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Costa Concordia - I survived

mickey_d_mouse

By mickey_d_mouse,
in Costa Cruises

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Australian family

Australian family

Posted
Posted

Thank you Michelle for sharing your story. One can not imagine the fear that you and your daughter went through and the other passengers.

 

The management of Costa and Carnival need to hang their heads in shame, what a disgrace. Do Costa think it is okay to dump you at a hotel and forget about you? Thank goodness the Australian embassy has helped you out.

 

Wishing you and your daughter a very safe trip home to Australia.

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gnocchi_mommy

gnocchi_mommy

Posted
Posted

So glad you made it out alive I actually went to the roll call today to see if any members here were on board and when I saw a mother with her 12 yr old daughter was sailing my heart beat a little faster and wondered how you fared.

 

I can't believe they handled this so atrociously. I cant believe that huge beautiful ship sank, it feels like we are immune to this ind of reality in this day and age but this is a sobering reminder life changes on a dime.

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GrumpyOldWesty

GrumpyOldWesty

Posted
Posted

Michelle

 

Thanks for sharing with us your experience. We are so pleased to know that you are both safe.

 

Please continue to post your individual experience as this story continues to unfold, there are many, many people around the world who do want to hear what happens to all who were on the ship.

 

Can we wish you a safe journey home, and also offer a thanks to all those that have helped you so far, and those that continue to do so.

 

God bless

 

Peter

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vanki4

vanki4

Posted
Posted
Sitting here in the Hilton Garden Inn, Rome Airport waiting for passports and a flight home. We have nothing just the clothes on our back, ( evening wear with a hurried coat thrown over the back, my 12 year old is dressed in a short halter neck dress with a windcheater and the temps here are very cold but we have been given nothing else by Costa our embassy have given us cash and are taking us shopping for essentials. Costa have put us up in this hotel but told us nothign and given us no further help than that. They left the hotel yesterday afternoon abandoning us here alone dazed bruised and confused.

 

After the ship Hit it listed people rang and panicked we were told to go to our rooms, glad ours was the 6th deck and not below. The announcements were that we had electrical porblems everything was under control, the english was announced by our international host. We were told this twice. and then by the staff numerous times, I think they believed it as well. We could not go into our cabin as our welcome spumante and glasses was shattered all over the floor and there were no lights, we could see the island was close from the balcony window so did not panic thinking everything would be okay. Cabin staff told us not to get our life jackets it was not neccesary we sat on stools and the floor joking with them, this went on for what seemed like an hour, the boat struck just after 9pm I think. Then a message came over the speakers all of the staff left immediately.

 

We were left alone as the abandon ship sirens screamed, we grabbed a coat and shoes in place of high heels our life vests, put them on and headed for the lifeboats. We stood on the deck for ages before the cabin staff told us to enter the lifeboats. We got into the boats we had a waiter in the drivers seat and some boys in white overalls, the lifeboat filled to capacity and they shut the door, people screamed the door was purshed open and people continued to enter the boat overflowing it the waiter in the drivers seat trying repatedly to get an answer form the bridge to drop the lifeboat. I dont believe that message ever came eventually an Indian engineer came who said he should be the driver the gate was sealed and they started to drop the boat, it was horryfying the boat was too heavy it lurched all of as standing were thrown to the floor the boat stuck on the side of the ship with men desperatly trying to lever it off the side of the boat.

 

Eneutally we got to the sea the waiter was too short to see out the top of the boat to steer they circled around the boat for ages and ages, eventually the engineer steered with the waiter on his shoulders we just kept circling with the shore so close and all those people still on the boat and we kept circling. Lifeboats crashed into each other they were empty but they were not going back to the boat they had no orders no instructions. Eventually we tried to dock but crashed into the wharf circled a bit more and docked.

