Cruising is a wonderful way to vacation. You can gather your family and friends, board a ship and sail to amazing places. However, passengers must be vigilant, as crime at some ports of call is a very real concern.
The captain and crew are responsible for informing guests of the possible dangers they may encounter. They handle this by having cruise directors hold informational meetings for guests to attend before they arrive at each port of call. These informative sessions are live and can either be attended in person or viewed on the ship’s closed-circuit television channel.
During the meeting, the cruise director will tell guests about the sites to see and local lore. Their mission is to avoid scaring the passengers, so their warnings are gently peppered throughout discussions about great places to eat and shop.
Types of dangers at each port
Because each port is different, the types of dangers that are present will vary. For example, guests exiting the ship in Cozumel, Mexico, are advised to stay with the crowd. Beggars and buskers are often waiting at the end of the dock for guests as they disembark.
Some ports can be dangerous places to let your children wander around while you shop. In places like Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, kidnapping and robbery are very real concerns. Much of the native population is poor and criminals may target cruise ships because they assume that the guests are wealthy.
What to do if you are victimized
In the event that a guest is a victim of a crime while visiting a port of call, they should return to the ship and immediately report it to the crew who can help them contact local police if needed. If the crew was negligent and did not make the victim aware of the dangers, the next step is to contact a legal representative who can advise them about seeking proper compensation.