Cruise Ship Secrets That Are Never Told To Passengers

Ever wondered what happens if pirates attack a cruise ship? Or how to survive falling overboard? How about what happens if a cruise ship leaves port without you in a foreign land? Let's unleash some cruise ship secrets that are never told to passengers.

Pirate Plunderers

While a cruise is supposed to be quite the jolly old holiday, in some rare circumstances cruise ships can come face-to-face with the jolly roger itself. That’s right, pirates.

It’s April 2009, and the MSC Melody loaded with almost 1,000 passengers, is sailing 500 miles off the coast of Somalia. But little do those onboard realize they’re about to become the target of one of the most infamous pirate attacks in cruise ship history.

It’s late evening when a small white speedboat approaches with six armed Somali pirates on board. As gunfire begins to ring out, passengers are ordered to take refuge in their cabins to wait out the attack, unsure if they’ll continue on their cruise, be robbed of their valuables, or walk the plank!

To explain what happened next to the Melody, we need to take a look at how cruise ships are equipped to deal with such an attack. Pirates getting this close to a cruise ship is rare, but modern vessels in high-risk waters, have robust anti-piracy defenses. Ships must use official Automatic Identification Systems which broadcast identification and position to nearby ship’s radar systems.

If an unidentified boat appears but doesn’t respond to contact, the crew will jump into action. One key defense are long-range acoustic devices, non-lethal sonic weapons that emit an intense, high-pitched sound beam over 1,000 feet, capable of causing permanent hearing damage to targets within range.

Another line of defense are anti-boarding devices that deter pirates if they get too close to the ship. Also used by merchant and cargo ships, there are a few varieties of possible anti-boarding systems, one of which is the P-trap. When deployed, P-traps encircle the ship with multiple layers of thin lines floating on the water’s surface which tangle propellors of approaching boats, disabling them.

Ships also use anti-pirate water cannons, mounted on the sides. While not the kind of cannon you’d associate with pirate warfare, this non-lethal cannon functions more like a firehose blasting water jets at 80-mph, repelling attackers and flooding their boats until they’re forced to retreat.

Anti-Pirate Water Cannon System Live Test by Unifire AB

If this fails, ships may use firearms, and some vessels hire covert security teams trained to handle piracy. So, what happened to the Melody? Unbeknownst to the approaching pirates, the Melody had a team of armed Israeli security guards on hand specially trained for such attacks.

After turning all the ship’s lights off, the guards took up defensive positions while the crew deployed the vessel’s onboard water cannon; targeting the attacking ship, as well as a metal ladder the pirates were using to try to board. However, it was only when the guards opened fire with full-blown firearms the pirates were forced to retreat. They sped off into the night, never to return.

Fortunately for cruise-goers, attacks like this are extremely rare. Pirates are far more likely to target merchant ships carrying more valuable, ransom-worthy cargo like oil. Additionally, cargo ships are typically less staffed, making them easier to hijack compared to cruise ships, which can carry upwards of 6,000 passengers and crew.

Missing The Boat

Aside from capsizing, if there’s one thing cruise-goers fear, it’s what's happening in the video below.

That’s right. Cruise ships can and will leave without you, something this couple learned the hard way after returning 45 minutes late to their Royal Caribbean cruise-liner after a port day in the Bahamas in February 2019.

Cruise voyages are often coordinated years in advance, meaning there’s almost nothing that’ll convince a captain to veer off-course, particularly at ports. Ports operate strict timetables, with ships scheduled for specific arrival and departure times. Deviations can result in additional port fees for the cruise line and disrupt other scheduled port calls. That’s why, as harsh as it seems, waiting for late passengers is rarely an option. But what actually happens if you’re left behind?

Usually, crew members will know you haven’t returned thanks to cruise cards, onboard ID cards guests are required to scan when leaving and reboarding the ship. If staff confirm you failed to return, they may enter your cabin before the ship leaves the port to gather essentials, like passports, and leave them with port staff for you to collect on-shore whenever you finally get to the departure port.

If you find yourself stranded without ID, you’ll need to visit the nearest embassy for your country to get a replacement. Next, you’ll need to figure out how to get back to the ship. Usually, port staff will help you determine the ship’s next port stop and, hopefully, you can travel there to reboard by any mode of transport available.

