5 Important Cruise Safety Tips to Follow

Travelling in a cruise ship is one of the most exciting and adventurous forms of spending a vacation. Generally, cruise ships are considered safe for passengers, but you can never rule out any possibility of a disaster. Hence, it’s imperative to take a few precautionary measures so as to keep your vacation smooth and enjoyable. So, here are some cruise safety tips to follow while you’re travelling aboard, to make the most out of your trip:

Check the ship’s report card

Before you book a ticket on a luxury cruise, it’s important to check the inspection report of the ship. Global agencies like Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) routinely inspect ships for cleanliness, food, repairs, hygiene, pest management, water quality and safety standards and publish the reports on its website. So, go through the report card and ratings of the vessel before booking your travel ticket.

Pay attention during the muster drill

Before you get on-board the cruise, you’re required to attend a safety drill about how to react in case of an emergency. The drill includes important information such as location of life boats, use of life jackets and evacuation routes on the ship. Listen carefully to the instructions and safety demonstrations by the crew members.

Be aware of the surroundings

It’s easy to let your guard down during the vacation, especially when you are aboard a cruise ship with warm waters, scrumptious food, flowing booze, and everything feels like a dream. But that’s precisely when you’re most vulnerable. Keep your belongings safe and be aware of your surroundings. Notify the purser’s office immediately if you suspect any wrongdoing.

Consume alcohol responsibly

You’re not as alert under the influence of alcohol on a cruise ship. So, drink responsibly while travelling in the vessel. It’s easy to get carried away in the party mood on vacations, but it’s important to be mindful of substances you’re consuming. Never accept drinks or any food material from strangers on board with you.

Be aware while socializing

You need to be extremely cautious before befriending anyone travelling with you on the cruise. It’s better not to accept invitations to cabins, especially if you’re under the influence. Avoid sharing too much of your personal information with your fellow passengers. Sometimes, a person being too friendly with you may have malicious intentions.

Be careful on shore visits

Some of the port cities on your cruise itinerary may not actually be safe. Hence, it’s important to be careful while visiting foreign shores on the trip. Never visit any place without a designated guide. Regarding shore excursions, it is also important to be aware of the local laws before indulging in any activity. Ask the cruise crew members to guide you about anything that you need to know before stepping out on to the shores of an unknown port.

Don’t carry large amounts of cash

Unless you’re interested in gambling, there’s no point in carrying a large amount of cash with you on board a cruise ship. All your transactions can be carried out through a credit card or a pre-paid card without using liquid cash. Also, avoid carrying valuable items like a costly watch or jewellery sets with you on the trip. If you need to carry some cash with you, then keep it safe in a money-belt attached to your body.

Get travel insurance

While it’s obvious to follow all the instructions and abide by the safety tips while travelling abroad, the possibility of an unwelcome incident can never be ruled out. That is why it’s always recommended to have travel insurance to bail you out in cases of any untoward incident like baggage loss, trip delay, or medical contingency during the vacation.

With these handy tips you can ensure smooth sailing and an enjoyable vacation, creating memories to last a lifetime.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.