Posted on 04/18/2005 4:17:49 AM PDT by Lokibob
Monday, April 18, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.
Freak wave damages cruise ship, injuring 4
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A seven-story wave damaged a cruise ship returning from the Bahamas over the weekend, smashing windows, flooding more than 60 cabins and injuring four passengers.
The Norwegian Dawn was diverted from its route when the ship ran into rough weather on the way back to New York on Saturday.
The 965-foot-long vessel docked in the Charleston harbor for repairs, and departed for New York early yesterday after a Coast Guard inspection, officials said. It was expected back in New York by noon today.
"The ship was hit by a freak wave that caused two windows to break in two different cabins," Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement. It said 62 cabins flooded and four passengers suffered cuts and bruises. The wave reached as high as deck 10 on the ship, company spokeswoman Susan Robison said yesterday.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Of course I leave my house every day-but I went on a cruise once when I was married to my first husband, to the Bahamas. We thought it would be fun, but it was boring, crowded and there were all these little crewmember cheerleaders running all over the place herding groups of people here and there so they could "have fun". We escaped and went sightseeing and shopping on our own-I'm not fond of crowds to begin with, but the cruise experience gave me a taste of what it feels to be a cow, sheep or goat being herded around-baaaaaad! It just isn't for me-I prefer more solitary travel-by car or truck-I can go where I want, spend less money and not have to be a herd member.
I thought after posting that perhaps the cabin flooding was caused by the wave on the LOWER decks, going down stairways.
You have to wonder what happened that caused that. Nuclear testing somewhere? I haven't heard any news of any earthquakes. Glad your loved ones are safe!
Interesting!
Sounds like we should be drilling in the Bermuda triangle.
OK. So you noticed. No need to over-react now. Take a deep breath. The train is leaving the "get-over it" station.
dam Elizabeth Taylor aint looking too good as of late
on Oreilly right now.
Your loss - the one cruise I have been on made me want to do it again, and again, and again. I just wish my budget would fit one in right about now!
It was by far the most enjoyable vacation I have ever had. Great food, great service, awesome scenery and excursions, great entertainment, pampering, and what really is a pretty good value in a vacation package when all is said and done.
I believe there is. Much like the same protection that airlines have for incidents beyond their control (so called "acts of God"). That's why you buy trip insurance.
This is on the borderline of the Bermuda Triangle...could we assume that this is how numeous other ships went down...and this one (because of its design)...didn't? Something has to occur for this size of wave to occur...and if no earthquake is reported...which we would assume they'd monitor this sort of thing...then would else should we start looking for?
Exactly... I never take a big vacation without travel insurance, ESPECIALLY on cruise.
Is the video online yet?
I saw it earlier on the FNC website. Not much to see - most people just do not know how to shoot good video with a camcorder. The video showed some minor damage at the bow - looked like 2 large hot tubs were broken up. Internally - a good bit of water sloshing around in the rooms - quite a mess. I expect more video footage will surface in the following days - after negotiations ($$) of course.
Of course I leave my house every day-but I went on a cruise once when I was married to my first husband, to the Bahamas. We thought it would be fun, but it was boring, crowded and there were all these little crewmember cheerleaders running all over the place herding groups of people here and there so they could "have fun". We escaped and went sightseeing and shopping on our own-I'm not fond of crowds to begin with, but the cruise experience gave me a taste of what it feels to be a cow, sheep or goat being herded around-baaaaaad! It just isn't for me-I prefer more solitary travel-by car or truck-I can go where I want, spend less money and not have to be a herd member.
***
I don't know when you went on your cruise, but a lot of things have changed over the years. I do know that some cruise lines used to try to force you into social situations, and I'm with you in that sense -- I don't like to be herded either. Nowadays, however, you aren't forced into anything. You can do whatever you want...or do absolutely nothing.
On one of my cruises, I heard a story of a couple who regularly cruised, but spent each cruise sequestered in their cabin. Now, I don't see the point of spending large sums of money just to stay in the cabin the whole time, but...whatever...uh...floats your boat. (Groan!)
I'm sure cruises are much nicer now, but my husband and I tend to be very solitary people-we live in a small rural community, and work in the city-and that is the only place we want to see crowds. Our vacations tend to be to remote places we can get to by car/truck and where we won't be surrounded by people.
Nothing wrong with the vacations you describe. One of the nicest times I had was during a recent Florida trip -- a friend and I had this parcel of beach all to ourselves -- it wasn't cold, but it was foggy, so it drove away all the sun worshipers. Nothing like breathing in the salt air, listening to the seagulls and the waves coming ashore, and gazing upon a blue-green ocean...without people with boom boxes, drunks spilling beer all over, etc. etc. I just parked my fat carcass on a lounge chair and savored the solitude.
Unfortunately, no video of the wave.
I worked on a cruise ship 10 years ago. It's very hard work and we worked 6 months at a time with no days off. They had no pity if you were sick, too. Their motto was if you could stand you could work.
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