As more planners turn to cruise ships as their venue of choice, the most trusted are those who treat safety and security as the foundation of every event, not an afterthought.
Landry & Kling is your trusted partner for every aspect of events at sea, including this critical area. With the right knowledge, planning and communication, your participants’ cruise experience can focus on your goals, whether that’s networking, having fun, celebrating, creating, or relaxing.
The cruise industry takes safety and security extremely seriously. Those that are members of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) adhere not only to their own standards of safety and security, but also to an additional layer required of all CLIA member brands.
Cruise lines themselves, and CLIA, have no higher priority than the safety of guests and crew, and are fully committed to a safe and secure cruise ship environment. Of course, to achieve this, many processes, procedures, and regulations are in place, some behind the scenes, and some in which guests actively participate while onboard.
Cruise Security and Safety for Meeting or Events – What to Expect?
Before guests even arrive at the cruise terminal to board a ship, they must submit their official government identification details. Prior to their cruise, the cruise line’s security team screens them. In the United States and many other countries, no one with a felony conviction may board a cruise ship. In some cases, additional screening is required. The entire ship manifest is shared with United States law enforcement, and run through their databases.
At check-in, proof of identity must be presented. Then, every item brought onboard, from luggage to food provisions, undergoes a security screening. These screenings take place throughout the cruise, every time a guest disembarks and reembarks a ship in a cruise port.
Cruise lines sailing to or from the United States, and other countries, have CCTV in public areas and exterior spaces of every ship.
Guest rooms have electronic keycards and safes. Guests can access emergency assistance through the ship’s phone system, at any time of day or night.
At the start of each voyage, guests participate in a mandatory safety drill, during which they learn about how and where to muster in the event of an emergency, as well as other relevant procedures.
Major cruise lines have sophisticated security departments run by former federal, state or military law enforcement officials. Shipboard security teams are highly dedicated professional experts. They are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Key Takeaways for Cruise Security
Here’s what you need to know as a planner: cruise ships offer a highly secure and safe environment for a meeting, conference or event, because security to even access the ship is much, much stricter, and highly controlled, as opposed to a land-based venue. This has been a top priority of the industry for decades.
Landry & Kling carefully evaluates your group’s safety and security needs as we consult with you to determine the ideal cruise line partner to make every aspect of your gathering successful, comfortable, fun, and safe.
4 Facts About Cruise Ship Security
To put the security picture in clear terms, here are five facts every meeting planner should know before hosting an event at sea:
- Access is tightly controlled
Cruise terminals and ships use multiple layers of screening before anyone boards, including ID checks, security checkpoints, and screening of both hand luggage and checked baggage. - Weapons and high-risk travelers are barred
Weapons are not permitted on board for passengers or crew, and IDs are checked against law-enforcement databases, with travelers who have felony convictions denied boarding. - Security doesn’t stop at embarkation
Passengers and crew pass through checkpoints again when leaving and reboarding in ports, and detailed manifests are shared with U.S. authorities for additional vetting. - Ships are monitored around the clock
Cruise ships rely on extensive 24/7 surveillance systems and professional security teams, often led by former federal, state, or military law-enforcement experts
Additional Cruise Ship Security Measures
Cruise ship safety takes many forms.
Port security works closely with cruise line security.
Perhaps most importantly, ports of calls and itineraries can be changed when necessary due to geopolitical or weather events.
For normal travel emergencies, ships provide a well-equipped infirmary staffed by qualified doctors and nurses to handle emergencies as needed with rapid, often life-saving response. In certain circumstances, when a ship has a helipad, these medical professionals may decide to engage local flight-based medical teams for assistance.
In addition, cruise lines have well-trained “Care Teams”, ready on short notice to travel to any ship to assist passengers and their families in a time of emergency. They typically offer counseling, handle repatriation, and make arrangements for ongoing assistance as needed. This is a great support to any meeting planner’s staff, and provides peace of mind when planning an event onboard a ship.
Ensuring Security at Sea
Cruise ships operate within one of the most highly regulated safety and security frameworks in global travel, with strict international maritime standards and multiple layers of oversight. For meeting planners, that means your group benefits from robust access control, detailed emergency procedures, and security practices that are built into day‑to‑day operations and not added on at the last minute (or at an added cost). Landry & Kling will help you navigate all of this so you can ensure that your participants understand what to expect as well as how they are looked after during their cruise.
Comprehensive Security
From the moment guests arrive at the terminal, access to the ship, passengers, and every carry-on, checked bag, and other piece of luggage is carefully controlled through ID checks, boarding documents, and screening checkpoints., all of which means fewer lost or misplaced bags. Public spaces are monitored by CCTV, cabins have locking doors and in‑room safes, and ship teams follow clear protocols for everything from visitor access to emergency response, creating a comprehensive, closed‑loop security environment.
Highly Trained Security Personnel
Behind the scenes, cruise lines employ professional ship security officers and security staff who are trained to international standards and available 24/7. Many security leaders come from law enforcement or military backgrounds and work closely with the bridge, medical team, and shoreside experts to prevent incidents, respond quickly, and support guests with tact and discretion if issues arise.
Prohibited Items
While every cruise line and cruise ship has its own detailed policy, here is a sample of commonly prohibited items planners should flag for attendees before sailing. Landry & Kling will help you know the specific requirements for the ship you choose for your event.
Prohibited items on a ship are similar to those on a plane. If you can’t take it on the plane, you likely can’t take it onto the ship. If your charter or cruise requires specific materials, Landry & Kling can advise accordingly.
Safety at Sea Assures Greater Peace of Mind
Landry & Kling is here to make every aspect of your event or meeting at sea not only less stressful, but truly seamless. We can provide each cruise line’s safety and security policy upon request, as needed. Most importantly, we want planners to know that cruising offers a combination of controlled access, professional security teams, medical facilities, and clear emergency procedures, all of which means your attendees are in a secure environment at sea. When participants feel safe and supported, they have more freedom to focus on networking, learning, and celebrating, making your event a success.
Learn More About Cruise Ship Security & Safety
Every cruise brand and ship class has its own detailed safety and security guidelines, from muster drills and lifesaving equipment to surveillance coverage and incident response.
As your trusted partner, Landry & Kling can help you navigate these differences, ask the right questions, and align shipboard protocols with your own event risk‑management plans so your stakeholders can move forward with confidence.
FAQs
What should meeting planners do in case of an emergency on board?
Landry & Kling will work with you in advance of your cruise to ensure you have a pre-agreed internal communication plan in the event of an emergency. Follow crew instructions immediately, direct attendees to their muster stations, and use your pre-agreed plan to account for participants.
For programs where Landry & Kling team members are onboard to assist your planners, you will have an added layer of support, as we are trained.
How do cruise lines handle lost or stolen items on board?
When guests report the issue to Guest Services or Security, the team will log the incident, attempt to locate the item, and involve authorities if needed. The team will log the incident and immediately search for the item. In most cases, items are found quickly because of the closed nature of the ship.
How can meeting planners request additional security and safety measures for their event?
Discuss your specific needs with Landry & Kling in advance so we can work with the ship’s security team to evaluate whether extra coverage or access controls around your program are needed.
