Passenger Missing Off Fantasy This Past Sailing

[DqALEX]

It has menus/deck plans/groups/info about the ships.

http://unofficialcarnivalwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page

WOW Thank You it looks good. I have to go over there and take a good look around

[NCTribeFan]

JMHO, but I find the speculation about this poor individual to be rather unsettling and unpleasant.

 

Honestly, people. This isn't some soap opera to sit and gossip about. This was a real person.

 

Of course, I don't slow down to look at accidents on the highway, either.

 

Show a little respect. I don't care if it is an internet message board.

 

:mad:

 

OK, lecture over.

[oklahoma_doug]

I really doubt that it could be suicide because, how would have the door been locked from the inside? Homicide maybe? How could he have locked the door and then gotten outside?

 

They said it was a balcony room....

[CruiseCentric]

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=7439949

 

 

 

NEW ORLEANS -- The Coast Guard suspended the search Sunday for a missing 77-year-old cruise ship passenger.

 

 

The search began Saturday after Carnival Corp.'s Fantasy reported that the passenger was unaccounted for after mooring at the Port of New Orleans following a five-day cruise.

 

The man, who was traveling alone in a balcony suite, had roused concern among several passengers and was being casually monitored by Carnival staff, said Coast Guard Lt. j. g. Alex Yuille.

 

Carnival staff forced entry to the man's cabin after he failed to disembark Saturday morning, said Karen Terry, a Carnival spokeswoman.

 

The man's cabin door was locked from the inside, and when staff entered his room, he was gone, Yuille said.

 

A half-empty bottle of vodka was left near the balcony outside his cabin.

 

He was last seen between 7 p.m. Friday and 4 a.m. Saturday morning. He could have left the ship anywhere from three to 15 miles offshore, Yuille said.

 

The Coast Guard said that it had searched about 400 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico by sea and air, and the Mississippi River from its mouth to the port.The passenger's identity was not made public.

[Lisa NJ]

Young, vonerable people and mentally ill people may read these boards. Seeds can easily be planted. Therefore I am compelled to write in response to this tragic death.

Suicide is a very selfish act. It is selfish to self and all the loved ones left behind. Anyone having these thoughts should get help, fast!

You are loved and your plan is NOT to take your own life. Seek out the help of a friend, church member, teacher, neighbor, any human being that seems to have compassion.

YOU are loved! There is no problem to big that you can not handle!

[alwaysonthelido]

Lisa NJ I agree with you 100%

[laura2161]

Coast Guard suspends search for man missing from cruise ship

 

http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/221102.html

 

The Associated Press

 

NEW ORLEANS -- Authorities have suspended the search for a 77-year-old Mississippi man who was missing when the cruise ship he was on docked in New Orleans.

 

Coast Guard Investigator Cheri' Ben-Iesau said a suicide note that indicated the man had health problems was found in his cabin on the Carnival Cruise Ship Fantasy.

 

 

The man, whose identify was not released, was last seen around 7 p.m. Friday, when the ship was still about 28 miles from shore. Authorities said the man is from Hattiesburg, Miss.

 

 

A body has not been recovered.

A news released from the Coast Guard said the man's room, which included a private balcony, was locked from the inside and all of his belongings were inside.

 

How so very sad....Just breaks my heart that he felt so alone....:(

Laura

[ClerkPatsy]

I was taken as a young kid LOL. Im in my 40s now and she is almost 40. I met her when she was 17 married her when she was 21, and I asked her the other day what ever happen to the girl in the white min skirt I met all those years ago when I was out driving around? I told her men are like a fine wine we get better with age.

 

 

I think your wife can claim self-defense now!:D

[palofmine]

How do we know he didnt have a heart attack or something? Why is it " THEY JUMPED"

[CruiseCentric]

How do we know he didnt have a heart attack or something? Why is it " THEY JUMPED"

 

The suicide note...half empty bottle of vodka

[ClerkPatsy]

The suicide note...half empty bottle of vodka

 

Where did it mention a suicide note?

[Rirruto]

Where did it mention a suicide note?

 

Coast Guard Investigator Cheri' Ben-Iesau said a suicide note that indicated the man had health problems was found in his cabin on the Carnival Cruise Ship Fantasy.

http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/221102.html

[kayceecc]

You know you could have asked if there was a group on your cruise before you went.. and before you would book another one.

