Travel Minute — Staying Safe While On Board

The wreck of the Costa Concordia has naturally focused attention on the safety of cruising.  And while it’s generally an extremely safe way to travel, it doesn’t hurt to take a few precautions.

There’s no central registry that I know of that will give you a comparative safety rating of cruise ships.  In fact, when cruise industry insiders talk about safety, they’re usually talking about passenger safety while aboard a ship.  And while there have been some much publicized cases involving passengers who disappeared—presumably overboard—or come to harm, on-board crime is very, very rare.

The Costa Concordia brings to mind a whole other kind of safety.  Here’s my advice: Immediately upon boarding, learn where your life jacket is—it’s usually in your cabin—and how to most efficiently get to a deck with lifeboats.  Always pack a flashlight should you need one if there is a power failure or worse. 

Carry an ID with you at all times.  No, this is not just for morbid reasons.   Having an ID allows authorities to quickly ascertain your identity should you lose your passport and belongings, as did most of the survivors of the Costa Concordia accident.