Cruise shipping is becoming one of the fastest-growing sectors of tourism, and the youth segment has been increasingly becoming an appealing market for this sector. Previous literature has indicated that risk perception is a key mediator of the decision-making process, which has substantial impacts on cruising intention and satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to conduct an investigation into young people's perceptions of safety, security and risks on cruise ships that allows cruise marketers and cruise operators to broaden their appeal to reach this increasingly important market segment.