 

Also group cruises are listed on Carnivals Unofficial Wiki.. It just takes a little research of your own to see what you are getting yourself into for a cruise, so you cannot be blamed that you were not informed.. I'm sure you didn't even ask if there was a group.

 

Because of the sensitive nature of the original topic, I will be brief. First, though, my condolences to the family of the missing passenger. I cannot even imagine what you must be going through.

 

Now, to address mariemorgan, I personally called the Carnival Guest Relations and the Group Bookings department more than 5 times after the thread about the Liberty cruise. I was cruising with family and children, so I did not want to be caught unawares like Nancy was. I was told that there were no large groups booked on the Fantasy for the 11/26 sailing. So, really, your statement won't hold water. None of these groups was listed on ANY of the Carnival Wiki, nor any other site that I could find. I spent HOURS searching for groups cruising on our sailing, and nothing showed up. I believe it is in the cruiselines best interest to notify their passengers in advance of such groups, so the passengers have the opportunity to choose another date if they wish. By not notifying other passengers, they run the risk of having passengers disgruntled to the point of boycotting Carnival in the future.

 

Sorry for the off-topic reply.

[mariemorgan]

Because of the sensitive nature of the original topic, I will be brief. First, though, my condolences to the family of the missing passenger. I cannot even imagine what you must be going through.

 

Now, to address mariemorgan, I personally called the Carnival Guest Relations and the Group Bookings department more than 5 times after the thread about the Liberty cruise. I was cruising with family and children, so I did not want to be caught unawares like Nancy was. I was told that there were no large groups booked on the Fantasy for the 11/26 sailing. So, really, your statement won't hold water. None of these groups was listed on ANY of the Carnival Wiki, nor any other site that I could find. I spent HOURS searching for groups cruising on our sailing, and nothing showed up. I believe it is in the cruiselines best interest to notify their passengers in advance of such groups, so the passengers have the opportunity to choose another date if they wish. By not notifying other passengers, they run the risk of having passengers disgruntled to the point of boycotting Carnival in the future.

 

Sorry for the off-topic reply.

 

I see that now.. usually groups are very very easy to find online.. but I too could not find any reference to Blues Cruise. Is it possible these "groups" did not books as groups but just called themself a group?

[CruiseCentric]

I see that now.. usually groups are very very easy to find online.. but I too could not find any reference to Blues Cruise.

 

I have yet to sail on a ship that didnt have multiple large groups (1-200+ pax).

 

Unless the group has a website or advertises its name on shoretrips, its unlikely you will be able to find out about them.

[Amberle]

We just got off the Fantasy cruise yesterday from Cozumel and I think we may have met the man who is missing. When a member of my party was coming back to the ship from Cozumel she met an elderly man (said he was 77) in the elevator who mentioned he was not looking forward to dinner a/c he had to eat alone. She invited him to our table Thursday nite and he came. He introduced himself as Mark and I did not catch his last name but he wore a large pin on his shirt that had the initials "MH." When we were debarking they called his name at least five times and I thought then it might be him. He was supposed to come back and eat with us on Friday nite but he did not show up. I thought he looked ill at ease when he dined with us. Another one at the table said she thought he looked a little down. He did talk to my friend about a wife who had passed away after 44 yrs of marriage and about a redheaded woman who took him for a lot of money. I hope this is not the same gentleman, but if it is, I am posting this for his family who might want to know what he was doing on Thursday evening. My sincere condolences to the family of this missing man.

 

That is the same man we met before dinner on Tuesday. He related the same information and looked like he was trying to put on a happy demeaner over his sadness.

[mariemorgan]

That is the same man we met before dinner on Tuesday. He related the same information and looked like he was trying to put on a happy demeaner over his sadness.

 

That is so sad..

[cathyoo]

I do think suicide is a selfish act and a very mean legacy to leave those love you. However, I do think there is a time when it becomes your decision. At the age of 77 if someone has serious health problems I think they should be able to say "enough is enough"

 

For all we know this gentleman may not have had anyone and loneliness is the worse type of pain.

[cusyl]

I have yet to sail on a ship that didnt have multiple large groups (1-200+ pax).

 

Unless the group has a website or advertises its name on shoretrips, its unlikely you will be able to find out about them.

