By Kiera Howard 
A routine evening aboard Cunard’s MS Queen Anne shattered when Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge ordered 3,000 passengers into lockdown. “This area is known for piracy threats,” her announcement began, transforming a $16,379 luxury cruise into a real-time security operation that would captivate millions on social media.
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‘Frightened to Death’: The Night Everything Changed
March 14, 2025. The Queen Anne sailed between Darwin and Manila, entering waters that would test both crew preparedness and passenger nerves: the Sulu Sea.
Captain Thorhauge’s full announcement left no ambiguity: “Therefore we will be operating at a heightened level of security alertness during this period.” Within minutes, the 111-night world voyage became something passengers never imagined when booking their premium cabins.
External lights across the ship dimmed to essential illumination only. Both port and starboard promenade decks sealed from 9 PM to 5 AM. Passengers received explicit instructions to close curtains and minimize stateroom lighting. For two consecutive nights, one of the world’s newest luxury liners operated under wartime conditions.
Elderly passengers reacted with visible distress. Many were seen “in tears and frightened to death,” as documented in passenger accounts. The warnings struck different passengers differently: some called them “unexpected,” others “surprising,” and many found them outright “terrifying.”
TikTok Tells a Different Story
@lillydapink had her phone ready when the announcement came. Where others saw crisis, she saw content. “It’s a bit of excitement on a sea day,” she posted to her followers. Her observation that “half the ship are loving pirate watch” would prove prophetic as her videos exploded across social media, eventually reaching nearly 9 million views.
Her footage revealed preparations most cruise passengers never imagine:
Fire Hoses Become Weapons
Video evidence shows crew members positioning pressurized water systems along vulnerable deck areas. These high-pressure streams serve a specific purpose in maritime defense: knocking pirates off boarding ladders and swamping approaching small craft. Standard firefighting equipment had transformed into the ship’s first line of active defense.
The Sound Cannon
Passengers documented the ship’s LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) mounted and operational. This acoustic weapon emits focused sound beams causing debilitating pain at distance. Military vessels use identical technology to create an invisible barrier against boarders without requiring lethal force.
Total Blackout
The Queen Anne effectively vanished each night. Reducing the ship’s light signature made tracking difficult for anyone using basic equipment. Only navigation lights required by international law remained active.
Singapore Strait: The Real Story
ReCAAP’s Q1 2025 data reveals why cruise lines maintain heightened security throughout Southeast Asian waters:
Piracy Incidents by Location:
| Location | 2024 Total | Q1 2025 | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Strait | 62 | 36 | 48% surge, active threat |
| Sulu Sea | 0 | 0 | No incidents since 2020 |
| Indonesia | 22 | 3 | Declining |
| Bangladesh | 8 | 0 | Improved |
The Philippine Coast Guard downgraded the Sulu-Celebes threat level to “LOW” in January 2025, defining this as “Incidents are unlikely to occur due to perpetrators’ perceived lack of capability to orchestrate any attacks. Nevertheless, minimal damages can be expected to the ship and crew in the event of any potential attacks.”
Ships maintain consistent security protocols throughout volatile regions rather than switching defenses on and off. The Singapore Strait’s dramatic spike in armed robberies justified Queen Anne’s comprehensive response across all Southeast Asian waters.
Cunard’s $16,379 Secret
Examine Cunard’s promotional materials for the Queen Anne’s world voyage. You’ll find infinity pools, gourmet dining, butler service, and spa treatments. You won’t find any mention of potential piracy protocols that fundamentally alter the passenger experience.
Cruise law expert Jim Walker identified this omission as legally significant: “The promotional materials and booking information for the Queen Anne’s 111-night world voyage made no mention of the fact that the itinerary included a transit through pirate-infested waters.”
Cunard’s post-incident statement called these measures “part of standard maritime procedures” and claimed “no specific threat to the ship or its guests.” The deployment of military-grade sonic weapons and water cannon systems suggests the company took the threat more seriously than their public statements indicated.
Maritime law requires cruise lines to disclose foreseeable risks. The Sulu Sea’s documented piracy history makes such risks foreseeable. Installing defensive weapons proves corporate awareness. The combination creates potential legal liability.
History Repeats: Cruise Ships Under Fire
The Queen Anne joins a documented pattern of passenger vessel encounters:
2005: Seabourn Spirit (Carnival Corporation sister brand) faced machine gun and RPG attack 100 miles off Somalia. Security officer used LRAD and water cannons to repel boarders.
