How a cruise ship may be affected by an earthquake depends on where it’s located. Out at sea, it might not be noticeable. In port, it could be dangerous.
When a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia in late July, the level of concern you had for your own personal safety was likely based on your location. It was the sixth most severe earthquake in recorded history and triggered tsunami warnings that affected millions of people in Japan, China, Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast, and more. Luckily, most areas avoided major damage, but what could happen if you were on a cruise ship? Would passengers even feel an earthquake?
If you are planning to go on a cruise, earthquakes probably aren’t on your list of potential concerns. You may be more worried about disease outbreaks, hidden fees, or even falling overboard (which is, luckily, rare). Earthquakes are fairly common, with more than 1,300 magnitude 5.0 or greater quakes in 2024, but the ocean is also a very big place. Statistically speaking, it’s unlikely that a cruise ship would be at or near the location of an earthquake at sea.
