An Italian cruise ship from the Costa Cruise Line ran into a shelf of coral last week and started taking on water. It listed to one side and “sank” (it didn’t actually “sink” since when it hit the coral the captain steered the ship toward shallower ground so it would be easier to evacuate).
The last news report I read from USA Today, said that out of the 4200 passengers and crew members on board, there were 3 confirmed dead and approximately 40 still unaccounted for. 3 people were found in their cabins after all evacuations (one was a honeymooning couple from Korea – guess their world really did rock on their wedding night!). Further news shows that the captain purposely steered the ship 4 miles off course so his head waiter could see his hometown.
Hearing about a cruise ship sinking or having an airborne illness infect the passengers is never good for the travel industry. People are quick to cancel any impending plans they may have especially if it is with that same cruise line.
I don’t understand that. I am a very pragmatic person; I completely live by the phrase “shit happens”. When I mentioned to a friend that I was writing this post she exclaimed that it was just another reason for her to never go on a cruise, because what if it happened to a ship while she was on it?
What if?
How can anyone live there life by a what if? You can’t. If you live by that motto, then you may as well stay under covers and never crawl out of bed. Then again what if the ceiling over your bed caves in? Better to crawl under bed and stay there. Wait! What if the legs of your bed collapse and it crushes you? Now what are you going to do?
I understand having a “fear” of flying. It is as comprehensible as having a “fear” of heights. If that is your reason then state it as so. Don’t make excuses saying something bad may happen, just simply state “I am afraid of…”
Statistically, different means of travel are all about even when it comes to things happening. There are car crashes every minute, train crashes everyday, plane crashes every week, and cruise ship incidents every month. Depending on how busy the news desk is, you may or may not hear about them all.
There were reports from passengers saying the evacuation was very chaotic and no one knew what they were supposed to do. I read this and think those passengers didn’t pay attention when they were supposed to.
How many of you when you are on an airplane actually pay attention to the flight attendant as they give instructions before the flight? How many read the emergency card in the seat pocket? Does every parent know they are supposed to put on their own oxygen mask before putting one on their child?
Mom made friends with all the Maitre' D's
I have been on 3 cruises, the first 2 were with my mom. For the first cruise she had not yet started using a wheelchair but was having a very hard time walking or standing for any length of time, and refused to go “muster”(learn the evacuation process) but encouraged me to go and learn what needed to be done. My mom hid in the closet for when the crew comes around to do a cabin check to make sure everyone was out. That being my first time I didn’t realize what a big deal it was.
The second cruise, which actually ported out of Civitivecchia – the same port as the aforementioned ill fated cruise ship - she was in a wheelchair and my sister and I pushed her to the muster station during the drill. Being the sarcastic people we are we took her right to the edge of the rail and said this was the point we would be tossing her off in order to make room for others because her wheelchair took up too much space in a life boat. She laughed and said she was fine with that. Yes, we joked, but we also listened. We knew exactly what we would have to do for ourselves and our disabled mother, just in case. While all around us others were chatting and laughing and rolling their eyes at the boringness of it all. No doubt in my mind that if an emergency happened, they would be the ones causing the chaos.
Don’t let news stories keep you from having fun. Pay attention to your surroundings, listen to directions and in the infamous words of Doris Day “Ca Sera Sera” whatever will be will be.
