5 Dangers on Cruise Ships - Best Hospitality Degrees

Common Dangers of Cruise Ship Travels

Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Ship Collisions
Fall Hazards
Illnesses and Food Poisonings
Losing Associates or Family Members

As the number of Americans who continue to enjoy water-based traveling grows, it is important to discuss the dangers of cruise ships and other transportation vessels from this category. Given that cruises are the most common alternative here, most of the following will pertain directly to them.

Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Courtesy of the constant exposure to water and extreme humidity, it is more than fair to expect that practically every external part of the ship will be wet. Even with the innumerable signs warning people about the dangers of walking over those wet areas, thousands of travelers undergo slip-and-fall accidents every year. While most of them do not cause extreme injuries, there are many examples that resulted in bone fractures or deep lacerations. Since medical support that many ships have is limited, having any of these problems can become nearly life-threatening.

Ship Collisions

According to the BBC, there are multiple reasons why it is not surprising that ship collisions continue to happen. Although the constant technological inventions have certainly minimized the number of such disasters, they do continue to take place on a regular basis. Given how widespread and devastating the effects can be, it is vital to recognize the presumably low risk of collisions as a worthy danger factor. After all, if it was to somehow take place, it could easily cause hundreds or more deaths within just minutes.

Fall Hazards

Obviously, the most common problem with cruise ships is the seemingly unpreventable hazard of falling. This particular type of “falling” has nothing to do with the first category on the list. Instead, it deals with individuals who take unnecessary risks and end up plunging into the ocean. Since cruise ships are usually enormous, the mere act of hitting the ocean’s surface from such height is dangerous in itself. Not to mention the likelihood of lacking the physical strength to swim away from the ship’s propellers or strong water currents.

Illnesses and Food Poisonings

As another one of the fairly uncommon issues that must be given consideration, hygiene problems could lead to a spread of illnesses around the entire cruise ship. This category also accounts for food poisonings that could happen due to outdated ingredients. After all, the temperatures in the areas where someone’s cruise ship will go to tend to be on the high end. Thus, relying on the ship’s cold storage and preparation should always accompany a thorough investigation of how the cooking process is approached. In addition, one should bring some common medicine that will let them combat things like stomach viruses or the flu.

Losing Associates or Family Members

Finally, people who are traveling with their friends and family should keep in mind the size of their ship when talking unplanned walks. This is especially true for anyone who will bring children along as the number of kids who get lost on such travels is concerningly high. A great defensive strategy would be to establish reliable lines of communication and make contingency plans for situations where the group might get broken up. Passengers should also never separate when visiting cities in which the cruise ship ports. Doing so will minimize the risk of losing anyone and help turn the venture into a smooth traveling experience.

While there are some other issues that can be mentioned, these five are some of the most common ones. They are also the biggest dangers of cruise ships for everyone who fails to prepare for the endeavor properly.