Do you think you'd cruise again ?

[COLLEYBERRY]

I appreciate this is a hypothetical question, that hopefully none of us will ever know the real answer to...but if you had experienced the terror of the Costa cruse line tragedy ....do you think you'd cruise again ?

Statistically, cruising is an extremely safe choice of vacation travel ...I just don't know if I could get back on a ship ,after going through such an ordeal.
Colleen

[SwissMyst]

Sea sickness is more a detriment for me honestly. Sailing the cheap cruises with flamboyant nationalities will definitely not be on my list. Plus after this tragedy I do think it will be a long, long, long time before anything this stupid will happen again.

This was an intentional tragedy based upon human error. Luckily real ship accidents have been a lot rarer and probably even rarer than auto or air accidents. Despite the shockingly senseless deaths, thousands of passengers did get off the ship in a few hours with amazing dispatch under the circumstances and the ship in this case was close enough to shore to make a positive difference too in the outcome. (Maybe the one good thing this captain did).

Chaos on the ground under these circumstances was to be expected and reckoned with regardless of whose fault it was. Sheer logistics of moving thousands of people rapidly after this sort of unexpected disruption does take and tax patience, but since there were no choices, best to just muddle through stoically one small step at a time until safely and soundly home. Then let it rip!

[Himself]

Of course I will cruise again!

[FrankNJ]

Just be sure it's not the captain from concordia

[Krazy Kruizers]

Yes -- we would cruise again.

We have been on ships with fires and had to prepare for a quick evacuation.

[FLACRUISER99]

I would not have a problem, even on Costa.

[Lesinindy]

This was a real fluke (Costa sinking) and sad event for all. One would doubt if the same situation will ever come again (joy riding near an island).

For me I am more concerned about getting back in the saddle after my experience with the Noro Virus. Right now the thought of going on board again turns my stomach. No kidding I feel ill when I start looking at possible cruises again.

[whogo]

On future cruises the survivors will be able to top any cruise stories that anyone else tells.

[jbhcw]

We were involved in a MVA in St. Thomas many years ago..on a shore excursion...van turned over on a hill and friend and traveling companion was severely injured....we left the ship..friend was airlifted back to Duke Hospital and we flew home the next day.

We did cruise again...and we do occasionally do shore excursions...but I am much more vigilant as to where we are, what type of vehicle we are in and where we are going...I do not do hills much anymore.

If I had been on the Costa ship...not sure cruising would be in my immediate future!! But then I think about the Carnival Splendor that had a fire and lost power but was not danger of sinking and I think that perhaps that would have been easier to deal with, lives were lost on the Costa ship. What happened there is a tragedy.

[Randyk47]

Sure we'll cruise again....past final payment so we have no choice.:D. Seriously I don't think we'd not cruise because of this tragedy. We haven't stop flying because of 9/11 or any of the aircraft accidents before or after. We've seen some horrible car accidents, including a couple with fatalities, but we haven't stopped driving. Sure all of those were sobering, scary and horrible situations but you can't hide in your house or apartment.

[andeesue]

Sea sickness is more a detriment for me honestly. Sailing the cheap cruises with flamboyant nationalities will definitely not be on my list. Plus after this tragedy I do think it will be a long, long, long time before anything this stupid will happen again.

This was an intentional tragedy based upon human error. Luckily real ship accidents have been a lot rarer and probably even rarer than auto or air accidents. Despite the shockingly senseless deaths, thousands of passengers did get off the ship in a few hours with amazing dispatch under the circumstances and the ship in this case was close enough to shore to make a positive difference too in the outcome. (Maybe the one good thing this captain did).

Chaos on the ground under these circumstances was to be expected and reckoned with regardless of whose fault it was. Sheer logistics of moving thousands of people rapidly after this sort of unexpected disruption does take and tax patience, but since there were no choices, best to just muddle through stoically one small step at a time until safely and soundly home. Then let it rip!

Perhaps you met unintentional tragedy... perhaps not.
Obviously, hard to projecture unless one was a survivor of this sad event, but I would hope that I'd cruise again. Diligence even more thorough, if that can be, after such a situation. I was on the RER train in Paris directly before one that was bombed in '95, and felt safer to resume travel on the trains following the tragedy. Of course, eyes were on any bag, parcel, or strange item, or person(s).

