Cruise passengers aboard a Cunard ship received a chilling warning as they sailed through a region known for pirate activity.
As the 114,000-gross-ton Queen Anne made her way through the Sulu-Celebes Sea on her first-ever world cruise, the Captain informed guests the ship would be operating at a "heightening level of security alertness" as they passed through a piracy-prone area.
In a clip shared to TikTok, the announcement continued to say, "The external promenade deck will be closed on both sides from 9:00pm to 5:00am overnight between the night of 14th and 15th of March, and no guests will be allowed access during these times for the duration of the transit."
Additionally, the ship's visibility was reduced by keeping only essential lights on. Passengers were also asked to turn off their cabin lights when not in use and keep the curtains shut.
After providing guidance on the safety measures, the Captain proceeded to talk about what would happen if there was a pirate-related emergency:
"In the unlikely event of an emergency, a broadcast will be made by the bridge with the following instructions, 'Guests are to proceed to their staterooms. Guests with a window or balcony should proceed to the corridor outside their stateroom, ensuring the stateroom door remains closed. If you are in an indoor stateroom, please remain inside your stateroom.'"
Another video showed crew members arming Queen Anne's outer deck with water cannons, which are used as a deterrent in pirate situations.
While pirates don't typically target cruise ships, a spokesperson for Cunard said such precautions are standard procedure in certain waters, Business Insider reported.
"As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions," the spokesperson told Business Insider, adding that "there was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and [the] onboard experience remained uninterrupted."
Still, pirates have attempted to board cruise ships in the past, and the threat remains real in some areas.
In 2009, Somali pirates tried to board MSC Melody near the Seychelles northeast of Madagascar. Passengers responded by throwing tables and deck chairs into the water, and, thankfully, the pirates retreated after gunshots were fired.
A few years earlier, pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade and machine guns at a luxury cruise ship about 100 miles off the coast of Somalia. However, Seabourn Spirit outran them and changed its course.
Queen Anne entered service in 2024 and departed on her world cruise on Jan. 7, 2025
After sailing away from Hamberg, Germany, the brand-new ship made her way to Southampton, England, before crossing the Atlantic.
The 111-night cruise is slated to end in Germany on Apr. 29 after crossing off 30 different ports in North and Central America, the Pacific Islands, Australia, Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
