Cruise Ships and Terrorists

[Janice]

Well, they can take your makeup, shampoos, perfumes, etc. away from you before you get on a plane, but what about a cruise ship? TV said a cell phone was supposed to be the detonator on the plane. So, on a cruise ship they take your luggage to your room. A terrorist could assemble something in his room there. Also a hotel or a train too. Will it come to you cannot take a cell phone, computer or any liquids, such as makeup and perfumes on a ship too?

[george_r_1961]

Well, they can take your makeup, shampoos, perfumes, etc. away from you before you get on a plane, but what about a cruise ship? TV said a cell phone was supposed to be the detonator on the plane. So, on a cruise ship they take your luggage to your room. A terrorist could assemble something in his room there. Also a hotel or a train too. Will it come to you cannot take a cell phone, computer or any liquids, such as makeup and perfumes on a ship too?

Pretty soon it may come to that. As long as we have terror we just cant be too careful. We cant let them win though..no way. Americans should continue to travel; just be prepared for longer delays and more restrictions.

[gtalum]

... just be prepared for longer delays and more restrictions.

Or just do the math and realize that teh risk is extremely low and juts go about your lfie without giving up your freedoms and civil liberties. Either way is cool.

[george_r_1961]

... just be prepared for longer delays and more restrictions.

Or just do the math and realize that teh risk is extremely low and juts go about your lfie without giving up your freedoms and civil liberties. Either way is cool.

Yea ok

Caution doesnt hurt.

[The Sandcrab]

What would bring down a jetliner wouldn't dent an oceanliner.

The bigger danger with cruise ships is piracy, eg, another, more professional Achille Lauro-type incident:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/date ... 518697.stm

Especially dangerous areas are around the Horn of Africa, where the Seabourn Spirit recently evaded an attack:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4409662.stm

And the Strait of Molucca, a merchant marine chokepoint and the world's most pirated waters. Hijackers here are known to do a pre-9/11 flight school-type manoever: board ships, hold crew long enough to learn some piloting, then leave with the manuals. Also, hijackers have taken ships to "chop docks" to make 'em "phantom ships" by repainting, etc. Then they can hit the high seas looking legit enough to get into a port and . . . This scenario is probably my greatest terrorism terror because our port security is absymal and little changed since 9/11 AND so much depends on ports of origin, shipping cos who have less than demanding requirements for their crews, law of the high seas or lack thereof, etc.

[Cookiely]

Can cruise ships radar pick up those old fashioned kind of floating bombs like in the old WW2 movies?

[The Sandcrab]

They've got all kinds of eyes and ears. They have to be able to get out of the way. I guess a USS Cole-type attack could work too:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/10/23/uss.cole.01/

[Yarrah]

Chances of being hit by a car are way higher, so I wouldn't worry about it. And remember that if everyone's being paranoid and always fearing some sort of terrorist attack, the terrorists are winning.

[Cookiely]

They've got all kinds of eyes and ears. They have to be able to get out of the way. I guess a USS Cole-type attack could work too:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/10/23/uss.cole.01/

Not enough of a body count to satisfy them in my opinion. I think they have limited resources and when they do carry something out they want it to be dramatic. Just my two cents.

[Janice]

Cruise ships can carry, some up to 2,000, at a time. A lot more than a plane holds. And considering how many ships are sailing at one time, that would be horrible if they attacked a bunch.

[LSU2001]

They've got all kinds of eyes and ears. They have to be able to get out of the way. I guess a USS Cole-type attack could work too:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/10/23/uss.cole.01/

Not enough of a body count to satisfy them in my opinion. I think they have limited resources and when they do carry something out they want it to be dramatic. Just my two cents.

Below are some guest capacity ratings of various cruise lines. Remember that they also carry several thousand crew and staff people in addtion to the guests. I know it would be hard to sink a cruise ship but the body count would be quite high in my opinion.
Tim

Sort by: Ship Name | Cruise Line | Rating | Year Built | Size/Tons | Guests
Ship Cruise Line Rating Built Tons Guests

Adventure of the Seas
Royal Caribbean

3,114


Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean

3,114


Mariner of the Seas
Royal Caribbean

3,114

Navigator of the Seas
Royal Caribbean

3,114

Voyager of the Seas
Royal Caribbean

3,114


Caribbean Princess
Princess

3,110



Ship Cruise Line Rating Built Tons Guests

Carnival Conquest
Carnival

2,974


Carnival Glory
Carnival

2,974


Carnival Liberty
Carnival
2,974


Carnival Valor
Carnival
2,974


Carnival Triumph
Carnival

2,758


Carnival Victory
Carnival

2,758


Sapphire Princess
Princess

2,670


Carnival Destiny
Carnival

2,642


Queen Mary 2
Cunard
2,620


Diamond Princess
Princess

2,600


Golden Princess
Princess

2,600


Grand Princess
Princess

2,600


Star Princess
Princess

2,600

[southerngale]

I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise from April 30th - May 7th this year, and would go again, without fear. As said in the other thread about the terrorist plot foiled, even though one particular person has said that being vigilant apparently means changing one's life, I haven't changed my life one bit. I think I'm simply more aware of my surroundings, but so far, nothing to report.

I do admit to briefly giving a passing thought of fear before going on the cruise, because I watched Speed 2.
I was over it shortly after the movie ended though. lol

And I had a blast...was never worried once.

[x-y-no]

Cruise ships can carry, some up to 2,000, at a time. A lot more than a plane holds. And considering how many ships are sailing at one time, that would be horrible if they attacked a bunch.

It's also a lot harder to disable a cruise ship than it is to destroy an airliner.

[HurricaneBill]

Also, in 9/11, all 4 planes had a low amount of passengers. Less passengers means less resistance. Plus, all the passengers are in first class and coach.

A cruise ship can carry around 3000. That makes a greater chance of passengers or crew rebelling. Also, as opposed to an airliner, a cruise ship has tons of rooms and areas passengers could be in.

[MGC]

It is way more difficult to sink a ship than bring down an airliner. I believe the easiest way to mess up a ship is to set it on fire in the middle of the night while the ship is far from port. Fire is one of the greatest threats on a ship. It would be easy for a group of terrorist to book passage on a cruise ship and set it on fire...MGC