A&E's Investigative Report--Cruise Ships

[sea_u_onboard]

Part of the report covered not just medical facilities but the lack of experienced firefighters and emergency personnal. It talked about the Oceania (hope that it right) and how the crew took off and left the passengers fend for themselves - who had to be airlifted by helicopter off the sinking ship.

 

It went on to talk about smoke detectors do not eminate a noise when detecting smoke - that the warning is only sent to a central control room. This is because it could go off with a passenger smoking too close by. If they get an alarm they are suppose to check it out without alarming the passengers. It talked about the fire on the Ecstacy and the slow response to passengers concerns when they smoked smoke. The passengers on the Ecstacy were upset that it took so long for someone to check it out.

 

This report was pretty old - I wish they would update and this time add what GOOD things the cruiselines have done since the last report.

[ColoradoLad]

Can not wait till Dec 10th to view this show.

 

As to medical issues: I have cruised since the early 1990's.

Usually with a medical group (MD, RN, allied health) and we

always seem to get a "tour" of the facility or chat with the physician.

 

As I have heart disease I really used to take an interest in what facilities

the ship had and what was in each port of call.

 

I have been impressed with the experience of NCL and RCI physicians:

several Norwegian trained and a South Africian. All quite capable. The

lab equipment was also very capable of doing chemstry tests and such.

 

Most liners did not have the "clot busters" and I have not asked recently

but they should despite the expense. That is the question I'd like most answered.

 

My view is the the greatest risk is in the ports of call! I have viewed messages about folks dying while in most every port, usually a male age 45-55 having his first and often that is a "widow maker". My insight is that I know the medical facilities in most ports: Roatan, Believe, Cayman, Mexico

etc.. Trust me: One is really in a place where crawling to the ship may be

a good option. I do medical missionary and volunteer health services in

Mexico and Roatan. If one needs angioplasty or heart by-pass better that jet takes you out asap. The options for a helicopter evac are few as this exists only near say Key West and Puerto Rico, VI's, etc. On Roatan one faces a plane ride to a mainland hospital that is well not up to standards. Trust me there is a private med clinic on Roatan: avoid the "Hospital". No facilities for anything you'd need.

 

There are always it seems MD on board as passengers; guess one could

plead for a second opinion? My roots are that of a military corpsman, then Nurse, then Psychologist. Suspect I'd feel safer if that had a Navy

CPO. :D

 

So, carry any medical history and if a heart patient: take a recent ECG strip!

Ask your MD if you should have nitro, etc..You can also call your MD from the ship.

 

ColoradoLad

 

PS

 

The aspect of ship crew being 'poorly trained" for emergencies is well documented by USCG and NTSB reports all available online from such as

http://www.cruisejunkie.com/map.html

 

Suspect the US Navy types can explain "damage control" and fire training:

whatever: all Navy vets can muster at the pool deck and decide? :cool:

[bphman]

While on the AOS last year, I took advantage of the safety lecture and was quite impressed. As a physician, I often request, and am granted, a tour of the medical facilities. These, too, were impressive. The physicians are often Board Ceritfied in Emergency Medicine or Internal Medicine. Many are foreign born and trained and generally European. The AOS had a South African staff. They all had x-ray equipment and full resuscitation equipment with ventilators and a mini monitored ICU. Their goal was to stabilize the patients until they could be evacuated.

 

As to the other issues, these incidents happen on all land-based vacation spots including..........hold on to your hats.........DIsney. You always have to be vigilant and don't expect perfection. The security on the RCCL ships were former Gurkhas and British Military. I wouldn't want to fool aroung with them.

 

Go. Have fun. But watch out.

[ColoradoLad]

The security on the RCCL ships were former Gurkhas and British Military. I wouldn't want to fool aroung with them.

 

Last March I was in the Disco on RCL cruise and saw to gentlemen about

40ish sitting at the bar. Both had name tags that said "Nepal".

 

Having served in support of the 3 RAR (Australian) in Vietnam, I rendered a decent Commonwealth salute and waited for the bartender to get the

order I requested. I asked would it be improper to buy them a round?

The reply was classic: no but they drink for free. I suspect it was cola anyway. These men were scaning the room while conversing.. asked me when I retired and about Malaysia and Hong Kong.

 

To make a long story to the point: these soldiers are perhaps the best

infantrymen in the world. Family traditions serving the Crown since early 1800's. To hear not only RCI but many other lines use these and formal Royal Marines (unbelievable soldier sailors) makes me think that when one sees a crewman with a name that can not be pronounced with "Nepal" that they

smile and just be thankful. I am former Army Airborne: so likely not a "sissy" but I'd sooner cruise on a line that has Gurkha veterans than any other.

Being brave in one quality but being able to actually carry out ant-terrorist

actions is priceless.'

 

Thanks for the note on this. My search engine tells me they and SAS, Royal MArines and Gurka's are everywhere. On many cruise lines.

 

Colorado

 

PS

 

they actually have experienced both dealing with terrorists and know'they hate the current bunch of sob's. Guess the "TV" news show missed this facet of positive cruise line activity?

 

Hong Kong was the traditional Commonwealth "best duty" Asia assignment; Malayasia was the dawn of jungle warfare against communists. So we talked about fun places we had served in and trained. Nothing else.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/776607/posts

 

http://www.anitavacation.com/articles/cruise/cruise20010912.shtml

[derf5585]

that the warning is only sent to a central control room. This is because it could go off with a passenger smoking too close by. If they get an alarm they are suppose to check it out without alarming the passengers.

 

I had a tour of the Bridge of the Coral Princess and saw the "Smoke Alarm" pannel. Every room is "seen". They can be set off by someone showering for too long (looks like smoke)

 

In another post I read where the "Fire Crew" broke into a cabin and discovered a woman taking a long shower.

[glrounds]

>Drawing on information gathered by New York Times reporters...<

 

New York Times? Yeah, that ought to explain why the "information" was all negative.........:)

Exactly what I was thinking. If it involves some form of Capitalism these whiney Socialists put it down. :(

[Txcruisers04]

what channel does it play on??....

[GoinCruisin]

It will be on A&E....