Cruise passengers were told to draw curtains and turn off lights as they passed through a pirate hot spot
Passengers were told to avoid the deck overnight, draw their curtains, and turn off their lights.
Cunard said it was standard procedure when sailing in certain waters.
Passengers aboard Cunard's Queen Anne cruise ship were advised to take precautions last week as the 114,000-ton vessel navigated a piracy-prone area in Southeast Asia during its maiden world voyage.
The 111-night trip, which began in Germany in January, saw the ship traveling between Darwin, Australia, and Manila in the Philippines last week, passing through the Sulu-Celebes Sea.
Prior to navigating the waters, which the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism once described as a "hotbed for crime, piracy, and terrorism," the captain issued an onboard safety warning.
In a video of a loudspeaker announcement to passengers, which Cunard didn't dispute took place, the captain informed passengers the ship would be operating at a "heightened level of security alertness" while crossing an area known for piracy threats.
As part of these security measures, passengers were told over the loudspeaker that the external promenade decks would be closed overnight, and only essential open-deck lights would remain on to minimize the ship's visibility.
Passengers were also asked to turn off their stateroom lights when not needed and to keep their curtains drawn.
The Queen Anne is Cunard's fourth luxury cruise ship. It can accommodate 2,996 guests, as well as 1,225 crew, and has thousands of pieces of art on board, as well as facilities for activities such as archery and pickleball.
The waters between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines were once notorious for kidnapping-for-ransom incidents, particularly by the Abu Sayyaf Group, a jihadist militant and pirate group.
Between late 2016 and mid-2022, ships were advised to avoid the area, with ReCAAP's Information Sharing Centre, which tracks piracy in Asia, deeming the threat of abduction to be high.
No abduction incidents have been reported in the area since January 2020, and the threat level was downgraded to "low" in January 2025.
While attacks on cruise ships are rare, they're not unheard of. In 2009, Somali pirates attempted to board the MSC Melody near the Seychelles. Passengers threw tables and deck chairs overboard before pistol fire caused the pirates to retreat.
Pirates typically target oil tankers and container ships rather than cruise ships. Nonetheless, a spokesperson for Cunard said taking such precautions was standard procedure in certain areas.
"As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions," the spokesperson told Business Insider.
They added: "There was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and our onboard experience remained uninterrupted."
Read the original article on Business Insider
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
10 hours ago
- Business Insider
Backlash to Delta's AI pricing shows the tightrope companies walk when it comes to AI
When Delta last month said it was ramping up its use of AI to set fares, the backlash from customers was swift. It demonstrated a common problem companies face in the age of AI: how to adopt new technology (and brag about it to please shareholders) without freaking out consumers. Delta has said it is not using AI to set different prices for different individuals based on their personal data. Instead, the airline says AI is being used to improve existing dynamic pricing practices that are already used across the industry. "There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing, or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal information or otherwise," the company said in a statement provided to Business Insider. Travelers were still spooked. Online, they complained about the potential for price gouging, and lawmakers sent a letter demanding answers from Delta, citing concerns about data privacy and the potential for price discrimination. "It sounds very dystopian to me," Brent McDonald, a lawyer based in Salt Lake City and a frequent Delta flyer, told Business Insider. McDonald said in cities like Salt Lake, which is a major hub for Delta, there are not a lot of options for direct flights. "With that monopoly power, it could be very abusive to use AI to maximize the amount of money they'll get from each customer," he said. Tim Sanders, vice president of research insights at G2, told Business Insider, "When you say you have artificial intelligence in a consumer product, it raises red flags with consumers." Investors, on the other hand, tend to love it since it can lead to efficiency gains. "Delta, in an effort to impress its investors, stepped into a PR backlash," he said. Consumers don't trust AI, so messaging is key Industry experts who spoke to Business Insider said Delta's lack of details in its initial public discussions of using AI led some consumers to worry about potential worst-case scenarios. On Investor Day in November, Delta said about 1% of its network had fares set using AI. Delta President Glen Hauenstein said, "The initial