But this presents another challenge: unless your delay was due to a cruise-operated excursion, you’ll be responsible for covering all additional travel costs. In the case of this pair of pier-runners, they were left behind at the final port of their seven-day cruise before the return trip to Miami, meaning that while they’d already enjoyed most of their trip, they had to pay to make their own way back home to the States!

Arriving back at the ship punctually is down to personal responsibility, but a few tricks can help. Since cruises often cross multiple time zones, ships usually operate on ship time to simplify scheduling. Cruise lines determine ship time differently: some, like Norwegian Cruise Lines, adjust it to match local ports during the voyage, while others, like Royal Caribbean, typically maintain their homeport's time throughout.

So, to avoid confusion, it’s best to make sure your phone is manually set to ship time even if it’s a different time on land. Otherwise, you too could face the embarrassing, helpless sprint towards your departing ship!

Below Deck

Cruise ships are floating havens of hospitality, and their crew-to-guest ratios might surprise you. Some, like the Viking Mars, have a remarkable one-to-one ratio, while others average around one crew member per 1.5 passengers. Staff are everywhere, ensuring smooth sailing and top-notch service, all while managing a hidden hive of activity behind the scenes.

Working on a cruise is a serious commitment, with contracts typically lasting four to nine months, including 10 to 12 hour workdays, seven days a week. While most are in hospitality roles, workers have to be Jacks-of-all-trades. Staff are expected to jump in wherever needed, which could mean everything from waiting tables and bartending to housekeeping, hosting guest activities, and dishwashing all in a single day.

To navigate between all these tasks, crew members rely on the I-95, one of the most vital parts of life below deck. Named after the iconic U.S. highway, this main crew corridor connects everything from workspaces, to the crew’s sleeping quarters, without passing through any customer areas.

A look at the secret crew-only areas on cruise ships by Royal Caribbean Blog

On most ships, about 85% of crew sleep below the waterline in cramped cabins shared between 2–4 bunkmates with one bathroom - a far cry from the higher up luxuries of the Captain’s cabin up above the waterline. In most cases, official policy states that mingling with guests, even off-shift is a big no-no for crew members, so they have designated areas including gyms and mess halls with self-service buffets.

Many ships also include mini-grocery stores and barbershops for crew, while crew-only Jacuzzis, and bars offer space to relax. After a season at sea, crew members are granted several weeks to months of vacation before embarking on another contract. So, next time you find yourself enjoying a sunset cocktail on the lido deck, spare a thought for the hardworking crew rushing around below to keep the ship running smoothly.

Icebergs

While everyone knows about the Titanic's historic iceberg collision, even modern cruise ships face similar dangers. In 2022, a Norwegian Cruise Line ship encountered such a threat near the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, and the ordeal was caught on camera.

While the mere idea of being onboard a ship as it hits ice is chilling, modern cruise ships are equipped with advanced technology and safety measures to prevent sinking. Enhanced navigation tools, like radar, and soon, even AI-powered radar, allows ships to detect icebergs from a safe distance. There’s also the International Ice Patrol, who monitor and track approximately 1,000 icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean to ensure safe navigation for ships sailing through the area.

In the unlikely event of a collision, the very fabric of modern cruise ships are designed to minimize the risk of sinking. The Titanic was largely held together by millions of rivets, which acted like pins fastening steel plates together. Problem was, when a single rivet failed due to impact, it created a weak point, causing the surrounding rivets to bear more load. This increased stress could cause nearby rivets to fail as well, triggering a chain reaction where entire sections would break apart from one another.

Modern cruise ships, however, are usually welded together, creating stronger joins that distribute stress along a single seam, making them more resilient to impact. This resilience likely helped save this Carnival cruise ship, which collided with ice in Alaska in September 2024 but continued without damage.

Watch: Cruise ship hits chunk of floating ice #Shorts by USA TODAY

In contrast, the aforementioned Norwegian cruise ship sustained minor damage, cutting the voyage short and cancelling the next cruise. Safety regulations have also vastly improved since 1912. The international SOLAS treaty mandates regular safety drills, as well as enough lifeboats for everyone onboard, meaning men can finally push to the front ahead of all those pesky women and children!

Death Onboard

Cruise ships are designed to meet passengers’ every need, from relaxation to entertainment. But while you soak up the sun on the top deck, a hidden space below is ready for something you’d never expect to happen on vacation: your death. That’s right, many larger cruise ships are equipped with onboard morgues to handle the occasional death during long voyages with thousands of passengers.

