Going on a cruise can be exciting and fun. This opportunity can give you a chance to see parts of the world you may never have experienced before. It’s different than going to a resort, where you stay at the same location the entire time, but you’ll still benefit from many resort-like amenities – such as food, drinks, swimming pools, entertainment and the like.
That being said, people are injured on cruise ships every year, which means that cruising isn’t always the safest vacation option. Some of these injuries are very serious and may even prove fatal. As a result, it’s important to know how to stay safe if you’re departing for a cruise any time soon.
These 5 tips can help
With a focus on safety, here are some tips that may help you avoid injury and enjoy your vacation more fully on a cruise ship:
- Be careful of how much alcohol you consume. Drinks may be free, but drinking too much increases the odds of a slip-and-fall accident.
- Use hand railings and respect fences or other barriers. Many fatal accidents happen when people simply fall overboard.
- Be careful on wet surfaces. Slip-and-fall accidents often happen around the pool, but any part of the deck can get wet on a cruise ship.
- Learn the exit routes. Find out about the protocols for an evacuation. Don’t ignore instructions from the crew on the ship.
- Pay attention to the weather. Cruise ships are not as dangerous as smaller craft when the seas get rough, but a storm can make the ship tip from side to side. High winds and rain can also make the deck very dangerous. Don’t underestimate these risks.
Remember that most incidents where people get hurt on cruise ships occur because they slip or trip and fall. These accidents often involve circumstances as varied as falling down the stairs to slipping on a pool deck and hitting one’s head to falling overboard. Simply being careful and cautious when in unfamiliar territory can be beneficial as a result.
That being said, accidents also happen due to negligence on the part of the cruise line or other things outside of a vacationer’s control. If something like this does occur, be sure you know about all of your legal options to seek compensation for your harm.