Cruise Bruise Blog
November 2, 2009
November 2, 2009
Norwegian Cruise Lines Crew Member Contacts Cruise Bruise On Benefits
This blog was suppose to go up over a week ago. Due to the confusing death of my mother on October 26, 2009 the blog nor any new cases were posted. I'm trying to get caught up now.
I have been contacted by cruise line and travel agency representatives to update incidents. I have been contacted by a person claiming to work for RCCL who threw profane words at me. So, when I get an email from a cruise line employee, I am always on edge when I open it, never knowing what I might read within.
An email arrived on October 26 from a person claiming to work for Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL). That was a red flag for me, as I had just uploaded some very bad news about child pornography aboard the Jewel and what appeared to be crew member death cover-up. I expected the worst.
It was a delightful surprise, however, as I read the content of the email. Not only was the employee offering advice on the NCL bargaining contract but also sent some verbal roses to me.
The comment is related to the Norwegian Cruise Lines' crew member who went overboard and was later found dead. Her family was having difficulty with their attempt at settling her death with NCL.
"I work for NCL and in our Collective Bargaining Agreement Annex 2 Article 12 - the company will pay USD 60,000 for loss of life/death in service, to each dependent child under 21, $15,000 - maximum of 4.
Just thought I would say that I like your website keep up the good work."
I could use a few more emails like that. Thank you. In fact, if you have a copy of the employee contract for any cruise line, I would love to receive a copy to post to the site. There are many employees who say they don't have a copy of their contract and have no idea what is in it.
November 2, 2009
Small Passenger Ship Sinks Off Persian Gulf Coast
A ferry with 25 passengers and crew members aboard went gone down off the port city of Genaveh in the Iranian southern province of Bushehr.
The vessel went down October 30, 2009 after being hit by massive waves according to local reports.
The Iranian ferry was en route from Khark Island to Genaveh port city.
There is one confirmed death and three confirmed missing in the incident. The remaining 21 people were recovered by boats fishing at the site.
Locals are chatting up the topic wondering if instead of waves tossing the vessel it was instead the Americans who sunk the ship, and so another conspiracy theory story takes root.
November 2, 2009
Cruise Ship Bunker Fuel - "Thick, Tarry Sludge"
The CruiseLawNews blog written by Maritime Attorney James Walker covers the topic of cruise ship pollution. It is a quick read on the topic of Bunker Fuel and the impact on area residents in port cities, as well as marine life, birds and others who inhabit the land in and near the ports.
Jim follows up with a comment in response to a reader:
"A good friend of mine's family in New Orleans has a high rise condo down wind where a Carnival cruise ship docked on the Mississippi river. The non-combustible black particles resembled someone catching a newspaper on fire on their balcony. Nasty!"
