What Are the Odds of Dying on a Cruise Ship?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ships are a popular way to travel, with an estimated 24 million passengers taking cruises each year. But despite the many benefits of cruising, there is always the risk of a fatal accident occurring. So what are the odds of dying on a cruise ship?

The truth is that the chances of dying on a cruise ship are extremely low. According to data from the U.S. Coast Guard, between 2009 and 2018 there were an average of just 0.38 deaths per one million passenger cruise days in U. waters (this does not include other incidents such as illness or injury). That means that for every one million passenger cruise days, only three people died.

When it comes to international waters, the data is even less clear as there is no official tracking system in place for all countries and regions. However, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) estimates that the rate of fatalities in international waters is even lower than in U. waters – at just 0.2 deaths per one million passenger cruise days across CLIA’s 33 member lines worldwide.

It’s important to note that these numbers do not take into account non-fatal accidents and illnesses which can still result in serious injury or death; however they do provide some indication that fatalities on cruise ships are rare occurrences.

Conclusion

Overall, the odds of dying on a cruise ship are incredibly low – with estimates ranging from 0.2 deaths per one million passenger cruise days for international cruises to 0.38 deaths per one million passenger cruise days for U.S-based cruises.