I would like to know the same thing. I know that the crew is populated with ne’er do wells and miscreants judging by some of the stories you hear coming from these cruises, but the Captain is supposed to be a top man. From reading the transcript of the Coast Guard trying to get this Captain to collect himself and get back on board to help save lives and the footage of this guy making dangerous grand stand maneuvers with the vessel, one can see he was lacking in the responsibility needed to keep passengers safe.
“I know that the crew is populated with ne’er do wells and miscreants judging by some of the stories you hear coming from these cruise”
Either that, or the cruise lines are taking on high school kids part time to pilot cruise ships during holiday break.
Fox News (Cavuto) played this little piece of telephone dialogue between the captain and the port authority:
Port Authority: Go, call me when you are on board. My air and rescue team is there. He is at the bow. Get going. There are already corses. Move!
Captain Schettino: How many dead are there?
Port Authority: I don’t know. One I am aware of. You need to be telling me this. Christ!
Captain Schettino: But are you aware that it is dark and we can’t see anything?
Port Authority: And what do you want? To go back home Schettino? It’s dark and you want to go back home? Get on the bow of the ship and tell me what can be done, and how many there are, and what they need. Now!
Been on dozens of cruises, and the crews have always been friendly and VERY HARD WORKING for the most part.