Disney cruise and security

[disneysailor]

Anticipation has been building for our April cruise for months. Now that departure time is almost near, I'm starting to feel a little guilty about taking such a wonderful vacation with so much unrest and destruction going on in the world and with our soldiers sacrificing abroad. I was wondering if Disney has special secruity measures at sea beside just the passenger screening on board. Any info would be of great reassurance.

It's amazing how things have changed since my last cruise in Jan. 2001. I don't want to bring anyone down, I feel like my vacation began when I joined these boards, the planning has been lots of fun and the trip itself is just the final culmination! I just know that if there is any info out there, you all would have it. Thanks

 

[Lisa]

Our first Disney cruise was three weeks after 9/11. We were told at that time there are U.S. Naval subs cruising in the waters. On all our cruises we were escorted out to sea by an armed Coast Guard boat.

While I understand your concern, I really feel you will be safe. Have a great time.

 

[ThreeCircles]

I can't speak to the suggestion or idea that subs may have been in and/or around the Port Canaveral area (wouldn't they have more "important" areas to protect? MacDill, Central Command for the Middle East area, is off of Tampa Bay...) but we did have a Coast Guard boat follow us out.

With that said, I'm not really sure what protection that boat could really have offered. Probably not a whole lot if someone was determined to use a cruise ship as a target. I also noticed that the Coast Guard only followed us for a short distance and then turned back.

Not to discourage anyone from sailing or scare anyone, but I think a cruise ship is a very vulnerable target. They are huge, carry a large number of individuals, are very confined, don't move fast, and would be very difficult, if not totally impossible, to protect. Disney, I believe, is doing everything possible to protect their guests and the Magic and Wonder.

However, one can't live life in total fear. I've sailed three times since September 11 and haven't really worried about those types of things.

 

[mickeyboat]

All passenger baggage is x-rayed every time it gets on the ship and every passenger goes through a metal detector.

Denae

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

In the UK this week on the BBC they were showing a new device that can protect ships and cruise ships. Its a type of radar that is put in the sea next to the ship.

It can seperate Sealife from Divers or boats etc and up to a reasonable distance, and give a warning on the bridge of anything coming close.

Now I do not know if it is in commercial use as yet but I am sure it is the sign of things to come.

All I can say is DCL when I cruised with them took security very seriously and X-rayed laugage, and you had to show I/D to get on and off, in addtion to the KTTWC.

 

[jrabbit]

I believe the divers check under and around the ships before they leave from the ports now too. Once you're out to sea the ships are pretty much on their own, but the navy and coast guards have more of a presence off of the coast and in the caribbean than we know about. I bet that we are rarely more than 15 minutes away from the navy and coast guards for most of the cruise.

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

This may not seem logical, but I feel safer on the cruise ship than at WDW.

This may be since I was at Kennedy Space Center on 9/11 and saw the fighter jets circling after the Pentagon was hit. When we boarded the ship in 9/12, it just felt better.

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

disneysailor you (we) are probably safer now than you (we)were on your first cruise. So many extra precautions are being taken now than before 9/11.
My Mom says when it is your time to go its your time, it doesn't matter if you are at home or on a ship or standing in the check out at the grocery store.
Having heard this all my life and the fact that my dad was in the US Army 23 years I do the things I want and enjoy all of my freedoms my Dad and others(who did die) fought so I could have. I had heard that they(bad guys) would try to disrupt our voting process in Nov. but I am still going to Vote,Cruise and Laugh and be basically happy to honor the fallen so they did not die in vein.
I won't appoligize for the soap box, but I know I am on one!

 

[jrabbit]

My Mom says when it is your time to go its your time, it doesn't matter if you are at home or on a ship or standing in the check out at the grocery store.

Good philosiphy!! I think that I want to go out with a smile on my face, so more cruises planned for me!!

 

[goingbacksoon]

There are plenty of other slow moving (or immovable) objects to be on that are vulnerable. Another poster mentioned that you can't live in total fear.

Very true, if you think that everything slow moving is an easy target, then the vast majority are targets right now. With that said, a DCL cruise ship is no worse a target than anything else.

goingbacksoon

 

[krhardy]

I too feel very safe onboard the cruise ships. Our server told us in 02 that at any time the ship is in port...any port, there are 3 gunboats guarding the ship. I don't know if he said this to ease our anxiety (we weren't really nervous, just asking about security changes since 9/11), or if it was true. He said you would not know they were there, as they blend in with all the other boats, and if you didn't know it, you would not know they were there to protect the Disney ships. I suppose that the subs guarding Port Canaveral serve a dual purpose...the port is vital, not just for cruise ships, but lots of other ships. And, as mentioned before, the space center is right there (although I have a friend who is a mission controler in Houston...they don't even have shuttles there, and his wife and children are NOT allowed on base).
I have always thought it kind of odd that they won't allow you to bring a pocket knife, but they will give you a gigantic steak knife at dinner
All in all, I'd have to say that Disney, the cruise industry, and the coast guard do a pretty good job to make sure that we are safe.

 

[jrabbit]

have always thought it kind of odd that they won't allow you to bring a pocket knife, but they will give you a gigantic steak knife at dinner

You got a steak knife??? My steaks were so tender you could literly cut them with a spoon. Kno Knife Kneeded.

 

[BMURPHY02]

JULY OF 2002 WE WERE ESCORTED OUT TO SEA BY A US COAST GUARD BOAT AND A HELICOPTER THEY WERE ALSO IN KEY WEST, AND COZUMEL MEXICO RELAX AND ENJOY THE CRUISE

 

[disneysailor]

Thanks for all the comforting responses. I'm sure we'll have a great time.

 

[TChrist05]

Since I hit 50 years of age I adopted a new motto for myself....and it is not to sweat the small stuff....not that security and safety is a laughing matter....but all of the means of transportation seem to be taking a much more serious look at security of the traveling public....so that said.....you have to just sit back, enjoy the nice weather and food and just enjoy yourself. We were in Disney World on 9/11 and I personally feel that the parks would be more of a target for the terrorists than the ship. If you have been at the Magic Kingdom during SpectroMagic on a Saturday night you can barely move anywhere. Just enjoy yourself....we are cruising on May 8th Magic and we cannot wait......Happy cruising!