OK...Here's the Rotterdam Sep 14 London to NY UPDATE on what happened

[zackiedawg]

Hi. I am new to this forum, and found it while searching for information about what was happening to the Rotterdam during this cruise which my parents are aboard.

Quick info and introduction to me: I am 35, have cruised 18 times to date, on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Dolphin, and Costa. I will be going on my first Celebrity ship this November. My mother has been a cruiser for quite a while, and is currently on her 81st cruise on the Rotterdam, which she boarded in Athens on August 30 and stayed on board at London for the cruise to NY.

NOW FOR THE UPDATE ON THE ROTTERDAM!

First off - the ship DID lose power while encountering rough seas from the remnants of Hurricane Karl. While traversing 30-40 foot seas in the North Atlantic, the engines lost power and the ship lost ability to steer bow into the waves for 3 - 3 1/2 hours. During this time, the ship was rolling randomly side-to-side and front-to-back, causing some of the glass doors between lounges to break, casino slot machines to fall over, and some of the vertical iron ceiling beams to break loose and fall in several lounges. Passengers were all required to stay in whatever room or lounge they were already in at the time the power was lost, as they didn't want passengers walking the staircases with such severe rolling. Passengers were at first told to sit on the floors as chairs and other furniture would roll over when people sat in them, but several people were unable to hold on and were sliding across the floors...so they worked on relocating everyone to couches and fixed furniture or poles to hold on.

Several passengers had told my mother that several cabin windows or sliding doors were broken as waves lashed the ship from the side, however she was unable to verify those claims.

After several hours, the ship was able to restore power to at least one propeller, and proceeded to sail through the remainder of the seas to Nova Scotia, which is where my mother finally had the chance to call me and tell me what had happened.

She said most of the crew were waiting in line at the phones to call back to the Phillipines and eastern Europe to tell their families about what happened. She was generally calm during much of the initial rolling as she had been on lots of ships and lots of rough seas, but said she got fairly scared when she saw several ships' crew and officers, many with years of sailing experience, looking frightened and wearing their life jackets. Once the one propeller was running and the ship was able to control its direction in the seas, the roll stabilized to a more normal front-to-back hobby-horse mode, and many passengers calmed down. Apparently some were still severely traumatized, and the infirmary dispensed lots of seasickness medicine and sleeping pills!

Hope that helps answer any of the questions or confirm or quell any rumours floating around about what happened. I can get the more complete story once they hit New York on the 30th and fly back home. There is some question as to whether or not the Rotterdam can be fixed and cleaned up in time for the next cruise...I'm sure repairs and orders for parts are already underway as they finalize the east coast leg down to NY.

Questions or observations welcome!

Justin

[Orcrone]

Justin,

Thanks for the update. I'm sure that must have been scary. I hope no one was seriously injured with everything flying around.

[localady]

Thanks for giving us an update. I do hope that everything is getting back to normal and no one was seriously hurt. I too would be rather frightened once I saw the Sr. staff and officers donning life vests:eek: Hope there was no permanent damage to the Rotterdam, her passengers or her works of art!!! Hope the Xian warrior is still standing:cool:

[gizmo]

Thank you for taking the time to post this information. That was some ordeal they all went through. Hope everyone is ok.

[zackiedawg]

No problem...I had been reading whatever I could find on it since all I got from my mother over the weekend was a 2-line e-mail saying they had a story to tell (she ran out of online minutes and didn't want to buy more). So that of course made me curious and I had to dig around to find any message boards or info!

She sounded fairly calm in Nova Scotia when she called this morning...and apparently the ship is still good enough to complete the cruise to New York. I wouldn't imagine any structural damage or they wouldn't likely finish the cruise...so probably cosmetic damage and decor. My mother mentioned most passengers were on the phones (payphones and cellphones) all around the dock area, so it sounds like msot people were over the severe trauma and fear and just wanted someone to tell the story to to get it off their chests. From the sound of it, most of the infirmary visits were for seasickness...with a few bumps and bruises thrown in for those who fell or slid during the worst of it. I do hope there were no serious injuries.

Next time I talk to her, I'll ask about the warrior!

[LizB1]

Thanks so much, Justin, for taking the time to post this information for us. It is basically what had been relayed to me by someone in contact with the HM on the ship by e-mail.

I hope and pray everyone is okay and that MY Rotterdam will still be a great ship after they make the repairs.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for reporting.

Many of us have been waiting to get news of the Rotterdam's problems.

[zackiedawg]

You're welcome. Glad I was able to provide some info. I was in the same situation when I first heard word and was really looking for more info!

[sail7seas]

Thank you for sharing the info with us. We have all been interested and have been hoping there were no serious injuries and only 'fixable' damage to the gorgeous Rotterdam. Very glad to hear your mother is unhurt.


........You commented this was your mother's 81st cruise on Rotterdam. Did you actually mean she has sailed on Rotterdam VI 81 times? Or that this was her 81st cruise?

Thank you again.

[RuthC]

I, too, want to thank you for the information.

I've been on the Rotterdam through very rough seas and know she can ride well, but without power would have been terrible. I can just imagine how the passengers felt to see the officers nervous.

Glad all is well now. Let's hope the Rotterdam can sail her scheduled cruises with minimal disruption.

[DFD1]

Thanks, Justin. The idea that the Rotterdam lost power and was unable to keep her bow into the waves is a really serious matter. I shudder to think what might have happened if they hand not been able to regain control and the storm had continued or gotten worse.

We appreciate your sharing your information with us. Please continue to keep us posted.

[ekerr19]

Justin-

Thank you so much for reporting this... I tried to find info this weekend and was unable to do so - hope everyone is ok.

[zackiedawg]

........You commented this was your mother's 81st cruise on Rotterdam. Did you actually mean she has sailed on Rotterdam VI 81 times? Or that this was her 81st cruise?

Thank you again.
Sorry for the unclear sentence! I should have used a comma there...she is on her 81st cruise overall, of which this is her 3rd or 4th time on the Rotterdam VI (I can't remember). I believe this will be her 14th HAL cruise.

She's been on Carnival, Celebrity (as well as Chandris), Costa, Crystal, Dolphin, Home (the Homeric which later became the Westerdam...she cruised it as both), Holland America, NCL, Premier, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Her first cruise was in the early '70s on the Costa Flavia...she's been addicted ever since!

[Roboat]

Wow, what an ordeal! Thanks for filling us in, and I'm glad your folks are OK. I guess I would have thought long and hard about getting back aboard!

And, btw, thank you Oleprof for originally bringing this event to our attention.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=83398&highlight=oleprof (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=83398&highlight=oleprof)
I apologize for the treatment you received, and hope that you will continue to contribute to the board.

