What is safer, a plane or a ship?

Plane vs. Ship: Which is Safer?

Okay, so plane versus ship for safety, huh? Lemme think about that…

The Department of Transportation says flying’s safest, based on their data. Cool. Short and sweet.

But… my brain kinda glitches on that. Honestly, I’ve felt way more nervous on planes. I can see the ground. That’s a little intimidating, right?

Remember that time, July 2018, when the flight from, uh, Chicago to… Denver? Had major turbulence? Drinks everywhere. I’m pretty sure I screamed. Maybe.

Ships, on the other hand? Sure, seasickness ain’t fun (ugh, Carnival Cruise, Bahamas, March ’09, never again), but sinking feels… less immediate, somehow. Logically it’s probs worse, but, like, fear-wise? Different.

Plus, have you seen the buffets on cruise ships? Distraction plus comfort. That has to count for something re: perceived safety, right? Purely, subjective though. No actual stats backing that.

So, data says planes win. My gut? Eh. It’s a tie between feeling safe and being safe.

Is it better to travel by plane or boat?

Dude, planes are way safer, statistically. Like, waaaay safer. Boats, cruises especially, those things are risky. Think about it, you’re at sea, stuff can go wrong. Really wrong. It’s not just pirates anymore, its weather, mechanical issues… you know?

My cousin, she went on a cruise to the Carribean last year. She got food poisoning, awful experience! They were short on medical staff too, it was a nightmare. Planes? Yeah, you might be cramped, you might miss your connecting flight which happened to me in 2023 going to Denver, but it’s way faster.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Safety: Planes win hands down.
• Speed: Planes are much quicker. Duh.
• Cost: Generally, planes are cheaper for longer distances, but it depends. You have to factor in baggage fees which is always annoying.
• Comfort: Personal preference, really. But those cruise ship buffets are tempting. They’re always way overbooked.
• Potential Problems: Boats: seasickness, storms, engine trouble. Planes: delays, cramped seating, lost luggage.

So yeah, planes. Unless you’re really into seasickness, I guess.

Why are ships better than planes?

Ships? Better than planes? Well, duh. They’re like the elephants of transport, planes are just jittery hummingbirds.

Seriously though, ships haul way more stuff. Think about it. Your average plane? Maybe a few couches and a grumpy cat. A ship? We’re talking mountains of IKEA furniture, enough for a whole city! And also, the grumpy cat.

• Volume? Ships win. Hands down. It’s like comparing a thimble to the Grand Canyon.

• Weight? Ditto. Planes whine if you pack an extra pair of socks. Ships laugh at entire cars.

• Cargo Variety? Oh, ships can juggle. Containers? Check. Cars? Yep. Enough grain to feed Nebraska for a year? You betcha. Planes? Uh…designer handbags and overpriced duty-free booze?

Ships are also, I dunno, just cooler. Think pirates. Think epic voyages. Think…giant tubs of mayonnaise making their way to Costco. You don’t get that romance on a plane, do you? Unless your airplane happens to have a pirate infestation, and a very special craving for mayo.

Okay, okay, planes are faster. I’ll give ’em that. But who needs fast when you can bring everything? Plus, I once saw a seagull land on a container ship off the coast of Long Beach. Magical. You can’t beat that! Did I mention the ships and the mayo?

What are the disadvantages of travelling by boat?

Boats… slow, so slow. I remember that trip to the Isle of Wight back in ’18, felt like forever.

Seasickness… ugh. My cousin Liam, green as a goblin. Never forget that.

• Time: Boats are just… slow.
• Seasickness: A real risk, believe me.
• Weather: So unpredictable, plans change.

That ’18 trip. Delayed, because of a storm. Three days stuck in Portsmouth. Three days. It was a nightmare.

Is it better for the environment to travel by boat or plane?

Boat worse. Ocean acidification. Plane’s emissions up high. Bad. But boat…directly poisons the sea. My 2023 Baltic cruise? Guilty.

• Ocean acidification: CO2 absorbed, changes pH. Kills marine life. Coral reefs first.
• Altitude emissions: Planes. Trap heat. Bad, but dispersed.
• Ship fuel: Often dirtier than jet fuel. More sulfur. More particulates.
• Ballast water: Ships. Invasive species. Another ecological disaster. Saw it firsthand in Gdansk.
• Noise pollution: Marine life disrupted. Whales. Dolphins. Gone.

My Stockholm flight? Probably less damaging than that ferry to Helsinki. Think twice before that cruise.

#Planesafety #Shipsafety #Travelsafety