Which accidents are likely on a cruise ship?

If you are looking forward to your first cruise, it’s not uncommon to be a little concerned about safety. But, not all accidents may be quite as common as you think.

Here are a few things that should and should not be cause for concern aboard.

Slipping

Slip-and-fall accidents can be very common on a cruise, but probably not for the reasons you’d think. These large ships usually sail pretty smoothly and the decks are far too high up to catch a hazardous amount of ocean spray.

However, as beverage carts roam and guests use pools, it may still be easy to slip in the unfamiliar environment. Wearing rubber shoes can help improve your grip.

Collision

If you watched Titanic recently, you may be concerned about the cruise ship colliding with an object under the sea. While this would have been a concern for ships in the past, improvements in sonar technology have made this issue a rarity. You aren’t likely to face the threat of going overboard.

Illness or medical issues

Another age-old concern on cruise ships is the spread of disease and lack of medical equipment. While you won’t develop the plague aboard, cruise ships can help germs spread because of the number of passengers in close quarters.

And, while the quality of medical equipment has vastly improved, you could still find yourself far removed from a necessary trip to the hospital while aboard the ship. Injuries gained on cruise ships can become very serious very quickly.

Claustrophobia

If you’ve never been on a cruise ship before, you may fear you’ll become claustrophobic. Indeed, some cruise ship living quarters may be much smaller than at a hotel. However, the ships themselves are very, very large and usually offer an array of activities.

You’re much more likely to become claustrophobic in an airplane or an elevator than on a cruise ship.

Fall hazards

Falling hazards can be unfortunately common on cruise ships. In fact, in a recent case, a teen fell from a high balcony of a cruise ship. If the weather takes a turn for the worst and obstacles are not clear, passengers could take a tumble resulting in serious injuries.

Have a plan b

If you are injured while on a cruise ship, it’s important to know how to handle the situation. An attorney that specializes in handling injuries at sea can help you understand your rights to compensation when something goes wrong.