Safety at Sea
Cruising is an extremely safe industry. Navigational systems used are among the most advanced in the world, and ships employ redundant utility systems (if one system fails, another system takes over). And a medical staff is always on board in case of any medical emergencies.
Every so often, there’s a media story about a “cruise ship virus” where more than a handful of passengers contract a stomach bug. This is an unfair label to put on a rather common virus that affects any grouping of close living quarters. Hotels and college dormitories are affected much more often, yet those stories never make the news. In fact, the cruise industry is highly proactive about sanitation – hand sanitizers are provided throughout the ships, and often staff will offer to spray your hands before reboarding the ship or entering a dining venue.
As with any place you may visit, safety is directly correlated with common sense. If you explore a port of call on your own, stay in publicly-accessible areas and travel with others. Do your research before your trip via sites like Cruise Critic. And while on board, don’t engage in dangerous behaviors (e.g., over-intoxication, climbing over rails, etc.).