It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security when you’re on a cruise, for crime incidence on ships is relatively low.
Unfortunately, the sad fact is that crime is rife everywhere, at sea as well as on land.
There are over 230 cruise ships operating, worldwide, carrying around 18 million passengers every year.
Stay alert, stay safe
It’s inevitable that a small percentage of those people – and a tiny percentage of crew members, who are usually vetted by the police – will be on the wrong side of the law.
The only way you can guarantee that crime doesn’t pay is to get governments to run it.
The trouble is I don’t know where we are going to put all our criminals – especially in the UK. The prisons, banks and Houses of Parliament are already full.
Which reminds me of the one good thing about kleptomania – you can always take something for it.
Twelve safety tips for travellers
Meanwhile, here’s some tips to help ensure your cruise remains crime-free:
1. Photocopy your passport, visa/s and other important documents and keep them in your hand luggage, together with your medication, spectacles and expensive jewellery. This is especially important when you’re travelling to and from the ship. It’s also worth making an itemised list of the contents of your luggage and taking a photograph of expensive items, in case of loss.
2. Expensive sets of luggage are all very nice but they attract attention from professional thieves. It’s better to use plain-looking, sturdy luggage.
3. Extra bands or plastic seals on hard and soft-backed luggage should be used to discourage tampering; some smugglers have been known to insert drugs into luggage for later retrieval.
4. Whether you’re travelling by air or sea don’t put details of your home address or home telephone number on luggage tags. This information could encourage professional thieves to burgle your home while you’re on holiday.
Talking of which, I once met a burglar on a cruise who sandpapered his fingers to tune in his radio.
The week before, a man in a mask took all my money. I was in surgery at the time. So much for private medicine.
5. If your luggage appears to have been tampered with, report it to ship security before opening your case.
6. Don’t forget to repack securely, before you disembark.
7. As so many people need access to cabins – for cleaning etc – and cabin locks are often of poor quality, it’s better not to leave expensive items lying around.
8. Use the ship safety deposit box for the storage of expensive or important items.
9. Protect your cabin key and cabin number at all times. When in port, leave your cabin key at the registration desk before disembarking.
10. Keep an eye on your children at all times and make sure they stay in public areas, not wandering off with strangers – or even crew members – without your permission.
11. Children shouldn’t let anybody into your cabin, including crew members, if you’re not there, unless they’ve had your prior agreement.
12. Most people would avoid fellow passengers – or crew members – who are intoxicated or appear to be under the influence of drugs. Don’t go looking for trouble, especially if you are a single passenger.
Don’t fret, it may never happen
The strange thing about trouble is that it always starts out to be fun.
Finally, don’t let all these – usually unlikely possibilities – discourage you from having a good time. The above tips on safety apply equally to taking a holiday in a hotel or a land-based resort.
But it’s better to be safe, than sorry.
Talking of which. two wealthy wives met over lunch and one of them asked, ‘Where did you go on your holiday?’
The second wife replied, ‘We took a cruise around the world but next year we’re going somewhere else.’
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