> I just got done a one week cruise on Grandeur of the Seas with 2500
> people. Not a one of them was lost at sea - imagine that. This is the
> second time we used this ship - and we didn't lose anybody the first
> time either.
It's funny that you mentioned the Grandeur in this context. I was on
her 6/24/2000 sailing, and we *did* have someone go overboard (the only
time in my 19 cruises that this has happened). It was a staff member
from Australia; apparently she was having some personal problems
(relationship troubles and homesickness) and a deck camera recorded her
suicide jump. It was a very sad occurrance. She did not show up for
work one morning, which prompted a ship-wide search, including all
staterooms. The captain decided to turn the ship around to search for
her in the seas, causing us to miss a port, but the search was to no
avail. Later they announced that they had given up the search, that
they had found the aforementioned deck camera footage, and that she was
now presumed dead. I have tried to find more information online about
this event but have had no luck, so I would love to hear from anyone
who was also on that cruise (feel free to correct me if I've gotten any
of the details wrong).
But, while they are tragic events, I completely agree that it's wrong
for the media to demonize the cruise industry because people go
overboard from time to time. Passengers have the responsibility to
recognize the implications of being out at sea, including the inherent
dangers involved, and to behave accordingly. In my opinion, you
cannot fault the cruise lines for the actions of these people. Heck,
I lived in Daytona Beach for many years, and in the years when it was a
popular Spring Break destination, we had the inevitable annual balcony
accident(s) where someone would drink too much and forget that an 18th
story balcony does not make a good diving board. :) (Though I don't
recall any news reports focusing on the dangers of staying in
hotels...) People do stupid things on land and at sea, and unless we
do away with balconies and open-air decks, these things will happen.
Not that I am without sympathy for these people, or their families - I
was very upset by what happened while we were on the Grandeur, and I am
very sad for this guy from Ohio that went overboard from the Mariner.
However, my personal viewpoint is that there is a degree of personal
responsibility and that the finger cannot be pointed at the cruise
lines when these things happen.
Valerie
...who in 19 cruises has never gone overboard! :)
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