Recent news about a string of violent fights aboard a Carnival ship out of Australia is a shock. In more than 20 cruises since retirement, your travel4seniors.com editor and spouse never witnessed nor heard of this kind of behavior.

Of course, we have seen street fights and other potential dangers in port where the cruise ship docked. With the usual tight security onboard and sensible passengers, our cruises have all been peaceful and enjoyable. So, what can a senior do for self-protection if there’s a repeat of the Carnival violence?

Avoid confrontations onboard, especially at events involving drinking. If you see drunken behavior that may become violent, report it promptly to ship’s security. If a passenger is angry and gets into a physical brawl near you, don't get involved. Turn immediately and walk away for your own safety. If traveling with a group and a member is misbehaving due to drink, escort him/her to a cabin to stay until sober. And as Captain John Paul Jones said: We have not yet begun to fight!