Cruise Bruise Blog
January 15, 2009
January 15, 2009
New Years Resolution Underway

Yes, I know. Who really makes a New Year's resolution, and of those who might, how many would, or could follow through. Add me to the list of the those who could, should, would and do. Call me old fashioned, but I still believe having goals and working hard to attain them, is a worth while use of my limited time resources.

To that end, my New Year's Resolution was to take an aggressive stance in adding deaths, murders and missing persons at sea, historically. I have a huge stack on my desk that I have not had time to add. I am now making time. 

Already this year (see the previous weeks' blog entries) I have added some interesting cases of deaths at sea and those missing. I have just added three more, that are really only the tip of the iceberg.

In all three cases, the passengers drowned, and all three drowned in difference places, one in his cabin.

Erica Cummings - Age 19

First, we have the case of Erica Cummings, aboard the Holland America Line's Rotterdam when she drown in the pool. There are some interesting notes on the case, you will not find in the case file. (which is exactly why you should read the blog everyday) Most importantly is the fact that the pool had not been closed at 2100 hours as it should have been, because a crew member did not do his job properly.

Other facts not mentioned in the case file related to the bottom of the pool being painted a dark color, the pool not having any lights installed inside the pool, no lights turned on surrounding the pool nor was the pool covered up so it could not be used after 2100 hours, as was normal.

These circumstances lead to the death of Ms. Cummings, because nobody could see she was in the pool, while the search for her was on going. The entire area around this open pool was too dark, including inside the pool. It seems that Ms. Cummings hit her head, in an undermined method, and from there she fell to the bottom of the pool and drowned. The case is here

Jerome Victor Batts - Age 69

Next we have the case of Jerome Victor Batts. Mr Batts was a resident of a nursing home, who was on a harbor excursion along with others from the nursing home. Mr Batts went off the bow of the ship, and was later found drowned.

The reason I have included this case, is because he died as a result of this cruise, and because it would seem to me, that if a NURSING HOME was to take PATIENTS on a cruise, they would have ample staff to ensure people, who obviously can not look after themselves, are properly supervised. In the case, nobody was supervising Mr. Batts. The case is here

Hayman Ronald Lucas - Age 14

Finally, we have the case of Hayman Ronald Lucas, a boy only 14-years old who died aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Majesty Of The Seas. This case is disturbing on so many levels.

At the core of the issue, is a family who believed that the cruise ship was a safe place to take their teen, because the ship had a teen program, and they were lead to believe the teen would be safe within that group.

This incident took place back in 1994, and I personally believe, based on the standards and advertising promotions the line was using back then, that it was reasonable for the family to expect that the teen program as well as the children's program were places their children would be safe while they engaged in the activities aboard for the adults. After all, this IS why the teen and children's programs exist.

Instead, this teen was able to wander away from the program, along with other teens, who were then furnished liquor purchased ashore and brought aboard by an adult passenger. The teen consumed so much liquor in a two hour period of time that his lungs filled with not only vomit, but liquor and he died a tragic drowning death in his cabin.

Since this is the SECOND full copy case story of a teen death after illegal alcohol consumption, I think enough can not be said on Cruise Bruise about taking a cruise with the knowledge that YOU are responsible for watching your children 24 hours a day while aboard a cruise ship.

No employee at any program for kids aboard a ship is going to supervise your children at the same level you will, and should. The stakes are high, and so should be your level of supervision.

Though in the first case the teen was served alcohol by the ship's bartender, who charged her youth's passenger card, the second illegal service of a minor was by another passenger.

Neither of these deaths would have happened, if the parents had a real understanding of the dangers aboard cruise ships for teens. It is my hope, Cruise Bruise brings this message to every parent, BEFORE they cruise and these tragic deaths are prevented. The case is here

Fat Is Where It Is At On Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
RCCI is discontinuing their Vitality At Sea rewards program. The fitness programs aboard their ships and active excursions were rewarded with points for free RCCL merchandise. I wonder, does this also mean the healthy, and more expensive buffet items are going to be replaced with more much cheaper Fat Is Where It's At dietary mishaps? We can see this cost cutting change in policy for what it is, hard times at RCCI.


Tomorrow  . . .

A Cruise Bruise visitor reports on the unhappy ending to her December 18, 2008 cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' Ecstasy-lacking cruise ship.

This  family of VIP passengers reports that they were forced to wait, with children, standing up,  in 100 plus degree temperatures for 6 hours in a hot, jam-packed terminal.

After reading the article, you can actually begin to smell the stench of dripping, sweating bodies. So much for the "luxury" of cruising. Check back tomorrow for the full story, added to our main data base as well.