When a passenger dies, the body is stored in the morgue until the ship reaches a port where a death certificate can be issued, which can take up to a week. Upon docking, the body is usually secretly removed in the early morning hours unbeknownst to other passengers.

However, there’s a theory that passengers may find themselves directly affected by the ship’s dealings with bodies, and they aren’t even aware of it. Some ex-crewmembers have claimed that if free ice cream is being served, it’s a sign the crew is trying to clear freezer space to store a body if the morgue is unavailable.

However, officials have stated morgues typically have space for up to six bodies, so food storage is not used. While morgues must be separate from food areas for hygiene, they can sometimes be located disturbingly nearby. The free ice-cream is likely just a perk with no hidden meaning, but the real clue that someone has passed away is when crew members refer to “Operation Rising Star”: the cruise industry’s codeword for a death onboard.

Cryptic Codes

Setting sail on a cruise is all about fun and relaxation for passengers, but for the crew, it’s a serious and sometimes secretive operation to keep things ship shape. If you’ve ever been aboard and caught snippets of the crew using mysterious code words over the P.A. system, you might have found yourself wondering what they’re talking about.

These words and phrases all have specific meanings and are designed to keep some of the more unsavory parts of sailing under wraps. While the meanings of different codes can vary from liner to liner, there are some commonly used words and phrases across all of them. The word Alpha is usually used to indicate a medical emergency, while Bravo usually means there’s a fire onboard.

Flames, black smoke seen after Carnival Freedom exhaust funnel catches fire near Bahamas by NBC 6 South Florida

Delta is a little more varied in its use and can mean there’s been damage to the ship, a flooding emergency, injuries or even a biohazard. Zulu means a fight has broken out, and PVI means someone has vomited in a public area. But if there’s one code that crew dread more than any other, it’s the ominous Code Oscar, which means: “Man Overboard”.

Man Overboard!

It’s one of those unsettling thoughts that’s crossed the minds of many cruise-goers: what happens if someone falls or jumps, overboard? Thankfully, cruise ships have a well-rehearsed protocol for such emergencies. The first step is alerting the bridge, the ship’s control center, who will then the issue the "Code Oscar" alert over the P.A. system. You might hear “Oscar Oscar Oscar” or even “Mr. Mob,” with M.O.B. standing for “man overboard.”

The bridge will also send a distress signal to nearby vessels, who are legally obliged to assist in the search. If the cruise ship is moving, the captain turns the vessel around to the approximate spot where the person went overboard. Overboards often occur when cruisers have too much to drink, climb railings, enter restricted areas, or attempt stunts. In 2019, 27-year-old Nick Naydev leapt from the 11th floor of Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, a 100-foot drop, while docked in the Bahamas after a boozy night onboard.

Though thankfully, he emerged unharmed and was promptly rescued, he was slapped with serious consequences: immediate eviction from the ship and a lifetime ban from Royal Caribbean cruises. Overboard situations become far more perilous when the ship is moving, as victims can be swept away by currents before anyone even notices.

This was the case for James Grimes, who went overboard the Carnival Valor in 2022 during its voyage through the Gulf of Mexico. His family only realized he was missing 12 hours later, assuming he had been wandering the ship’s many bars and pools. Miraculously, Grimes survived 20 hours of treading water before being rescued, but such outcomes are rare.

Between 2000 and 2019, only 48 of 212 overboard incidents resulted in rescue. To address these grim statistics, cruise lines are increasingly investing in man overboard detection systems. Over thirty vessels owned by Carnival and Disney are now fitted with these systems, which usually work by constantly scanning the exterior of the ship and triggering an alert if it detects something falling. The system also records the exact coordinates of where the overboard happened, taking the guesswork out of searches.

MOBtronic | Automatic man-overboard detection and tracking by MARSS

Outside of protocol, cruise ships visiting U.S. ports are legally required to have railings at least 3.5 feet high, as mandated by the 2010 Cruise Vessel Safety Act, making accidental falls nearly impossible for those acting sensibly.

With an average of less than 30 overboard incidents occurring per year out of 27 million annual cruise passengers, overboard odds are extremely slim. So, basically the best way to avoid going overboard is just to, well, act like a regular sensible person.

Premium Cabin Seasickness

Spending a night in one of a cruise ship’s most expensive suites is a dream for many cruise-goers. Prices vary, with some, like the Regent’s Suite aboard the Seven Seas Splendor, costing as much as $11,000 per night.

