Cruise ship issues pirate alert, tells passengers to turn off lights while sailing through high-risk waters

Queen Anne cruise en route to the Philippines adopts heightened security measures as it crosses piracy-prone region.

A cruise ship sailing from Darwin, Australia to Manila, Philippines, left passengers stunned after it issued an onboard warning about sailing through waters “known for piracy threats.” The security announcement was captured and shared by TikTok user @lillydapink, who is traveling aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne.

“We will be operating at a heightened level of security alertness during this period,” a crew member announced over the ship’s intercom, urging guests to take extra precautions. “During hours of darkness, only essential open deck lights will be on to reduce the ship’s external lighting… We also suggest you turn off your stateroom lights and close the curtains in your stateroom bedroom or bathroom.”

As part of the safety protocol, external decks were closed overnight and passengers were not permitted to go outside. “All the outside lights on open decks were turned off,” Lilly told Fox News Digital. “The curtains and blinds were also closed to keep the ship as dark as possible.”

The clip quickly went viral on TikTok, racking up over half a million likes and sparking both concern and comedy from social media users. “Bro my timbers would be shiveringggg,” one user joked. Another wrote, “The way I would crawl and hide under the bed.”

@lillydapink

I didn't know there were pirates around this area. We are crossing from Darwin to Manila #cruisetok #cunard #fyp

♬ original sound - cruisegypsyuk@lillydapink

@lillydapink

Another interesting sea day ahead #cruisetok #fyp #cunard

♬ Sail Away - 2020 Remaster - David Gray

Adding some reassurance, one commenter stated, “If a cruise or passenger vessel was attacked by pirates, the response from naval vessels would be swift and sudden, moreso than if it was a regular merchant vessel.” Another added light-heartedly, “My toxic trait is thinking I could befriend the pirates.”

Despite the dramatic nature of the announcement, cruise expert Stewart Chiron — known as “The Cruise Guy” — told Fox News Digital that there’s no need to panic. “It’s rare for cruise ships to traverse pirate-infested areas and wouldn’t do so if unsafe,” he explained. “Over the years, cruise ships have avoided these areas or sailed along with military escorts.”

He added that cruise security teams closely monitor regional threats, saying, “Very few ships [have] experience and security teams are continually reviewing current conditions before ships arrive in impacted areas.”

While the real-life high seas situation left some passengers uneasy, others embraced the thrill. One person summed up the vibe: “Well, that’s something you don’t hear every cruise.”