2009: MSC Melody passengers threw deck furniture at pirates attempting to board with ladders near Seychelles. Israeli security detail ended attack with warning shots.
2008: Le Ponant suffered complete hijacking in Gulf of Aden. Pirates held 30 crew members hostage until owners paid $2.1 million ransom.
Your 2026 Cruise: Prepare for Reality
Queen Anne’s published 109-night world voyage departs Southampton January 11, 2026, following nearly identical routing:
- Southampton to Cape Town: 20 days
- Cape Town to Singapore: 22 days (Indian Ocean crossing)
- Singapore to Hong Kong: 5 days (Strait transit required)
- Hong Kong to Sydney: 18 days
Cunard acknowledges these constitute “standard maritime procedures” for the region. Passengers should expect similar security protocols during these segments. Pack accordingly.
Related: Stranded cruise ship passengers prepare to leave Belfast
Before You Book: Essential Questions
The International Maritime Bureau provides current piracy data for route planning. Prospective passengers should ask cruise lines:
- Does this itinerary transit areas designated as High-Risk by maritime authorities?
- What specific security protocols activate in these regions?
- Will passenger movement face restrictions during certain segments?
- Does the company deploy armed security teams in specific waters?
Active Threat Zones (2025):
- Singapore/Malacca Straits: 36 incidents Q1 2025
- Gulf of Guinea: Crew kidnapping center
- Gulf of Aden: Resurgent activity
- Arabian Sea: Emerging concerns
When Social Media Meets Maritime Security
@lillydapink’s TikTok coverage created a phenomenon cruise lines never anticipated. Nine million views transformed routine security measures into global news. The platform’s algorithm amplified passenger footage of sonic weapons and blackout procedures, forcing Cunard into damage control mode.
The contrast proved stark. While passengers filmed military preparations, corporate statements minimized risks. While elderly guests wept in corridors, company spokespeople called everything “standard.” Every smartphone had become a broadcast device. Every passenger a potential whistleblower.
Corporate Security Meets Passenger Reality
Carnival Corporation, Cunard’s parent company, maintains sophisticated security infrastructure:
- INTERPOL partnership established 2016
- I-Checkit document screening system
- Comprehensive Crime Prevention and Response Guide
- 24/7 onboard security personnel
- Published zero tolerance crime policies
These measures protect passengers effectively. The breakdown occurs in communication. Premium fare passengers deserve advance notice when their voyage includes mandatory blackouts, movement restrictions, and potential emergency protocols.
FAQs: Direct Answers to Real Concerns
Will pirates actually attack my cruise ship?
Statistics favor passengers. Pirates primarily target slower cargo vessels with smaller crews. Le Ponant in 2008 remains the last successful cruise ship hijacking.
Can I refuse to follow blackout orders?
No. International maritime law grants ship captains absolute authority during security situations. Compliance protects all aboard.
What happens if pirates approach?
Passengers with balconies or windows move immediately to interior corridors. Interior cabin occupants remain in staterooms. Everyone avoids windows and external decks until receiving “all clear” announcement.
Are weapons onboard?
Industry standard includes secured firearms accessible only to trained officers. Visible armed patrols remain uncommon on passenger vessels.
Which cruise routes avoid these risks entirely?
Mediterranean circuits, Baltic tours, Alaska passages, and most Caribbean itineraries bypass designated high-risk zones.
The Lesson of the Queen Anne
March 2025’s incident aboard the MS Queen Anne exposed an industry caught between operational reality and marketing fantasy. Cruise lines have invested millions in sophisticated defense systems while hoping passengers never notice.
Modern piracy involves real weapons and genuine threats. The industry knows this, evidenced by their installation of military hardware and comprehensive crew training. The disconnect comes from pretending these measures don’t exist until the moment they’re needed.
Transparency serves everyone better than surprise announcements at sea. Passengers can make informed decisions. Cruise lines avoid social media crises. The luxury experience continues, just with honest acknowledgment of occasional reality checks.
The Queen Anne completed its transit safely. No pirates materialized. The sonic weapons remained silent. Yet for two nights, 3,000 passengers discovered their floating paradise came with terms and conditions nobody had read aloud.
Before booking your next cruise, ask about the parts missing from glossy brochures. Because between the champagne service and Broadway shows, you might encounter a piracy warning luxury cruise passengers never expected.
Source Material: Passenger social media accounts, ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre reports, International Maritime Bureau data, cruise line statements, maritime law documentation. For current piracy information, consult official maritime security organizations.