results show amazingly favorable unit revenues" and that, eventually, "we will have a price that's available on that flight, on that time to you, the individual." On Delta's second-quarter earnings call in July, Hauenstein said AI was now being used to set prices on about 3% of its domestic network and that the goal was to get to 20% by the end of the year. "We're in heavy testing phase," he said. "We like what we see." After Sen. Ruben Gallego sent a letter to Delta requesting answers about its AI pricing, the airline responded and said much of what was being said about their process was false. "Your letter presupposes that we are using, and intend to use, AI for 'individualized' pricing or 'surveillance' pricing, leveraging consumer-specific personal data, such as sensitive personal circumstances or prior purchasing activity to set individualized prices," the airline said in a letter dated July 31. "To clarify, this is incorrect, and this assumption, unfortunately, has created confusion and misinformation in the public discourse." Delta also shared more details about how it's using AI. The airline said AI is assisting human analysts by forecasting demand for specific routes, aggregating purchasing data, and factoring in thousands of variables at once — though not personal data. Sanders said being transparent about how AI is being used could help address the issue of consumer trust. He said companies should look toward the transparency practices at AI industry leaders like OpenAI, which he noted has introduced features that have ChatGPT show its work and explain its reasoning. One way airlines could do that would be to show fare factors on its ticket prices, or to provide some explanation about how a price was set. He also said airlines could allow users to opt out of AI-priced seats and make it clear that could mean some seats may not be offered to them. Companies should talk about how they're using AI to improve their service Clint Henderson, managing editor at the travel website The Points Guy, said he's worried that AI being used in pricing could actually lead airlines to penalize their most loyal customers by upcharging them because they will pay more to stick to the airline and get the points. But he said AI pricing could potentially be used for good, too, like by giving a discount to a new customer or offering cheaper upgrades to first or business class by finding just the right price for someone to splurge. Zack Kass, an AI advisor and former head of go-to-market at OpenAI, said rather than talk vaguely about how AI is boosting profits, companies need to talk about how they are using AI to improve the customer experience. "Talk about how your wait time on customer support is coming down. Talk about how you're improving on time arrivals. Talk about how you're using AI to lose fewer bags," Kass told Business Insider. Kass said many consumers might even approve of an airline charging wealthy passengers, like those who always opt for first-class, a bit more in order to provide lower prices to others. However AI is being used to improve the actual product or provide goods and services at a lower cost, he said it's incumbent on companies to tell that story. The way individual companies talk about AI doesn't just impact their business either, Sanders said, but can also slow adoption across the board if it creates broader distrust among consumers. "Trust in AI arrives by a mule," he said. "It leaves on a Maserati."
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Yahoo
I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.
Cindy Sheahan quit her job, got divorced, and began traveling abroad for a bigger, fuller life. She's visited more than 50 countries, but one city stole her heart: Palermo, on the island of Sicily. Sheahan told Business Insider she's happier, healthier, and saving more money in Italy. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cindy Sheahan, 64, who retired from real estate in 2017 and left Colorado to travel abroad. In 2025, Sheahan settled in Palermo, Italy. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. In 2017, I was at a crossroads. A lot of people I knew were dying, and I started thinking: You really don't know how many days you get or what's promised to you. I figured I'd start traveling abroad. My company was kind enough to let me take a sabbatical while I sorted out my world. It turned out to be a mistake for them, because I decided I wasn't coming back. Once I stepped out the door and visited places I had only dreamed of and ate food I had only read about, it was ridiculous to think I was going to go back to my "normal life." I wasn't getting any younger. I figured I could always work again if I wanted to. But right now? I wanted to climb a waterfall in Cambodia and ride a motorbike in Vietnam. So I quit my job, retired, and divorced my husband. We had 30 years together and raised our amazing kids. But I didn't want just to walk the dog, play pickleball, and tend a garden. I wanted a bigger life. I thought living abroad would be temporary, but I was wrong After the divorce, I moved into a small apartment in Colorado with a monthly