Do sharks swim next to cruise ships?

Just think, while you are singing karaoke or enjoying a delicious three course meal, there are sharks swimming close to the keel of the ship! And that is not the only one that we see, either.



Contrary to popular myths, sharks do not follow cruise ships, as these massive vessels are far too fast and noisy for them. Cruise ships typically sail at an average speed of 23 mph (20 knots), whereas most sharks cruise at a leisurely 5 mph, making it physically impossible for them to keep up. Furthermore, the loud vibrations from the ship’s engines and the "pureed" nature of modern on-board food waste disposal offer no incentive for a shark to investigate. While you might occasionally spot a shark in clear, shallow waters near a port—such as CocoCay in the Bahamas—or in feeding grounds that a ship happens to pass through, they are not attracted to the ship itself. Most "large fins" seen from a cruise balcony are actually dolphins or whales, which are far more likely to play in the ship's bow wave or be spotted breaches in the distance.

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Swimming next to a cruise ship is highly discouraged and generally not allowed for passenger safety and security reasons. Cruise ships are massive vessels with powerful propellers and currents that can create dangerous conditions for swimmers.

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No, a rogue wave cannot tip over a cruise ship like in the movie Poseidon. While it is true that rogue waves can reach heights of up to 30 meters and have been known to cause damage to ships, they are not powerful enough to flip an entire vessel upside down.

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The majority of cruise ships do not have specific man-overboard sensors, but they are becoming more common. 30 cruise ships owned by Carnival and Disney have been fitted with V-MOB sensors used to automatically alert the bridge of a man overboard incident.

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In both spots, the sharks were observed swimming near humans on 97 percent of the days surveyed, and often within 50 yards of wave breaks.

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In 2023 thus far, there have been 10 overboard incidents affecting 11 people, according to data compiled by Ross Klein, a social work professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, who runs a cruise safety website. Nine of those eleven people died as a result.

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Man Overboard Statistics Cruise lines with the highest rate of overboard accidents since 1995: Carnival Cruise Line – 55 recorded overboard accidents. Royal Caribbean – 39 recorded overboard accidents.

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“The truth is that the newer, bigger ships are as safe or safer than any comparable smaller ships,” he said. The Concordia, operated by a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation , was carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew when disaster struck.

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Are cruise ships safe? Let's cut right to the chase: Yes, cruise ships are generally safe as long as you use common sense and remember that vessels are not impervious to accidents, illness or people who just don't know how to behave.

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