Cruise passengers warned to turn off lights | Travel News

Passengers on the maiden world voyage of Cunard’s Queen Anne have been suggested to take sure precautions because the ship cruised via a pirate scorching spot in Southeast Asia.

Cunard’s fourth luxurious ship, the 114,000-ton Queen Anne started its 111-night journey in Germany in January.

It handed between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines final week, touring via the Sulu-Celebes Sea, waters which have as soon as been referred to as a “hotbed for crime, piracy, and terrorism” by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism.

That is when the captain issued a security warning to passengers onboard, Business Insider reported.

These waters have been infamous for kidnapping-for-ransom incidents, particularly by the jihadist militant and pirate Abu Sayyaf Group. Ships have been suggested to keep away from the realm due to abduction threats being high between 2016 to 2022. While the risk was downgraded to “low” in 2025, the crew seemingly didn’t need to risk it.

In a loudspeaker announcement to passengers, the captain informed passengers that the ship would operate at a “heightened level of security alertness” as they cruised via an space susceptible to pirates. The video of the announcement that was obtained by BI has not been disputed by Sunard.

Passengers have been knowledgeable that further security measures would come with the exterior promenade decks being closed in a single day in addition to solely important open-deck lights being left on to scale back the ship’s visibility to potential threats.

They have been additionally suggested to keep their curtains drawn and turn off stateroom lights except mandatory.

The ship can accommodate up to 2,996 company and 1,225. The luxurious vessel has a number of services together with pickleball and archery and hundreds of ornamental artwork items.

While pirates primarily goal container ships and oil tankers, Cunard informed BI that these security measures are customary protocol.

“As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions,” the spokesperson stated, including, “There was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and our onboard experience remained uninterrupted.”