Is there jails on cruises?

Asked by: Alisha Gaylord  |  Last update: August 29, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (60 votes)

What Is a Cruise Ship Jail? Most cruise ships have a facility known as a “brig” or “holding cell.” These are small, secure rooms designed to detain passengers or crew members who pose a threat to themselves or others.

Do cruise ships have jails on them?

Cruise ships have small jails onboard, they are called Brigs. The jails are located in the crew-only areas and guests rarely see them. The onboard jails are small and used as a place to hold guests suspected of breaking the law or those who are acting dangerously or recklessly.

What happens if you go to jail on a cruise ship?

They do have jail cells on board. Depending on the circumstances, you could either get sent to your room or held in a jail cell until the next port where you're either arrested or kicked off.

Does crime happen on cruise ships?

While cruises promise relaxation and escape, the unfortunate reality is that serious crimes can and do happen on the high seas. The FBI, alongside its partners, works to ensure the safety of the millions of Americans traveling aboard cruise ships every year.

Are there cops on cruise ships?

Law enforcement is not readily available. Only cruise ship security staff members. In land based environments, crime preservation is usually conducted by local law enforcement with specialized training and experience investigating crime immediately to the extent possible.

11 things you should never do at a cruise ship buffet

20 related questions found

Do cruise ships have a hospital?

Although cruise ships do not have full-fledged hospitals on board, they do have small medical facilities that can provide passengers with care in case of a medical emergency. If visiting this facility is your only option to get immediate medical care, go right away.

Do cruise ship crews have guns?

Yes many cruise ships do, especially ones that sail in waters where modern day pirates operate or are suspected to be. Some have powerful water cannons that can be aimed over the side of the ship to repel any boarders. Some senior crew members keep stun guns or Lazers readily available.

Which three crimes are most common aboard ships?

These criminal activities include maritime piracy and armed robbery; illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; maritime terrorism; illegal ocean dumping; and illicit trafficking, namely drug trafficking and human trafficking (Bellamy, 2020; Papastavridis, 2014) among others.

What happens if you are assaulted on a cruise ship?

You are protected from sexual assault and rape on a cruise ship by the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act. When you make a report to the ship's authorities, they are bound by this act to report your incident, so a criminal investigation can begin. Gather evidence.

Can you get in trouble on a cruise?

Yes, serious offenses such as possession of illegal substances or violent behavior can lead to arrest and legal action by local authorities at the next port.

What does jail look like on a cruise ship?

The brig, usually a bare-bones room with a bed and bathroom facilities, does not have iron bars like a traditional jail cell. It is used to detain guests who commit serious crimes like assault or possession of illegal substances.

Does Disney cruise have a jail?

Yes, cruise ships generally have a brig. Although you're more likely to be confined to your cabin with a security guard outside the door. Guests that are to be removed from the ship are done so at the next port of call, not held until the end of the cruise.

What crimes are committed on ships?

Crimes during cruises

Kidnapping. Sexual assault. Robbery, theft of money or property, and/or receiving stolen property in excess of $10,000. Firing (starting a fire on or tampering with the vessel)

What happens if someone dies on a cruise?

All cruise ships have morgues, though this is not publicized. The passenger's remains should be kept in the morgue undisturbed until the cruise ship gets to its next port which accepts human remains, at which point the body will be unloaded from the ship and transferred to local authorities.

What is banned on a cruise ship?

All firearms and weapons, ammunition, explosives and incendiary devices are strictly prohibited. Firearms and Weapons include, but are not limited to, the following items: Rifles.

Do cruises get attacked by pirates?

The Cruise Passenger publication says: "There were only six reports of pirates attempting to attack cruise ships over the last 10 years – in fact there has never been a successful pirate attack on a cruise ship. However, this doesn't mean cruise ships aren't prepared for the worst."

Can a hurricane tip over a cruise ship?

While theoretically a hurricane with sustained winds of at least 74 mph and high seas could capsize a cruise ship, in reality, cruise ships neither wait for nor steer toward hurricanes to test their ability to stay afloat in them.

What would happen if you fell off of a cruise ship?

“If you fall from a great height, not only do you risk breaking a limb as you hit the water, but it will knock all the air out of you and you can drown very quickly.”

How much crime happens on cruise ships?

The confined environment, combined with heavy drinking and the transient nature of passengers and crew, creates a uniquely dangerous setting where such crimes can occur. In 2023, the FBI received 52 reports of sexual assault and 79 reports of rape from passengers.

Why is bread and water a punishment?

The United States continued using bread and water confinement because it was a more humane way to quickly punish sailors at sea than flogging, which the U.S. Navy discontinued in 1862. In the years that followed, confinement on “minimal rations” was allowed for up to 30 days.

What is six water on a ship?

A punishment in the British Navy during the days of sail, inflicted on seamen found guilty of neglect or drunkenness. It consisted of their daily tot of grog being diluted with six parts of water instead of the normal three. It was a punishment that fell into disuse around the start of the 20th century.

Do ships carry guns for pirates?

As someone sailing in merchant Navy on LNG carriers I can verify that we are not allowed to carry nor operate firearms onboard ships. All our training involving pirates basically says to harden the ship against unauthorized boarding and take onboard security detail for passage through High Risk Area.

Do cruise ships have doctors?

Many large cruise ships have at least one other doctor, as well as a small team of nurses, though this is down to company policy rather than legal requirements.

Are there firefighters on cruise ships?

Certain crewmembers will be specifically employed as firefighters while a significant number of other crewmembers will augment the firefighting team as required and as provided in the ship's mustering list and firefighting plan. Practically all crewmembers are trained in firefighting.