[IRL_Joanie]

I think I would cruise again if I'd had anything even remotely like this happen to me.

After all, I ride in a car and I've been in car accidents. I've also been an EMT/Firefighter who has responded to fatal car, truck, bus and multiple vehicle accidents.

I've flown in airplanes after planes have crashed.

I've eaten food even after becoming sick from some of them.

Life goes on.... So must I. If I insulate myself from everything that could endanger my life, then life would no longer be worth living.

The Carnival Splendor and now the Costa Concordia are extremely rare tragedies, and cruising is I'd say one of the safest ways to travel in the world.

Look at it this way, 4200 passengers and crew were able to be evacuated to safety, if a plane crashes how many survivors are there likely to be??

Joanie

[FrankNJ]

I've read several posts regarding the "good" actions of the captain by bringing the ship closer to shore to "help the evacuation". Unfortunately I have felt and it is now being echoed by reports from Costa crewmembers that in fact , had the lifeboats been lowered right away , the passengers could have been evacuated and taken to land " without anyone even getting wet" because the attitude of the ship was not yet a problem and the boats would have launched without problems.

The ship is 177 feet tall above the water and was apparently in very shallow water when it hit the first rock , the overreaction of the helmsman ( who we are now learning was the crazy captain on manual control) seems to have made the stern swing into additional rocks and in his frenzy to get closer to land , tip over. On its own after the first collision the ship
very likely would not have had enough water to sink in .

Very sad.

[sparky-elpaso]

Me too, Joanie. We can't spend our lives hiding under the bed in case something might happen.

[RMLincoln]

I think I would cruise again if I'd had anything even remotely like this happen to me.

After all, I ride in a car and I've been in car accidents. I've also been an EMT/Firefighter who has responded to fatal car, truck, bus and multiple vehicle accidents.

I've flown in airplanes after planes have crashed.

I've eaten food even after becoming sick from some of them.

Life goes on.... So must I. If I insulate myself from everything that could endanger my life, then life would no longer be worth living.

The Carnival Splendor and now the Costa Concordia are extremely rare tragedies, and cruising is I'd say one of the safest ways to travel in the world.

Look at it this way, 4200 passengers and crew were able to be evacuated to safety, if a plane crashes how many survivors are there likely to be??

Joanie

I agree completely with Joanie. I'm also an EMT/Firefighter and see that a lot of bad stuff happens. I can't crawl under a rock and not live my life.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I will be even better prepared and even more aware next cruise.

We will be in more danger driving to the airport than at any other time on our vacation. I could stay in my house and have a tree fall on me!

I've read, listened, been horrified, cried and prayed about this tragedy. And will be doing this for days and weeks to come. But when it's time to sail, I'll be off with smiles and waves and be happy to be able to enjoy it with my beloved DH. m--

[SwissMyst]

Perhaps you met unintentional tragedy... perhaps not.
Obviously, hard to projecture unless one was a survivor of this sad event, but I would hope that I'd cruise again. Diligence even more thorough, if that can be, after such a situation. I was on the RER train in Paris directly before one that was bombed in '95, and felt safer to resume travel on the trains following the tragedy. Of course, eyes were on any bag, parcel, or strange item, or person(s).


I thought about that word choice and decided once he chose to go off course, the accident in any form was a product of his intentional choice. You are right, he did not intentionally look for a rock to run into.

But intentionally violating fixed practice was his choice and his choice alone. The rest is just details - horrific as they turned out to be. A court would ask was it foreseeable he could put his ship in harms way when he breached his duty to stay on course.

Where is the line between negligent action and intentional action? When does this act get measured as the "but for" phenomenon that starts the chain of liability. Or is this what they call "negligence per se" - just the act alone is culpable regardless of the reasons or expectations there were no underwater hazards.

I am getting ahead of myself claiming "intentionality" here instead of reckless negligence ...... but the sheer stupidity of the potential risks, of course now obvious in hindsight. should have also been obvious in foresight. But as you point out, this is not for me to decide but the courts will have a field day with these fine points of argument.

[kazu]

The question is not if WE will cruise again (and yes we will) but if the passengers on that ship will.

