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Cruise lines often require passengers to sign documentation that releases them from liability and discourages passengers from reporting incidents. However, passengers have every right to seek help beyond that of ship personnel.

The top ten dangers when cruising can be minimized when equipped with the right knowledge.

- Stolen Jewelry:

Many ships require passengers to sign a waiver that releases the cruise line from any liability for lost or stolen items. Passengers may want to consider presenting this waiver to their attorney for review. An added precaution might be to utilize the cruise ship’s safe, or leave valuables at home.

- Victim of Rape:

State and Federal law requires that all cruise liners take “unconditional responsibility” for any misconduct performed by a crew member or another passenger. A victim should report the incident to the on board security officer, go to the infirmary for treatment, receive a copy of all crew names, file a report with the FBI, and take any photos of bruises and where the incident took place. In one case of rape by a crew member, the victim was flown home at the cruise line’s expense, but the cruise line took no responsibility and offered no other compensation until required to by the courts.

- Stolen IDs:

The best way to prevent any IDs or special paperwork from being stolen is to lock them in your cabin's safe. Should your cabin not have an in-room safe, carry passports, credit cards and tickets in a pouch in the front of the body. Keep copies of all of your paperwork in a separate location. If your passport is stolen, you may need to obtain a replacement passport from the nearest embassy.

- Infectious Diseases On Board:

In 2004, the Norwalk virus spread throughout a cruise ship leaving from Florida and bound for the Caribbean. The cruise line refused to compensate passengers for their misery until it was proved by attorneys representing the passengers that the crew had not made every effort to avoid the spread of the disease. Some viruses can live for 48 hours on surfaces. Always bring antibacterial hand cleaners on your trip!

- Fire Aboard Ship:

Several serious fires, resulting in injuries, have been reported in recent years aboard cruise ships all over the world. In this event, passengers should immediately follow instructions to report to their “muster stations” for possible evacuation onto lifeboats. At the very least, gathering on an upper deck can prevent passengers from being trapped below deck with poor ventilation.

- Food Poisoning:

Bring medications such as Pepto-Bismol and antacids. Skipping the buffet, where food could be left out for long periods, and avoiding eggs is also a smart plan. Unfortunately, retaliation can be difficult because of the Package Travel Requirement of 1992 that attempts to waive the cruise lines’ responsibility regarding food illnesses. In cases of clear negligence, passengers should contact their attorney.

Injuries:

Passengers are occasionally injured aboard ship, and sometimes the cruise line can be found negligent. Record the details, and report the incident immediately to crew members. Make a written statement, and record information from witnesses. Accidents happen all the time aboard ship—from falling down stairs to being hit on the head by falling objects. In one recent case, a coconut was dropped on a woman’s head from an upper deck, apparently by another passenger. The cruise line was found partially liable because passengers had not been warned of the danger and serving drinks in coconuts on multiple decks was inconsistent with other ship policies.

- Avoid getting lost:

Keep a full schedule of the trip at all times, including shore excursions. Review the itinerary in advance. Remain with other passengers if possible. The issue of “getting lost,” however, goes far beyond just missing your connection after an excursion. According to the website http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org, 37 people have disappeared (never to be seen again) from cruise ships in the past 4 years. If you are traveling alone, connect with another single passanger and be accountable for each others whereabouts when docking and re-boarding the ship.

- Falling off the ship:

If intoxicated, stay away from railings and dark sides of the ship. Stay with another person at night and regard all safety regulations while aboard the cruise ship. Cases have been reported where a person may have committed suicide by jumping into the sea, but passengers have also fallen due to recklessness. A cruise line may be found liable if they do not make every effort to rescue the person, however, it's always best to prevent this necessity.

- Health Concerns Regarding the Ship’s Destination:

Receiving vaccinations for diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, and cholera are recommended when traveling to certain remote places. Contact the cruise line, as well as the Health Department for details.

If you are dissatisfied with any part of your cruise ship experience, tell the travel agent that you would like to negotiate with the cruise line, before the trip is over (this allows the cruise line the opportunity to remedy the situation).

Explain your complaint in detail, describing emotional and physical distress experienced. Demand to talk with a supervisor and share discomforts with other passengers as well. If you are unable to remedy the situation, contact your attorney.