Cruise Fear Factor to Be Short-Lived, Psychologist Says

The horrific images of last weekend’s cruise ship disaster will make some consumers anxious about cruising – but the effects are likely to dissipate once media coverage fades.

That’s what the travel industry is hoping for. It’s also what is likely to happen, according to a behavioral psychologist who specializes in air travel anxiety.

Reassuring anxious clients
In the meantime, agents can reassure anxious clients about the extreme rarity of cruise ship accidents. “It’s a very unusual event that is similar to winning the lottery or getting killed by lightning,” advised Robert Reiner, Ph.D., founder of New York-based Behavioral Associates,

“If people are concerned about cruise safety, you can honestly tell them that cruises have long been and will continue to be one of the safest forms of travel,” said Reiner, whose fear-of-flying therapy uses virtual reality and biofeedback methods.

Statistics only go so far
However, Reiner knows from long experience of working with patients with flight phobias that rational arguments don’t always resonate. Most will accept the statistical improbability, but others won’t, he said.

“Stepping into a shower is more dangerous than stepping onto an airplane, but the human mind can’t always clarify this,” he said. “Humans are good at many things, but not at thinking statistically.”

Startling images
Reiner added that it’s “perfectly understandable” if people have concerns about cruising after seeing the images of a large, seemingly invincible cruise ship lying on its side.

“The image is startling – and it is only human nature to be concerned,” he said. “This concern is further supported by the tendency of human nature to be irrational. Only if you think like a mathematician or statistician is there nothing to worry about.”

Fortunately for the cruise industry, fear of cruising is not likely to be a permanent condition for many people, according to Reiner.

“Some people who are not normally afraid of cruising might be for awhile – as long as the images are in the media,” he said. “Eventually, however, people will forget about it.”