`` It sure does frighten me , a longtime cruiser , '' editor-in-chief of CruiseCritic.com writes . But passenger Benji Smith said the safety briefing was more of a `` sales pitch '' for shore excursions . Accidents such as this one are an extremely rare occurrence , cruise industry group says . Cruise lines have been working to improve safety since the 1970s when they began requiring all ships to be equipped with life rafts and other equipment that would allow passengers in distress to reach lifeboats or lifeboats. Chaos may have been caused in part by communication problems . Psychologist : Industry will have to communicate how safe cruising actually is .
`` It sure does frighten me , a longtime cruiser , '' editor-in-chief of CruiseCritic.com writes . Accidents such as this one are an extremely rare occurrence , cruise industry group says . Cruise lines have been working to improve safety since the 1970s when they began requiring all ships to be equipped with life rafts and other equipment that would allow passengers in distress to reach lifeboats or lifeboats. Chaos may have been caused in part by communication problems . Psychologist : Industry will have to communicate how safe cruising actually is .