Cruise Bruise Blog
May 22, 2009
May 22, 2009
CDC Information Points To Norwegian Dawn For Doctor Infected With H1N1
If you give enough vague details on any incident, it is not hard to put them together and then by the process of elimination, figure out the really important information that was being withheld.
Interviews with the doctor from the cruise ship who tested positive for H1N1 indicated he had flown to New York City on April 20th to join a cruise ship. He left NYC after leaving his cruise ship job on May 16th. The ship he was on had been to Miami and to Bermuda according to the CDC.
Process of elimination took out the Queen Mary 2, Prisendam and Carnival Miracle, all ships arriving in NYC April 20-30. Queen Mary 2 had been to NYC, but not to Miami nor Bermuda. Prisendam had been in Bermuda, but not Miami. Carnival Miracle had been in Bermuda, but not Miami.
Other ships arriving in May were MSC Orchestra, Seven Seas Voyager and Rotterdam. MSC Orchestra went to Bermuda, but not Miami. Seven Seas Voyage spent most of May in dry dock. Rotterdam came into NYC on May 16th, but had not been to Miami nor Bermuda in the month prior.
Norwegian Dawn was in New York City nine days from April 20th to May 17th, was in Bermuda six days during that period and was in Miami every Saturday in April.
This would mean that the ship involved was Norwegian Dawn. Why that information had to be so hard to come by, is a real mystery. Why would the CDC not want the cruising public to know, they may have been infected, if they had been on that cruise ship? That answer we will never get.
May 22, 2009
Cruise Ship Crew Swine Flu Case In Barbados Caused A "Spring Into Action"
A suspected case of the deadly influenza H1N1 virus onboard a cruise ship docked at the Bridgetown Port caused health officials there to spring into action Wednesday.
Teams of medical personnel were seen at the country’s main seaport in response to the potential threat posed to the country, which has yet to have a positive case of the virus, more commonly referred to as Swine Flu.
Health Minister Donville Inniss said the alarm was raised when the captain of the vessel reported that a crew member had been displaying symptoms associated with the virus.
“A single crew member of the Carnival Victory…has been placed under strict quarantine onboard the vessel, after exhibiting symptoms of influenza,” he told reporters.
May 22, 2009
Pregnant Woman Medevaced Off Carnival Paradise
The United States Coast Guard reported that a pregnant woman who had become ill required a medical evacuation off the Carnival Cruise Line's Paradise, while the ship was 10 miles west of Point Loma, California last Thursday. Point Loma is located north of San Diego.
Around 1446 hours Sector San Diego was notified that a female passenger, 29, who was pregnant needed emergency medical treatment.
The USCG sent a small craft to pick her up, take her to shore, where an ambulance transported her to a local hospital.
May 22, 2009
Pitching Cruises Through Pirate Alley By Taking One And Reporting On It
Gene Sloan, writer for the travel desk over at USA Today had taken a cruise into pirate alley to show everybody how safe it is. He is pitching the cruse with the industry line, that they are prepared for whatever pirates bring their way. He says that only 1% of ships are attacked, and somehow that fact, is suppose to be a selling point.
What is not a selling point is pointing out that for two days the ship's amenities are nearly non-existent. Closed to passengers were all deck areas, many of the interior areas of the ship that face outwards, all but one of the ship's restaurants, the spa, the gym, an observation lounge above the bridge and the pool was drained.
The captain cut off communication. That would keep things from getting back home too soon. No Internet cafe, no satellite phone, no wireless Internet.
Somehow, passengers are suppose to believe, these measures of "caution" will keep them safe, along with a fast sailing ship.
There is no mention of the rocket-propelled grenade that rammed right through the hull of the Seabourn Spirit, into a passenger cabin, nearly destroying it, with one crew member shot, and another injured after being knocked off his feet by a rocket-propelled grenade.
There is no talk of the pirate attack on the MSC Melody in April, where one passenger was shot, and a pirate managed to crawl half way up the ship while the captain was drinking in the bar.
Both cruise lines involved in those attacks professed how safe the cruise was, much like Sloan does, and even after the attack with the injuries and cabin explosion, profess no passengers were ever in any danger.
It would seem to me that if a rocket-propelled grenade came through my cabin and my husband was shot by a pirate, that we were in some degree of danger... even the worst possible danger we could ever imagine.
WC Fields said it best, "There is a sucker born every moment". The cruise lines are counting on it.
May 22, 2009
Marriage Counselor Is Pushing Single's Cruises
The search engine results for this website says:
Singles Cruises / Save Your Marriage - America's Top Marriage Counselor Provides Free Relationship Advice
I just had to bite. The "marriage counselor's" website page talks about how great singles cruises are, all the neato torpedo things singles can do on the cruise, and even goes on to say you can hook-up with other singles on the cruise.
I wince at the thought, when I read the next line that says something like,
"The fastest, easiest way to have the marriage you dreamed of."
Ladies, I don't know about you, but if my husband booked a "singles cruises" it would not be a dream marriage any more. It would be over. I can say with complete confidence, that my husband feels the same way on the flip side. We did not get to 20+ years by going to "marriage counselors", nor by taking single's cruises.
Now, to be fair, that page is not his main page. Oh no. His main page has a feature article titled, "How To End A Relationship". Then the page is finished with his own personal plug for Christian Dating Services. It is obvious why the advice is free, why would any couple pay for it?
Ok, we have had our laugh. It is time to find my husband and plan our next vacation, which we will take and enjoy . . . together.