rent of $1,700. I still have it and rent it out to traveling nurses abroad. In the beginning, I thought I'd travel the majority of the year, come back to the States, and live a "normal" life there for one month a year. For some time, I did that. I've visited nearly 50 countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Madagascar, Turkey, Cyprus, and the more popular spots, like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. After being a mom to four kids, it's amazing to travel alone. Eating, sleeping, and reading when you want to is nice. You can go back to the same restaurant twice or visit a museum. You have no one to apologize to or explain yourself to. I remember sitting on a bench in front of Picasso's famous painting Guernica in the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. Who knew I could sit and look at it for half an hour without anyone saying: "Oh my God, can we go? Are you done?" It was a sense of freedom that was incredible. The US was no longer for me After seven years of full-time backpack and hostel traveling, I was ready to set up a home base. I wanted to put my toothbrush on my own sink and put my clothes on a hanger somewhere. I knew I didn't want to live in the US anymore. Not only did I feel empowered abroad, but I also felt that the US no longer aligned with my values. I wasn't into the US's overconsumption. With the divisive political climate and the ridiculous gun culture, there was no way in hell I'd live there after experiencing a more peaceful life in so many other countries. Palermo, Italy, has my heart In 2022, moved to Portugal on a retirement residency visa. After about 11 months, I realized I could apply for Italian citizenship through ancestry, and the process would be faster in Italy than in the US. That was a game changer. For some time, I explored different parts of Italy, trying to determine where I wanted to live. I lived in a small medieval village in Umbria, and visited Bologna, Milan, Torino, Rome, and Florence. Then I went to Palermo, a city on the island of Sicily, and it hit me: I had found my soul city. Palermo is a feast for the senses. There's laughter, joy, noise — it's completely lovely. I moved to the city in October 2024. I didn't want to live in the suburbs — though living in the outer areas will always be less expensive and, in some ways, more authentic. So, I chose to live in the city center. I live in an area where I can walk for about 15 minutes and be at a cathedral, the gardens, or in the neighborhoods where all the restaurants, markets, and festivals happen. Palermo has a vast and active expat community. I feel safe in my neighborhood. I have a good friend who lives by the local train station, about a 30-minute walk from my apartment. I walk back from her house all the time late at midnight, and there's no stress — I'm not walking with my keys in my hand. My apartment is about 1,100 square feet, and I pay around $800 monthly plus a $100 condominium fee. It came completely furnished and is gorgeous. I have three sets of French doors that open onto three separate balconies. The floors are terrazzo with border patterns, and there are medallions on the 12-foot-high ceiling. My bathroom is spacious, which is hard to find in Italy, where showers are often the size of a phone booth. The apartment building dates back to the early 1930s. Although it is old, compared to some other buildings in Italy, it feels relatively new. Life is more affordable in Italy I couldn't afford my lifestyle if I moved back to the US. I receive $1,500 a month in Social Security. It's not enough to cover rent in Denver, but abroad, it easily covers my housing and much more. Daily expenses are affordable in Palermo. I love that I can go to the grocery store and not break the bank. You can buy tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, and everything else for a song. Healthcare is also much more affordable in Italy. In 2024, while traveling in Tunisia, I broke my foot. When I returned to Italy, I had two sets of X-rays and two appointments with an orthopedic specialist, and the total cost was less than $150. At the time, I wasn't even on the national healthcare system. Now that I'm an Italian citizen, I'm fully covered, which means there's no charge for general care. If I need to see a specialist, like a dermatologist, I might pay around $40. I am happier in Italy than I'd ever be in the US Living in Italy, I make a new discovery every day. That sense of wonder and joy has become a regular part of my life. I feel like I outgrew a lot of people and places in the US. Don't get me wrong, I desperately miss my friends and family, especially my kids. But they're all able to travel, and they'd much rather visit me somewhere fun than grab a drink at a bar in Denver. My quality of life has improved in Italy. I walk almost everywhere, so my blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol are in better condition. I eat better, I've made new friends, I've cut down on expenses, and most importantly, I'm happy. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Yahoo
I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.
