Ahoy there, Everyone - Captain here ...

Here at Prow's Edge we have never been afraid to tell the truth about the cruise industry, even when it's not all rosy and happy. And that is not to sensationalize the ugly side of the industry, but rather to make cruise passengers aware of what is happening. If you are well informed, you CAN have a safe and happy cruise. Being uninformed is what can make it dangerous.

The International Cruise Victims Association (ICV) represents victims of crime on cruise ships, their families and friends, and individuals concerned about the problems of victimization and disappearances on cruise ships.

The ICV has played a large part in the formation of the Prow's Edge section Safety at Sea section at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruises-safety-at-sea.html

If you have any comments about this or other issues in this topic, we would like to hear about it.

Looking forward to hearing your views ...

Prows Edge is to be congratulated on taking such an active role in publicizing the work of the International Cruise Victims Association. The ICVA in its turn is to be congratulated for the sterling work it does for the victims of crime on cruise ships and for their friends and families. Thank you.

Ahoy there, Twins - Captain here ...

Thank you for the thumbs up! We are passionate here at Prow's Edge about getting cruise passengers to be aware of the safety at sea issues. This is not an issue we tackle for the sake of scaring cruise passengers but to keep them informed so that they can avoid becoming a victim of the many forms of crime at sea. A lot of being safe at sea is to do with prevention and common sense. Sadly many of us leave our common sense at home when we take a cruise.

The International Cruise Victims Association works to this end. No other organization has worked so tirelessly on behalf of the victims at sea and their friends and families and we agree with you that they are to be congratulated.

If it had not been for the efforts of Kendall Carver and the ICV, and members who have traveled to Washington and performed other services (often paying their own expenses) to promote the ICV cause, cruise passengers today would not be able to look forward to a safer cruise experience for all of us.

They can also do with our support by making a donation at http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/Donations.html , or sending a check to:

INTERNATIONAL CRUISE VICTIMS
704 228th Avenue NE - PMB
525, Sammamish WA 98074 USA

More information about the ICV can be found at their web site at http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org/

Thanks again, Twins for your post.

Check out the Prow’s Edge blog which has an eye-opener post (http://prows-edge-cruise-magazine.blogs ... ships.html) on a new book about safety on cruise ships. It’s title is Cruising for Trouble and it’s written by a cruise insider – Mark Gaouette, former head of Security for Princess Cruise Lines and who now, says the blog, serves as a top maritime security official in the Department of Homeland Security. If you’ve ever wondered or even worried about cruise safety this is a “must-read”.

Thanks, Peter2. I chased down the book and phew! is this alarming! I’m still reading it but don’t miss the passage on the dangers lurking in foreign ports .... only a few months ago Chicago Sun Times had a frightening piece about armed robberies in the Bahamas with hooded and armed gangsters forcing cruise passengers to the ground and robbing them. And this was not an isolated incident.