Sea Princess guests were veiled in darkness for ten days as the cruise ship prepared for a pirate attack. The ship of Princess Cruises was making her world voyage from Sydney NSW when it took a dark turn.
Australian speaker Caroline Jasinski, who was onboard, revealed what happened when the vessel passed through dangerous waters. Sea Princess became a “ghost ship” for 10 of the 104 days on her itinerary.
Capt. Gennaro Arma addressed the cruise ship and apologized for alarming travelers. However, the threat was real and the vessel had to be prepared for a pirate attack.
Sea Princess had sailed to Dubai with stopovers in Melbourne and Colombo. Then she hit waters that carry a real pirate risk, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Suez Canal.
One of the worst piracy areas is located off the coast of Somalia. Gunmen storm vessels using ladders there.
During the tense ten days lights aboard were turned off from dusk until dawn. No late-night outdoor bars or deck parties were allowed. Shutters were closed and curtains were drawn throughout the cruise ship as guests prepared for the worst.
They were sent back to cabins to be counted and advised to sit on the floor and hang on handrails should the ship have to steer away from pirate boats.
Passengers in outside staterooms were told to close and lock the balcony doors, then lock the entrance door to their room and take shelter in the corridors.
Thankfully, no pirate attacks happened, but these pose a real threat to cruise liners.