When you have Tuberculosis

There have been way too many cruise ship deaths within the past month…not to mention over the last few years.

On May 22, 2007 an employee from the Norwegian Cruise Line <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />America "Pride of America" was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

In a statement, Norwegian Cruise Line America (NCL) stated, "Anyone who was designated as a potential contact is being appropriately screened, and there is no imminent risk to the public."  How is that possible?  If he was a crew member he obviously would be in contact with people and passengers…it isn’t as if he was locked up in a room somewhere.  When an American man caught TB, the U.S. government made it clear they are taking this seriously.  They certainly didn’t say, “there is no imminent risk to the public.”

A state health department spokeswoman said state disease experts want NCL to re-evaluate its screening process.  Sounds like the entire cruise industry needs to re-evaluate their entire business and focus their energy on safety. (source)

Then this week a 61-year-old Sydney woman traveling on the Coral Princess Cruise drowned after an excursion to a popular waterfall when something went wrong and their boat overturned.  Mark Fifield, general manager of Coral Princess Cruises, said the company had been conducting trips to the falls for 13 years without incident. 

Of course he is going to defend his company…bad press means bad news and no money for cruise ships.  It’s never, “Such a tragic accident and we are looking into safety measures for our tourists.”  There is always an excuse… like “we’ve been doing this for 13 years without any problems…” (Source)

Also this week two men died on separate cruise ships.  On June 18, 2007, Brent Smith, 24, was traveling with his family on the Royal Caribbean’s “Freedom of the Seas” and was reported missing with the suspicion that he fell overboard.  

Guess what?   The cruise ship itself, the Coast Guard, and other officials decided to call off the search after only two days.  Then the cruise line made an insensitive statement by saying he will most likely never be found.  Could they be any less sensitive or tactful?  So much for closure for the Smith family.

The second death happened two days later on June 20.  Richard Mulloy, III, 22, was traveling with family on the Norwegian Majesty cruise ship when he fell from the fifth deck to the first deck of the ship.  Mulloy’s father, Richard Mulloy, Jr. stated “They (the victim and his family) were waiting for an elevator trying to get to a disco on the ship. He fell over the banister between the sets of stairs and fell on the (lower) deck.” (Source)

Will you ever get me on a cruise?  Hell no!  

Peril in Cruise Paradise Part 1

http://michellesaysso.blogspot.com