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On April 10, 1912, RMS Titanic departed from Southampton on what was supposed to be the maiden voyage of a lifetime. After two quick stops in Cherbourg, France, and Cobh, Ireland, she began her ill-fated journey across the Atlantic Ocean before plunging below the surface of the freezing waters. The "unsinkable" vessel proved to be just that: sinkable. 

Over the past few years, cruise lines have reported record-breaking demand, signifying the popularity of cruise vacations. 

Part of the demand is driven by the ongoing innovation across the industry, as cruise lines heavily invest in new ship designs, cutting-edge technology, and exclusive private destinations. 

With thousands of people crammed into confined spaces at sea, cruise ships often get a bad rap as a breeding ground for sicknesses. 

Although the occasional gastrointestinal (GI) illness does occur, these cases are exaggerated by the media, making outbreaks seem more common than they actually are. 

In reality, cruise ships maintain strict sanitation protocols to ensure that their passengers and crew members stay healthy and safe. 

While the chances of falling off a cruise ship are low, they are not impossible. This year, at least 11 people went overboard from ships operating for major cruise lines, and only two were successfully rescued. 

Still, cruise travel remains one of the safest ways to vacation. By following basic safety guidelines, the risk of a fatal accident can be minimized even further. 

Here's what went down in each of these incidents — and why I'm not even slightly worried about falling off a cruise ship. 

Cruise lines take the safety of all passengers and crew very seriously, which is why they have a code of conduct that lays out how guests should conduct themselves. Thankfully, most passengers never encounter a risky situation where they're stuck talking to security officers. 

Still, it's important to be aware of the consequences of your actions. You do not want to be kicked off the ship in a random country and have to figure out how to get home while everyone else on board continues their vacation.

With the holidays approaching, you may be wondering what to get your friends and family. 

Instead of trying to think of something out of the box, sometimes, the most appreciated gifts are the most practical! While the best gift would be to receive an all-expenses-paid cruise vacation, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts that the cruisers in your life will love just as much.

Today's cruise ships range in size from modest vessels to floating cities like Icon and Star of the Seas. Still, while most ships measure around 1,000 feet in length, the average cruise ship capacity varies. 

Some can accommodate as many as 7,600 guests, while others are designed to be more intimate, hosting fewer than 300 people. Generally speaking, though, most fall somewhere in the middle.