[longtimecruiser]

I, too want to thank you for posting about what really happened on the Rotterdam. I have also been on the Rotterdam in very rough seas and thought the ship handled extremely well. This cruise was even worse as we never lost power or had beams falling down. How frightening!!!!!! So glad to hear that your Mother and others are okay. Hope there was not too much damage to "my favorite dam ship" and that it can continue her planned cruises. Keep us posted on any other developments.

[Lovebirds]

My mother mentioned most passengers were on the phones (payphones and cellphones) all around the dock area, so it sounds like msot people were over the severe trauma and fear and just wanted someone to tell the story to to get it off their chests.
Some probably wanted to tell their story... to a good personal injury lawyer! Can you smell a bunch of lawsuits in the making?

[starysacz]

Thank you very much Justin for the updated report. Glad that your mother and others are basically o.k. It is our favorite ship - four cruises on it.

[DFD1]

I agree with Roboat. Thank you Oleprof for first alerting us to this situation. Sometimes I am sad at the way some here seem to treat others with whom they might not agree or with whom they have doubts. I wish it weren't that way.

[Robin7]

:eek: Apparently some were still severely traumatized, and the infirmary dispensed lots of seasickness medicine and sleeping pills!Holy Rolling Decks, Batman! They would have had to sedate me. I'm a HUGE chicken. I hope the rest of your mother's trip is 'smooth sailing.'

Robin

[CanSail]

Thank you Justin for your posting of the Rotterdam cruise.
I am so glad to hear your mother is fine.

[Cruiseoften]

Some probably wanted to tell their story... to a good personal injury lawyer! Can you smell a bunch of lawsuits in the making?


:( a good or otherwise lawyer - who could anybody sue? :rolleyes:

[sail7seas]

Some probably wanted to tell their story... to a good personal injury lawyer! Can you smell a bunch of lawsuits in the making?




Sue who? Why? Because there was a fierce storm at sea and despite the most severe conditions the Captain and crew of Rotterdam kept the ship and passengers safe? That it appears there were a few minor injuries. That the ship, most hopefully, will be safely docking tomorrow????

Sue HAL for What? For having the most competent, able, well-trained, well-educated, very experienced Captains and Senior Officers?

What am I missing here?

[Lovebirds]

Some probably wanted to tell their story... to a good personal injury lawyer! Can you smell a bunch of lawsuits in the making?




Sue who? Why? Because there was a fierce storm at sea and despite the most severe conditions the Captain and crew of Rotterdam kept the ship and passengers safe? That it appears there were a few minor injuries. That the ship, most hopefully, will be safely docking tomorrow????

Sue HAL for What? For having the most competent, able, well-trained, well-educated, very experienced Captains and Senior Officers?

What am I missing here?
I did NOT say that there were grounds for suits. But, you must surely realise that people sue for anything. If the facts are as stated on some of the threads, I believe there will be many lawsuits filed.
Did the ship lose power as a result of maintenance procedures as reported? If so, that was not an unforseeable event over which the captain and crew had no control. Any injuries, no matter how minor are the stuff that lawsuits are made of. Even the trauma of being in a fearful situation will bring lawsuits. Don't try to tell me that passengers were not in fear for their lives when they saw the captain and crew in life vests.

I, for one, would NOT file a lawsuit if I came through the ordeal without injury. But ours is a litigious society. Anyone can and will sue for any reason.

That, dear S7S, is what you are missing!

[Roboat]

Some probably wanted to tell their story... to a good personal injury lawyer! Can you smell a bunch of lawsuits in the making?




Sue who? Why? Because there was a fierce storm at sea and despite the most severe conditions the Captain and crew of Rotterdam kept the ship and passengers safe? That it appears there were a few minor injuries. That the ship, most hopefully, will be safely docking tomorrow????

Sue HAL for What? For having the most competent, able, well-trained, well-educated, very experienced Captains and Senior Officers?

What am I missing here?Well, I'm kinda curious as to the cause of the engine failure, which left the ship out of control in heavy seas and put the ship and passengers in grave danger. There are many reasons why the ship could have lost power, but not many that don't involve significant human error.

Edit: Jerry and Wilda (lovebirds) - We posted at about the same time with similar concerns.

Obviously we don't know the facts and probably never will. But this surely will undergo serious investigation. From the description, it appears that the ship - or any ship - could not have withstood that kind of pounding for an indefinite period. Thanks God they were able to restore power after three and half hours. Hats off to the diesel mechanics, who were probably pretty banged up themselves. I will say that they likely saved some lives.

No, S7S, no one will sue "because there was a fierce storm at sea." But rest assured they will sue if not provided some answers quickly, because odds are that someone was grossly negligent, possibly even one or more of the "most competent, able, well-trained, well-educated, very experienced Captains and Senior Officers" you mention.

[LizB1]

First of all I doubt very much that anyone saw the Captain in a life jacket!! He would have been on the bridge all the time in a situation like this. Also, I doubt very much there were senior officers with life jackets on...many don't even know what the stripes mean so how do they know they were sr. officers!? Let's not jump to conclusions!

[Vistadeck]

Here's an article on it from the CBC

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/09/28/ns_cruise040928.html

[Lovebirds]

Well, I'm kinda curious as to the cause of the engine failure, which left the ship out of control in heavy seas and put the ship and passengers in grave danger. There are many reasons why the ship could have lost power, but not many that don't involve significant human error.
This is the quote from another thread:

I understand that the Rotterdam has been in serious trouble at sea for the past couple of days or more. They cut the engines to clean fuel filters and lost all electricity and could not restart the engines.

As you say, significant human error was probably involved.

[Roboat]

Well, bad fuel IS the major cause of diesel failures. The new article above blames an electrical failure. In any event, it could have been worse. Certainly the ship is built to withstand enormous seas while under power, but not from the side. And I doubt they could have safely launched lifeboats in those conditions, with the ship rolling 40 degrees, had it become necessary.

But - no one died, and the injured will heal. Unleash the lawyers!

[dakrewser]

I agree with Roboat. Thank you Oleprof for first alerting us to this situation. Sometimes I am sad at the way some here seem to treat others with whom they might not agree or with whom they have doubts. I wish it weren't that way.
I objected to the sensational, unverified report - and I still do. The ship was not "... in serious trouble at sea for the past couple of days or more," but was in rough seas for 3 hours. Nor was it true that "They had no food for 24 hours." All that sort of "reporting" did was to raise the anxiety level of anyone who had friends or family on the ship. Now compare that to the well thought out, accurate and non-sensational posting from zackiedawg which started this thread.

