Valerie wrote:
>>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! :)
>
You're exactly right. People have to take responsibility for their own
actions. Someone jumps off a cliff while they're within 30 ft of you,
it's not your fault, it's THEIR OWN DOING.
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