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Although brigs are standard on cruise ships, we're told that they're rarely used. Instead, passengers are often confined to their rooms, with a security guards posted just outside the door, with their onboard spending accounts frozen. In total, thirty-five sexual assaults allegedly occurred on cruise ships last quarter. Carnival Cruise Line had the most reported, with a total of 20 such crimes.
Do Cruise Ships Have Jails – Here’s the Truth
Most instances where the guest is under cabin arrest it’s sometimes for things as simple as drunkenness or perhaps from an argument or altercation with a fellow guests or crew member. Cruise ship safety is an area where the cruise lines should always strive for improvement. However, it’s always wise to maintain a sense of perspective when statistics are in the news.
Are There Jails On Cruise Ships? Yes! Cruise Ships Have Jails (or a Brig as they are known)
In extreme cases, if necessary the person will then be put off in the next port of call, by either disembarking them or handing them over to local authorities. Cruise ships have the authority to leave you at the next port of call at your own expense, if deemed necessary. If it's a serious crime, then cruise lines will have local authorities waiting for you. Serious rule violations could warrant cruisers' removal from the ship at the next port of call and notification of authorities. However, maritime law is dicey and often unclear when it comes to which country has jurisdiction over crimes that happen in international waters. Cruise security guards have the authority to break up fights and mitigate passenger hostility, drunkenness and other inappropriate behavior.
Video of a Cruise Ship Brig
Each cruise line has its security team trained to handle various situations, ensuring appropriate measures are taken when a law is broken. There are not many photos or videos of real cruise ship jails, but we have done our best to track some down to give you an idea of what they are like. In conclusion, it is important for passengers to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the cruise line they are traveling with. By adhering to these rules, passengers can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on board. Handling a serious crime involves negotiation between officials from the cruise ship’s registered country, the U.S. government, and authorities in foreign ports. If the cruise ship is in international waters, jurisdiction resides within the laws of the registered country.
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Instead, cruise lines employ a security team for each vessel, but the team's level of authority can vary. Think less John McClane from "Die Hard" and more Paul Blart from "Mall Cop." And while ships focus on the fun with bars, restaurants, theaters, spas and water parks, they also need to keep the experience safe for their passengers. Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship.
Cruise ships have jails. Can you get arrested on a cruise ship?
It is done to ensure the safety of other passengers and crew members onboard. Under U.S. law, cruise ships are considered common carriers and have a special duty of care owed to passengers. Liability for personal injury or death is clearly defined, and cruise lines have a duty to protect passengers from physical harm, including negligence. The jurisdiction for most major cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian, is in the Federal Court in Miami. For Princess, it is in California, and for Holland America, it is in Washington State. The jail facilities on cruise ships are typically small rooms with a bed, toilet, and minimal furnishings.
Some cruise ships offer full tours of the ship, including the lower decks that passengers don’t normally get to see. The nautical term “brig” for jail on ships originates from a type of sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts known as a “Brig,” which were commonly used as prison ships. The most common crimes on board are reports of sexual assault, which totaled 131 in 2023. Overall, cruise lines take the safety and security of their passengers very seriously. Disembarkation and further disciplinary action may be taken in the event of serious offenses, but it is generally considered a last resort.
Serious crimes that occurred on cruise ships in 2020 were sexual assaults, with 22 incidents reported. If you've watched the news at any point over the past several years, it's likely you've seen disturbing stories about cruise ship norovirus or COVID-19 outbreaks and passengers "falling" overboard. Combine that with reports of sexual assault and fistfights, and it's no surprise you might be wondering whether cruise ships are safe. However, a ship security officer will only use a brig as a last resort.
What Is The Responsibility of A Cruise Ship Security Guard?
More often than not, people that need to be detained are kept in their cabin with security on watch. Below is a photo of what it looks like inside a cruise ship brig on Carnival Valor. Most passengers who get into trouble on a ship are told off by staff, according to a post on Cruiseline.com. If they are belligerent or drunk, they can then be forced to stay in their cabin with security outside. "The onboard jails are small and used as a place to hold guests suspected of breaking the law or those who are acting dangerously or recklessly," she wrote.
They’re nothing fancy as they serve as simply a holding cell until the ship reaches port. Despite the existence of risks, cruises are still regarded as very safe, and instances of serious crimes are uncommon. In most instances, the offender will be handed over to local authorities once the ship reaches the next port of call. Cruise ship casinos are probably the most common areas where you’ll notice surveillance cameras. There is always someone who will try to breach the casino or ship’s rules and try to scam the cruise line. Ships have dozens of security cameras and CCTV cameras strategically placed around the ship.
The cruise ship jail, or “Brig” as it is known, is not accessible to guests. Your land-based health insurance is generally not accepted on board and medical service fees are charged to your sailing account. Misbehavior or breaking the law on a cruise ship can see you confined to your cabin or locked up in the brig. While there are a lot of perks for traveling via cruise ship, there are some facilities available on most cruise ships that may surprise you.
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Yes, cruise ships absolutely have security cameras in various locations throughout the ship for safety and security purposes. The presence of security cameras helps prevent theft, crime, and other suspicious activities onboard. Guest security supervisors on cruise ships are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of both passengers and crew. For someone to be put in the jail cell they will have committed a serious offense as it is very much dealt with as a last resort. This could be physical assaults on crew members or other guests, sexual assault or any other serious crime. Essentially any time there is a risk to crew or passenger safety, the brig will be used.
Brigs serve primarily as a deterrent and holding cell rather than a punishment. The brig will have bathroom facilities and meet all the requirements of the United Nations convention. Of course, free-flowing alcohol and subsequent intoxication can cause more severe crimes. The walls are padded to prevent people from causing themselves any harm. If you are on medication, the cruise line will make arrangements for you to receive your medication still while you are in the brig. In the sneakily taken video below, you can see the brig is very close to the morgue and contains just a bed surrounded by padded walls.
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