How common are cruise ship accidents?

A cruise adventure is often just as much about the journey as the destination itself. This is why countless New Yorkers choose floating vacations that lead to thrilling and luxurious beaches and cities. With the endless perks of choosing this type of vacation, there are safety aspects to be aware of, as well. 

With the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, American cruises have, as a whole, become safer and more reliable. However, an accident can occur in the blink of an eye and leave passengers with more questions than answers about cruise safety and the law. 

Accident Statistics

Despite the advancements in regulations, the successes of many cruise companies come with a number of unsettling health and safety incidents, as discussed in an article from World Maritime News, resource for industry-specific information. Significant growth in the global cruise shipping fleet has also brought a rise in the number of accidents at sea: Maritime News shares that 448 cruise ship accidents have occurred since 2005 alone. Perhaps the most discussed in media coverage, accidents where passengers fall overboard is another common mishap. According to Maritime News, Carnival Cruises has had the highest number of such incidents, with 268 total overboard accidents reported since 1995. 

Other Possible Risks

Embarking on a cruise is meant to be a luxury, not a disaster; unfortunately, some passengers do not have such positive experiences onboard. MarketWatch also weighs in on the issue of cruise accidents, noting fires and explosions, technical failures and ships sinking as other possible dangers. A more recent issue has involved gastrointestinal outbreaks onboard ships, which caused illness among roughly 10,000 passengers between the years 2010 and 2014. Typically, however, a passenger will bring an illness onboard and spread it to others. Although some situations that go awry are at the hands of the companies themselves, others can be harder to pinpoint. Regardless of the type of incident, cruise ship accidents are rare but can nevertheless occur.