And I'll continue to correct and chide those who both get their facts wrong and let their emotions get the better of them.

-dave

[dakrewser]

This is the quote from another thread:

I understand that the Rotterdam has been in serious trouble at sea for the past couple of days or more. They cut the engines to clean fuel filters and lost all electricity and could not restart the engines.

As you say, significant human error was probably involved.
Yes, but very little in that posting was acurate, nor is there any confirmation whatsoever that human error was involved. Let's not speculate in advace of the facts.

-dave

[Roboat]

I objected to the sensational, unverified report - and I still do. The ship was not "... in serious trouble at sea for the past couple of days or more," but was in rough seas for 3 hours. Nor was it true that "They had no food for 24 hours." All that sort of "reporting" did was to raise the anxiety level of anyone who had friends or family on the ship. Now compare that to the well thought out, accurate and non-sensational posting from zackiedawg which started this thread.

And I'll continue to correct and chide those who both get their facts wrong and let their emotions get the better of them.

-daveThe initial report was substantially correct and oleprof should not have been treated that way. He received his info from someone aboard who had just gone through the ordeal, and he relayed that information. Would it have been more accurate to report, as you do, that the ship had merely been in rough waters for 3 hours?

And when you are correcting and chiding, don't forget yourself. You said "they've been far from "dead in the water" " which, in fact, they were.

[StefanieMS]

Seems pretty unlikely to me that they would cut the engines it the middle of a storm!

Also, who would anyone sue? Most ships are registered in other countries, where I am sure laws are much different that here in the US.

Stefanie

[peaches from georgia]

Seems pretty unlikely to me that they would cut the engines it the middle of a storm!

Also, who would anyone sue? Most ships are registered in other countries, where I am sure laws are much different that here in the US.

Stefanie
They would sue Carnival Corporation. If anyone sues they sue the corporation for negligence among other things. Suing doesn't mean you have a reasonable case; it just means you have a lawyer who will take your case. And, loyalty to HAL aside, maybe some people do have a case for injury. How the blazes does anyone here know they don't other than blind loyalty to HAL.

Unless anyone here is licensed to be an officer on a ship the size of the Rotterdam then no one should be speculating how the officers acted, should have acted, or what the condition of the ship was or should have been. Never read so many opinions from people who probably have never done more than paddle a canoe and have just about that much knowledge. We may never know the whole story.

[sail7seas]

Unless one is a lawyer with a license to give legal advise, they should be wary of offering advise as to who to sue for what. IMO I think that might be called practicing law without a license???

[sail7seas]

I did NOT say that there were grounds for suits. But, you must surely realise that people sue for anything. If the facts are as stated on some of the threads, I believe there will be many lawsuits filed.
Did the ship lose power as a result of maintenance procedures as reported? If so, that was not an unforseeable event over which the captain and crew had no control. Any injuries, no matter how minor are the stuff that lawsuits are made of. Even the trauma of being in a fearful situation will bring lawsuits. Don't try to tell me that passengers were not in fear for their lives when they saw the captain and crew in life vests.

I, for one, would NOT file a lawsuit if I came through the ordeal without injury. But ours is a litigious society. Anyone can and will sue for any reason.




That, dear S7S, is what you are missing!


Kindly refrain from the "dear" part. I find it demeaning, insulting, gratuitous, and about a dozen other adjectives.

I think you are making Assumptions with your reasoning. There is too much information you did not get from this thread to enable you to reach conclusions you seem to accept.

[peaches from georgia]

Unless one is a lawyer with a license to give legal advise, they should be wary of offering advise as to who to sue for what. IMO I think that might be called practicing law without a license???
Advice on who to sue? If you're talking about my post I didn't advise anybody whether to sue or who to sue. The question was asked by Stephanie as to who pax on the Rotterdam would sue. I said that people normally sue the corporation that has the deep pockets, claiming negligence of some kind causing injury, which in this case would be Carnival. And then added we shouldn't be speculating about something about which we know nothing.

Practicing law without a license in saying who and for what people normally sue in an injury case? Don't think so. Naming a prescription drug and telling people it is 'safe', when it might not be safe for them, is a lot closer to practicing medicine w/out a license. :)

[LissaR]

I have been told that HAL has offered passengers 50% refund in return for signing a waiver. What does that tell you?

[mhshapiro]

Loss of all engine power in high seas and consequently the ability to control the direction of the ship is a very dangerous occurrence. Let's hope that the Coast Guard takes a close look at what happened.

[ekerr19]

Advice on who to sue? If you're talking about my post I didn't advise anybody whether to sue or who to sue. The question was asked by Stephanie as to who pax on the Rotterdam would sue. I said that people normally sue the corporation that has the deep pockets, claiming negligence of some kind causing injury, which in this case would be Carnival. And then added we shouldn't be speculating about something about which we know nothing.

Practicing law without a license in saying who and for what people normally sue in an injury case? Don't think so. Naming a prescription drug and telling people it is 'safe', when it might not be safe for them, is a lot closer to practicing medicine w/out a license. :)
Peaches-

I certainly did not read your post as if you were offering any sort of legal advice. In my opinion (and HAL board experience) you are too sharp for that (I honestly mean this - and I appreciate your keen eye for detail:) )... I also understand where you are coming from.

However, I actually think the reference is based on another post.

[sail7seas]

Practicing law without a license in saying who and for what people normally sue in an injury case? Don't think so. Naming a prescription drug and telling people it is 'safe', when it might not be safe for them, is a lot closer to practicing medicine w/out a license. :)




The POINT here being it IS a prescription drug, therefore, a prescription must be obtained from a physician who would decide whether it was safe for each individual or not!!!!!





They would sue Carnival Corporation. If anyone sues they sue the corporation for negligence among other things.
Suits can and often are brought pro se without assistance of counsel.
...........Who to sue and for what.

[peaches from georgia]

Peaches-

I certainly did not read your post as if you were offering any sort of legal advice. In my opinion (and HAL board experience) you are too sharp for that (I honestly mean this - and I appreciate your keen eye for detail:) )... I also understand where you are coming from.

However, I actually think the reference is based on another post.
Thanks, ekerr. I appreciate the very nice compliment and your agreement that I was only making a general comment. Evidently, however, the criticism was meant for me judging by the post following yours. I seriously doubt I will be prosecuted for practicing w/out a license. :rolleyes:

[ekerr19]

Sail-

Thank you for clarifying what your earlier post referred to ... I did not read your post as a slant towards peaches - and I'm glad you posted. :)

At times, when a post appears immediately following a certain post - there can be some "mis-communication"... I have done it myself - I try and read the posts before responding, but will raise a guilty hand to "wanting" to respond to a post before reading the entire thread - I think this is just human nature. :)

I must say, I do get a bit confused over the "cross post references" at times...