One couple who just returned home to Canada and escaped are regular cruisers. They are not spring chickens and had to jump off the ship to escape because of being pushed aside.

THEY cannot answer that question now (by reports). Visibly shaken, he said probably not - at least not for a while - they had 3 cruises booked.

We're not in these people's shoes (thank heavens) - I am sure for many of them a cruise is out of the picture right now.

For those who have never booked a cruise I suspect this has put a question mark on any plans. JMO:)

[Typhoon1]

S*** happens. It would have no effect on future cruising. Unless, of course, I were among the deceased.

[tcook052]

Sorry but how does this related to HAL? :confused:

[George C]

Yes, I think for the people that had never cruised before, I doubt they will be back, but I have been on 54 cruises including 7 Costa cruises and would sail Costa again ( but not in Europe )

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

No one really knows how they will react to such an event as the Concordia. I was in the 1988 Loma Prieta Earthquake in Northern California and assisted in evacuating a 5 story library building. I like to think I kept my cool then and would in a sea disaster but really don't know. I have experienced ships dead in the water for a few hours, hitting a sandbar and being on in for a few hours, but never had to prepare to evacuate. However, I like to think I would cruise again in an event such as the Concordia but as I say, you never really know for sure unless you experience it. Barbara

[bonafidebeachbum]

Knowing of this horrible accident and tragedy I would most definitely cruise again ... and I'm counting the days until mid-May when I will!!!! BUT ..... I could not honestly render an opinion whether I would or not if I had actually experienced what the passengers on Costa Concordia did, without experiencing it first hand myself.

[DizzyDallasDi]

Hmmmm....that's a tough one to answer, Miss Colleen. I can't imagine the terror those passengers must have felt. I'd like to think that time would heal my fears and I'd jump back in the saddle, so to speak. I was in a very bad car accident in Mexico (not a good place to have that happen) many years ago and I wasn't afraid to drive again. I was thrown into the river while whitewater rafting (in level 4 rapids :eek:) and I've gone rafting again. I could have easily died in either of those events.

But the Concordia tragedy would have been so much scarier with so many passengers panicking, crying, etc., the chaos with lack of leadership from the captain, the total darkness and disorientation when left in a foreign country where I don't speak the language....cold, wet, frightened and alone -- with no money to buy some much needed wine. :(

I'm sure I'd cruise again, but it wouldn't be real soon.

[SwissMyst]

I suspect a lot more attention will be paid to cruise lines safety records than the size of their lobster dinners or height of the water sides from now on, when consumers make their travel choices.

[cmdchiefthom]

Its what my wife and I do. I can't imagine giving it up!;)

[bepsf]

When I think of how I might have reacted, particularly with my parents and certain less-mobile friends with me - I have a certain concern...
...and when I think of the possibility of our possessions - Tuxedos, Gowns, good luggage, jewelry, electronics, etc - being left aboard to burn or rot at the bottom of the ocean! Sure it's insured, but the work to make the claims - and some things are just irreplacable.

Some may find my thought silly and say, "Well, you'd be lucky to make it out alive - Most people did - One should be happy with that."...
...but thousands of people are paying the price, financially and emotionally - and some of them, with their very lives - for that Captain Schettino's hubris.

[DFD1]

Can't honestly say that I would cruise again if I were one of the Costa passengers who had to swim for shore or had a frightening time trying to save myself or a loved one.

However, this disaster has caused me to seriously consider cruising only on the smaller ships where I believe the chances of survival are better.

Had Costa Concordia had a disaster in the open sea or in a storm, where she took on water so rapidly and started to capsize so quickly, I think the loss of life would have been truly catastrophic....simply because the number of people who needed to get off the ship was so large.

My prejudice for smaller ships is even greater now.

[kazu]

Sorry but how does this related to HAL? :confused:

this is something that i think has struck everyone to the core. it's not hard to imagine it on any ship - anywhere - including HAL - and now a concern to everyone. This isn't a ship that lost electricity or had a fire and people had to eat sandwiches. It's a ship that sunk and lives are lost and from evidence so far, due to an inept captain.

[iancal]

Why not. Statistically it is probably one of the safest forms of travel.

