Are Cruises Safe?
Let’s Talk Crime and Overboard Fears
Whenever I chat with first-time cruisers, two big concerns often come up: “What if there’s crime onboard?” and “What if someone falls overboard?” Both are understandable worries—especially with the way dramatic headlines tend to stick in our minds. But when you step back and look at the facts, the picture is much more reassuring than the myths.
Cruise Ships and Crime: The Numbers Tell the Story
Cruise ships aren’t the lawless “party free-for-alls” some people imagine. In reality, they’re more like small floating cities with extremely tight security. Before anyone even steps onboard, every bag goes through an X-ray scanner, passengers walk through metal detectors, and trained security staff are everywhere.
And once you’re onboard? The numbers speak for themselves. According to the FBI, cruise lines reported just 48 alleged crimes across all U.S.-based ships in the first three months of 2025. That includes things like thefts and serious assaults—and while every single one is taken seriously, keep in mind that millions of people cruised during that same period. For the entire year of 2023, the FBI logged about 180 reports of crime at sea. Compare that to the 30 million passengers who cruised worldwide that year, and it’s clear that crime rates on ships are far lower than what you’d see in hotels, resorts, or major tourist cities on land.
When you’re on a cruise, everyone is accounted for, every stateroom is registered, and the crew is highly visible. Compare that to a city vacation, where you’re surrounded by strangers who aren’t screened at all, and the ship suddenly feels like one of the most controlled environments you can travel in.
A Watchful Eye
Modern cruise ships also have extensive surveillance systems. Thousands of cameras are strategically placed throughout the ship—in hallways, elevators, public lounges, pool decks, and near railings. Security staff actively monitor these feeds around the clock, not just to deter crime but also to quickly respond if something unusual happens. On newer ships, man-overboard detection technology is even tied into these systems, automatically alerting crew if sensors pick up someone going over a railing. This constant watch adds another layer of protection and peace of mind, so you’re never really “unseen” while you’re on board.
Falling Overboard: Rare, Not Random
The other big fear is falling overboard. Movies and TV shows love to dramatize this one, but the truth is, the odds are vanishingly small. Out of the tens of millions of cruise passengers each year, only a handful of overboard incidents occur worldwide.
Between 2009 and 2019, there were about 212 overboard incidents total—an average of around 19–25 per year. During that same decade, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)—an independent trade organization that tracks cruise industry data—reported that more than 250 million passengers cruised globally. Put side by side, that works out to fewer than 1 in a million passengers going overboard. And here’s the important part: the vast majority of these cases are linked to risky behavior, such as climbing railings, being intoxicated, or intentional acts—not accidents while walking around the deck.
Ships are designed with high railings, barriers, and advanced safety features. CLIA also notes that the overall rate of overboard incidents is about 0.00004% or 1 in 2.5 million annually. To put that into perspective: you’re more likely to be struck by lightning than to fall off a cruise ship accidentally.
Why You Can Relax
Between the strict security procedures, constant presence of trained crew, and ship designs built with passenger safety in mind, cruising is remarkably safe. That doesn’t mean nothing ever happens—no form of travel can promise that—but it does mean you can stop imagining worst-case scenarios every time you see a dramatic headline.
Most passengers spend their vacation sipping lattes, catching Broadway-style shows, exploring ports, and making memories—not worrying about crime or falling off the ship.
Final Thought
So, are cruises safe? Absolutely. Crime is rare, overboards are rarer still, and the numbers prove it. With millions of smooth sailings every year, your odds of experiencing anything more dramatic than a conga line are slim to none.
Your ship isn’t just a way to get from point A to point B—it’s a carefully run, highly regulated floating community designed to keep you safe while you enjoy the adventure of a lifetime.