[ekerr19]

Thanks, ekerr. I appreciate the very nice compliment and your agreement that I was only making a general comment. Evidently, however, the criticism was meant for me judging by the post following yours. I seriously doubt I will be prosecuted for practicing w/out a license. :rolleyes:Ah Peaches, I LOVE your posts!

I always look forward to reading what you write. :)

I guess I just don't understand the some of the animosity on the boards lately. I have refrained (like several others) from bringing it public, but have decided to go out on a limb here, hopefully none of you will see fit to chop off the branch!!!

At times, I see a somewhat "sparring" atmosphere with the posts between you and Sail (for the life of me I must have missed where they originated!) - but it seems also worse between Sail and gizmo...

Sail-

I'm not sure if it's relevant or necessary to shed some light here, but I've seen some "pointed" jabs at gizmo without a doubt - also, lately towards Peaches...

Is there a reason? Please understand, I don't want to dredge up any old posts or any animosity but, I (and others, I'm sure) would like to get a better idea of why this is happening (without pointing fingers - that is not the issue) ... but, most of all -

Isn't there anyway to work this out?

ALL of you have SO much to offer - I really hate seeing this... :o

I also do not think I'm the only one who feels this way...

Sail, at times your posts can be a "tad" bit (or as my daughter says, a "tidbit" :) ) condescending... but, that said - I also can be - therefore, I DO relate. This is not a derrogatory remark towards you - I can only hope you do not take it as such.

To all:

Actually, I would just like to see all of us (we LOVE HAL) get along... I guess Merryecho can call ME "pollyanna" (for those of you who missed it!), I would welcome it!

We all share the love of HAL and cruising - each and every one of you have something so special to offer - I look forward to each every post (well... only "sometimes" ...there are times I don't necessarily look forward to Superstein's dress code related posts! )

What say all? :)

Am I going to hate myself in the morning for this post? Oh, probably, what else would be new?!?

[dakrewser]

And when you are correcting and chiding, don't forget yourself. You said "they've been far from "dead in the water" " which, in fact, they were.
I should have elaborated that the "dead in the water" appeared to be modified by the "a few days" phrase, which was contradicted by the tracking info. Still, it was the tone - rather than any one detail - that I found hard to take.

[dakrewser]

I think you are making Assumptions with your reasoning. There is too much information you did not get from this thread to enable you to reach conclusions you seem to accept.
Oh I don't know. Someone will sue. They always do.

-dave

[Quendryth]

:D :) There is an "ignore list" to place posters who just drive you crazy with their condescending manners. I use it & hope others place me in theirs if they so desire. It surely beats reading their mightier than thou attitudes.

Try it - you don't miss a thing & you will enjoy the boards again.

Q

[WindyCity]

Hear, Hear, Ekerr - very well put. I, too, have felt the condescending nature of some posterss and therefore post very rarely because of this. Seems to me, whenever someone disagrees with a certain poster, they get flamed. Don't know if it's the way it is communicated - we can't see the person's expression which may change the way something is written. Back to lurking for me, as I am sure I will get flamed for this also. :(

[spcl4cs_gal]

Oh I don't know. Someone will sue. They always do.

-dave

Of course...anything for the almighty buck. :(

[Esme]

I have been told that HAL has offered passengers 50% refund in return for signing a waiver. What does that tell you?

Who told you this? Another rumour? The passengers have not even returned to the US yet, so I don't know where you heard this.

[LizB1]

Now back to the Rotterdam!! Unfortunately, the ship will be running into the remnants of Jeanne which is now off our coast as a Nor'easter with heavy rain and wind. I also saw on our local weather this morning that seas in the Nantucket Sound area (between Nantucket and Cape Cod) would be 6-9' so am wondering if the ship will stay within those waters or go outside Nantucket on it's way to NYC where it is due tomorrow morning.

I do feel sorry for the folks onboard and also Captain Fred and his Officers and crew. None of them have had an easy time of it, I am sure.

[Esme]

:D :) There is an "ignore list" to place posters who just drive you crazy with their condescending manners. I use it & hope others place me in theirs if they so desire. It surely beats reading their mightier than thou attitudes.

Try it - you don't miss a thing & you will enjoy the boards again.

Q

Ignore List - One of the best features of this new board. :D

[LissaR]

Who told you this? Another rumour? The passengers have not even returned to the US yet, so I don't know where you heard this.

I heard this yesterday from a passenger on board. They emailed me. It is not a rumor.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Rotterdam is scheduled to dock at 8 AM on Thursday.

She is going through some rough weather today - thanks to Jeanne.

Hopefully in24 - 36 hours we will know exactly what happened to the engines, the passengers, etc.

[bookworm0911]

The Rotterdam is scheduled to dock at 8 AM on Thursday.

She is going through some rough weather today - thanks to Jeanne.

Hopefully in24 - 36 hours we will know exactly what happened to the engines, the passengers, etc.



We will hear some of the pax personal "stories", but I don't think we will know the technical details of what happened to the engines or any of the engineering or operational problems from HAL's point of view. It wouldn't be surprising if the ship was held back from making its next cruise on time until everything was thoroughly checked out and tested. Heaven forbid if something happened on the next cruise if the Rotterdam went right back out. :eek:

[sueclark]

Interesting story. I'm just getting caught up on the boards.

We were on a transatlantic sailing at this same time on Celebrity Constellation. The original itinerary was to sail north to Iceland, but on the second or third day the Captain announced that due to severe weather in the far north Atlantic we would be rerouted south to Vigo, Spain and then do a more southern crossing. Although we were disappointed at the change... it sounds like they certainly made the right decision!

[Roboat]

Hear, Hear, Ekerr - very well put. I, too, have felt the condescending nature of some posterss and therefore post very rarely because of this. Seems to me, whenever someone disagrees with a certain poster, they get flamed. Don't know if it's the way it is communicated - we can't see the person's expression which may change the way something is written. Back to lurking for me, as I am sure I will get flamed for this also. :(
Amen, Ekerr and Windycity. (WindyCity, I don't mean "Amen" for the part where you say you're going back to lurking - I mean "Amen" for the other part. :))

dave - sorry I nitpicked your post. :o

S7S - I am sure the HAL officers are highly competent. Sorry I singled out your post to include them in my speculation. :o

OK, I'm totally uncomfortable being serious. So I wanna know, when Kerry's swift boat was headed to the Abu Gharaib prison to bump up the price of health care, was his wardrobe malfunction actually caused by Rumsfeld seeking WMD, or was it just bad karma?

