Cunard’s Queen Anne passengers were advised to take extra precautions as the ship transited through piracy-prone waters between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines over the weekend.
Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge, Cunard’s first female captain, announced heightened security measures due to piracy threats in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. The region is approximately 800 miles south of Manila.
Armed groups—often linked to kidnapping-for-ransom operations—are known to operate out of the southern Philippines, primarily targeting merchant vessels and fishing boats.
As a precaution, the ship closed its external promenade deck overnight from March 14 to 15, dimmed exterior lighting, and asked guests to turn off their stateroom lights and close curtains.
In the event of an emergency, passengers were instructed to remain inside or move to protected corridors.
“The safety and security of the ship, all guests, and crew on board is my highest priority,” Thorhauge stated, reassuring passengers that the risk of an attack on a large cruise ship was minimal.
A crew member with two decades of experience as a cruise ship deck officer told Cruise Radio, “We train for these situations long before sailing through high-risk areas. Cruise ships have a lot more on board than water guns. Pirates are after cargo and fishing vessels with small crews—not a cruise ship with thousands of passengers.”
While piracy in Sulu and Red Sea region remain a concern, modern cruise ships are equipped with security measures such as water cannons, sound-based deterrents, increased surveillance, and are known to hire security escorts or teams.
Amsterdam-based marine safety expert Jeroen van den Berg told Cruise Radio that ship deck teams receive electronic map updates and maritime warnings before sailing in the region and that, often, the country’s military patrols high-risk areas.
The last known pirate attacks on cruise ships were on Seabourn Spirit in 2005 and MSC Melody in 2009, both of which successfully repelled their attackers.
The Queen Anne, currently on its maiden world cruise, has since left Manila and is now sailing toward Hong Kong.
No security incidents were reported during its transit through the high-risk zone.
