Is there law enforcement on cruise ships?

Is there security on cruise ships? Again, the answer is yes. Cruise ship police officers are more like security guards, many of whom serve as law enforcement officers or as part of the military in their countries of residence when they aren't working on board.



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Here's a roundup of some U.S. and international regulations your cruise line must navigate:
  • Death on the High Seas Act. ...
  • International Convention for the Safety of Life at Seas. ...
  • The Jones Act. ...
  • The Passenger Vessel Services Act. ...
  • The Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act.


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Cruise ships do not have police. Instead, an onboard Security Director will oversee the ship's own dedicated security department, staffed by former federal, state and military law enforcement personnel from various countries.

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Each of our ships is staffed with dedicated security and medical teams to respond to alleged crimes and medical situations, respectively. They are onboard, on duty and available at all times.

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79% of all crimes reported onboard cruise ships are sexual assaults, as per the US Department of Transportation. This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of sexual assaults on cruise ships, and serves as a powerful reminder of the need for increased safety measures to protect passengers.

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There have been six reported incidents of pirates attempting to board ships, mainly cruise ships, in the last decade. Let's look at these details to determine the intensity of these attacks.

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No sneaking drugs or alcohol on board Contraband booze will be confiscated if discovered, and you might not get it back. Bring illegal drugs on board and you risk fines, disembarkation and jail time. You're not allowed to bring marijuana on a cruise, even if it's legal in your departure port or port of call.

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However, it's important to remember that crime can still occur in any environment, so it's always wise to be aware of your surroundings while onboard a cruise ship. That said, most people who have taken cruises report feeling safe during their voyage and rarely encounter any criminal activity at sea.

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When a crime occurs, the FBI contacts its networks across the globe to take charge and ensure the safety of the US citizens on the ship and then preserve the crime scene for further investigations.

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In all instances, when a U.S. citizen commits a crime on a cruise ship or is the victim of serious crime onboard, the FBI makes every attempt to investigate, although it might be secondary to investigations done by other law enforcement involved.

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The first steps are to get medical treatment, report the crime, collect evidence, and contact authorities. Next, contact a maritime personal injury attorney to learn more about your rights. Don't remain a silent victim. Make the person who is responsible for your injuries pay for their crime.

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Break the rules, and shipboard security personnel may confine you to your cabin, or worse, send you to the brig. Cruise lines have the right to remove misbehaving passengers from their ships at the next port of call. If you've done something illegal, you can expect to be turned over to local law enforcement.

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Any willful or negligent act of discharging or releasing any unauthorized item overboard, without the express permission of the ship's staff may result in a $500 charge, per violation, and reimbursement cost of Carnival property will be posted on the guest's Sail & Sign® account and may also result in the ...

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If you or a loved one were harassed, sexually assaulted or raped by any crew member, then the cruise ship would most likely be strictly liable and responsible for those actions. Another form of criminal assault or rape that could give rise to strict liability is statutory rape.

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While these are less likely to happen, passengers might face:
  • Fire. Fires in the engine room or kitchens can cause damage to the ships and put passengers' health at risk. ...
  • Drowning. ...
  • Falling Overboard. ...
  • Ship is Grounded. ...
  • Collisions.


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Only six of the 230 recorded attacks were against cruise ships. None have resulted in capture. A well-known incident occurred in 2005 when the Seabourn Spirit was fired at in a hijack attempt. The attempt was unsuccessful but is famous largely because of the footage of the event.

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Essentially, the regulation is the result of an immigration concern. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) states that cruises to nowhere never technically depart the United States. Even though these cruises enter international waters, they do not dock in a foreign port or territory.

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However, it's always wise to maintain a sense of perspective when statistics are in the news. Consider that about 12-14 million people cruise from the United States in a given year. With 137 total crimes reported in the past four quarters, that means the chances of being a victim on the ship are about 1 in 88,000.

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When your cruise ship arrives at its disembarkation port, local immigration officials need to clear the ship before anyone can disembark. Ships that terminate in U.S. ports may require passengers to fill out Customs forms and show their passports to border control in the cruise terminal.

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Over the past 100 years since the RMS Titanic sank in 1912, only 18 cruise ships and some ocean liners have been publicly known to have sunk. And, over the past 50 years, only four cruise ships have sunk while navigating on a cruise.

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Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship. The term comes from the word brigantine, which is a type of two-masted sailing ship formerly used to house criminals.

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In 1997, the vessel entered service for MSC Cruises as Melody. She ended her career as an accommodation ship Qing, during which she sank in storm at her berth, and was scrapped in 2019.

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The 5 Most Dangerous Parts of a Ship for Passengers
  • Watertight Doors. Never try to outrun a closing watertight door. ...
  • Wet/Slippery Surfaces. ...
  • Ferries & Lifeboats. ...
  • Dining Facilities & Fast-Spreading Illnesses. ...
  • Balconies. ...
  • Talking to a Florida Cruise Ship Injury Attorney.


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