View Full Version : WHO HAS PARASAILED??
sea-cruise
May 7th, 2004, 09:43 PM
Our 19 and 16 year old grandsons want to parasail in Nassau. Can you tell us if you enjoyed it and any details? Thanks, sea-cruise
"Nothing should be more highly prized than the value of each day".... celebrating cruise #30 soon
F5Loar
May 7th, 2004, 10:42 PM
It did it twice at one time, my first and my last time. The fear factor sets in when you get 400 feet in the air, look down and realize the only thing holding you is a nylon rope which could break on you! If the rope breaks or you get a rip in the chute you will fall at the speed of light as gravity pulls you to the earth. Should you survive the fall (most unlikely) as you hit the concerte hard water at 70 MPH you will wish you had died because your life will change forever if you live.
It's a safety issue. 1000's go up on the same rope day in and day out. Some will stretch that max. tensile strength of the rope (like me at 210 pounds) and the more forceable the wind at the time the more pull on the rope. I guess there is no stopping your boys from going up but if it were my children I would not let them do it. I've heard way too many horror stories to do it again.
Depends on how you feel about bungy jumping off the side of a 200 foot bridge. Same thing.
Rope breaks your dead.
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Till we sail on the Zuiderdam
Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL
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until we sail on the Disney Wonder
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til we sail the ms Maasdam
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dawnp
May 8th, 2004, 06:11 AM
We went to the Pirates of the Carib. beach party in Freeport and my 16 y/o son parasailed - he LOVED it and I of course was biting my nails the whole time he was gone.....He also spent one whole day last summer riding "Superman - Ride of Steel" over and over and someone tragically fell off of it 2 weekends ago and died. I think that tragedy can happen no matter where you are or what your doing and as long as you know that there are risks involved and use your best judgement as to the conditions of the day your there they'll be fine.
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;7;3;17;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500 until Century
Then let the countdown to the Miracle 08/07/04 begin
Fantasy - 02/04
[This message was edited by dawnp on 05-08-04 at 08:27 AM.]
[This message was edited by dawnp on 05-08-04 at 08:28 AM.]
tootiesmom
May 8th, 2004, 08:28 AM
I have parasailed in Bermuda twice and plan on parasailing this June when we cruise to St. Maarten. I have no fear of heights and it was the most wonderful feeling.
tootiesmom http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Tropicalconcrete
May 8th, 2004, 08:35 AM
Just food for thought. There are no safety checks for parasailing. The boats are regulated by the coast gaurd in the U.S. but there are no inspections or regulations on the actual parasail industry. My 14 year old daughter loves to do it and has gone a few times from Cable Beach (Bahamas) to right here in Saraota. I have also done it in Mexico years ago (twice...first and last time).Makes me nervous every time but kids will be kids.
A few weeks ago, there was a parasailer in Clearwater Beach that had the rope break. The parasail went loose for about a half hour just missing power lines and condos. They were eventually pulled down by about fifty people that got a hold of the rope but could have been a real disaster.
I guess the answer is "you pay your money and take your chances". Good luck!
Sun Princess 4/74
Windjammer Fantome
7/78-8/79 (Employee)
Regal Empress 6/02
Til Triumph
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shabcruzn
May 8th, 2004, 06:24 PM
Tropical concrete--do you suggest if someone is over 250 that they do not do it? My husband is is 6'5'' and ways over 250--football player type dude. I want to parasail, but if he can't go up with me--forget it. I think I would be too chicken
7/17 ON MY WAY TO TRIUMPH CRUISE
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shabcruzn
May 8th, 2004, 06:25 PM
by the way--see ya on the Triumph 7/17
7/17 ON MY WAY TO TRIUMPH CRUISE
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nailz
May 8th, 2004, 06:49 PM
Yeah Shabcruzn see ya on the Triumph! BTW baby sister, which port did you anticipate parasailing?? (Ha,Ha!!)
Carnival Triumph
Wide Open Spaces
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Until I Go Cruising
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shabcruzn
May 8th, 2004, 07:07 PM
Hey nailz I plan to on the beach at St. Maarten--first time for everything!
7/17 ON MY WAY TO TRIUMPH CRUISE
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nailz
May 8th, 2004, 07:10 PM
Okay, I see. Yeah first and LAST time for everything!! Some people just can't stay off these boards -- can we??
Carnival Triumph
Wide Open Spaces
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Until I Go Cruising
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Tropicalconcrete
May 8th, 2004, 07:13 PM
I'm about the same size as your husband and they had no problem with me but that was alone.The operators know the weight limits. My daughter has gone up with two other friends and they say it's ok? Again there are no regulations so I guess it's up to the manufacturer and the operator. Don't really know.
See ya on the Truimph! Anyone getting together for sail away?
Sun Princess 4/74
Windjammer Fantome
7/78-8/79 (Employee)
Regal Empress 6/02
Til Triumph
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yst347
May 8th, 2004, 08:08 PM
Para sailing is fun and safe. It isn't for everyone. Enjoy the view.
Elation 11/2003
Conquest 01/2003
Jubilee 11/2002
Victory 02/2001
Destiny 02/2000
Geotide 11/1992
United States 06/1962
yoray
May 8th, 2004, 09:38 PM
It's great! They'll love it!
Where else can you trust your life to two strangers with a rope?
.
Ain't life fun?
