Contemplating a Cruise?

Perhaps you have never been on a Cruise vacation, although you have thought about it. Or maybe you have been on a Cruise and would love to go again, but are hesitant, due to recent negative reports regarding Cruise misadventures.

You may be wondering whether or not Cruises are safe, due to recent media stories about assaults, fires and missing persons. Although it sounds like a simple question, to some extent, it depends upon who you ask.

First of all, if you ask the Cruise lines, it come as no surprise that they will tell you that Cruises are the safest means of travel available. Although they cannot deny that the tragic events actually occurred, they state that they have cooperated fully with all authorities and have acted in the best interest of victims and their families.

On the other hand, there are those victims and or their families, and they may tell another story. Some have claimed that they feel that information had been withheld from them or that they were given no follow-up regarding the status of the investigation.

The stories told by the victims are as real as is the pain experienced by them and their families. That is undeniable. It is even worse to never know what actually happened to a loved one, but are there situational reasons beyond the control of the Cruise Lines that may contribute to this lack of closure?

It seems that there may be some discrepancies about the reporting and accountability of crimes that occur at sea. One factor to consider is where the event in question occurred, in terms of the high seas, vs. "territorial waters".

To make things more confusing, there is no absolute way to determine where territorial waters begin, as it can vary from state to state. Besides, this in some cases, the boundaries of these territorial waters maybe in a state of change, such as the Gulf Stream, in Florida.

When you are on board a Cruise ship outside of the United States territorial waters, you are no longer under the protective jurisdiction of the United States. There is no United States law enforcement, either, and you are instead under the jurisdiction of the county whose flag the ship is flying.

In fact, you may find that the only presumed source of "protection" on board a cruise ship is a Security Guard, with little or no law enforcement experience.

These factors have not gone without notice, and some are concerned enough to take action to address them.

One example is the International Cruise Victims Association, which is made up of victims of cruise crimes and their families. This group is rallying for cruise reform, including the Congressional Bill known a s H.R.5707.

This Bill, also known as the Cruise Line Accurate Safety Statistics Act or CLASS Act, strives to address and improve the managing and reporting of crimes that happen on board cruise ships. Furthermore, the Bill would require that a report be made to the Department of Homeland Security within four hours, whenever a person becomes missing while on a cruise.

However, to date, the status of H.R.5707 is still pending and as yet, it has not been passed. In order to become law, it would have to be passed by both Houses of Representatives and signed by the President. This has not happened yet.

Passing legislation can be a time-consuming process, so you may be wondering what your odds are of safe travel by cruise right now.

Well, actually, you have to keep things in perspective and realize that although there have been crimes and accidents on board cruise ships, they are not the norm. The fact is that cruises are a very popular form of travel and statistically, most end favorably. So, yes, you can take a cruise and have a great time!

However, at this point, if you really want to be certain about your safety while on a cruise, the fact is that you should take the matter in to your own hands. So, what follows are some simple guidelines for safer cruising.

1. Download the Cruise S.O.S. card, and bring it with you when you board the ship. It contains phone numbers for legal and governmental assistance, as well as instruction on what to do if you are injured or the victim of a crime.

2. Bring your prescriptions with you and have a medical card, identifying any health conditions or physical disabilities. Bring the contact information of your Physician and a summary of your medical history.

3. Always be vigilant on board a cruise. Look for suspicious individuals and avoid isolated areas. Always let someone know about your whereabouts and when you expect to return.

4. Try not to be alone at any time, and try to "blend in", not stand out in a crowd.

5. Do not open your cabin door to anyone, even cruise personnel, before checking to make sure that their visit is authorized.

6. Never leave your beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, unattended while you engage in other activities, such as dancing or using the restroom. If you do, don't drink it when you return.

7. While on the subject of drinking, be moderate and don't abandon caution, even after having "a few". Try to designate a member of your party to act as a "watch" to keep anyone from engaging in risky behaviors, such as getting too close to the edge of the ship.

8. Shortly after you board the ship, try to become acquainted with the layout and floor plan and know where to go if you need assistance.

9. Remember to take 2 copies of your important documents and leave one at the purser's safe and one locked safely in your cabin.

10. Make sure that you lock your cabin door every time you leave, and examine your quarters before you re-enter. If you are alone, have someone that you trust accompany you there.

11. Try to get to know a few of the other passengers and try to look out for each other, if a situation arises. If someone seems helpless or alone, keep a watchful eye on them. In the absence of official law enforcement, we must become our "brother's keeper", as well as our own.

There are further protective measures in the works for cruise passengers, like those proposed in Project Safe Cruise, which suggests having an independent "Sea Marshal" on board each ship. They are also proposing a citizens watch group and an "Amber Alert" for missing persons. In the meantime, you CAN be safe on a cruise, as long as you take your intelligence and common sense with you when you go!

http://www.cruisesos.com

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