I had saved this link from Cruise Critic that listed groups on cruise ships. It formerly stated how many people were in the group, but it seems to evolved to something else. I know my 12/16/07 Veendam cruise has 100 church group members. http://shoretrips.com/common/groups2.asp?grpsrch=GRPNAM

[luckycruzer]

We just got off the Fantasy cruise yesterday from Cozumel and I think we may have met the man who is missing. When a member of my party was coming back to the ship from Cozumel she met an elderly man (said he was 77) in the elevator who mentioned he was not looking forward to dinner a/c he had to eat alone. She invited him to our table Thursday nite and he came. He introduced himself as Mark and I did not catch his last name but he wore a large pin on his shirt that had the initials "MH." When we were debarking they called his name at least five times and I thought then it might be him. He was supposed to come back and eat with us on Friday nite but he did not show up. I thought he looked ill at ease when he dined with us. Another one at the table said she thought he looked a little down. He did talk to my friend about a wife who had passed away after 44 yrs of marriage and about a redheaded woman who took him for a lot of money. I hope this is not the same gentleman, but if it is, I am posting this for his family who might want to know what he was doing on Thursday evening. My sincere condolences to the family of this missing man.

 

A Man named MARK...did he look and sound a lot like Jimmy Carter (ex-pres) ?.gentile..southers? .snappy dresser..mannerly?....a man like that was my table mate last year in Nov.on Holiday...same story..especially the "Red Haired "woman who took him for lot$ of $$$...he dressed to the 9's every night he dined at the table(don't recall if he skipped nights.I dont recall if he was a drinker. please email me..if any other info arrises.. Daaling456 at juno dot com..I leave Wed to go to Tampa, for a cruise Sat..but can pick up mesgs til Fri night

[DqALEX]

I think your wife can claim self-defense now!:D

LMAO But she loves me (I hope) I told her life would be very boring without me

[cruisedawgg]

..it seems cruise ships never know what exactly happens when someone goes missing. Question is: why don't cruise ships have 24hour camera surveillance covering the sides of the ships where the rooms are? That way, they could tell exactly when/where/how someone went missing?

[CruiseCentric]

..it seems cruise ships never know what exactly happens when someone goes missing. Question is: why don't cruise ships have 24hour camera surveillance covering the sides of the ships where the rooms are? That way, they could tell exactly when/where/how someone went missing?

I dont think the cruise lines would really want to know what actually happened. From a corporate standpoint how can anything good come from knowing that?

[Frick_&_Frack]

..it seems cruise ships never know what exactly happens when someone goes missing. Question is: why don't cruise ships have 24hour camera surveillance covering the sides of the ships where the rooms are? That way, they could tell exactly when/where/how someone went missing?

 

Unfortunately, cameras pointed at the sides of the vessels could pose invasion of privacy issues. With the large (and ever increasing in size) vessels, the angle of the camera would have to be tight on the balconies to actually "see" someone - especially at night. That means the camera would "see" people on their balconies, at their windows, etc.

 

Also, I cannot imagine the job of monitoring gosh knows how many cameras that they would need to completely cover all outside areas of the vessel 24/7. If there was just one little bit of space not covered by a camera, the liability would be huge to the cruiseline.

 

This story of the gentleman is so very sad. My thoughts go out the the man's family and well as any CC members who met him.

[LABecca]

..it seems cruise ships never know what exactly happens when someone goes missing. Question is: why don't cruise ships have 24hour camera surveillance covering the sides of the ships where the rooms are? That way, they could tell exactly when/where/how someone went missing?

My condolences to the family of this man. Suicide can take a terrible toll on friends and family members of a person who commits suicide. It haunts friends and family, they think over and over and over again, how they couldn't see it and what could they have done to stop it. They blame themselves. People that consider suicide think there is no other way to end their pain, they don't consider what pain they leave behind. I am speaking in generalites, not of this specific case. Sometimes it can be different in the case of the elderly and sick, sometimes death is a welcome , yet sad, end to pain and suffering.

 

That said, I can't help but wonder why, casino's and other places have excellent security and surveillence systems in place and cruise ships tend to be lacking. This is an older ship, but it is refurbished periodically, so why the lack of surveillence cameras. Also, why do these ships still have the separate key cards, and not the electronic keys on newer ships? On these older ships you can't tell who or when anyone enters a room.