[Host Walt]

OK, class. Listen Up. (Always wanted to say that since Miss Page began saying that to our 5th grade class a few years ;) back.)

Here's your assignment.

Please take a few minutes and read through this thread, from top to bottom, and think about what the Cruise Critic message boards are intended to be and to accomplish.

The gentleman who posted the original post was clear and concise about a concern that he had. He described how he found this board in searching for more information about an incident involving the Rotterdam and its encounter with Hurricane Karl (yes, there was a hurricane between Jeanne and Lisa but it went straight up the Atlantic so there was little news about it).

Put yourselves in his shoes while you read this thread and ask yourself whether this is a forum you'd like to join.

Speculation and skepticism are fine and are normal human reactions. However unless you have additional facts or information you know to be credible and/or reliable, please resist the impulse to speculate or be skeptical when posting on the Cruise Critic, especially when the expressed concern is real.

Thanks for helping us make Cruise Critic a welcome destination for others as interested in cruising as we are.

[localady]

Thanks Walt for restoring a bit of sanity to this one!:eek:

Yes there was a terrible event out there in which the Rotterdam had no engine power and people were hurt. I am sure that as the stories come in from the crew and the pax that we will know more.
Some here apparently take any question or potential problem mentioned on the board as a "slam against HAL". This is not the case, many of us were just concerned with the situation.
Thanks to Lissa and OleProf for relaying what they have been told from those onboard. I do hope that some oversight agency looks into what would cause all 4 engines on the Rotterdam to quit out in the North sea, as it clearly is one of the most dangerous places to lose power. :cool:

[eliz1]

Just read the Toronto Star today where they mentioned the Rotterdam being diverted to Halifax and then lost power. They said for about 3 hours the ship was tossed about in the dark. Also, ambulances greeted the ship in Halifax after passengers and crew endured a harrowing encounter by Hurrican Karl in the North Atlantic. About a dozen passengers were taken to the hospital with suspected fractures and severe bruising.

Just have to praise the Captain for using his good judgement and expertise in avoiding futher harm to the passengers. Hope everyone recovers quickly and realize how lucky they were as it could have been a lot worse.

[Keith Rita]

Wow--this thread has gone from the adult stage to children fighting on the playground (by some)!http://ourworld.cs.com/KsmithCCI/eeeeeek.gifhttp://ourworld.cs.com/KsmithCCI/eeeeeek.gif
For those interested: http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2004/09/29/f303.raw.html

[Lovebirds]

We will hear some of the pax personal "stories", but I don't think we will know the technical details of what happened to the engines or any of the engineering or operational problems from HAL's point of view.
I think there is a maritime board of inquiry that investigates instances such as this. Even though the ship is foreign flagged, it has to meet certain safty standards to dock in a US port. Canada's maritime board will also likely be involved, based on a conversation I had with the ship's engineer on another cruise. It will be quite a while before any official information is made public.

Now this is SPECULATION on my part, but with a background in Diesel generation systems, and other information, I believe a likely scenario of what happened would be along these lines:

The ship encountered somewhat rough seas, but nothing really out of the ordinary. The roughness stirred up some sediment in the fuel tanks which was drawn into the fuel filters, causing decreased fuel flow. This would trigger alarms which would cause the crew to act to correct the situation. Since there are multiple engines, and the ship can operate safely with 50% of them disabled, it would be reasonable to shut them down, one at a time, to clean the filters. However, if, while servicing the first one, large quantities of sediment entered the remaining filter banks, the other engines could shut down automatically. Diesel engines that have stopped because of a lack of fuel are not the easiest to restart. It is very fortunate, and a credit to the crew, that they were able to get the engines up and running again.

I have seen systems where a prefiltered clean emergency fuel supply is kept in a reserve tank for such emergencies, but it's possible they had switched to that and were trying to outrun the storm, but it if it took longer than anticipated to get the main fuel system functioning, it might not have been enough.

That's my scenario, based on statements in the news and educated guesses. It will be interesting to see what the official inquiries find.

[Roboat]

Jerry and Wilda - I agree with your hypothesis, based on my limited experience with marine diesels.

Does anyone have any insight as to what, if any, fuel filtration occurs during refueling of a cruise ship? It seems logical that sediment may have been introduced to the fuel system, either at a recent refueling stop, or gradually over time. I would guess that the fuel doesn't stay around long enough to get bacterial sludge, and it's relatively simple to extract water.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Keith Rita

Thanks so much for posting the newspaper article.

I noticed that there was a passenger by the name of Ed Dunlap from PA who was interviewed. There is an Ed Dunlap who owns the LeMont restaurant here in Pittsburgh - wonder if it is the same person?? Just wondering!

[dakrewser]

Now this is SPECULATION on my part, but with a background in Diesel generation systems, and other information, I believe a likely scenario of what happened would be along these lines:

Seems plausible to me, but no one in a position to know has been interviewed as yet. Most likely to prevent lawyers from grasping an off-hand comment and running to the nearest court with it. According to the Halifax Herald story linked above:


Eric Elvejord, communications director for the cruise line, said from Seattle that a complete review of the loss of engine power and the encounter with the hurricane would be conducted.

He said the cruise line is awaiting crew and inspector reports. "The problem was the loss of propulsion, which we are investigating."


I'm sure Seattle knows the full story, but they'd like to have all their ducks in a row before telling it....

-dave

[tomc]

For the Lovebirds --

I never thought I'd ever run into someone with my mother's name. Amazing! And she was a HAL cruiser, too.

[Lovebirds]

For the Lovebirds --

I never thought I'd ever run into someone with my mother's name. Amazing! And she was a HAL cruiser, too.
Last edited by tomc : Today at 03:10 PM. Reason: ...Any chance you're also an only child? Well, yes, as a matter of fact, except for an older sister and a younger brother:D

[HeatherInFlorida]

Reading this entire thread, and the articles linked, I just have to say that even 3 1/2 hours in the pitch black being "tossed" by the mighty ocean with pianos and heaven knows what flying around me would probably cure my passion for cruising forever.

I can't even imagine it. And I do have to wonder why the Rotterdam decided to go into the dangerous seas while the Celebrity ship sailed south of the problem area. I believe that if I were on this ship, I would want the answer to that.

[dorothyl]

We were on the Dawn last week and were up close and personal with Hurricane Jeanne between Naussau and NYC.I thought we had it bad, but it was noting compared to this story.

We had 32-27 ft waves last Friday.Most of the passengers were sick and in thier rooms,including my husband who was out cold from the meds.I was just terrified.I explain it like being a box of smarties being shaken back and forth.

