“This area is known for piracy threats,” the captain stated in the announcement. “Therefore, we will be operating at a heightened level of security alertness during this period.

“The external promenade deck will be closed on both sides from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. overnight between the night of 14th and 15th of March. And no guests will be allowed access during these times for the duration of the transit.”

As an additional security measure, the ship’s exterior lighting was dimmed to make it less visible at sea. Pressurised fire hoses were also set up along the promenade deck as a deterrent against potential threats.

The waters surrounding Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have long been regarded as high-risk by maritime security experts.

The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism once described the region as a “hotbed for crime, piracy, and terrorism,” with the most recent reported abduction occurring in 2020.

Reassuring guests, Captain Klein emphasised that the situation was under control.

“I would like to emphasise that the safety and security of the ship, all guests and crew onboard is my highest priority,” she said.

“I assure you that measures to prevent any unlikely incident have been well planned and the likelihood of this happening on a big ship like Queen Anne is absolutely minimal.”

The warning sparked discussion on social media, with some users expressing concern over the risk of piracy, while others noted that a luxury cruise carrying affluent passengers could be a tempting target.

The Queen Anne, which accommodates more than 3,350 guests, departed from Hamburg, Germany, on 7 January for its extensive journey.

The itinerary includes stops in destinations such as England, New York, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.

IOL Travel