The Alarming Reason Cruise Passengers Are Asked to Turn Off Lights and Shut Curtains in Certain Waters

Sailing on a luxury cruise is usually associated with breathtaking views, lavish amenities, and exotic destinations. However, there’s a lesser-known, unsettling protocol that occasionally comes into play during certain parts of the voyage—and it’s not what most travelers expect.

Passengers aboard the Cunard Queen Anne, currently on its 111-night inaugural world journey starting from Hamburg, Germany, were recently surprised by a strict nighttime rule. The cruise is set to visit popular destinations including New York, Sydney, Hawaii, Cape Town, and Penang, but one segment of the trip—the passage through the Sulu-Celebes Sea—brought an unexpected safety directive.

A TikTok video that has since gone viral with more than 8 million views revealed the captain’s serious message: All passengers must turn off their cabin lights and keep their curtains closed during the night while navigating these waters.

Why such a rule? The captain explained the ship was entering a region known for heightened piracy risks, prompting an elevated level of onboard security. By darkening the ship and closing external areas, its visibility would be drastically reduced, decreasing the chances of attracting unwanted attention.

The passenger who posted the video explained that even public promenade decks were shuttered after dark, emphasizing the seriousness of the safety measures.

Unsurprisingly, the revelation sparked a wave of shocked reactions online:

• “That’s actually terrifying,” one viewer commented.
• Another replied, “It’s just a routine precaution. The chance of an incident is very small.”
• One user admitted, “It blows my mind that real pirates still exist in the modern day.”

An ex-cruise ship worker chimed in, sharing, “We had armed security onboard when passing Somalia. It’s more common than people think—but passengers are kept safe.”

Another added a comforting thought: “If pirates ever did try to attack a cruise ship, the naval response would be immediate and far more aggressive than for a cargo ship.”

A representative from Cunard later spoke to Business Insider, clarifying the situation. “These are standard maritime precautions in specific regions,” they said. “There was no actual threat to the ship or its guests, and all onboard experiences continued as planned.”

So while the thought of pirates might sound like a scene from an action movie, for many cruise lines, taking proactive safety steps is part of routine protocol to ensure guests can relax—even in the world’s less peaceful waters.