Cindy Sheahan quit her job, got divorced, and began traveling abroad for a bigger, fuller life. She's visited more than 50 countries, but one city stole her heart: Palermo, on the island of Sicily. Sheahan told Business Insider she's happier, healthier, and saving more money in Italy. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cindy Sheahan, 64, who retired from real estate in 2017 and left Colorado to travel abroad. In 2025, Sheahan settled in Palermo, Italy. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. In 2017, I was at a crossroads. A lot of people I knew were dying, and I started thinking: You really don't know how many days you get or what's promised to you. I figured I'd start traveling abroad. My company was kind enough to let me take a sabbatical while I sorted out my world. It turned out to be a mistake for them, because I decided I wasn't coming back. Once I stepped out the door and visited places I had only dreamed of and ate food I had only read about, it was ridiculous to think I was going to go back to my "normal life." I wasn't getting any younger. I figured I could always work again if I wanted to. But right now? I wanted to climb a waterfall in Cambodia and ride a motorbike in Vietnam. So I quit my job, retired, and divorced my husband. We had 30 years together and raised our amazing kids. But I didn't want just to walk the dog, play pickleball, and tend a garden. I wanted a bigger life. I thought living abroad would be temporary, but I was wrong After the divorce, I moved into a small apartment in Colorado with a monthly rent of $1,700. I still have it and rent it out to traveling nurses abroad. In the beginning, I thought I'd travel the majority of the year, come back to the States, and live a "normal" life there for one month a year. For some time, I did that. I've visited nearly 50 countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Madagascar, Turkey, Cyprus, and the more popular spots, like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. After being a mom to four kids, it's amazing to travel alone. Eating, sleeping, and reading when you want to is nice. You can go back to the same restaurant twice or visit a museum. You have no one to apologize to or explain yourself to. I remember sitting on a bench in front of Picasso's famous painting Guernica in the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. Who knew I could sit and look at it for half an hour without anyone saying: "Oh my God, can we go? Are you done?" It was a sense of freedom that was incredible. The US was no longer for me After seven years of full-time backpack and hostel traveling, I was ready to set up a home base. I wanted to put my toothbrush on my own sink and put my clothes on a hanger somewhere. I knew I didn't want to live in the US anymore. Not only did I feel empowered abroad, but I also felt that the US no longer aligned with my values. I wasn't into the US's overconsumption. With the divisive political climate and the ridiculous gun culture, there was no way in hell I'd live there after experiencing a more peaceful life in so many other countries. Palermo, Italy, has my heart In 2022, moved to Portugal on a retirement residency visa. After about 11 months, I realized I could apply for Italian citizenship through ancestry, and the process would be faster in Italy than in the US. That was a game changer. For some time, I explored different parts of Italy, trying to determine where I wanted to live. I lived in a small medieval village in Umbria, and visited Bologna, Milan, Torino, Rome, and Florence. Then I went to Palermo, a city on the island of Sicily, and it hit me: I had found my soul city. Palermo is a feast for the senses. There's laughter, joy, noise — it's completely lovely. I moved to the city in October 2024. I didn't want to live in the suburbs — though living in the outer areas will always be less expensive and, in some ways, more authentic. So, I chose to live in the city center. I live in an area where I can walk for about 15 minutes and be at a cathedral, the gardens, or in the neighborhoods where all the restaurants, markets, and festivals happen. Palermo has a vast and active expat community. I feel safe in my neighborhood. I have a good friend who lives by the local train station, about a 30-minute walk from my apartment. I walk back from her house all the time late at midnight, and there's no stress — I'm not walking with my keys in my hand. My apartment is about 1,100 square feet, and I pay around $800 monthly plus a $100 condominium fee. It came completely furnished and is gorgeous. I have three sets of French doors that open onto three separate balconies. The floors are terrazzo with border patterns, and there are medallions on the 12-foot-high ceiling. My bathroom is spacious, which is hard to find in Italy, where showers are often the size of a phone booth. The apartment building dates back to the early 1930s. Although it is old, compared to some other buildings in Italy, it feels relatively new. Life is more affordable in Italy I couldn't afford my lifestyle if I moved back to the US. I receive $1,500 a month in Social Security. It's not enough to cover rent in Denver, but abroad, it easily covers my housing and much more. Daily expenses are affordable in Palermo. I love that I can go to the grocery store and not break the bank. You can buy tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, and everything else for a song. Healthcare is also much more affordable in Italy. In 2024, while traveling in Tunisia, I broke my foot. When I returned to Italy, I had two sets of X-rays and two appointments with an orthopedic specialist, and the total cost was less than $150. At the time, I wasn't even on the national healthcare system. Now that I'm an Italian citizen, I'm fully covered, which means there's no charge for general care. If I need to see a specialist, like a dermatologist, I might pay around $40. I am happier in Italy than I'd ever be in the US Living in Italy, I make a new discovery every day. That sense of wonder and joy has become a regular part of my life. I feel like I outgrew a lot of people and places in the US. Don't get me wrong, I desperately miss my friends and family, especially my kids. But they're all able to travel, and they'd much rather visit me somewhere fun than grab a drink at a bar in Denver. My quality of life has improved in Italy. I walk almost everywhere, so my blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol are in better condition. I eat better, I've made new friends, I've cut down on expenses, and most importantly, I'm happy. Read the original article on Business Insider
