The Alarming Reason Cruise Ship Guests Were Told To Turn Off Lights And Close Curtains In Certain Waters

Passengers on a cruise ship got an unexpected wake-up call when they were asked to follow a serious safety measure during what should have been a peaceful getaway.

Those aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship came face-to-face with one of the lesser-known risks of traveling across the globe on a large luxury liner.

This particular voyage spans 111 nights and began in Germany back in January. Most recently, the ship was making its way between Darwin, Australia, and Manila in the Philippines, cruising through the Sulu-Celebes Sea.

But while sailing through that region, danger didn't come from rough waters or storms. It was something entirely different.

At one point in the trip, the captain made an announcement over the ship’s PA system, alerting passengers that they were now operating under a “heightened level of security alertness.” This was due to traveling through an area that has been associated with pirate activity.

Because of this, passengers were informed that the outdoor promenade decks would be off-limits during the night, and only the most necessary exterior lights would stay on. This was all done to keep the ship as hidden as possible in the dark.

Cruise ships are known for luxury but security measures must be taken to protect guests from unfavourable incidents Getty Stock Image

On top of that, guests were asked to keep their cabin lights off whenever they weren’t needed and to make sure their curtains stayed closed during the night.

A clip of the captain's announcement, recorded by one of the passengers, is now making the rounds on social media. Many viewers were caught off guard by the precautions being taken.

One TikTok commenter wrote: "Well that sounds terrifying."

The captian asked passengers to draw their curtains and turn off their lights to decrease their visibility Getty Stock Image

To which the original poster responded: "Not really it's just safety precautions the risk is very low."

Another user chimed in with: "Idk why but every time I hear about real life pirates I'm always shocked/amazed that they really exist."

Someone else shared: "I used to work on a cruise ship and there are a few areas where you get piracy. We used to get a special security company that used to come onboard with g*ns when we go past Somalia. You're safe."

Another commenter added their thoughts: "To be honest, if a cruise or passenger vessel was attacked by Pirates, the response from naval vessels would be swift and sudden, moreso than if it was a regular merchant vessel."

Although precautions like these are taken seriously, actual pirate attacks on cruise ships are pretty rare. Pirates usually go after more vulnerable targets like cargo ships and oil tankers.

In response to the viral video, a Cunard spokesperson told Business Insider: "As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions."

"There was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and our onboard experience remained uninterrupted."