Probably safer even than being a pedestrian. Same old question arises when there are airplane fatalities.

[peaches from georgia]

We prefer life on the smaller ships and in light of this tragedy and being reminded of how complicated evacuating 4000+ persons is, I think I will be even more comfortable on a small ship. Our favorite size on HAL is the S/R ships, plenty big for me. Our last cruise had 450 pax, even better. Yes, we will cruise again with even more attention to safety.

[RuthC]

If I were to survive the terrible trauma the Concordia passengers went through, I know full well it would be many years before I would want to cruise again. I doubt I have that many years left.
There are too many other ways to travel, relax, enjoy.

[Crazy]

I will be cruising this year in October. I have always been impressed with the way Holland America operates and can't imagine not cruising again.

[catl331]

Of course I will cruise again!

Sure we'll cruise again....past final payment so we have no choice.We've not canceling a cruise coming up in a couple of months either, but would you book another cruise if you had survived a ship abandonment? We're about at the end of our cruising life anyway, and I think surviving an abandonment would make that the last one! :)

[sapper1]

As much as this terrible event has occupied my thoughts and made me very uneasy about cruising, from a statistical point of view we are protected by the law of averages for a while. I feel the same way after a major plane crash.

I have also been struck by the way HAL crew members always seem to be holding some kind of safety drill and pay strict attention to detail. The officers seem to exude confidence and competency from the captain on down the ranks.

Do you remember the contentious thread from a few years ago where the woman went ballistic against HAL when they fired her daughter, who was a member of the entertainment staff, for skipping out on a safety drill in Alaska after she had been ordered not to do so? She wanted to go on a shorex with her family who had been aboard and decided she would just go and take her punishment. Well the punishment was that HAL decided that if she did not take safety preparations seriously she was gone.

Most of us tried to point out that the mother was wrong to be upset with HAL but she wasn't having any of it. She could not understand how a member of the entertainment staff would have anything to do with safety on the ship. I certainly hope the mother has been reading the news for the last week and now "gets" it. The point in bringing this up is to say that at the time of the incident I remember thinking that I was glad that HAL took the incident so seriously. It was an indication that it was a tight ship, which is a very good thing.

[Bramcruiser]

Its hard to answer definitely without having actually experience such an event in real life. But at this time I would say.....yes, I would cruise again.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Hi Sapper

The question remains if went you through what the Costa cruisers have ..would you cruise again?

I to have always been reassured by the apparent competency of the Hal crews...there is something very reassuring about the Dutch approach to cruising....cruising is extraordinarily safe and I supposed the chances of two harrowing sea recuses in one's lifetime is highly unlikely... that being said
I just don't know if I could board another ship. Hoping against hope the Captain wasn't a jerk.

[sapper1]

Hi Sapper

The question remains if went you through what the Costa cruisers have ..would you cruise again?

I to have always been reassured by the apparent competency of the Hal crews...there is something very reassuring about the Dutch approach to cruising....cruising is extraordinarily safe and I supposed the chances of two harrowing sea recuses in one's lifetime is highly unlikely... that being said
I just don't know if I could board another ship. Hoping against hope the Captain wasn't a jerk.
I guess I can't answer your question as you posed it as I really don't know the answer. I wonder how many of us really do.

I can only tell how I feel as a spectator and what I have observed on HAL ships.

I expect that is not the answer you were looking for but it is the best I can do. I just don't know the answer.

Good to see you posting again. Missed you.:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

I don't suppose there really is an answer....but if need be...I'd share a lifeboat with you anytime :):) Hope all is well.

[DoverHeights]

I'm pretty sure that if I had been on board the Costa Concordia, I would be most uneager to cruise again "any time soon". When I sailed on the NA last August, I was "impressed" at just how difficult it was to get on/off at Mykonos - because of a strong wind and resulting swell. When you then think about getting off via a lifeboat (at best), from a heavily listing (increasingly) ship, the difficulty and danger increases by orders of magnitude. If you then add panic, age, infirmity.. and say, fire - probably the most likely cause of disaster, and place your vessel in rough seas, miles from anywhere - your difficulty increasing x 2000 or x 4000 or x 6000 passengers plus crew ... ????. At least HAL's crew of dour Dutch officers gives me more confidence than Costa's Dolce Vita set.

