Cruise ships are like floating cities. They have their own housing, recreational facilities, shops, restaurants, spas, and swimming pools, among other facilities that allow them to sustain a life at sea. So, it’s only logical that you might wonder if there are prisons on cruise ships.
The answer is yes.
Do Cruise Ships Have Jails?
There is a small prison called “Brig” on the cruise ship. This prison is used to hold passengers who violate the law or who pose a danger to other passengers or themselves.
While the cruise lines have prisons on board, their purpose is not to hold passengers for long periods of time. Cruise lines can only use prisons as a last resort.
The decision to jail or disembark passengers is usually made by the captain.
While most modern cruise ships have prisons, many older ships do not.
Other security measures could include cabin arrests, where criminals must remain in their first class, and a security guard outside the door.
Why Are Cruise Ship Jails Called Brigs?
According to the glossary. “Brig is a prison, especially a naval or military prison. The meaning comes from the fact that a brig (historically used as a floating prison.”
The word brig is derived from the term “brigantine”. Brigantines are small brigs with huge square sails. Ferries did not become extremely common until the end of the 19th century when steamboats were widely used.
A brigantine is a small brig with huge square sails.
Today, the term brig is most often used to describe prisons on military ships. If Navy or Coast Guard sailors break the law, they’ll be ‘locked into sojourn’
See also Royal Caribbean ships, by size and age
The term brig is not commonly used in the cruise industry. I will use the words “prison” and “confinement cell” interchangeably in this article.
What Does a Cruise Ship Jail Look Like
A cruiser that breaks the rules could be trapped in a true confinement cell, but it’s also possible that passengers will be ordered to stay in their cabins, with members of the ship’s security team stationed outside the door.
If it is determined that a guest must be moved to confinement, the person will be escorted to a bare-bones cabin – usually on the lower deck, possibly without windows – where there will be a simple mattress and bedding and bathroom facilities. (Don’t worry: they’re not cells in the typical sense. There are no sliding doors with rails.)
The doors are locked from the outside, meaning passengers cannot let themselves out. Because of this, meals are delivered to them while they are serving.
Why Would a Guest be Placed in The Jail of a Cruise Ship?
There are several reasons why a guest may be ‘locked into a confinement room.
If guests are suspected of committing serious crimes, they may be placed in solitary cells. Serious shipboard crimes may include assault or murder. Fortunately, this is a very rare situation.
If a passenger commits a serious crime or is suspected of committing a crime, the cruise ship will hold the passenger in confinement until the next port of call. Once the vessel reaches port, local authorities will take over the investigation and processing of passengers.
Another reason guests may be put in jail is that they present a danger to themselves or other passengers.
If a guest threatens others or threatens to harm themselves, they may be put in jail for security reasons. Cruise lines try to avoid putting passengers in jail, but precautions must be taken to protect passengers and crew.
Intoxicated and disruptive guests may be jailed or kept in cabins for safety. Once they are sober, they may be required to sign a contract prohibiting them from drinking alcohol during the voyage.
One crazy reason a cruise line might put someone in jail is if they get caught trying to defraud a cruise line. Surprisingly, some people will fake a “slip and fall” incident on a cruise ship in an attempt to claim it from the cruise ship.
Fortunately, cruise lines have dozens of security cameras onboard to protect them from would-be scam artists.
For the most part, scammers don’t usually use boat jails unless they commit a serious crime while pursuing their scam.
Final Thoughts
There are indeed prisons on cruise ships. Prisons on cruise ships are the last resort to ensure the continued safety of tourists, crew, and cruise ships.
Cruise lines use a variety of safety protocols to keep passengers and crew safe at sea. The ship’s security team consists of highly trained personnel who are ready to respond to unusual events.
