Cruise travel has become increasingly popular in recent years, and this popularity only looks set to increase. The excitement that comes when you first step on the boat, however, could lead some travellers to overlook basic safety measures. The rush to kickstart your holiday by jumping in the pool or enjoying a tropical drink can leave you vulnerable to unexpected dangers.

Dr. Steve Burgess, CEO and founder of CME Vacations: "Most passengers have no idea there's a simple five-second check they should perform the moment they enter their cruise cabin." He recommends placing a clear bottle of water on the floor of your cabin as this can alert you to several potential dangers before official alarms sound.

"Placing a water bottle on your cabin floor isn't a hydration reminder—it could literally save your life," explains Dr. Burgess. "It serves as an early warning system that could give you precious minutes to react during an emergency."

A water bottle on your cabin floor can warn you of any ship stability issues. Dr Burgess explains that if you notice ripples in your water bottle when the sea appears calm, it could indicate unusual vibrations or tilting of the ship.

He adds that if you walked up to find water sloshing about in the bottle, it may be worth alerting crew members.

The bottle can also help with early fire detection, with the expert adding: "In a fire scenario, the temperature and humidity near the floor change rapidly. Condensation forming on the outside of a cool water bottle can be one of the earliest indicators of smoke entering your space."

A water bottle on the floor also serves as an immediate indicator if water begins to enter your cabin, whether from a plumbing issue or, in rare cases, a hull breach.

Dr. Burgess concludes: "What makes this tip so valuable is that it works while you sleep. Most emergencies at sea happen overnight when passengers are least alert and most vulnerable. Having this passive monitoring system in place gives you peace of mind and potentially crucial extra minutes to respond appropriately.

"Ship safety systems are excellent, but they're designed to detect problems once they've reached a certain threshold. Your personal water bottle can alert you to subtle changes before the situation becomes severe enough to trigger alarms."