I hope the above scenario does not happen - but who would have thought the course of events which beset the CC could ever happen. Statistics might reassure you as an individual that the chance of such a disaster happening to you is remote, but the same statistics probably would state that the chance of a giant cruiseship disaster is becoming more and more certain

Will cruise with HAL again, but always "glancing over my shoulder", Michael

[esther e]

Given our age and mobility issues, if we were on a ship that capsized or had similar tragedy, I can honestly say no, we would not cruise again. We have many cruises under our belts and would be gun shy about stepping on another ship.

I agree with Ruth C. She summed up my feelings quite well.

[KirkNC]

I appreciate this is a hypothetical question, that hopefully none of us will ever know the real answer to...but if you had experienced the terror of the Costa cruse line tragedy ....do you think you'd cruise again ?

Statistically, cruising is an extremely safe choice of vacation travel ...I just don't know if I could get back on a ship ,after going through such an ordeal.
Colleen

Hard to answer a hypothetical question like this as who knows how the experience would change you. I would hope I would still enjoy cruising.

[gelo7]

Without a doubt.

[Viesczy]

Without hesitation I'd cruise again if involved in a situation like that... almost like an added excursion! Life is terminal; we all go in the end the only difference is typically how and when. If it was our time, we'd end up going together doing something that we loved.

I turned 40 this year, I am in the upper percentiles of physical strength and endurance of any age so I am pretty sure physically I could make it out of any situation alive.

Derek

[CowPrincess]

As another poster pointed out (Sapper, maybe?) statistically it'd be good. Emotionally, I don't think I could get on a cruise ship again if I'd experienced what the pax of Concordia did. I'm pretty sure I don't have the intellectual toughness required to overcome the visceral "fight or flight" physical/emotional response.

[beachbum789]

I would cruise again. No matter what mode of travel there is always a chance for for a problem.

[mearsfansinboise]

I would absolutely cruise again... I don't fly...the only way I get places is by car or boat. So....yes, yes and yes again.

[jtl513]

... from a statistical point of view we are protected by the law of averages for a while. I feel the same way after a major plane crash.

As another poster pointed out (Sapper, maybe?) statistically it'd be good.That sounds logical, but it's not true. Unless the ship sinking or plane crash is the result of a design flaw or a system flaw (e.g. air traffic control problem), just because a catastrophe happened yesterday does not lessen the chances of the same thing happening today. Statistically each event is independent of any other. Of course no ship Captain in the world will be buzzing any land mass today. :)

[ANSalberg]

I appreciate this is a hypothetical question, that hopefully none of us will ever know the real answer to...but if you had experienced the terror of the Costa cruse line tragedy ....do you think you'd cruise again ?

Statistically, cruising is an extremely safe choice of vacation travel ...I just don't know if I could get back on a ship ,after going through such an ordeal.
Colleen

Of course we'll cruise again -AND we have several for the next year booked. You DO realize that cruising is "safer" than driving on a crowded free-way or more pleasant than FLYING anywhere? Certainly for the families that lost someone in the Costa accident, this isn't a "Small Deal" and I would NEVER ever belittle that pain. BUT cruising -WITH some common sense of PASSENGERS in FOREIGN ports - is still "Safe" and literally MILLIONS of people cruise successfully since "Titanic" !!!
Anne

[Sage]

Thank you Brian. I could not have said it better.

[sapper1]

That sounds logical, but it's not true. Unless the ship sinking or plane crash is the result of a design flaw or a system flaw (e.g. air traffic control problem), just because a catastrophe happened yesterday does not lessen the chances of the same thing happening today. Statistically each event is independent of any other. Of course no ship Captain in the world will be buzzing any land mass today. :)
Whether it is true or not, if one perceives it to be true it alleviates the angst that may be associated with taking a cruise in the near future. So I will hold on to my false perceptions which will allow me to enjoy our upcoming cruise.:)

[Sage]

As I have watched the news and heard and read the reports about the Costa accident, it made me pause and think more about if I would criuse again. Brian addressed some of my concerns in his reply, but I began to think about what kind of a hinderance would I be to my fellow cruisers with my current mobility problems. When I was on the Eurodam in December, I was told to use the elevator for the lifeboat drill, but I was told in case of a real emergency, that I would not be able to use the elevators. I asked the young woman that told me to use the elevator what would I do, and her reply was someone would tell me if the problem came up. What would they tell me? Would they tell me to take the stairs and possibly create a problem where other passengers would be pushing and shoving to get past me, as I was slower than they were? What if I were in a wheel chair, or on a scooter and unable to use the stairs? Would I be sitting at a gathering point waiting for help that may never come?

