JUST OFF GEM--The Rescue Ship!!

[donnar]

Had a great time on the Gem. She is a great ship. We had gotten a distress call and had to go back 2 hrs to go an rescue 5 passengers on a sailboat!! It was interesting to watch and experience.

This trip had 2 nights where the waves were just awful. Bermuda was great--not too hot.

We were in the DOS--would not get it again (not that I would be able to afford it--we happened to get a great upgrade). The 2 room villa is the way to go.

If you have any questions please ask--while it is still fresh in my mind!!:eek:

[Laszlo]

Did you see them pick the guys up? I wonder if they were patted down etc... before they were let on board?

[ColinIllinois]

I'm glad Skipper and Gilligan got rescued finally.

[camz]

It was good to read that the Gem performed a rescue this week. Especially, in light of the fact, that the last ship that left Bermuda in the NCL Fleet, the Dawn, had two deceased passengers. Very sad! Not that it was in any way the Dawn or NCL's fault, it was still sad news spotlighted on NCL.

[wafflesniffer]

What are the rescue logistics? Do they drop a lifeboat a few hundred yards away and go pick up the stranded people? Do they get back on board the same way you would on a cruise ship tender? How calm or rough were the seas during the rescue? Were the people hanging onto their vessel that went down, or floating about aimlessly?

 

I can imagine it would be very intimidating to have a cruise ship come anywhere near you when you're floating around in the ocean, especially under rough conditions.

[wafflesniffer]

One more question - how did the rescue affect your itenerary?

[yhdmommy]

Very nice. 10 years ago on our honeymoon - we received a call from the Coast Guard and had to go pick up a raft of Cubans trying to make it to the US. It was interesting to watch them drop the lifeboat to get them - right alongside and then use a crane to lift the raft.

[Turtles06]

There is a separate thread devoted to the rescue here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1509340

[ZoneHPH]

again...glad the 5 sailors are safe.

 

but i want to know how long are the jumper cables that they used from the Gem to the sailboat. :D

[spacewoman]

My DH wants to know if they had to provide a credit card for their rescue, on board charges, drinks, etc:D:D

 

On the serious side, they are VERY lucky to have been rescued. Way to go NCL