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It wasn't too long ago that the only care a cruiser had was remembering to apply sunblock. Being targeted by pirates? Low on the list. But this week another cruise ship, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Balmoral, was apparently followed by pirates in the now-perilous waters off Somalia.
CNN reports that more than 1,000 Britons on a world cruise were taken to safety amid fears. A spokesperson for Fred. Olsen said the Balmoral made distress calls after two small craft were picked up on radar following the ship at a rapid pace.
The ship, apparently, was never deemed to be under attack.
Passenger morale appears to have stayed high and there was no panicking.
After the incident was quelled, the Balmoral continued its scheduled itinerary, with a call at the port of Salalah in Oman.
The waters off Somalia have recently become a hot spot for pirate activity, with more than 40 ships hijacked in 2008 alone, according to the International Maritime Bureau.