The Alarming Reason Cruise Ship Passengers Were Told to Turn Off Lights and Close Curtains While Sailing Through Specific Waters

During a recent voyage on Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship, passengers were faced with unusual but necessary safety measures due to the ship’s route through waters notorious for piracy.

The journey, which began in Germany and took the ship from Darwin, Australia, to Manila in the Philippines, involved a 111-night itinerary that prompted the captain to announce a ‘heightened level of security alertness’ as they traversed the Sulu-Celebes Sea. Passengers were informed that the external promenade decks would be closed overnight to enhance safety, and only essential deck lighting would remain on to make the ship less visible.

In addition to this, guests were instructed to turn off lights in their staterooms when not in use and to keep their curtains drawn. A TikTok video capturing the captain’s announcement quickly gained attention, sparking various reactions from viewers, some expressing alarm at the prospect of pirates, while others reassured that the risk was minimal and that such precautions are standard procedure during cruises that pass through vulnerable areas.

Despite the precautions, actual pirate attacks on cruise ships are quite rare, as pirates usually target commercial vessels such as oil tankers. A spokesperson for Cunard confirmed that the announcements were routine safety measures and noted that there was no specific threat to the ship or passengers, ensuring that the overall cruising experience continued uninterrupted.

For more information on the cruise and the pirate threats, you can check out Cunard’s official site.


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