Safety Questions to Ask When Planning A Cruise

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Editor's Note: Maureen Jones blogs about travel for Patch. She owns All Horizons Travel and has been a travel professional for 30 years. She is also a cruise specialist, and takes exams in the field.

If the Italian Costa Concordia disaster has taught us anything, it is how safety should be taken into consideration when you choose a cruise line.

You have all seen those pictures of packed decks and corridors with people trying to get off the ship, with no guidance from the ship's crew.   

Not all cruises and cruise lines are managed equally. The bottom line, in choosing a cruise and a line, you are being responsible for your own safety. A cruise is a fantastic holiday with good value, and still can be if you pay attention to details.

As owner of All Horizons Travel, and a cruise specialist, I have been on more than 80 cruises for work and pleasure and have learned much along the way. 

The U.N. Convention dealing with maritime safety sets minimum standards for basic safety training for all crew members. Already there is talk of raising those standards.

Still, it is not a a fix-all solution. It is a good idea to know about the following: 

Safety record: Ask about the safety record of a cruise line and also the nationality of the officers and crew.

Safety drill requirement: Under U.S. Coast Guard rules and the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, the U.N. agency that governs passenger shipping, cruise ships must conduct a safety drill within 24 hours of sailing. It is called a “muster drill” and it must include instructions on the use of life jackets and how and where to gather in an emergency. In North American waters, I have never been on a ship that did not hold the boat drill before leaving port.

Public Address System: Ships must also have public address systems for announcements to passengers and everyone is required to have a life jacket. 

Language: You want to make sure that English is the predominant language on your cruise so you will be understood and can understand what is being broadcast. Ships that are heavily marketed in Europe will always have announcements in several languages. The most I have personally encountered is nine languages. Accomodating? Well, yes, but not in an emergency. Now, just imagine sitting through all the announcements in nine languages when you are having a nervous breakdown with worry.

Lifeboats: There must be enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew to be at least partially enclosed and capable of being loaded, launched and maneuvered away from the ship within 30 minutes of the signal to abandon ship.

Size: Size matters. Remember, the bigger the ship, the longer it takes to get off.   I would not get on a 5,000-passenger ship if you gave me a free cruise.

Multiple passenger embarkation: Many European cruise lines pick up and drop off passengers from different ports so you may not get the boat drill for several days—if at all. And, those who have had a boat drill will be hampered by those who never did, and don't know what to do.

External conditions: It also depends on the time of year, and the destination, whether it is a wise decision to go on a cruise line. 

Consider a travel professional. Dealing with a travel professional who has taken all the exams and is a cruise expert is the safest way to book a cruise. Why? Well, think, for example, how are the Costa Concordia's passengers getting home? How are they housed while transiting? The cruise ads may look good, but without a travel agent, you are on your own. You have no recourse, and no one to solve the problem. Even before you start, a professional who has done his or her homework, can answer many of the safety questions about the cruise and line to help you avoid a potential problem.

Volume of business is the Number One attention-getter when it comes to cruise lines. It means clout. All Horizons Travel, for example, is a part of the Signature Travel Network, who does six billion dollars in sales, so a booking from our agency gets immediate attention if there is a problem.

To be a cruise specialist, the agent must take many exams to get the qualification so they can fit the right cruise to the right customer. Every new ship, for example, is visited by some of our staff, so that we can know which cabin to recommend that is best for a family or a handicapped passenger, and which is good value when comparing the different cruise lines.

There great values and promotions for cruises this year. Remember, price is but one consideration when choosing a cruise. Don't forget safety.