How Likely Are You to Die on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

Cruise ships have been a popular vacation option for decades, but many people are still hesitant to book their next voyage due to the fear of something going wrong. After all, when you’re out in the middle of the ocean, help may be far away. So how likely are you to really die on a cruise ship?

The truth is that deaths on cruise ships are rare. In fact, the chance of dying on a cruise is much lower than dying in any other vacation destination. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, there were only 0.17 deaths per 100,000 passengers in 2018 – which means only about 1 out of every 590,000 passengers died while on board.

The odds are even lower when you look at specific types of deaths. For instance, accidental death (such as drowning) accounted for only 0.02 deaths per 100,000 passengers in 2018 – that’s about 1 out of every 5 million passengers who died by accident.

It’s also important to keep in mind that cruise lines go above and beyond to ensure passenger safety. Most ships have 24-hour medical staff on board and a wide variety of safety measures such as life jackets, lifeboats and fire alarms that are regularly inspected and tested.

Despite the low risk of death or injury while on board a cruise ship, it’s always important to take precautions before embarking on your voyage. Read reviews online or speak with someone who has taken the same trip before booking your vacation so you know exactly what to expect once you set sail.

Conclusion:

Overall, it’s highly unlikely for someone to die while taking a cruise ship vacation. Cruise lines take extensive measures to ensure passenger safety and most accidents can be avoided with proper preparation and caution. With these considerations in mind, booking your next voyage should be worry-free!