They use the lower end models of camera and take risks. A few use point and shoot's that are less noticable. High risk spots aren't covered. Often some of the journalists use cameras that are about $1000 and one of them that I have worked with uses a lens that is $100. (Those of you who know Canon 40D and 50 1.8 lens) They get paid enough that if they lost that camera it was paid for with just a few snaps.

VOYAGER:
MC to FLL 11/07
MC/Dover 6/06
MARINER:
BCN / Ven 10/11
Alaska 2001|2006
Panama Canal 2003
NAV
Caribbean 11/06
Bermuda|New Eng/Canada 6/04
PG 5/05
OCEANIA
Nautica |Ist/Athens 6/07
Regatta|Baltics 6/08
Riviera 2013 Crossing -Istanbul to Miami