After the captain gave severe instructions on what should have been a leisurely vacation, cruise ship passengers found themselves in a peculiar scenario.
One of the true risks of traveling the world in a huge, opulent ship was revealed to passengers on Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise liner.
The ship recently sailed through the Sulu-Celebes Sea between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines, as part of a 111-night journey that began in Germany in January.
However, there are risks associated with doing so, and we’re not talking about rough seas or inclement weather.
The ship’s captain made a startling announcement over the loudspeaker, alerting passengers that the vessel would be operating at a “heightened level of security alertness” while passing through waters known for pirate activity.
To minimize visibility and reduce risk, guests were informed that the external promenade decks would be closed overnight, with only essential open-deck lighting left on. Passengers were also asked to keep their curtains drawn and turn off stateroom lights when not needed.
A video of the announcement, shared by a guest on social media, quickly went viral drawing a mix of surprise and concern from viewers.
One TikTok user commented, “Well, that sounds terrifying,” while another replied, “Not really, it’s just safety precautions. The risk is very low.”
“I still can’t believe real-life pirates exist,” said another user.
A former cruise ship employee chimed in: “We had to hire a private security team with weapons when passing by Somalia. But trust me you’re safe.”
Another user remarked, “Honestly, if pirates ever attacked a cruise or passenger ship, the naval response would be immediate and far more aggressive than for a typical cargo vessel.”
While ships often take precautionary steps, actual pirate attacks on cruise liners are extremely rare—pirates generally go after cargo ships and oil tankers instead.
A Cunard spokesperson later told Business Insider, “As part of standard maritime protocol, our captains may issue precautionary announcements when passing through specific regions.”
“There was no direct threat to the ship or its guests, and the onboard experience continued without disruption.”
