What happens if you are stranded by a cruise ship?

Generally speaking, if your cruise ship leaves you behind you'll have to arrange for travel either to another port of call or to get home. Depending on where you're stranded, this can be easy or fairly difficult, but it's an important part of planning if you want to continue the cruise or at the very least get home.



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No. Survival rates depend on several factors, including whether the person was injured by impact with the water or part of the ship on the way down and how quickly the person can be rescued by the cruise ship or Coast Guard. Many times, a person going overboard is dead by the time he or she reaches the water.

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Most cruise lines have port agents stationed in the port area to assist if your ship has left without you. In cases when cruisers are late returning to the vessel, the ship's crew will often remove the passengers' essential items -- passports, cell phones and medication -- from the ship to leave with the port agents.

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Minor rules that get broken may not result in you going to the ship's brig. Often, minor offenses will result in a person simply being remanded to their cabin with security outside to ensure they don't leave. But when serious crimes occur, the captain may feel it necessary to put the person in the brig.

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Depending on the ship's location and the patient's condition, the ship will either disembark the patient at the next port or divert its course to reach the nearest port. Usually, the decision is made to disembark the patient at a location where the relevant medical facilities are available.

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As soon as an incident happens, cruise ship crew will activate a button that pinpoints the place where the person went into the water. The ship will then stop and turn back to that area. The ship and its crew will perform a lengthy search and rescue operation, lasting several hours.

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A cruise ship can leave without you – and if you get left behind, it will cost you a bundle. Here are ways to avoid that happening, plus what to do if it does. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.

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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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Are There Police on Cruise Ships? 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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Cruise ships leave passengers behind frequently. If you stick to shore excursions that are sold by your cruise and the tour is delayed in returning to the ship, the ship will be held in port. If you explore a port on your own, you will also be on your own if you miss your ship's departure time.

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While it doesn't happen too often that a passenger gets left behind, people arriving late is all too common. If you stand out on deck, shortly before the ship is scheduled to depart, you'll likely notice the last few stragglers running for their life in order to get back to the ship before the gangway is pulled back.

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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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What are the chances of surviving a cruise ship fall? Sadly, most cases—an estimated 85 to 90 percent—end in death.

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Searchlights will sweep the water if the emergency occurs at night, so any victim, body, or debris can be properly seen. If the victim is found, a lifeboat or emergency boat will be used for recovery, and medical care will be offered to combat hypothermia, water inhalation, exposure, or other injuries.

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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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Fine or surcharge: On many cruise lines, you may be subject to a fine or a surcharge if they catch you sneaking alcohol onto the ship. Confiscation of alcohol: No matter what other disciplinary action the cruise line takes, you can expect them to confiscate your alcohol as soon as they find it.

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The Cruise Passenger publication says: There were only six reports of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships over the last 10 years – in fact there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship. However, this doesn't mean cruise ships aren't prepared for the worst.

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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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Human trafficking may also occur in cruising, and cruise ship crime is common. Ship workers, who are notoriously paid low wages, are even paid off by people who can withhold their pay or pay workers less than they expect to receive in order to force them to commit crimes.

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If your ship is docked, you'll be able to simply walk off the vessel directly onto dry land via a movable ramp called a gangway. If it's anchored, you'll have to take a tender -- a small boat that ferries passengers ashore in groups.

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Sometimes, overnights will occur during the middle of a cruise. Other times, overnight stays are offered at a cruise's embarkation port just after you board, or at a ship's last port before you disembark the following day.

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