Cruise lines know their premium passengers expect jaw-dropping vistas from the swanky suites they’ve forked out for. But there’s a catch: while the most expensive cabins promise luxury and comfort, they often come with a hidden price: seasickness!

Premium cabins are typically located at the very front of the ship, positioned high enough to offer the finest sea views. However, this poses a problem. Cruise ships are like giant see-saws on the water, with the lower-middle acting as its center of gravity. The farther a cabin is from this point, the more you'll feel the ship bobbing up-and-down.

In fact, some passengers have reported struggling to stay on their feet in certain presidential suites, particularly during rough weather. But it's just the price you pay for the view, and bragging rights at the ship’s bar.

These days, all modern cruise ships are equipped with seasickness-reducing stabilizers, which are oar-like appendages attached to the bottom of the vessel below the waterline that help steady the ship by pushing against its natural rolling motion in the sea. Controlled by hydraulic, electric, or pneumatic systems, they can reduce rolling and pitching by up to 80–90% but it can’t stop motion entirely.

For smoother sailing, consider opting for a cabin on lower decks, close to the middle of the ship. With many of the ship’s best amenities, including entertainment, restaurants and pools, situated on the top decks, you’ll still have ample opportunity to soak in horizon views throughout your voyage without risking too much cabin fever, for your stomach, that is.

Port Days

For many, the best part of a cruise is waking up to new destinations with near-daily opportunities to experience a new city or country. However, more seasoned cruise-goers may tell you that leaving the ship at these times, known as port hours, can be a big mistake. Despite the ship’s casino and shops usually closing during port hours, most facilities are still accessible, and arguably, more appealing.

In fact, with most passengers ashore, life onboard is blissfully quiet, transforming the ship into a peaceful, and private, floating retreat. Remaining onboard can be a great way to experience the ship without the crowds. When everyone else disembarks, those coveted pool loungers will be mostly empty, so lie back and soak up the quiet, or take the chance to ride the water slides queue-free!

Smart Cruisers Stay On Board On Port Days More Than Ever. Here’s Why by Tips For Travellers

Onboard health spas and restaurants often offer special port day discounts, making it the perfect time to pamper yourself or enjoy gourmet dining at a lower cost. Speaking of cost, port day excursions can be pricey, with inflated local restaurant prices and tour fees, while staying on the ship means making the most of the all-inclusive amenities you’ve already paid for.

Not to mention, ports are hotspots for pickpockets targeting cruise-goers, whose limited time onshore makes them likely to carry more cash and valuables than average tourists. Obviously, for a lot of folks, exploring and experiencing lots of new places is a big part of the appeal of a cruise. But the point is, if you’re someone who finds it hard to move around, or prefers to relax in one spot, don’t feel pressured to disembark, you can still have a great time staying put.

Modern cruise ships are essentially giant floating cities, offering a variety of free activities to enjoy without needing to leave at all. But for the best of both worlds, simply disembark the ship last after queues have cleared, take a quick stroll around shore, then return to the ship early to enjoy a few hours peace.

Ocean Loops

From the zipline atop Icon of the Seas to the skydiving simulator on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships, there’s no shortage of thrills on modern cruise ships. But sometimes, even more common features, like waterslides, deliver the most unexpected surprises. Take Norwegian Cruises’ Ocean Loops, a double-loop waterslide that plunges from the top deck and juts out over the ocean. It’s not for the faint of heart, but not for the reasons you might think.

In 2022, this passenger’s slide attempt left her trapped in the transparent tube, suspended 159 feet above the sea. Ocean Loops ride regulations rule that riders must be at least 48 inches tall and weigh 120 to 300 pounds to ensure sufficient speed. But as this incident shows, those precautions aren’t foolproof. Factors like swimwear friction, water flow, body position, and speed can also impact a rider’s chances of sliding success.

Thankfully, if a rider gets stuck, an alarm sounds, triggering a safety door inside the Ocean Loops slide to open. Even so, if you find yourself lining up for Ocean Loops, keep in mind, it’s not just the views over the ocean that might surprise you!

Secret Design Features

There’s no doubt colossal cruise ships are marvels of engineering, but if you look closely, you’ll notice they’re also puzzles of secret shapes and symbols waiting to be decoded. Among the curious features you might spot are the strange white orbs perched on the top deck of many vessels.