______YoRay______
http://joebat1.8m.net/images/yoray-fin02.gif
______US Navy______
waterbound
May 8th, 2004, 09:43 PM
I would love to parasail... I have been thinking about it and hopefully I can get my boyfriend to try it too... The way I look at it is that something can happen doing anything... why live your life being scared?? Life is too short!! If you decide to do it I hope you have a great time!
Pride- 07/06/02
Jubilee- 02/22/03
Conquest- 10/19/03
4/15-- Holiday--Surprise cruise for my boyfriend!
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5/15-- M&M at Rawlings All American Grille
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03/13/2005- Conquest with the kidshttp://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;3;13;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600
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Days til Valor Vampires Cruise
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margaritawoman
May 9th, 2004, 08:04 PM
My best friend & I parasailed in Flordia several years ago. We are ladies in our 40's we did it together. It was great we even paid extra to dip (they let us touch down in the water then pulled us back up) I highly recomend it, almost everything in life has risks. I would let my children or grandchildren do it. It is a personal choice for everyone. Have a great cruise.
Glory May 29,04
sea-cruise
May 9th, 2004, 09:20 PM
Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate all the comments. Yes, margaritawoman, dawnp, and waterbound, you really are right about chances. Your comments made me think about something. A 4 wheel ATV turned over locally, and a guy got killed yesterday. My mom was afraid of airplanes, amusement rides, (and lots and lots of things) and her life ended with cancer. I will let the boys make their own decision. Happy cruising everyone!
"Nothing should be more highly prized than the value of each day".... celebrating cruise #30 soon
Cruisindad
May 10th, 2004, 06:27 AM
My most vivid memory of parasailing was getting motion sick within moments of being "wound out". This was in Aruba, it was very windy, and I bounced around alot. Never considered getting "seasick" 200 feet up in the air. Spent the whole time concentrating on not losing my lunch. I keep thinking, "I wonder what it's like to hurl at 200 feet down into the beautiful blue-green waters of the Caribbean".
I managed to make it down without tossing my cookies, and, looking back, was glad I did it, but, for me, once was enough.
Consider taking Bonine or other med if you are prone to motion sickness.
Tim and Joann
NCL Norway 1987
NCL Seaward 1997
CCL Destiny 1999
NCL Norway 2000
RCI Explorer 2001
RCI Adventure 2002
Celebrity Galaxy 2003
Golden Princess 2003
L2J
May 10th, 2004, 06:32 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by F5Loar:
It did it twice at one time, my first and my last time. The fear factor sets in when you get 400 feet in the air, look down and realize the only thing holding you is a nylon rope which could break on you! If the rope breaks or you get a rip in the chute you will fall at the speed of light as gravity pulls you to the earth. Should you survive the fall (most unlikely) as you hit the concerte hard water at 70 MPH you will wish you had died because your life will change forever if you live.
It's a safety issue. 1000's go up on the same rope day in and day out. Some will stretch that max. tensile strength of the rope (like me at 210 pounds) and the more forceable the wind at the time the more pull on the rope. I guess there is no stopping your boys from going up but if it were my children I would not let them do it. I've heard way too many horror stories to do it again.
Depends on how you feel about bungy jumping off the side of a 200 foot bridge. Same thing.
Rope breaks your dead.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I've done it once - 1000 feet. Didn't enjoy it at all. You have no control and should something "happen" you're pretty much SOL.
However it is not a "chute" and you would probably survive the fall albeit broken bones.
Where are you getting your information?
Liv...Winds are 15 knots and holding....the whole world is a drop zone!
http://heathersanimations.com/military/newparach.gif
http://www.bigotis.com/saintsinners.gif
http://www.bigotis.com/valorvampires.gif
NCL Sky 2/02
CCLNCLRCICRUISER
May 10th, 2004, 07:07 AM
Im no expert, but it sure looks like a chute to me.http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
http://www.viwatersports.com/parasail.htm
thebird
May 10th, 2004, 07:08 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cruisindad:
My most vivid memory of parasailing was getting motion sick within moments of being "wound out". This was in Aruba, it was very windy, and I bounced around alot. Never considered getting "seasick" 200 feet up in the air. Spent the whole time concentrating on not losing my lunch. I keep thinking, "I wonder what it's like to hurl at 200 feet down into the beautiful blue-green waters of the Caribbean".
I managed to make it down without tossing my cookies, and, looking back, was glad I did it, but, for me, once was enough.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!
Sensation 5/15/2004
Days til Valor Vampires Cruise
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L2J
May 10th, 2004, 07:25 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by OctoberDestiny:
Im no expert, but it sure looks like a chute to me.http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
A "chute" as you put it is made from ripstop nylon. There are approximately 30 gores (sections) that are sewn together.
Another type is the sport parachute which is made up of cells.
Liv...Winds are 15 knots and holding....the whole world is a drop zone!
http://heathersanimations.com/military/newparach.gif
http://www.bigotis.com/saintsinners.gif
http://www.bigotis.com/valorvampires.gif
NCL Sky 2/02
OhioBeachBum
May 10th, 2004, 07:50 AM
I did it last year for the first time when I was in Hilton Head (800 feet). I loved it. My experience was very smooth and peaceful. I considered doing it in Nassau with my son but decided against it because I wasn't comfortable with the lack of ANY type of regulation. At least in the US you have the Coast Guard who does SOME inspection.
Loved the Miracle 4/12/04
Great, now I'm hooked!
jpennin217
May 11th, 2004, 05:51 PM
All I can say is our parasailing adventure was fabulous!!!
12-05-2004 Miracle cruise
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