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A&E's Investigative Report--Cruise Ships

Cruiser@Heart

By Cruiser@Heart,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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GoinCruisin

GoinCruisin

Posted
Posted

I don't think there is really a condensed version, LOL... just ALOT of talk about the lack of regulation for cruiselines, how the majority of physicians are not board certified (and many not PhD's), lack of medical equipment, lack of firefighters/law enforcemnt, the "why's" of why 98% of ships are registered in other countries (of course taxes, wages, etc.)... they went over a case of a man dying on the Sensation last year, the fire on the Ecstasy, sexual assault cases, a girl that almost died from an appendicitis due to lack of facilities.... oh it was an hour of how "bad" the cruiselines are basically....

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derf5585

derf5585

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For those of us who weren't able to see it, can you give us a condensed (sp?) version? Thanks, JYL

 

It is touted as the ultimate vacation experience, an idyll away from the cares and concerns of everyday life. It is also one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry, with an estimated six million people putting to sea this year. But there is a dark side to life on board cruise ships, one that the companies and travel agents don't talk about.

 

Drawing on information gathered by New York Times reporters who spent more than a year examining the secretive world of the cruise industry, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTSTM exposes shocking cases of neglect, incompetence and crimes at sea. Hear from families who lost loved ones at the hands of inexperienced onboard doctors, while others recall how they were forced to take to the lifeboats when their floating resorts caught fire. And a former security officer alleges that many of the biggest companies have used bribes to try to silence unhappy passengers.

 

CRUISE SHIPS IN TROUBLED WATERS is an eye-opening journey into the heart of an industry where ships sailing out of U.S. ports are usually registered abroad--enabling them to evade tax, safety, and environmental laws.

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derf5585

derf5585

Posted
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For those of us who weren't able to see it, can you give us a condensed (sp?) version? Thanks, JYL

 

Why not? Did you "clicked" on the link and nothing happened? Did your "Firewall" prevent you from viewing it? Are you at work and it is a "Banned Site".

 

If someone can't see my links I feel as if I am djlfaj;jo;sda.

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derf5585

derf5585

Posted
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Derf, I think he was referring to not having been able to watch the show... :D

 

I guess I jumped to a conclusion. Like answering a test question without reading to whole question.

 

Taking Tests without Reading the Questions

from

http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~skiena/652/noid/notes8.ascii

 

click on all "yes" responses without reading the questions.

from

http://www.htmlcompendium.org/testing-notes/Tquest.htm

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kdickers

kdickers

Posted
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For all you that missed it . . . it's scheduled to be re-aired on Dec 11th at 5pm!! I missed the first half but thanks to a "heads up" from this board . . . I was able to catch the last half.

 

 

I'm still not cancelling MY CRUISE!!!!!!!! :p

 

Kim

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sea_u_onboard

sea_u_onboard

Posted
Posted

I taped about 50 minutes - will watch it later.

 

I did catch bits and pieces (that's why I was taping).

 

Part of the report was about the medical faciliteis onboard the ships and how they are not equiped to handle even some minor onjuries. Some don't even have xray machines. Then later I heard that the International Association of Cruiselines (or something of the sort) had set forth some guidelines as to the equipment required in the infirmary and the medical knowledge of the staff. Sounds like they were working towards a solution.

 

There was something at the end talking about Premier cruises and how when they filed bankrupcy it left all their passengars stranded - that was like in November of 2000. It seems the report may be outdated.

 

I'll update more after I watch it. Someone correct me if I have interpretted anything incorrectly.

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MyImagination

MyImagination

Posted
Posted
I taped about 50 minutes - will watch it later.

 

I did catch bits and pieces (that's why I was taping).

 

Part of the report was about the medical faciliteis onboard the ships and how they are not equiped to handle even some minor onjuries. Some don't even have xray machines. Then later I heard that the International Association of Cruiselines (or something of the sort) had set forth some guidelines as to the equipment required in the infirmary and the medical knowledge of the staff. Sounds like they were working towards a solution.

 

There was something at the end talking about Premier cruises and how when they filed bankrupcy it left all their passengars stranded - that was like in November of 2000. It seems the report may be outdated.

 

I'll update more after I watch it. Someone correct me if I have interpretted anything incorrectly.

 

The original air date was Oct 9 2000

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sea_u_onboard

sea_u_onboard

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Thought it was about that time - we were scheduled to sail the Big Red Boat for Thanksgiving that year. Needless to say - we didn't make it. We ended up getting a GREAT deal from a symphatic Carnival PVP who got us on the Inspiration for New Years. That was the missing suticase with all the underware cruise. You would think after that I would never have cruised again - but I'm going strong. Now I just wear all my underware onto the ship :eek: .

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LSUtraveler

LSUtraveler

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I doubt that the articles or the TV program will stop people from cruising but it is a sobering thought for all who cruise. The bottom line may be that there is no law on the ship with poorly manned medical facilities, so basically you're on your own when you cruise.

I have no doubt that the cruise lines try and keep quite all incidences that happen on board but if it gets way out of hand it may have an impact on cruisers. Only time will tell.

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GMCOLT

GMCOLT

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Being a paramedic I have talked with medical crew on some of my cruises. I have also know a couple nurses and doctors from hospitals that I have worked out of who worked for cruise lines. In addition I have toured vessel medical centers ( as they are called on your deck plans).

Most current mainstream cruise lines have good medical facilities that contain modern emergecny care technology. What this means is medical centers that can provide the care you would find in small community hospital emergency room. The two doctors I know are board certified ER doctors who work in stateside ER's when off the ship. Can there be a wrong diagnosis, yes. This happens in fully staffed certified Hospital Emergency Rooms.

However, do not expect a cruise shp to do surgery ( appendectomy etc.) other than sutures. Fortunately most cruises can be in helicopter range for evacuation to a US hospital for complicated cases. A number of cruise lines have links to major centers where docotrs can consult with specialists from major US Hospitals.

The industry is very sensitive to this issue. Vessels sailing from US prots are regulated by the Coast Gaurd who does specify medical care for vessels over a ceertain size (Ie most cruise ships).

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pholter

pholter

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Although I'm sure they all have AED's on board (to jumpstart your heart in case of emergency), this is just another reason to purchase cruise insurance. Being airlifted to a close by port isn't cheap and the insurance usually covers about $50K or more in medical evacuation expenses. Anything could happen to you or a loved one at any given time. I always go the safe way for those just in case times.

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