Why cruise ships offer less risk than hotels when it comes to safety, security and privacy in this era of geopolitical turmoil and media scrutiny.
| Cruise Ship |
Resort Hotel |
|
|---|---|---|
| Open to the Public | NO | YES |
| Passengers (Guests) as well as Officers and Crew (Employees) screened and cleared by US Dept. of Homeland Security prior to sailing. | YES | NO |
| Advance screening and approval of vendors and visitors | YES | NO |
| Security screening checkpoints at ship or hotel entry points | YES | NO |
| Soft Target (1) | NO | YES |
| Hard Target (2) | YES | NO |
| Mobile (able to get out of harms way (3)) | YES | NO |
| Ease of Access (Uninvited Media) | Must purchase cruise in advance | Walk in without reservation |
| CDC Sanitation Inspections and Reporting (4) | YES | NO |
1. A soft target is a relatively unprotected or vulnerable gathering place particularly vulnerable to a terrorist attack. The majority of terrorist attacks strike soft targets.
2. Hard targets limit access to the public and have a significant security presence in place to provide a high degree of protection against an attack.
3. Cruise ships can alter itineraries and change course on short notice to avoid significant weather and terror related threats.
4. The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) inspects cruise ships in periodic, unannounced operational sanitation inspections. Individual ship scores can be reviewed on line.