The ship was definatley rocking.We were in a minisuite on 11 and our balcony railing was coated with sea salt.Our drawers would not stay closed, and a water bottle fell off our coffee table.I did not sleep until Saturday when we reached ideal sailing weather.

I can honestly imagine the terror of those passengers and they had it much worse than we did.I would absolutley want to know what happened.I was never so happy to step on land in NYC.I hope everyone is ok.

[Haligonian]

Wednesday, September 29, 2004 The Halifax Herald Limited

...
Tim Krochak / Staff
Bruised cruise ship passenger Rita D'Alessio and her husband, Augie, speak with a reporter after arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax aboard the MS Rotterdam on Tuesday. The Florida woman suffered injured ribs and facial contusions as the ship sailed into the path of hurricane Karl and was rocked by 20-metre waves off Newfoundland last Friday.
Roughed up on high seas
Passengers bruised, battered as cruise ship sails into hurricane
By BILL POWER / Staff Reporter
Ambulances greeted a luxury cruise ship in Halifax on Tuesday after passengers and crew endured a harrowing encounter with monster waves generated by hurricane Karl in the North Atlantic.
About a dozen passengers were taken to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre with suspected fractures and severe bruising after MS Rotterdam arrived at Pier 21 early in the day.
One passenger suffered a broken collarbone.
"It was the ultimate water ride," said passenger Sara Songy, as she and husband Mel, from Pennsylvania, recounted the Friday evening run-in with massive waves and wind in a powerless ship.
"We assume it's because we lost power that we could not get out of the path of the oncoming hurricane," Mr. Songy said.
The cruise ship was returning to New York from Greece, via London, when it hit rough water about 900 kilometres east of St. John's, Nfld., which was a scheduled stopover.
The ship was diverted to Halifax.
Various passengers described the increasing severity of the storm and brutal wave action, and the ship's eventual loss of power and control.
"The entire ship was just bouncing around out there. It was unforgettable," said passenger Augie D'Alessio of Florida, who was wheeling his injured wife Rita back to the ship in a wheelchair.
"We will remember this for the rest of our lives."
Mrs. D'Alessio, tossed from her bed in the storm, was hospitalized in Halifax with severe bruising.
She and some other injured passengers returned to the ship to complete the trip to New York.
"It was total darkness," Mrs. D'Alessio said. "It was terrifying."
Her bruise-covered face was evidence of the severity of the storm the ship encountered.
For about 3 1/2 hours, the 233-metre ship - which can carry about 1,300 passengers and 590 crew members - was tossed about unmercifully in the darkness.
Three baby grand pianos, several pieces of furniture and hundreds of glasses and bottles were flung about in the storm-tossed ship before power was restored.
Many passengers were instructed to stay on the floor of several public lounges on the ship.
Others were told to stay in their cabins.
"Windows on the port side were right under the water," said passenger Ed Dunlap, who lives in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Dunlap said there was a general lack of preparedness on the ship as rough waters were approached.
"You see a big grand piano go sliding by . . . you wonder why it was not strapped down."
He said it was frightening when a large lounge at the back of the vessel was evacuated out of fear that water would smash through its massive display windows.
Passenger Florin Vlasache and wife Camelia, from San Francisco, said "it was a pretty sad mess," but they and other passengers indicated they were comfortable getting back on board the ship to complete their trip.
The vessel is owned by Holland America Line.
Engineers with Holland America inspected the ship at Pier 21 in Halifax and cleared it to depart for New York.
Eric Elvejord, communications director for the cruise line, said from Seattle that a complete review of the loss of engine power and the encounter with the hurricane would be conducted.
He said the cruise line is awaiting crew and inspector reports.
"The ship went south to miss the hurricane. Being there (in the storm waters) was not out of the ordinary," he said.
"We know there were some injuries and damaged furniture but no damage to the structure of the ship," he said.
"The problem was the loss of propulsion, which we are investigating."
Peter Bowyer, at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth, said ocean conditions were turbulent Friday when the ship was headed toward Newfoundland.
"I'm wondering what that ship was even doing in that area in the first place," he said.
Hurricane Karl passed about 970 kilometres east of St. John's on Friday afternoon, generating waves "most definitely in the monster category," the hurricane expert said.
Wave heights in the region at that time were averaging about 20 metres.
"Remember, this is an average," Mr. Bowyer said. "Many of the waves would have been much, much bigger than that."
He noted that Karl was the seventh major hurricane this season and was being closely monitored by both the Canadian Hurricane Centre and the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.
The hurricane was rated a Category 1 storm by the time it arrived in the North Atlantic, but wave action is more of a hazard than wind in this region, Mr. Bowyer explained.
"There would have been a lot of pitching and rolling and twisting of the ship."
Mr. Bowyer said modern navigational technology and hurricane tracking systems are designed to prevent exactly the sort of ocean trauma the Rotterdam experienced.
"This situation could have been much worse," he said.

[CanSail]

Peter Bowyer, at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth, said ocean conditions were turbulent Friday when the ship was headed toward Newfoundland.
"I'm wondering what that ship was even doing in that area in the first place," he said.

Mr. Bowyer said modern navigational technology and hurricane tracking systems are designed to prevent exactly the sort of ocean trauma the Rotterdam experienced.



I think the above statements say it all.

[brigittetom]

Thank you for all of the interesting posts. I do have a question. Since when are the staff walking around in life vests in a dangerous situation when the passengers don't have theirs? I understand the theory that the staff needs to be safe in order to help the passengers but how in the world is it helpful to have nervous looking staff in life vests walking amoung the passengers?

If I were hanging on to a pole for dear life and I see a crew member in a life vest I would be scared to death, but later would loudly complain. And yes, I would be very greatful that I'm safe but I would still complain. :rolleyes:

[starsjohn]

The Pacific Princess shut down its generators and engines during our trans-Pacific trip and we sat adrift for up to 6 hours while they changed fuel filters and certified a clean source of fuel. We had to eat up gallons of ice cream that would soon melt. We were running on near empty as we were to refuel in Guam in another couple of days. Probably getting the crud at the bottom of the tanks.

We were in calm seas but with a typhoon heading our direction. The leading edge of the typhoon caught us at our stop in Okinawa and drenched us good. We made it to Osaka, Japan and the typhoon burnt itself out there the next couple of days. We never did get the big seas.

Talking to the captain, not being under way in a big sea would have been extremely dangerous for this smaller passenger ship, and there was even the possibility for the ship to capsize if hit by over 80 foot seas while lying broadside to the seas.

