Cruise Ship Consumer Fact Sheet

Cruise Ship Consumer Fact Sheet

I think that one thing all of us are, and should be, concerned about is how safe the vessel that we are sailing on is. What is the ship's safety rating, and how is it determined?

This fact sheet describes how any ship that sails into or out of US waters, whether US flagged or not (and the only US flagged cruise ships at this time are sailing in Hawaiian waters only), are inspected and what is looked for.

The US Public Health Service has responsibility for monitoring outbreaks of illness on cruise ships, and you can check their sanitation scores prior to sailing.

I'm sure that everyone has heard about several recent instances of cruise ship accidents and fires, and wonders about the safety of taking a cruise. Considering the sheer numbers of people that embark on cruise vacations every year, the odds of being involved in an accident or incident are roughly the same as those enjoyed by the airlines (i.e. not reallly high). I would, though, encourage you to do your due diligence when making a cruise decision--look for the cruise lines and ships with the highest sanitation ratings and lowest rates of incidents/accidents--the same as you would with any other major purchase.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.