Opinion
Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- Cruise the Caribbean?
Due to political instability in rapidly-disintegrating Venezuela, as well as in Haiti and Nicaragua, the northern coast of South America, and the entire Caribbean are becoming increasingly dangerous places to travel.
I’ve previously editorialized that it is only a matter of time before heavily-armed, modern-day Caribbean pirates move from targeting private yachts and local vessels (and their mostly unarmed crews) to “gun-free” cruise ships, chock-full of fat, unarmed, and naive American and European tourists!
Caribbean “jewels” of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao visited so often by carefree, happy-go-lucky American tourists are located uncomfortably close to Venezuela’s untamed and unstable northern shore. Local “police,” impotent and unarmed, don’t inspire much confidence.
Dangers inherent to venturing too close to the ever-boiling political stew-pots of Haiti and Nicaragua go without saying.
Armed piracy against commercial shipping (essentially sanctioned by local governments) has plagued the Somali coast for decades, particularly since Western nations are universally too timid to take any effective military action.
The “Dane-geld Philosophy” is alive and well in Western Civilization! The “Dane-geld Philosophy,” an ignominious scandal in England for centuries, is summarized by: “Instead of courageously standing up to them, let’s just pay them off”
Relevant excerpt (from the Washington Post):
“Political and economic crises are exploding, from Venezuela to Nicaragua, to Haiti, sparking widespread anarchy and criminality. As rule of law breaks down, certain spots in the Caribbean, experts say, are becoming more dangerous than they’ve been in years.”
Translation into plain English:
When unfortunate and defenseless tourists, jammed aboard Caribbean cruise ships and into swanky Caribbean tourist destinations, find themselves under violent assault by heavily-armed decendants of Blackbeard, the USCG and USN will likely be nowhere near, and local police will be “notable” only by how fast they can run away.
“Let’s jump on board, and cut them to pieces.” ~ Blackbeard
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
check the state department website for those countries/ regions that are troubling, well before you take a cruise!
WOW! Just think of the opportunities for some stalwart entrepreneur to start up a small anti-pirate cruise line with a couple of small cruise ships that look like easy targets. They could offer special packages with ARs, SMGs, or even RPGs as optional extras for passengers willing to pay extra. A chance to go pirate hunting – talk about dangerous game! The possibilities are tremendous. Imagine – the pax who go with the cheapest, “camera safari,” tickets take pictures and video, while those with “extra option” tickets get to light the pirates with a ma deuce! What a vacation package!… Read more »
We travel mostly on Carnival Cruise lines. They have excellent security , mostly Gurkha, and are very well armed . If you watch the news at all, you saw that a man caused a ruckus when his wife was over the limit for pregnant passengers.
An armed guard appeared very quickly . LRAD sonic weapons are also being deployed very quietly as well on cruise ships. I worry more about Zika than Pirates in the Caribbean 🙂
I remember when one US flagged merchant ship was taken captive for some while near the Straits of Hormuz. Eventually the captives were released, and later the vessel itself. Seems the captain determined he’d not be taken again. Next time he was armed. As the pirates attempted to come alongside to board, he fired at them and sent them scampering. His vessel sailed free that time. Never hea=rd if he faced discipline for his being armed, against policy. My guess was that he figured his name was known, and if he’d been taken captive again he’d not survive. At least… Read more »
With the US Ciast Gaurd and US Navey so close, a bandit would be ill-advised to try and attach a tourist ship off the US coast.
We have a timeshare in Aruba and have been going there for 15 years. The points you make are valid. However, one thing I want to add is that we have seen the Aruban Marines in action – they are NOT someone you want to mess around with. I can’t speak for Curacao or Bonaire, but knowing they are patrolling the waters around Aruba should make tourists feel safe from any pirates in that area.
DIRTY TRUTH IS THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES ! MANY OF THE LOST VESSELS IN THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THESE PIRATES ! THEIR FAVORITE TARGETS IS SMALL CRAFT THAT THEY CAN EASY OVER TAKE AND OVER POWER ! THEY TAKE ANYTHING OF VALUE KILL ALL WITNESSES AND TAKE ALL YOUNG WOMEN TO BE SOLD ON THE SEX SLAVE MARKET ! OF COURSE WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT THIS FROM THE GOVT’S IN THE ISLAND OR THE AMERICAN GOVT. NOW WE CAN ADD THE PIRATES OF THE SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES TO THE MIX ! BETTER… Read more »
I treat those who type in all caps like that guy on the street corner shouting at the voices only he can hear. I just keep walking and never, ever make eye contact.
Not to sound racist, as this is not my intent, so don’t go there. But Caucasian people are being targeted more and more, wherever they go. Go armed or don’t go people, as the life you save could be your own.
How about offering Snipers half off on cruises? Win ! Win !
I think If people stop visiting the Caribbean thing will quickly change.
I was thinking exactly the same thing – a new kind of tourism for the right companies. Varmint hunting on the high seas!
A few years ago, Somali pirates captured a Russian ship for ransom. Some time after that, the Russian navy captured a Somali pirate fast boat, shackled the crew to its gunwales, set explosive charges, shoved off to a safe distance, and – BOOM! – scuttled the pirate boat with its crew.
Guess what? Not a single Russian vessel has been approached by Somali pirates since!
As Robert Ruark wrote, “Use enough gun.”
JJ. “Movie’s are magic” real life is trgic.”
Vandyke Parks and Brian Wilson
If we can fly with pistols is our suitcases, what stops us from taking them onboard in those suitcases?
Because they scan all luggage as it’s coming aboard. They’re mainly looking for bottles of wine and liquor, but weapons of all kinds are strictly prohibited. I found a way around that, though, and managed to take a ceramic blade in a kydex sheath on with me. I felt much better having something on me as we walked around some of the Caribbean ports of call.
You are dealing with, Maritime Law when aboard a cruise ship. Some, probably all cruise lines run your luggage through X-Ray and if an undeclared firearm is found only the attorneys will be making money while you for in prison.
. It would be worth tax payer dollars to offer free cruise to Bernie people and that idiot from New York as well as several others Liberals that want to destroy our country. “Come cruise with the idiots, Like everything its FREE!”
I seem to remember they cast Tom Hanks in a movie about the last time pirates decided to capture an American ship.
Perhaps the next movie will star The Rock!