As far as the crew wearing their PFD's. We are required to wear them at all times in the Coast Guard Aux. even while floating in a calm harbor. If I had been on any ship that was in a difficult situation, I would have donned my PFD and had family members do the same thing. The crew needs to have theirs on so they can help passengers as needed without having to run and fetch theirs if things really get bad.

John

[brigittetom]

The crew needs to have theirs on so they can help passengers as needed without having to run and fetch theirs if things really get bad.

John
I thought I had that part covered in my post but yes, that makes sense. Thank you.

[tomc]

"...This is your co-pilot speaking. As you can tell, the turbulence is pretty bad right now, perhaps the worst you have experienced. Please don't be alarmed because the flight deck crew, plus the cabin attendants, are all wearing parachutes. This is just a precautionary measure. Inside your seatbacks, you will find prayer cards for all the major religions..."

[brigittetom]

Well, that's how I saw it but I'm just a coward. :D Having a few crew members walking around in a life vest with a scared look on their face is not going to do it for me. This actually was a very serious. On the other hand, we don't have all the facts so I guess this is just an open forum.

[Roboat]

We had to eat up gallons of ice cream that would soon melt.

So who do we sue if we are forced to eat ice cream for 6 hours? ;)

John, seriously, thank you for the excellent and informative post. Glad the seas were calm.

[starsjohn]

I know my physical trainer was really mad at me after hearing about how much ice cream I had consumed in one sitting. Maybe I should sue the ice cream fairy.

John

[merryecho]

bridgit- I'm with you. Maybe I watched Titanic one too many times, but I would not only have my loved ones in life jackets, we would be on an upper deck, not trapped in our cabins. Regardless of the true cause of this event, just reading about the experience is enough to convince me to never try an Atlantic repositioning cruise.

[brigittetom]

Merry, We are both going to get chastised for our comments. I was on a transatlantic cruise on the QE2. We had six days of total fog. Never saw the water until the last day. We had a medivac and were diverted to Halifax. The fog was so bad that the helicopter had problems.

Picture being on the Rotterdam in the lounge. How would you get back to your cabin to get the lifejackets if there is no light? I had a hard time manuvering my way downstairs in my own house last night when we lost power. There is not a chance that you would ever find your cabin to get the life vests. That's pretty much my complaint. I don't want to see nervous crew members in life jackets while I have no where to go.

On the bright side, we have taken many cruises and they have all been wonderful, including our last cruise where I landed face first into the carpet because of bad seas. Not a big problem. Just spent hours with ice on my face while my husband cleaned up the blood on the carpet.

Merry, My choice would be a calm cruise. :D

[garydm]

Will this forever be known as the "Cruise from HAL"?

Gary

[bluseas]

Living in Nova Scotia I am used to ships and the constant possibility of disasters at sea. Those compulsory lifeboat drills are not a "photo op" light hearted moment but a serious exercise. I always judge the ship and the line by how that first drill is conducted. Having been on board RV Sun when she crashed into a coral reef in the Gulf of Aqaba I experienced first hand a horrible cruising event - and have total sympathy with the Rotterdam passengers. Also because of how professional and wonderful the crew, officers and captain handled the situation is the lasting cruise memory. I've taken a dozen cruises since! What surprises me is that passengers were asked to sit on the floor for 3 hours without being given lifevests.

Hi Bridgittom - I remember you from the Zenith last January.

[tomc]

Loved to have seen the comment cards.

[Himself]

You have a great sense of humor.

Himself

[Pudgesmom]

"For about 3 1/2 hours, the 233-metre ship - which can carry about 1,300 passengers and 590 crew members - was tossed about unmercifully in the darkness. "



I, for one, will be packing a flashlight in my luggage from now on!
Beth

[RuthC]

The Rotterdam was anchored off Newport R.I. today---exactly where she was supposed to be. Looks like whatever repairs are needed can be (were?) done on board.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Pudgesmom

Carry a flash light sounds great - BUT - are you going to carry it with all day and night all over the ship???

Many people were in the lounges and elsewhere when this incident happened.

[Quendryth]

My husband who happens to be a Navy man also said that the crew had on their lifevests in the event they had to go out on deck during the heavy seas. That is very understandable under the circumstances. He states also however, someone is in deep do do! Ultimately the Captain who has the final say in where that ship sails to and so on. Who was the Captain or did I miss that somewhere earlier. We were on the Rotterdam 2 years ago & it was Captain Bos who would never had let this happen.

I hope the passengers take this all the way to the top. No excuse for them to be sailing where they were under those conditions.

Q :eek:

[Pudgesmom]

Krazy Kruisers-

Good point. Still, I'll keep it in the cabin for use in dark halls at night, as well as counting the doors to an exit, just like at a hotel.

Beth

[localady]

The Rotterdam was anchored off Newport R.I. today---exactly where she was supposed to be. Looks like whatever repairs are needed can be (were?) done on board.
RuthC- Thanks so much for the heads up! I have watched this story with a bit of concern, as we sail the Rotterdam in 2 months. Good to know that the damage sustained was not such that she was unable to continue her schedule as planned. It was also good to see that there was a article in CC news that explained what the situation was that caused the loss of power. I am sure precautions will be taken so has to not have the incident recur on any vessel.

Thanks for letting us know you are keeping an eye on her.:) :cool:

[Cruiseoften]

RuthC- Thanks so much for the heads up! ....... It was also good to see that there was a article in CC news that explained what the situation was that caused the loss of power.

Guess I missed that article - where can I read it? Didn't think anything had been established as to the whywheres and whyfors.

[JohnQ]

Still seems strange to me that the news section of this board and another major board had nothing on this until today when the first stories were appearing on this site on Sep 28 in the am?? I would have expected to see it on there the same day and on the evening news that night. I also saw nothing on HAL's website. I also can't believe that everyone who cruises does not carry a small flashlight or two in their stuff. We always have one on the night stand and another in my camera bag. Now, if I was at dinner or whatever, that wouldn't have helped me get back to cabin!!! But I sure could have gotten to somewhere else on the ship if I were in my cabin, if I could walk.

[localady]

Guess I missed that article - where can I read it? Didn't think anything had been established as to the whywheres and whyfors.
Front page of Cruisecritic.com!:)

[seaventurer]

The following link is an accident report from a somewhat similar incident concerning the Oriana and her mishap (2000) in heavy seas during a hurricane...

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_maritimesafety/documents/page/dft_masafety_507699.pdf

I also have a story regarding the Mercury which lost a propeller in 60 foot seas crossing Cape Horn. The ship had to drag her anchors, as she drifted, which aids in the ship's stability. Passengers were asked to lay on the floors of the public rooms wearing life vests. I also heard the Captain had a mild heart attack. Of course, the passengers and ship survived.

