The New York Times Travel Section published an article today about the topic of cruise ship "mishaps" such as collisions, fires, evacuations, groundings, and sinkings.
The problem is that there is no centralized agency collecting data about such incidents. Plus the cruise line industry is notoriously secretive about events that are inconsistent with the notion that cruising is a safe and enjoyable vacation.
This means that web sites like this and the site Cruise Junkie operated by Professor Ross Klein have to fill the gap.
You can read the article here: How Normal Are Cruise Mishaps?
The New York Times interviewed me and cruise expert Professor Ross Klein.
The Carnival PR person said the usual propaganda, saying that cruise mishaps "are quite rare” and "Carnival’s ships are extremely safe." Lots of self-serving opinions and adjectives but the usual lack of statistics.
Here’s the first comment to the article:
"Ah, for the days of deck chairs, hot bouillon, salt air, gentle strolls around the deck, dressing for dinner, a chance encounter with Dali walking a pair of Ocelots. Now it’s down to the sea in floating Malls afloat in sewage. Captain, I think we’re sailing backward."