Cruise security

[Belson17]

I just came back from a cruise and they've really upped their security since 9/11. Anytime you have to get back on the ship, you have to show your ID and your ship card. They also X- Ray your bags and send you through metal detectors. The sad thing is that these precautions are all necessary.

[vicki2]

Makes sense tho. It's just a matter of time when it comes to using a ship of some type as a target for terrorism. I've been fascinated by reading about container shipping and how lax it was prior to 9/11, and they're still having trouble regulating it.

[brian]

It may be simply because there was no security there in the first place. Here in the UK I believe we've always had such checks - my girlfriend is from the Isle of Man, and they've also locked that down in terms of security as a potential entry/exit point for the IRA.

Hope you enjoyed your cruise otherwise, though, and welcome back, Belson.

[Belson17]

Overall the cruise was good. It was a Hawaiin cruise. This was the 2nd time I've been to Hawaii. The first time, I flew from island to island. For those who are going to Hawaii for the 1st time, I would recommend that you fly instead of cruising. You're much more in control of your own time and can see more.

[Word2Action]

Originally Posted by Belson17

I just came back from a cruise and they've really upped their security since 9/11. Anytime you have to get back on the ship, you have to show your ID and your ship card. They also X- Ray your bags and send you through metal detectors. The sad thing is that these precautions are all necessary.

Thats awesome. I like hearing about advancing technologies that feel futuristic like right out of a movie.

[Calypso]

I've cruised twice since 9/11. At those times, I noticed the increased security, and was very sorry it was necessary.

Now, with all the stories about people coming up missing or being assaulted while on a cruise vacation, it sounds like cruise lines need to turn their attention to what's going on INSIDE the ships.

[tater03]

I was thinking the same thing the above poster mentioned. It is really great that they are advancing on the outside security but I feel that something need to be done more on the security inside the ship itself. I mean there has been alot of crime coming to light recently about the security problems while taking a cruise.

[vicki2]

The whole world has an internal security problem ...look at what happened at Virginia Tech today. They're talking about a lack of security precautions but how much can we absorb?

[Calypso]

Originally Posted by vicki2

The whole world has an internal security problem ...look at what happened at Virginia Tech today. They're talking about a lack of security precautions but how much can we absorb?

Good point, Vicki. There is nowhere in the world that we can keep 100% safe--and even if we could, the restrictions on our personal freedom would make it almost unbearable. (I actually think there's a famous quote, something about those who would sacrifice freedom to achieve safety deserve neither freedom nor safety.)

Still, I think cruise lines could do a better job of checking the background of employees on their ships.

And perhaps make it harder to sit on or climb over the grab rails on the balconies.

I also think its important to remind cruisers to look to their own safety. For instance, getting completely plastered and wandering around the ship by oneself at night is not safe for either men or women. Neither is drinking to the point of intoxication or taking drugs in a foreign port. Neither is going off alone with someone you don't really know. You get the idea...

[vicki2]

We have had very many terrorism type attempts on cruise ships so far which is good, and most of the incidents I read about are due to passengers getting tanked and doing something stupid or bad. It's one of the reasons I'm not too enarmored of cruises these days. The drunks!