I've read several articles lately about problems onboard ships, including fires. But incidents will happen.
Fire is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to cruise-ship safety.
Two well-publicized fires on Carnival's Ecstasy in 1998 and its Tropicale in 1999 brought the matter to national attention, even though no one was seriously injured in either incident. The rules, as of 1997, require most ships to have smoke detectors and low- level emergency lighting for escape routes. Sprinklers are also recommended, but some pre-1994 ships were grandfathered, and are not required to add them until 2005. A Coast Guard official admitted that having sprinklers isn't a guarantee of safety, but if you want to know if a ship is so equipped, you should ask the cruise line. They're also required to conduct a lifeboat safety drill within 24 hours of leaving port, to make sure everyone understands the ship's safety procedures.