Freedom stopping Nassau - Medical emergency?

[SherriZ366]

Marine Traffic notified me that Freedom had arrived in Nassau. She was supposed to be in Coco Cay today and then sailing to St. Thomas. Must be a Medical emerency. Can see her on the Nassau webcam sailing out of Nassau -- probably dropped off the patient and is on her way. http://www.portnassauwebcam.com/

[SherriZ366]

FR has been back to full speed for awhile sailing away from Nassau. Wonder if she will make St. Thomas or getting diverted to San Juan.

[GEARADRIFT]

FR has been back to full speed for awhile sailing away from Nassau. Wonder if she will make St. Thomas or getting diverted to San Juan.

 

Sherri,

 

Question?? (You have a lot of at-sea miles and figure you may have some insight) Under what conditions would the FREEDOM be diverted to Nassau instead of continuing to St. Thomas? Just curious.

[Royal2464]

I am onboard the Freedom. Rumor (unsubstantiated) has it that a teenage girl fell and suffered a head (possibly spinal) injury back by the Flow Rider. Ship's doctor determined she needed immediate medical care beyond that available on the ship so the Captain turned us around and took her to Nassau. No updates thus far from the Captain.

[GEARADRIFT]

Thanks for the update. And, ouch! Hopefully it is only precautionary and the young lady will have a quick recovery.

[Sharon Sails]

I'm on the Freedom too, and I was on the fourth floor as they took an elderly gentleman off the ship on a stretcher. He had an oxygen mask on and he looked like he was in pretty bad shape. He had two younger people who left with him. He was not awake when he was put into the ambulance. They did not get him off in a big hurry and the ambulance did not speed away...not sure what all that means, but he looked very old and frail. That's what I saw in Nassau - heard nothing about any young girl...

Edited April 7, 2015 by Sharon Sails

[luv2cruiserccl]

Seen this last night

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Sharon Sails]

The gentleman taken off the ship to the ambulance is in his 60's - had a sudden heart attack and I heard he is doing better today. Glad to hear that!

[Royal2464]

That's why I said it was an unsubstantiated rumor. Fifteen stories circulate through the ship, eventually the true story will come out. The young girl being taken off the ship was supposedly witnessed first hand also. Suffice it to say when you need emergency treatment Royal will alter the itinerary to get you somewhere that the treatment is available.

[SherriZ366]

Sherri,

 

Question?? (You have a lot of at-sea miles and figure you may have some insight) Under what conditions would the FREEDOM be diverted to Nassau instead of continuing to St. Thomas? Just curious.

I think that diversion like what happened last night happens when the ship doctor probably in consultation with Miami and land Doctors, determine that a patient needs to be in a hospital. Or needs to be where he or she can be flown to the US.

 

Thought Royal2464 expressed it well: "Suffice it to say when you need emergency treatment Royal will alter the itinerary to get you somewhere that the treatment is available."

 

We were on FR sailing back to Port C on the day before disembarkation when the ship diverted to Nassau to take off a passenger who needed medical treatment that could not be undertaken on a ship. The ship docked for only a very brief while and then was on its way. We were still late getting into Port C.

 

I have also watched ships returning to Port C and other ports and they sail in and dock for a very short time. Ambulances are waiting to take the sick passenger to the hospital.

[PositiveLad]

You'd think it would be cheaper for RCCL to have these people air-lifted off the ship rather than altering course which costs tens of thousands of dollars in fuel, last minute docking fees etc.

[Missus Makkem]

You'd think it would be cheaper for RCCL to have these people air-lifted off the ship rather than altering course which costs tens of thousands of dollars in fuel, last minute docking fees etc.

 

Not sure it would be as airlifts can be pretty expensive too , also very specialised not always able to get to ship and cannot always land on them inspite of having a helicopter pad.Apperently the copters are to heavy.

