Man or Deck Chair Overboard? Princess Cruise Ship Investigates

[PRINCESS ELITE]

In November, 2006, we were on the GP on the trans-Atlantic to Ft Lauderdale/Galveston. A day after we had left the Azores, we were

enjoying the warm, beautiful afternoon -had just gone back to our minisuite on Dolphin, port side, for a nap when we heard announcement for everyone to return immediately to their cabin. Those on Lido and above, resisted the command - until it was pointed out that there was an orange lifeboat floating behind the rapidly forward moving ship. Life rings were thrown overboard along with flares. Crew were ordered to report to their stations, etc. After the crew was accounted for, stewards were instructed to go cabin by cabin and visually count all occupants. Meanwhile the ship was slowing down and turning around --which was like stopping a freight train. Crews were dispatched to go back to the lifeboat and check surrounding waters. Initially, there were several reports that someone also went overboard along with the canister lifeboat, but it was determined that all passengers were present. The crew snared the lifeboat and brought it back to the ship (to be turned over to the Coast Guard, even though this was in the middle of the Atlantic). It was never revealed to the pax how the canister lifeboat which was up above the promenade deck was released (would have taken several straps, etc. to release it). Rumors were that possibly some disgruntled crew member did it but ??? The whole process took about 3 hours; Princess was very thorough (we were impressed) in seeing that all pax were safe and accounted for. Definitely more exciting than Bingo games that afternoon since we had a ringside view. All this practice served the GP crew well -- several months later, out of Galveston (or coming back), some man went overboard (drunk) and the crew, now being experienced, rescued him.

[micro yaya]

our ship was about 2 hours out of ft lauderdale, when we stopped, two fisherman were spotted in the water, their motor cut off and they had been floting for hours. hal sent their sailors out to stay with them until the coast gard came. when our sailors came back they had a tip(fish) the fishermen gave some fish to the crew to thank them... it was a great experience to see the hal sailors in action