Without Tessa
February 13th, 2005, 01:17 PM
I am about to tell an amazing story of a HAL employee going above and beyond at HMC in January for a passenger.
My mother and three friends traveled aboard the Volendam in early January on a 10 day Caribbean cruise (Southern maybe??). When they stopped at HMC, they eagerly went ashore to enjoy the beautiful island. They were looking forward to the sun and swimming!
My mother and one of her friends (who was widowed just over a year ago) were swimming and floating along when they decided to go in to shore to dry off. As my mother's friend started move towards shore, she froze and yelled at my mother that she had lost her ring! And it wasn't just any ring, it was her husband's wedding ring that she had worn every day since his death. My mother came back to the spot where she had lost it and searched frantically with her to no avail. They weren't able to find it, it was too deep and they are older ladies (not able to dive). Luckily, my mother's friend made a mental note of where in the water she was when she lost it and the two made their way back to the shore.
They asked a gentleman nearby with snorkling equipment if he might try looking for it - he too was unsuccessful. My mother, never one to give up or be bashful, approached a scuba diver who was running tours for HAL. It turns out that the man (Tracey - not sure of spelling, sorry) had just finished the tours and was laying out equipment to dry. He said that when finished that, he would come over and take a look. He was true to his word and took up the search.
Shortly thereafter, he was called away to an emergency on another part of the island. Before leaving, he assured my mom's friend that he would return and continue looking.
After some time, he returned. My mother's friend is diabetic and needed to have a meal - they ate on the island and when finished, my mother persuaded her to return to the ship for rest. They had been out in the sun all day and her nerves were shot over the lost ring. My mother's friend did not want to leave the shore but Tracey said to her "Ma'am, I will find that ring. If it is not today, it will be another day and if you leave your contact information at the main desk aboard the ship, I will mail it to you at home. You have my word". Exhausted, the women returned to the ship.
Less than an hour later, they received a call from the front desk - Tracey had found the ring. It would come aboard on the last tender of the day and she could pick it up at the front desk. Overcome, my mom's friend jumped on a tender for HMC and picked it up herself with a small gift for Tracey for his time and effort.
I don't really think Tracey knew how important this ring was to this woman - but he spent a good portion of his day trying to find it. As my mother was telling me this story I was amazed at how lucky her friend was....to have met such a thoughtful and helpful man as Tracey to find something so close to her heart that could have been lost forever.
When I sail on the Zaandam in May, my first toast aboard will be to Tracey!
My mother and three friends traveled aboard the Volendam in early January on a 10 day Caribbean cruise (Southern maybe??). When they stopped at HMC, they eagerly went ashore to enjoy the beautiful island. They were looking forward to the sun and swimming!
My mother and one of her friends (who was widowed just over a year ago) were swimming and floating along when they decided to go in to shore to dry off. As my mother's friend started move towards shore, she froze and yelled at my mother that she had lost her ring! And it wasn't just any ring, it was her husband's wedding ring that she had worn every day since his death. My mother came back to the spot where she had lost it and searched frantically with her to no avail. They weren't able to find it, it was too deep and they are older ladies (not able to dive). Luckily, my mother's friend made a mental note of where in the water she was when she lost it and the two made their way back to the shore.
They asked a gentleman nearby with snorkling equipment if he might try looking for it - he too was unsuccessful. My mother, never one to give up or be bashful, approached a scuba diver who was running tours for HAL. It turns out that the man (Tracey - not sure of spelling, sorry) had just finished the tours and was laying out equipment to dry. He said that when finished that, he would come over and take a look. He was true to his word and took up the search.
Shortly thereafter, he was called away to an emergency on another part of the island. Before leaving, he assured my mom's friend that he would return and continue looking.
After some time, he returned. My mother's friend is diabetic and needed to have a meal - they ate on the island and when finished, my mother persuaded her to return to the ship for rest. They had been out in the sun all day and her nerves were shot over the lost ring. My mother's friend did not want to leave the shore but Tracey said to her "Ma'am, I will find that ring. If it is not today, it will be another day and if you leave your contact information at the main desk aboard the ship, I will mail it to you at home. You have my word". Exhausted, the women returned to the ship.
Less than an hour later, they received a call from the front desk - Tracey had found the ring. It would come aboard on the last tender of the day and she could pick it up at the front desk. Overcome, my mom's friend jumped on a tender for HMC and picked it up herself with a small gift for Tracey for his time and effort.
I don't really think Tracey knew how important this ring was to this woman - but he spent a good portion of his day trying to find it. As my mother was telling me this story I was amazed at how lucky her friend was....to have met such a thoughtful and helpful man as Tracey to find something so close to her heart that could have been lost forever.
When I sail on the Zaandam in May, my first toast aboard will be to Tracey!