dd/mm/yy
|
2009
|
Incident
|
| 4.9.09 |
PorEsto! (Cozumel) reports a 50-year old male passenger from Freedom of the
Seas died after falling overboard from the vessle Island
Shuttle as it docked at Cozumel. The ship was maneuvering to dock
at the pier when the passenger was thrown overboard and was sucked into
the engine foce, severing several body parts. |
Death while ashore |
| 31.8.09 |
A reader sent me a copy of a letter they sent to RCI
regarding a pocket knife (measuring less than 3 inches) he had
confiscated at embarkation, despite it being within limits stated in
pre-boarding information. He points out the inconsistency between
having 6-inch serrateed steak knives in the dining room and yet
confiscating a dull pocket knife. Whether you agree with the passenger
or with the cruise line, the letter gives some interesting insights and
points to some security issues. RCI's response to the letter did not
adequately address his concerns. Click here for a
copy of the letter. |
Safety and security |
| 1.7.09 |
Associated
Press reports an amphibious tour bus veered off a road Wednesday,
injuring about 30 cruise ship passengers who were taking a shore
excursion in the US Virgin Islands. The Duckaneer, which has
a boat-like hull for traveling in water and wheels for moving on land,
was carrying 47 passengers from the ship when it went off the road in
St. Thomas and crashed into bushes. About 30 people were treated at
nearby Schneider Regional Medical Center for minor injuries, hospital
spokesman Sam Topp said. One passenger suffered a broken ankle and was
expected to be kept overnight for observation, he said. |
Injuries on shore excursion |
dd/mm/yy
|
2008
|
Incident
|
3.10.08
|
The
Consumerist reports that Royal Caribbean has announced plans to
charge customers who order steak in the main dining room a $14.95
surcharge. The New York strip steak being offered in the main dining
rooms on these two ships is a Black Angus steak. It will also be
available in the alternate dining room, Chops, but there will be no
additional fee above the regular cover charge.
|
New surcharge
|
24.6.08
|
A passenger writes: While
ship was at mooring at Labadee (Haiti) sudden 50+mph winds hit the ship
broadside. Forward mooring lines break, and small, local fishing
boats are capsized. Ship was able to hold position well, with
just aft mooring lines attached. This happened at the end of the
stay, and there were still a couple of tenders to unload.
Unloading of tenders looked rough as the winds were still high.
|
Mooring lines break
|
dd/mm/yy
|
2007
|
Incident
|
9.2.07
|
Disembarkation from the ship was delayed four hours after
security screeners spotted what they thought was a grenade in the
luggage of a passenger onboard the ship. Passengers were not
allowed to disembark and the Terminal was evacuated. When the
bomb squad unit arrived, they determined the item was not a real
grenade but a child's belt buckle shaped like a grenade.
Passengers were finally allowed to disembark at 11:30 AM.
|
Bomb scare |
27.1.07
|
A 71-year-old male passenger was found found floating
unconscious in the water at the Sandbar (Grand Cayman). He was taken
back to shore by the boat he had come out on but did not survive.
In 2006, there were 10 deaths in the Cayman Islands that were
watersports related. Seven of the 10 deaths in 2006 involved
snorkelers and three involved divers. All but one of them was older
than 48.
|
Pax death on excursion
|
7.1.07
|
From a passenger: The ship left late from Miami on January
7. RCI staff were reporting that the delay in boarding was a
result of a large number of foreign nationals disembarking from the
earlier cruise. Passenegers waited in line both inside the
terminal and outside the terminal for up to 4 hours with boarding
beginning at 4:00PM. RCI did not supply water and many passengers
had reactions due to the high heat. CNN reported that the actual cause
for the delayed boarding was the department of Homeland Security and
local police closed the cargo area of the Port of Miami to investigate
an unauthorized vehicle. The same cruise missed the port of Georgetown
(Grand Cayman) on January 10, due to high winds. |
Departure delayed
|
dd/mm/yy
|
2006
|
Incident
|
19.9.06
|
According to passengers, the ship collided with a refueling
ship as it was leaving Montego Bay. Damage was not significant
and following an ispection the ship got underway. The delay
lasted approximately 30 minutes.
|
Collision
|