The Queen Anne Cruise Ship Sailed Into Pirate Waters- And No, This Isn’t "Speed 3"

Passengers aboard the ultra-luxurious Queen Anne cruise ship probably expected deckside daiquiris and peaceful ocean views—not an impromptu roleplay of Speed 2: Cruise Control. Yet, during its maiden world voyage, the ship’s captain issued a unique nighttime directive: turn off lights, close curtains, and stay indoors while crossing the piracy-prone Sulu-Celebes Sea.

Relax, Keanu Reeves wasn't involved. In fact, he wisely skipped the 1997 sequel, where Willem Dafoe hijacked a cruise ship with exploding golf ball-sized devices and, for some reason, a laptop that could control the entire ship’s navigation system. Sadly (or thankfully?), the Queen Anne’s security situation involved zero hackers and far fewer snakes in the Wi-Fi.

This real-world maritime moment happened between Darwin, Australia, and Manila, Philippines—waters historically troubled by pirates and militant groups like Abu Sayyaf. To prevent any unwanted attention, the captain announced a “heightened security alertness,” closing the promenade deck and asking guests to keep things dark and discreet. Basically: "Please don’t shine like a floating buffet of ransom opportunities."

The Queen Anne, which houses 2,996 guests, 1,225 crew, and probably more shrimp cocktail than should be legal, complied calmly. Unlike Speed 2, there was no dramatic crash into a Caribbean dock or Sandra Bullock driving a motorboat through a flaming oil tanker. There were no hoverboards. No techno-thriller monologues. Just peaceful sailing, cautious protocols, and blackout curtains drawn tighter than Dafoe’s character’s moral compass.

And let’s be clear—cruise ships are rarely targeted. Pirates prefer tankers, cargo vessels, or really anything with less sunscreen and more international leverage. Still, Cunard’s approach is all about keeping things low-risk and high-class, like James Bond in resort wear.

While the threat level in the region was officially downgraded to “low” in January 2025, Cunard still took no chances—because nothing says “bad Yelp review” like “we were boarded by pirates during pickleball.”

So next time you cruise, remember: you may not be in Speed 2, but maritime safety is serious business (even when it doesn’t involve Willem Dafoe hacking a GPS with a PalmPilot).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s84zV2VCgI

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Source: Business Insider

Photo Credit: Paramount