Carnival crew members, particularly assistant cabin stewards, have tremendously hard jobs. On embarkation days, their work duties include turning over mattresses, changing linens, hauling garbage and handling heavy luggage for several hundred passengers within a few short hours. Such an excessive work load has resulted in several back and shoulder injuries.
A hot topic among coastal cities in the United States and the world is whether to allow operation of the ever growing cruise ships in the smaller port towns. Opponents argue permitting the large liners into the smaller ports have the potential to negatively impact the marine environment as well as sacrifice the unique character of the city. Proponents argue the cruise ship trade boosts the area’s economy. We recently reported on the people of Key West soundly voting against a port expansion project which would allow larger cruise ships to visit the city. In contrast to the decision Key West made, a commission in Port Canaveral approved expanding its terminal.
It is no secret that cruises are designed for family vacations. To that end, NCL’s cruise ships Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn are outfitted with children pool areas. Though staged differently to reflect the ships’ unique themes, the children aquatic areas on both ships are very similar in that they have sets of steps leading down to the kid’s area. Presumably not wanting a large amount of unattended children, NCL’s “Kid’s Pool Rules” posted at the entrance require children under the age of 12 to be accompanied by an adult. What has been learned on both ships is aesthetics have trumped safety. As shown in the photograph, the treads on the kid’s pool stairs are not suitable for adults. Often times the anti-slip strips become worn from use and the paint used makes the treads overly smooth. This combined with the wet nature of a children’s pool area, is a recipe for disaster. In some instances the stairs become so unreasonably dangerous that passengers descending the steps even while holding onto the handrail slipped causing injury.
The U.S. Coast Guard was called to medevac a passenger suffering from a heart attack aboard the Norwegian Breakaway. The cruise ship’s captain radioed for medical assistance around 4 a.m. on the morning of November 16th. A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was dispatched from Elizabeth City, North Carolina and met the ailing 81-year-old passenger approximately 55 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras. The passenger was hoisted onto the rescue copter and taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where it is reported he is in stable condition.
Several news agencies report a passenger went overboard from the Princess Cruise Line’s GRAND PRINCESS on November 13, 2013 off the Hawaiian coast. Eyewitness accounts indicate the passenger intentionally went overboard North of Hawaii. The cruise line stated the witness’ accounts were confirmed by closed-circuit television. The ship was on a 15-day round-trip cruise from San Francisco to Hawaii. The Coast Guard is currently searching for the passenger.
