I’ve read some increasingly dramatic headlines recently about cruise ships entering “blackout mode” or “ghost mode” because of pirates.
If you’ve never heard the term before, it sounds alarming!
It can create the impression that a cruise ship is under threat, or that passengers are sailing through an active danger zone. The reality is much less dramatic…
I’ve been on over 85 cruises, sailed all over the world, and I’ve never experienced a piracy blackout. They’re far less common than many headlines would have you believe.
Blackout procedures are simply one of many safety measures cruise lines use to reduce risk.
What Is A Cruise Ship Blackout?
Many people hear “blackout” and think of a power outage. That’s not what this means at all.
A piracy blackout is a security procedure where a ship reduces its visibility from the sea while travelling through certain, more dangerous areas of the world.
Normally, cruise ships at night are easy to see. They have festoon lights on the decks, bright lights in all the public areas, and often lights on the many balconies, too.
Possible blackout measures could include:
- Dimming or switching off unnecessary external lighting
- Closing curtains and blinds in public spaces
- Restricting access to some outside decks at night
- Limiting visible activity on open decks
- Increasing security patrols
- Enhanced bridge watchkeeping
Many passengers may not even realise it’s happening – unless the captain announces it.
Why Do Cruise Ships Do This?
Some parts of the world have historically experienced piracy incidents.
Dangerous regions include:
- Gulf of Aden
- Waters near Somalia
- Certain parts of the Indian Ocean
- The Arabian Sea
- The Suez Canal.
These are historical hotspots for piracy, but the situation has improved significantly over the years.
Cruise lines don’t make decisions about blackout precautions alone.
They work alongside:
- International maritime organisations
- Naval authorities
- Government advisories
- Security consultants
Blackout procedures are just part of a wider security plan that is in place.
You could compare it to airport security – you don’t expect any threats when your plane takes off, but security measures are still in place just in case.
Why The Headlines Sound So Scary
Words like “Pirates”, “Blackout”, “High-risk waters”, and “Security alert” sound dramatic and attract media attention.
A headline saying: “Cruise Ship Enters Blackout Mode Due To Pirate Risk” sounds much more frightening than “Cruise Ship Follows Standard Security Procedures”
Readers often assume there is an immediate threat nearby when that usually isn’t the case.
These procedures are often routine and planned long before the ship reaches the area.
What Actually Happens On Board?
In most cases:
- Dinner is still served
- Shows still go ahead
- Bars remain open
- Activities continue as normal
Passengers may notice:
- Curtains closed in public spaces
- Deck lights dimmed
- Some outdoor areas are temporarily closed
Most passengers spend the evening completely normally.
Why Cruise Ships Aren’t Easy Targets
Modern cruise ships are very different from the small commercial vessels, often associated with piracy stories.
Cruise ships are:
- Extremely large.
- Much taller than the small boats the pirates use.
- Difficult to board from the sea.
- Highly visible.
- Equipped with sophisticated surveillance systems.
A modern cruise ship has many decks and rises high above the waterline. Boarding from a small boat incredibly difficult. Icon of the Seas, for instance, has twenty decks and a height of 75.6m! (248ft)
Cruise ships also employ numerous security measures that are rarely discussed publicly.
How Cruise Lines Protect Passengers
Cruise lines have many layers of protection, far beyond blackout procedures.
These may include:
- Route planning
- Security assessments
- Intelligence sharing
- Naval coordination
- Additional security personnel
- Enhanced bridge monitoring
In some situations, ships may alter routes entirely if conditions warrant it.
Safety decisions are made long before passengers are aware of any potential issues.
How Common Are Piracy Incidents Involving Cruise Ships?
Millions of people cruise every year.
Despite the attention piracy stories receive, successful attacks involving large cruise ships are extraordinarily rare.
Pirates do attack cargo vessels and oil tankers, so it’s only natural to wonder what the likelihood is that pirates will attack your ship.
In more than two decades, there have only been a handful of reported incidents of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships.
Cruise ships can typically outrun the small, fast open boats used by pirates.
Pirate craft struggle to maintain high speeds in choppy waters. A cruise ship is able to keep up a sustained speed, making it a very hard target.
Cruise ships tower above small boats, meaning even if pirates get alongside, they would struggle to get onboard.
Many cruise passengers sail their entire lives without ever encountering blackout procedures, let alone an actual piracy incident.
That doesn’t mean they don’t happen, but it does show how uncommon they are for the average cruiser.
A Real-Life Example of Precautions Taken
In 2017, Sea Princess was on a world cruise when it imposed a 10-day blackout on guests, as it faced the threat of a pirate attack.
The Captain reportedly told his 1,900 passengers that a dusk-til-dawn shutdown would be imposed.
Deck parties, outdoor bars and movies under the stars were all cancelled. All curtains and shutters were drawn at night.
The ship’s lights were also dimmed to avoid attracting attention.
Passengers were required to take part in a compulsory “pirate drill”. When an alarm sounded, they were told to return to their rooms so they could be counted by the crew.
The Captain allegedly told passengers that, in the event of a real threat, those in balcony cabins should lock their balcony doors, then lock their cabin entrance door, and take shelter in the corridors.
That would put two metal doors between passengers and pirates.
The Captain also reassured passengers that they could outrun any pirate ships, but just in case, officers were on watch 24/7 and high-pressure fire hoses were at the ready on Deck Seven.
These hoses could be used, if needed, to knock attackers into the water and physically push small boats off course.
None of these precautions were needed, the ship wasn’t attacked by pirates.
Why Blackout Procedures Should Actually Reassure You
Instead of seeing blackout procedures as evidence of danger, passengers should see them as evidence that cruise lines are actively managing risks.
The existence of safety procedures doesn’t mean something is wrong.
It means people have planned ahead.
Routine, safety procedures you probably never give a second thought to include:
- Muster drills on cruise ships
- Airport security checks
- Seatbelts in cars
Most people never need these measures, but we’re glad they exist!
Before You Go
Many people worry that they could “fall off” a cruise ship. This would be virtually impossible, unless they were acting recklessly. Find out more about that here:
Is It Possible to ‘Fall’ Off a Cruise Ship? (Real Pictures of Safety Barriers)
Another Princess ship, Star Princess, had a catastrophic fire in 2006, leading to safety improvements across the industry. Find out more about what happened here:
Star Princess Fire (2006) – Pictures, Cause, and Safety Improvements
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