I also wonder about the cutback in help around the ship. We have fewer waiters and busboys in the MDR, and our cabin stewards have more and more cabins to service. Would these cutbacks reduce also the number of people available to help in an emergency? Also how many people can a 100 pound dancer assist by lifting children, or possibly adults into the lifeboat? Would one once again have to rely on a paniced passenger's good will to assit? I know that there are several out there that would say that it would not happen, as the ships are very safe, that one is safer on a cruise ship than in a car, but I have lived through one tramatic event when I was very young, and don't fancy another. So for me the answer may be that I should not cruise again, or at least not cruise again on large ships. I'm not trying to bring flames to the thread, I'm just wondering.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thank you for a very poignant post Sage, this event has given us all something to think about.
Best Wishes Colleen

[DDMau]

It might take a few years but I would definitely cruise again.

[hvsteve1]

As I have watched the news and heard and read the reports about the Costa accident, it made me pause and think more about if I would criuse again.I also wonder about the cutback in help around the ship. We have fewer waiters and busboys in the MDR, and our cabin stewards have more and more cabins to service. Would these cutbacks reduce also the number of people available to help in an emergency? Also how many people can a 100 pound dancer assist by lifting children, or possibly adults into the lifeboat? Would one once again have to rely on a paniced passenger's good will to assit? I know that there are several out there that would say that it would not happen, as the ships are very safe, that one is safer on a cruise ship than in a car, but I have lived through one tramatic event when I was very young, and don't fancy another. So for me the answer may be that I should not cruise again, or at least not cruise again on large ships. I'm not trying to bring flames to the thread, I'm just wondering.

There are a couple of deciptively easy solutions to your perceived problems.

1. Cruise on smaller luxury lines, such as Crystal or Regent. The ships are smaller and the crew to passenger ratio is much higher so, no worry about havng enough people around to help.

2. Book a room on the same deck as the lifeboats. On Crystal, if the room has a partially obstructed view...lifeboat outside your window!

3.Those "dancers" are probably in better physical condition than most of the men on the cruise.

Actually, I really sympathize because my wife isn't the most mobile person around and, watching the pictures of how those passengers had to climb long rope ladders to get to the lifeboats or the CNN interview with a woman who said they had to shimmy down ropes, I assume my wife and I would be stuck on the top of the ship until either somebody came for us or we drowned. There are people scared to death of being trapped by fire when staying in a hotel. The answer? They always ask for a room on the first or scond floor so they don't have to worry about being trapped as, the worst that can happen, is they jump 15 feet off a balcony. There's a solution to everything (except flying...you crash, you crash.)

[sapper1]

As I have watched the news and heard and read the reports about the Costa accident, it made me pause and think more about if I would criuse again. Brian addressed some of my concerns in his reply, but I began to think about what kind of a hinderance would I be to my fellow cruisers with my current mobility problems. When I was on the Eurodam in December, I was told to use the elevator for the lifeboat drill, but I was told in case of a real emergency, that I would not be able to use the elevators. I asked the young woman that told me to use the elevator what would I do, and her reply was someone would tell me if the problem came up. What would they tell me? Would they tell me to take the stairs and possibly create a problem where other passengers would be pushing and shoving to get past me, as I was slower than they were? What if I were in a wheel chair, or on a scooter and unable to use the stairs? Would I be sitting at a gathering point waiting for help that may never come?

