Passengers aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne cruise ship found themselves in a situation that felt more like a scene from a suspense thriller than a luxury vacation when the captain ordered all stateroom lights to be turned off and curtains drawn as the vessel entered waters notorious for piracy threats.

The tense moment, captured by a passenger who posted the experience on TikTok under the handle @lillydapink, quickly went viral and shocked millions who never imagined such precautions were still necessary in modern times. The Queen Anne was in the middle of its 111-night journey between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines, when the unsettling announcement came over the loudspeaker. As the ship entered the Sulu-Celebes Sea, the captain informed passengers that the area was known for piracy and, as a precaution, the vessel would be operating at a heightened level of security. His instructions were clear: the external promenade deck would be closed overnight, deck lights would remain adjusted to minimize visibility, and all passengers were required to keep their stateroom lights off unless needed and draw their curtains to ensure the ship was as inconspicuous as possible.

He also provided detailed guidance on what to do in the unlikely event of a piracy-related emergency, reminding everyone that their safety was the crew’s highest priority. To calm growing anxiety, he reassured passengers that while the ship was prepared for all scenarios, the chances of such an incident on a vessel the size of the Queen Anne were extremely low. Even with his reassurance, the atmosphere aboard the ship shifted dramatically. The eerie request to go dark left many guests rattled, and the viral video of the announcement amassed more than 8.9 million views, with online audiences expressing shock that real-life piracy still exists in 2025.

“Idk why but every time I hear about real-life pirates I’m always shocked/amazed that they really exist,” one TikTok user commented, while another quipped, “I’d lock myself in my room and order room service.” Others with experience at sea chimed in to assure viewers that such precautions are not unheard of. One commenter who said they had worked on cruise ships explained, “There are a few areas where you get piracy. We used to get a special security company that came on board with guns when we went past Somalia. You’re safe.” @lillydapink continued posting updates, showing the ship in near-darkness with curtains drawn and security keeping watch throughout the night.

“So all the blinds were shut, and the lights were down to the minimum last night. The security did an amazing job keeping watch over the ship last night. Well done guys,” she wrote in one caption, praising the crew for their vigilance. Though unsettling, these measures are part of maritime reality in certain regions of the world. Pirates generally target cargo ships or oil tankers rather than cruise liners, but when sailing through high-risk areas, no chances are taken. Cunard later released a statement to Business Insider confirming that there was no specific or direct threat to the ship or its passengers, emphasizing that precautionary announcements are standard maritime procedure when traveling through certain waters. They stressed that the onboard experience remained uninterrupted despite the safety measures.

The region surrounding Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines has long had a reputation for piracy and kidnappings, often linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group, a militant and pirate organization responsible for many abduction-for-ransom incidents in past decades. From late 2016 through mid-2022, ships were strongly advised to avoid the area altogether due to elevated abduction risks. However, after no abductions were recorded from January 2020 onward, the official threat level for the region was downgraded to “low” in January 2025.

Still, the history of attacks was enough for the Queen Anne’s crew to act with caution. The Queen Anne itself is a massive vessel, measuring 1,058 feet in length and carrying nearly 2,996 passengers along with 1,225 crew members. Its size alone makes it far less vulnerable than smaller commercial ships, but Cunard’s strict adherence to safety protocols ensures peace of mind in waters that have seen danger in the past. The cruise, which began on January 7 in Hamburg, Germany, has taken guests on an extraordinary journey with stops in England, New York, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, and China, before venturing into Southeast Asia.

On its return trip, the Queen Anne visited ports in Vietnam, South Africa, Singapore, and Malaysia, before finally returning to Hamburg on April 29. For many guests, the experience was a surreal reminder that the romance of global cruising sometimes collides with the realities of maritime security. Though the passengers were never in actual danger, the captain’s order to darken staterooms underscored how carefully ships must prepare when crossing through zones historically linked to piracy. For those on board, it was a story they are unlikely to forget, and for millions who watched the viral video, it was a startling glimpse into the lesser-known risks of international travel by sea.