As January marks the beginning of “wave season,” travelers around the world are preparing to book their dream cruises. This peak period offers some of the best deals from cruise lines, making it the ideal time to secure a voyage.
But, with over 2,000 port destinations in the world, it can be tricky to narrow down the ideal destination. To help those looking to choose their next destination, InsureMyTrip created a study analyzing 52 cruise destinations to determine which are the safest for travelers.
The study analyzes several factors including the number of safety incidents reported on a cruise ship, the rating of local hospitals, the average sea temperature and crime index. The study also includes tourist factors, like the number of tours and rating of restaurants. The latest available data for each city/town has been standardized in each category. The data is standardized using min-max normalization and values were multiplied by 10 to create a score from 0 to 10.
In first position, as the safest cruise destination for travelers is Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The city has become a cruise hotspot for travelers, welcoming more than 280,000 cruise passengers in 2024. The city comes out on top in the study with an overall score of 7.86. Known for its modern skyline, luxurious shopping, and vibrant culture, Dubai stands out for its strong safety factors. Just two safety incidents were recorded in a year, while its hospitals are also highly rated (4.3/5). The crime index in the city is also low (16.2/100).
For those looking to keep busy during their cruise stopover, Dubai is ideal, with more than 3,000 tours available. Warm average sea temperatures of 78.1°F also contribute to its high ranking.
Phuket, Thailand comes in second position with an overall score of 6.67. This tropical island destination is incredibly popular for tourists seeking a warm, beachy vacation, with around 13 million tourists visiting this Thai island in 2024. Phuket ranks highly in the study, thanks to its warm sea temperature (83.8°F), highly rated restaurants (4.57/5), and low number of safety incidents (2). However, Phuket misses out on the top spot in the study because of its slightly higher crime rate (41.7/100).
In third position as an ideal port location for a cruise is Roatán Island, Honduras with an overall score of 6.22. The island is known for its diving and snorkeling, making it the perfect stopover destination for those looking to explore the ocean. With warm sea temperatures (81.1°F) and well-rated restaurants (4.6/5), there is plenty to enjoy for an island break. The island also boasts the highest-rated hospitals (4.82/5) in the study. These factors make the island an appealing destination for travelers looking to explore the natural beauty of the Caribbean.
However, the number of safety incidents reported on board cruise ships at this destination contributed to its lower ranking in the study. There were six safety incidents reported aboard cruise ships in Roatán from December 2023 to November 2024.
On the opposite end of the study, some destinations haven’t fared well. Belize City, on the Central American island of Belize, received an overall score of 3.68. This is in part due to the high number of safety incidents reported on cruise ships at the destination. In one year, 10 safety incidents were reported. A high crime index (67.9/100) and low-rated hospitals (3.9/5) also contributed to this island destination’s low score. However, it was recently announced that the city has begun work on a new port to accommodate more cruise ships, indicating that the destination has grand plans to boost their tourism industry.
Hamburg, Germany and Loreto, Mexico also secured low scores. Hamburg has an overall score of 3.9 while Loreto scores 3.98. Hamburg fared poorly in part due to cold average sea temperatures (43.2°F) and lower-rated hospitals (3.6/5). While Loreto was ranked slightly higher, its hospital ratings (3.26/5) and lack of available tours (12) contributed to its low score.
For travelers particularly concerned with safety, it’s worth noting that Cozumel, Mexico, recorded the highest number of safety incidents on cruise ships. From December 2023 to November 2024, there were 12 safety incidents reported on cruise ships at this destination. This includes the death of crew or passengers onboard the ship, Coast Guard medevacs and boat rescues.
Sara Boisvert, Director of Marketing at InsureMyTrip commented on the findings:
Safety is a big concerns for travelers – especially cruisers visiting different destinations on the same trip. With so much going into planning a cruise, the hope is this study can be an important and easy reference to save travelers time and stress!