Important tips you should know BEFORE you take a cruise! Cruise vacations are usually safe-but as the ships grow larger and the number of passengers increase-real problems can crop up both on board and in ports of calls. Did you know that during the period 2003-2005 28 people disappeared from cruise ships-five were recovered or found-and the others have never been seen again? Did you know that according to the FBI many of the sexual assaults and rapes that occur on the high seas occur on cruise ships? Did you know that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that during two cruise seasons-2005 and 2006 there were 56 outbreaks of the Norovirus or "stomach flu" onboard cruise ships? Go ahead! Plan your trip, but be prepared for anything! Read the well-researched safety tips in this book. Know what to expect. Become aware of the sensitive areas-where problems are most likely to occur-so that you can avoid or sidestep them and go on to have a wonderful cruise. Learn what the CDC says you can do to increase your chances of avoiding the Norovirus. Know what to do in emergency situations. There are problems on many of the cruises that are never publicized and you need to know about them. What you know BEFORE you go up the gangplank may actually save your life! It will enable you to act quickly and responsibly to protect yourself, your family, members of your travel group and other passengers.