[GEARADRIFT]

Not sure it would be as airlifts can be pretty expensive too , also very specialised not always able to get to ship and cannot always land on them inspite of having a helicopter pad.Apperently the copters are to heavy.

 

And, I assure you that they have to hold a special 'ticket' on their license to even attempt the landing on the pad. And, it would not be while the ship was underway. Coast Guard would rather use the hoist in most of those situations.

 

Glad to hear that the patients appear to be doing well. That is good news.

[GEARADRIFT]

I think that diversion like what happened last night happens when the ship doctor probably in consultation with Miami and land Doctors, determine that a patient needs to be in a hospital. Or needs to be where he or she can be flown to the US.

 

Thought Royal2464 expressed it well: "Suffice it to say when you need emergency treatment Royal will alter the itinerary to get you somewhere that the treatment is available."

 

We were on FR sailing back to Port C on the day before disembarkation when the ship diverted to Nassau to take off a passenger who needed medical treatment that could not be undertaken on a ship. The ship docked for only a very brief while and then was on its way. We were still late getting into Port C.

 

I have also watched ships returning to Port C and other ports and they sail in and dock for a very short time. Ambulances are waiting to take the sick passenger to the hospital.

 

Ooops!! I messed up my initial reply. I meant why you thought they may divert to San Juan. My bad. RCI does seem to have a good handle on getting people medial attention.

[SherriZ366]

Ooops!! I messed up my initial reply. I meant why you thought they may divert to San Juan. My bad. RCI does seem to have a good handle on getting people medial attention.

Friends were on FR once when they were diverted back to Port C and they went to San Juan instead of San Juan.

 

FR went to St. Thomas today but they were late (don't know how late).

[Royal2464]

We arrived in St Thomas one hour late. The Captain extended our stay one hour and everyone was able to complete their excursions as far as I know.

[SherriZ366]

We arrived in St Thomas one hour late. The Captain extended our stay one hour and everyone was able to complete their excursions as far as I know.

Glad ypu were only one hour late -- saw the ship was sailing around full speed on Wednesday morning on Marine Traffic. Great that the captain extended FR's stay by an hour

[TominNC]

Just got home from this cruise. Before last night's show the CD Casey reported that a gentleman had had a heart attack and thanks to the sports staff and passengers, then the med staff he was stabilized until they could get to Nassau and is now doing well.

 

Also heard that it cost RC over 60k for that little side trip to Nassau.

 

No one missed anything however all the full speed ahead made for a couple of VERY windy days on deck.

[pdbcruisers]

You'd think it would be cheaper for RCCL to have these people air-lifted off the ship rather than altering course which costs tens of thousands of dollars in fuel, last minute docking fees etc.

 

 

On our Freedom cruise last September, we had two medical emergencies in the first 18 hours. The question of air-lifting off the ship was asked at the Q&A with the Captain. He said a couple factors to consider is the location of the ship in relation to the nearest possible air-lift location. The other is whether or not the ships doctor thinks the person can go in a helicopter. He also said it can take several hours to organize the actual air-lift.

[SherriZ366]

Just got home from this cruise. Before last night's show the CD Casey reported that a gentleman had had a heart attack and thanks to the sports staff and passengers, then the med staff he was stabilized until they could get to Nassau and is now doing well.

 

Also heard that it cost RC over 60k for that little side trip to Nassau.

 

No one missed anything however all the full speed ahead made for a couple of VERY windy days on deck.

Glad to hear that the man is doing well.

 

What time did you get to St. Thomas?

[Spurschick]

Glad to hear that the man is doing well.

 

What time did you get to St. Thomas?

 

We arrived in St Thomas one hour late. The Captain extended our stay one hour and everyone was able to complete their excursions as far as I know.

 

As per post 16 above

[Setting sail for fun]

Glad the man is doing better. We have been on a couple of Voyager Class ships when someone had to be evacuated by the Coast Guard. It was chilling and we were all hoping everything went well.