Cruise Ship Goes Dark for 10 Nights to Avoid Pirate Attack
Of the many things that could go wrong on a luxury cruise, a potential pirate attack doesn't come to mind. But for the 1,900 passengers sailing from Sydney to Dubai aboard the Sea Princess, that impossibility seemed all too real as their ocean liner became a "ghost ship" for 10 nights.
The captain-mandated blackout — recounted on news.com.au by passenger and writer Carolyne Jasinski — prohibited nighttime outdoor pool access, movies and deck parties, among other things, as the liner sailed through a section of the Indian Ocean.
"All around the ship, as the sun set, all curtains were drawn and all shutters closed," Jasinski wrote. "Bright lights, which normally signal the presence of the Sea Princess on the ocean, were dimmed or turned off altogether."
Jasinski wrote that after days of wild passenger speculation (travelers speculated about everything from vampires to terrorism) Captain Gennaro Arma addressed the ship.
"He apologized for alarming passengers. However, the threat, he said, was real and the ship must be prepared for a pirate attack,"Jasinski wrote.
According to her account, the passengers were also told that if pirates did approach the ship, which the captain noted could outrun their boats, the ship's crew would spray them with fire hoses or activate a sonic boom to deter them.
Thankfully, the precautionary measures were just that, and no pirates appeared on the voyage. The Points Guy reached out to Princess Cruises to learn more about the apparent incident, and while an email statement declined to discuss safety procedures, it did add some context to the somewhat odd events.
"In addition to our normal ongoing security training, additional piracy specific training is conducted prior to any of our vessels entering areas of concern," the statement read. "Any measures aboard Sea Princess were simply taken out of an abundance caution and not in response to a specific concern. The safety and security of our guests and crew is our number-one priority."
H/T: news.com.au
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app