. Use them and/or do as we always do on cruises and other travel and buy a small bottle of sanitizer for your pocket or purse and use it regularly.

All ships have a complete medical staff with one or more doctors and nurses and a full service medical facility. I have used the facility and seen that it is first class; you do have to pay for medical treatments though as they are not free. If you, or anyone gets deathly ill they will arrange for transport by helicopter to a land based facility. We had this happen on a cruise a few years ago when a passenger had an apparent heart attack and they stopped the ship at an island and had a helicopter pickup.

Answer 2

Don't worry.

1. The ship will not sink. Not many ships have sank in the past 50+ years. I know of a few which were years ago and no one died.

2. You are forced to participate in a lifeboat drill. If the boat sinks you will know where to go and what to do. All ships are required to perform a lifeboat drill and there are enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew.

3. Wash your hands. The stomach virus (Norovirus AKA Stomach Flu) is contracted by you touching a contaminated area then eating. You may always be clean, but others are not. Use the hand gel they offer on the ships before every meal.

4. There are Dr's and medical staff on all cruise ships.

Answer 3

Kristin, relax. The ship isn't going to sink. There are tons of life boats if something were to go wrong. I have been on a cruise, my husband has been on several, and I know dozens of people who have gone on multiple cruises. Everyone had a great time, no report of sickness or rape. Figure the thousands of cruises each year that go out, and you've only heard of a few that actually had problems with stomach viruses. Yes, there are medical staff on board, and we found all the staff to be very friendly and helpful, going overboard (no pun intended) to make sure our stay was the best ever. I know your worried, but seriously, just go and have a good time. Take some sea-sick pills with you just in case you have a problem. Bon Voyage!

Answer 4

The probability of a cruise ship sinking is very, very low. If it does start sinking, evacuation plans are very thourough so the chances of you sinking with the ship are even lower than the odds of the ship sinking are. Stomach viruses are possible, but the way to avoid them are to make sure you are clean before you eat or touch your face. Just wash your hands very often and/or sanitize your hands at one of the many sanitizing stations on board. And, every ship has a medical center with a staff on it. Cruises are fun so you shouldn't be worried.

Answer 5

Stop worrying. Things have changed a lot since the days of the Titanic.

The probability of a ship sinking is extremely small. Communications, radar, and GPS technology is on all modern cruise ships.

On your first day, you are required by law to participate in a muster drill, where you report to your muster station. This is where your life boat will be.

Once in awhile, people may get sick. On a recent cruise I took on NCL, there were stations that dispensed Purell at strategic places on the ship. There is a doctor and medical staff available.

So don't worry, and have a great time!

Answer 6

Not to worry...Your anxiety now is understandable but have no fear. Ships are sailing constantly without incident. We pay attention to the one or two outbreaks that happen per year as they are 'newsworthy'. There isn't a report of the other 50+ sailings that happended on that same ship this year without incident. All major cruise lines are overseen by a number of government agencies nationally and internationally to ensure the ship's sea worthiness and the crew's abilitiy to maintain a safe and healthy atmosphere.
Medical staff is on board ALL cruise ships.
You are just as likely to catch a stomach virus on board a cruise as you are anywhere you and your family are in public. The hospital, school, day care and shopping mall are more likely to make you ill. An individual person's good hygiene habits do alot to avoid stomach bugs in all settings. Wash your hands often i.e. before eating, after eating, after using restroom, after touching money. Avoid touching hand rails, doorknobs and utensils in the food court areas. Bring the instant hand sanitizer with you.

Answer 7

Cruises are great and safe. You will have a life vest in your closet, and will participate in a drill shortly after boarding. The life boats are enclosed and have motors and usually more life jackets, so they are really safe. Just don't do anything like get drunk and throw yourself over the railings. Also, avoid watching movies like Titanic, Poseiden Adventure, Speed 2, etc. between now and then.

Answer 8

Its not going to sink!!!! plus they have lots of life boats. You hear about the people who get sick, but you dont hear about the millions you do not. I have been on 21 cruises, never had a problem. Yes there are doctors on board.

Quit worrying and get ready to have a GREAT time.

Answer 9

hey i'm going on a cruise in march too..and i was just like u freakin out about gettin sick or havin the boat actually sink.And then i stumbled upon articles about women and young kids being raped and sexually assualted on the cruise ships.they are all recent articles and the statistics are bad about them happening and its 98% of the time always the crew members who do it.If you are like me-its me and my best friend and were both 21yr females so now im freakin out about that..the part that sucks is i would feel safer if i could bring a taser or mase with us but its not allowed so its a 50/50 thing the way i think about it- it could either be the time of my life or the worst time of my life..so im just going to be extra cautious ,dont trust the crew, watch out for little kids that may be victims,and dont drink to much (which sucks).


hope u enjoy ur trip and just becarefull.

Answer 10

cruises are safe