Cruise passengers record moment captain ordered them to turn off all lights for safety

Being asked to plunge yourself into darkness by the captain probably isn’t what you’d imagine to hear while sailing on a cruise ship.

You might be expecting most requests to be for your next cocktail order perhaps or if you’d like to join in with an activity on the deck.

But passengers on board Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship had to take safety precautions earlier this month while going through waters apparently ‘known for piracy threats’.

TikTok user ‘lilydapink’ was onboard the ship when they received a ‘warning of pirates’.

The 114,000-ton vessel embarked on its 111-night trip from Germany in January and the announcement came as it crossed from Darwin, Australia, to Manila, Philippines.

As captured in a clip by the cruise and travel influencer, a woman can be heard saying over the intercom: “We will be operating at a heightened level of security alertness during this period.”

She went on to explain that the ‘external promenade deck’ would be closed on both sides overnight from 9pm on the 14 March to 5am on 15 March with ‘no guests allowed access during these times for the duration of the transit’.

The announcement then went on to say: “During the hour of darkness, only essential open deck lights will be on to reduce the ship’s external lighting.”

It went on to ask passengers to ‘turn off your stateroom lights when not needed’ as well as to close their curtains.

They were then given some instructions for the ‘unlikely event of an emergency’, including going into the corridor if they have a window or balcony.

“Finally, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to emphasise that the safety and security of the ship all guests and crew on board is my highest priority,” it concluded. “I assure you that measures to prevent any unlikely incident have been well planned, and the likelihood of this happening on a big ship like Queen Anne is absolutely minimal.”

The ship would have been set to pass through the Sulu-Celebes Sea which the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism previously described as a ‘hotbed for crime, piracy, and terrorism’.

A Cunard spokesperson told Business Insider: “As part of standard maritime procedures, our Captains may make precautionary announcements when sailing through certain regions.

“There was no specific threat to the ship or its guests, and our onboard experience remained uninterrupted.”

But freaked out users in the comments wrote: “Idk why but every time I hear about real life pirates I’m always shocked/amazed that they really exist.”

Another added: “I would literally s**t myself,” as others claimed it’s put them off booking a room with a window.

LADbible has contacted Cunard for comment.