Sailing through several hurricanes myself I can tell you that while it does not affect me (in fact I am one of those who gets a real thrill from heavy seas), it can have significant affects to the ship (mostly cosmetic). 60 foot seas are BIG - imagine a 6-7 story building...and actually, the combined swell and wave effect could have generated higher peaks and valley's (say 80 footers). The Rotterdam is world class and was designed to weather large seas but if the event turned out to be 12 hours or more, we may be reading a different story. I pray for those who were injured and of course, thank the lord that all, including the ship, are safe.

[merryecho]

Weathering 60 feet seas while under power (even partial power) is an entirely different kettle of fish than the same seas with no power. On other ships I have sailed on, there are emergency exit lights embedded in the floor-small light strips- like on an airplane. Apparently HAL has not installed these?

[dakrewser]

Still seems strange to me that the news section of this board and another major board had nothing on this until today when the first stories were appearing on this site on Sep 28 in the am?? .
Well, there weren't any reporters on the ship evidently. But the Canadian press had stories on the 28th and 29th. Nothing picked up by the US wire services it seems....

[superstein61]

I objected to the sensational, unverified report - and I still do.
-dave
yea - you would, wouldn't you.

The initial report from OleProf was substantially correct and you and a host of others bashed him for no good reason.

[superstein61]

Thanks Walt for restoring a bit of sanity to this one!:eek:

Yes there was a terrible event out there in which the Rotterdam had no engine power and people were hurt. I am sure that as the stories come in from the crew and the pax that we will know more.
Some here apparently take any question or potential problem mentioned on the board as a "slam against HAL". This is not the case, many of us were just concerned with the situation.
Thanks to Lissa and OleProf for relaying what they have been told from those onboard. I do hope that some oversight agency looks into what would cause all 4 engines on the Rotterdam to quit out in the North sea, as it clearly is one of the most dangerous places to lose power. :cool:
Agreed locallady, agreed. unfortunately there are some on this board who raise holy heck when they feel their beloved HAL is being slammed.

[superstein61]

Originally Posted by Haligonian

Peter Bowyer, at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth, said ocean conditions were turbulent Friday when the ship was headed toward Newfoundland.
"I'm wondering what that ship was even doing in that area in the first place," he said.

Mr. Bowyer said modern navigational technology and hurricane tracking systems are designed to prevent exactly the sort of ocean trauma the Rotterdam experienced.


I think the above statements say it all.
Agreed - seems someone screwed up bigtime. no wonder HAL is so anxious to get people to sign a release waiving liability

[Roboat]

Front page of Cruisecritic.com!:)Curiouser and curiouser. They shut down the engines just as dinner was being served, knowing that the stabilizers would be ineffective. Hope you like that martini shaken!

But not as curious as the name of the ship reviewed on the front page of CruiseCritic.com. I thought it must be a parody but Costa, in a delightful disregard for political correctness, has named its large European-based ship "Costa Fortuna."

Ya gotta love it. Them Italians crack-a me up.:cool:
I know - i married one.

[HeatherInFlorida]

But not as curious as the name of the ship reviewed on the front page of CruiseCritic.com. I thought it must be a parody but Costa, in a delightful disregard for political correctness, has named its large European-based ship "Costa Fortuna."

Ya gotta love it. Them Italians crack-a me up.:cool:
I know - i married one.
Roboat, I could not believe this!!! Thought you were making another one of your many "funnies", so went to the front page of Cruise Critic and there is was!!! That is unbelievable. Do you think they even realize what they're saying???? I'm hysterical!!!:D

[localady]

Weathering 60 feet seas while under power (even partial power) is an entirely different kettle of fish than the same seas with no power. On other ships I have sailed on, there are emergency exit lights embedded in the floor-small light strips- like on an airplane. Apparently HAL has not installed these?Actually I believe HAL does have emergency ground lights to lead one to the exits during a loss of power, if my memory is correct. Recall seeing them on all the HAL ships we have cruised.:cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL does have those small emergency lights in the hallways and stairwells. They are even around some doorways.

When we were on the Rotterdam in April 2003, the emergency lights around one of the storage area doors on the Lido deck short circuted and caused a small fire.

[Cruiseoften]

Front page of Cruisecritic.com! :)

Tks :) - makes great sense - I usually log in via the short cut. :D

[zackiedawg]

Hello all...didn't mean to disappear for a while. I had to pick up my parents at the airport on Thursday, and then spent my weekend visiting with them talking about the cruise and looking at their pictures.

I have more information, but it seems like many of the updates posted here have been accurate, so I don't really have any groundbreaking or new info.

They saved the daily letters which were issued each day after the incident, where the captain wanted to explain the situation and calm the passengers. Not much was revealed in the first letter, which mentions minor injuries and cosmetic damage but ensuring that the ship was fine. The second letter I believe mentioned diverting to Halifax and mentions that an investigation would begin. They encouraged any and all injuries, even minor, to report to the infirmary. The third report mentioned the possibility that sediment from the oil reserves may have been stirred up when the waves stirred the tanks. They mentioned the normal filtering process was sufficient in most cases, but under extreme circumstances may have caused sediment to clog the lines and kill the power. They said they were running the filters 24 hours for the remainder of the cruise to ensure safety.

Finally, the last letter confirms what was mentioned previously...all passengers were offered 50% off that cruise (only the London to NY leg, as many passengers were onboard from Athens). Of course, waivers had to be signed to accept the offer to not be involved in any future claims.

They have some pictures which I would be happy to post...I've not yet posted pictures here so maybe someone could mention the format required...I can upload them to a picture-hosting site and grab the URLs, but am not sure how to attach them to the thread to make them viewable.

[RuthC]

Thank you, zackiedawg, for the update. I hope all is well with your parents; I would love to see their pictures if you can find a way.

Would you be able to identify specific damage to the interior of the ship (eg. broken doors, etc.)?

[zackiedawg]

There are a few shots that are pretty obvious as far as damage...but by everything I can see and from reports I've heard there was no structural damage.

They've got pics of an upside-down piano, broken glass doors, shelves, emptied store shelves, bars emptied to the floor, and casino tables and chairs tossed over. They only took a handful of pics, as they probably weren't in the mood to sight see!

I'll work on uploading the pics and see if I can post them.

[dakrewser]

I'll work on uploading the pics and see if I can post them.
Thanks!

-dave

[gizmo]

Zackie,

Thanks for the update. I will be looking for those pictures.

[oskidunker]

Thanks to all

[Cruiseoften]

zackiedawg I too look forward to seeing some pictures. Please be sure to tell us where they are.

[zackiedawg]

OK...I finally got the pics uploaded. I will start another thread with the picture links.