These aren’t decoration, they’re radomes, an essential piece of ship-tech! Radomes house radar equipment, keeping it safe from harsh weather while it rotates around inside. Made from fiberglass or reinforced plastic, these aerodynamic spheres are designed to handle winds from any direction with ease. Even their bright white color is no accident as it reflects light and heat better than darker hues, protecting equipment from overheating.

Another secret is woven right into the ship’s fabric, the carpet fabric that is! On Disney Cruises, the carpets lining cabin hallways feature world globes encircled by ship wheels, with the globe’s north always pointing towards the front of the ship to help passenger navigation. Norwegian Cruise Lines takes a similar approach, with some vessels including carpets patterned with fish swimming in the direction of the ship’s front, making it easy to find your way.

Some cruise ship secrets only reveal themselves when the vessel is docked, like these colorful tabs on the mooring lines. While they might look unremarkable, these clever contraptions are one of the ship’s smartest defenses against a very particular type of unwelcomed stowaway.

Packed with food and cozy hiding spots, cruise ships are a rodent’s dream. Beyond sneaking aboard via cargo, rats have historically used mooring lines to scurry aboard, but these rat guards, typically cone or disc-shaped barriers made from metal or plastic, are designed to block their path.

Hidden Cameras

Cruise ships promise smooth sailing and breathtaking sea views. But sometimes passengers get more than they bargained for after discovering someone else had been getting an unsettlingly secret view into their private cabins! In October 2017, one Floridian couple had just embarked on the Carnival Fantasy for a three-day Caribbean cruise when they noticed something strange about their stateroom’s TV.

Hidden among the TV wires was a recording device, its lens ominously pointed at their bed. Carnival’s investigation confirmed it was a video transmitter but claimed it wasn’t powered and couldn’t record but the couple were unconvinced. The device was eventually handed over to the FBI, but since then, updates on the case have remained mysteriously absent.

Carnival Fantasy Cabin No. U-160 Spy Camera & Transmitter - Video Voyeurism? by Jim Walker

An even more shocking tale surfaced in 2024, when an unnamed Royal Caribbean passenger sued the liner over hidden cameras. A former stateroom attendant aboard the Symphony of the Seas had allegedly planted cameras to secretly record passengers in their bathrooms.

Authorities claimed up to 960 guests were recorded between December 2023 and February 2024 before the culprit was caught. After a thorough investigation, he was found guilty of a ton of heinous activity involving cameras, and was eventually sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. While incidents like these are rare, they’re a good reminder that packing a little caution and vigilance along with your flip-flops and sunscreen is always a smart move.

Food Safety

Love them or loathe them, buffets are the heart of cruise life. But what the crew won’t mention is that some items come with some undesirable hidden sides you might want to think twice about before plating up. Cruise lines go to great lengths to prioritize food safety, but even with rigorous measures, perfection isn’t guaranteed.

Buffets, in particular, require vast quantities of food to be prepared, transported, and displayed, a process involving many steps and hands, which raises the risk of cross-contamination. Proper hygiene is crucial at every stage and if it slips, bacteria or viruses can spread like wildfire in the enclosed environment of a ship.

Temperature control is another critical factor. To keep bacteria at bay, hot foods should be kept above 140°F, while cold foods must stay below 40°F. As buffets are un-manned and self-service, they can be a breeding ground for trouble when dishes are left sitting too long, drifting into the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F, where bacteria multiply rapidly. Raw items like sushi and oysters are the most risky since they skip the cooking process that kills harmful microbes.

So, if you’re looking to stay safe and savor your trip, opt for hot foods with visible steam or dishes that clearly look freshly prepared. Even condiments can pose a problem. Unlike main dishes, they’re often left sitting out all day in large non-temperature regulated vats, while communal bottles play pass-the-germ-ladened-parcel as hundreds of hands handle them throughout the voyage.

Food safety aside, if you’re dining on an all-inclusive cruise, it’s easy to gravitate towards carb-heavy comforts like pasta, bread rolls and breakfast pastries. But seasoned cruisers have a pro tip: limit your carbs! Since your meals are already covered in your ticket price, it’s smarter to save your stomach for the full spectrum of culinary options on board. No need to ditch carbs completely, just save room for the typically more expensive stuff you wouldn’t normally get to experience!

If you were amazed at these cruise ship secrets, you might want to read about the largest ships on Earth. Thanks for reading.