What happens if you're on a cruise during a natural disaster as tsunami alerts continue

In the wake of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the coast in Russia's Far East, prompting tsunami warnings, concerning footage emerged showing the moment stranded cruise passengers were spotted running towards their ship as it left the dock two hours early.

Videos shared on social media showed panicked tourists desperately trying to reach their cruise in Hawaii as sirens sounded out.

The ship had been forced to send out emergency texts to all passengers warning it would be departing early due to tsunami warnings following the earthquake near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

Holidaymakers who were unable to get back on the cruise ship before it departed were given transport to higher ground in a bid to shelter from incoming waves. The ship was later able to come and retrieve the remaining passengers once the port was allowed to reopen.

People may wonder what would happen if they were on a cruise when disaster struck (Page Chichester / Getty Stock Images)

What happens if you're on a cruise during a natural disaster?

If you've got a cruise booked, or you plan on going on any in the future, the incident might have left you questioning what would happen if a natural disaster struck while you were on board.

There are obviously a number of different factors to consider, like the type of disaster and how close it is to the ship's location and planned destinations.

Hurricanes tend to be the biggest concern for cruises, particularly those travelling through the Caribbean and Atlantic, but fortunately captains have access to advanced forecasting which usually allows them to reroute before they're in any danger.

So, if you're onboard a cruise when a hurricane warning comes, the chances are you might find yourself stuck on the ship for a few extra days, unfortunately missing some planned stops.

The good news is that a cruise ship can travel faster than a hurricane and it's incredibly rare for a ship to be caught in one.

Meanwhile, if a cruise is docked or sailing near an area where there's a volcanic eruption or warning, it will divert. The ports in these areas would likely be closed meaning you would need to stay on board the ship, which might be frustrating but would be a necessary safety precaution.

A cruise is one of the safer places to be (Getty Stock Images)

While ash clouds can cause chaos with other means of transport like flights, boats can simply sail away from the impacted areas.

Earthquakes, like the recent 8.8 magnitude tremor just off Russia, shouldn't affect a ship unless its docked. If an earthquake hits where a ship is docked or is planning to dock, it will most likely reroute and the port will likely be cancelled too.

However, you might face complications if you're disembarking in an effected area and are due to fly home.

While some passengers might feel their biggest concern while on a cruise is a tsunami, this really isn't the case, as tsunamis are generally less dangerous in deep water.

As they build height near the shore, ships will reroute back out to sea if there's a threat of a tsunami where they're docked.

The key takeaway is that cruise ships have the ability to move away from danger in a way that most other forms of travel do not, meaning it's one of the safer places to be when disaster strikes.

If, like the people in Hawaii, you find yourself stuck on a port, the crew will always do their best to arrange alternative shelter for passengers until you can be retrieved.

All cruise lines also have emergency response plans with staff who are trained regularly on emergency responses.

The best protection you can have is travel insurance that protects against weather disruptions so you're not out of pocket after missing out on parts of your holiday.