I also wonder about the cutback in help around the ship. We have fewer waiters and busboys in the MDR, and our cabin stewards have more and more cabins to service. Would these cutbacks reduce also the number of people available to help in an emergency? Also how many people can a 100 pound dancer assist by lifting children, or possibly adults into the lifeboat? Would one once again have to rely on a paniced passenger's good will to assit? I know that there are several out there that would say that it would not happen, as the ships are very safe, that one is safer on a cruise ship than in a car, but I have lived through one tramatic event when I was very young, and don't fancy another. So for me the answer may be that I should not cruise again, or at least not cruise again on large ships. I'm not trying to bring flames to the thread, I'm just wondering.
Sage--you raise some excellent points and mobility impaired people need to consider them.
I am in pretty good shape myself due to regular hours in the gym, but I seriously doubt how I would fare having to shimmy down a rope or descend a rope ladder to safety. Even if I could, my husband certainly couldn't and I would not leave him to fend for himself.
The smaller HAL ships have outside cabins on the lifeboat deck level and a few of them have lanai cabins. They would work if you did not need a handicap equipped cabin and the emergency occured at night or when you were in your cabin. It is a real tough call.

Since a large number of HAL's passengers are older or mobility impaired, I wonder how many will come to your conclusion themselves and decide not to cruise anymore? This event is going to have a major impact on the cruise industry as all the implications start to occur to people.

[GTVCRUISER]

Yes I will Cruise again , cruising in 8 days and a wake up

[iancal]

Do people fly after an airline disaster?

Do they drive after hearing about traffic fatalities?

Cruising may even be statistically safer than staying at home!

[larsen]

I'm not going to go back and read all the prior responses but the simple answer is YES, of course we will!

[peaches from georgia]

In my previous post I answered incorrectly because I didn't answer the actual question, nor have others.

The question was would you cruise again if YOU had experienced an event like the Concordia yourself, not if you will cruise again after hearing about this event or fly again after hearing about a plane crash. My answer is if I had been on the Costa ship and survived I would not ever be able to cruise again. I bet not many pax on that ship will cruise again.

[Boytjie]

Do people fly after an airline disaster?

People fly to New York to come look at Ground Zero. ;)

[lettienets]

this is something that i think has struck everyone to the core. it's not hard to imagine it on any ship - anywhere - including HAL - and now a concern to everyone. This isn't a ship that lost electricity or had a fire and people had to eat sandwiches. It's a ship that sunk and lives are lost and from evidence so far, due to an inept captain.
The indeterminate factors like hubris and stupidity...., and other human error factors like alcohol, drugs, mental stress or whatever problems .... a concern for all of us.
The onshore port authority asked this captain who abandoned ship about women and children and people with special needs......
Scarey as far as getting off depending on your own physical circumstances.
I am on a Carnival ship this Sunday and am curious if there will be any changes re the safety procedures over past cruises.
A disaster at sea is something we have all wondered about and now we know it can really happen with a ship this big.

[FrankNJ]

What is it Captain Quint said ? "I'll never put on a lifejacket again".

[Sage]

Peaches, you were correct in saying that most people did not answer the question asked. I went back and reread the question, and my answer would have to be no. I would never cruise again.

[LSEA]

I appreciate this is a hypothetical question, that hopefully none of us will ever know the real answer to...but if you had experienced the terror of the Costa cruse line tragedy ....do you think you'd cruise again ?

Statistically, cruising is an extremely safe choice of vacation travel ...I just don't know if I could get back on a ship ,after going through such an ordeal.
Colleen

No. If I had experienced the terror of the Costa tragedy I seriously doubt I would cruise again. Truth be told, cruising in general has lost a bit of its shine for me at the moment. Not as excited about an upcoming cruise as I normally would be, but I am sure I will get there.

[Harley57]

While I can't say with 100% certainty, I'm quite sure if I had been a passenger on the Costa Concordia, I would not cruise again for a very, very long time, if ever.

That being said, I have no qualms about boarding the Eurodam in June. IMO, first hand experience of such a disaster would definitely give me a different outlook on cruising.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Hi all..OP here ,sorry there was some confusion with the question I posed.

I think the thread's title may be to blame, perhaps some thought it read .
Do you think you will cruise again.?

Note to self..choose your thread titles carefully :o
I admit I was a bit surprised by how adamantly some stated they would cruise again.:):)
Hope none of us ever experience such an event ... it would take me a very long time to get over it.

Best Regards Colleen