 

We got of the ship dazed and confused trying to find a toilet for my 12 year old, a shopkeeper let people use his a long line for one toilet. The locals on the island gave us everything they had souvenier tshirts tops blankets. We were herded to the school, some to the church, here we sat on cold floors on our life vests this was about midnight when we got there. No one spoke English everyone was talking and we had no idea where we were or what was happening the staff were the waiters etc and no time did we see an officer. I saw the International english speaking host and asked him what was happening he said he had no idea and was as dazed and confused as me, I told him where we were and to come back and tell us, he never came back, from time to time we ventured out of the school to look and see what was happening as the ship submerged on its side where our cabin was. Eventually a lady in a shop or meeting place of some kind spoke english, she told me there was a queue for the ferry to the mainland. We joined the queue, and gave our names ( the first time) and got on the next ferry.

 

1 hour later we arrived on the mainland, we were given warmer blankets and pushed towards a tent we went through and had our names taken again we were then pushed through to a bus and taken to a school and told to stand in a corner for the port where we embarked, there were not enough chairs. We sat there for three or four hours we were then called to a bus, but when we got there we were told this bus was only for people who had cars at Civitivecchia, we had to wait for the airport bus.

 

We were then bussed to the Hilton Garden Inn and given a room, we were still told nothing given nothing by Costa, constantly I asked them and was always told to wait while they spoke to people in more common languages, Costa have done nothing but give us the room.

 

Glad to know You and Your child are safe, ,having in mind the circumstances .

 

We could be in same situation....We booked the next cruise from

21-Jan-12......

From the Info shared I am scared. Never mind I have more than 20 years at Sea ( the last 11 as a Chief Engineer) on board any kind of vessels except the passenger ones . As a passenger it should be my first trip.......

 

 

with respect

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musicorn

musicorn

Posted
Posted

Michelle and her Daughter

 

I hope by the time you read this you are home safe and sound.

 

I also hope that you can put this horrible experience behind you and it has not put you off cruising. Remember to take the time to feel your emotions and grieve this experience because things may not hit you until you get home.

 

I have spent a great deal of my week-end watching the happenings of this ship and can not even begin to imagine what it was like for you. My thoughts are with you both.

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pully8

pully8

Posted
Posted

michelle, thank you for your 1st hand, eye witness account.

 

hopefully you will soon be home and safe.

 

the shock/trauma may set in later. hope you get plenty of support.

 

thank goodness you and your child are off the cruise and safe.

 

thanks again for your account.

 

not doubt many will contact you and give some good help and support.

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Aussie Gal

Aussie Gal

Posted
Posted
.

 

We could be in same situation....We booked the next cruise from

21-Jan-12......

From the Info shared I am scared. Never mind I have more than 20 years at Sea ( the last 11 as a Chief Engineer) on board any kind of vessels except the passenger ones . As a passenger it should be my first trip.......

 

 

with respect

 

Are you booked on the same ship as I very much doubt that will be cruising in a long time?

 

Jennie

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Ella2

Ella2

Posted
Posted

Michelle (also my name), thank you for sharing your story of your ordeal with you and your daughter. I'm sure it was frightening beyond belief and I am so happy that you both are safe. Please take good care of yourself and your daughter and I hope in the days to come that you are able to recover from this horrible experience. All the best to you both.

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Debsta

Debsta

Posted
Posted

Dear Michelle

 

As a regular Cruise Critic forum member here I am soooooooooo pleased to read this and hear you, John and Katherine made it to shore. When I looked at the roll call for your cruise after this happened yesterday.....you can't help to think.....where are they?

 

You wrote some words on this forum on Jun 6 2011 regarding your trip that make your story more chilling.

 

Stay safe.

 

Deb

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Cuizer2

Cuizer2

Posted
Posted
Sitting here in the Hilton Garden Inn, Rome Airport waiting for passports and a flight home. We have nothing just the clothes on our back, ( evening wear with a hurried coat thrown over the back, my 12 year old is dressed in a short halter neck dress with a windcheater and the temps here are very cold but we have been given nothing else by Costa our embassy have given us cash and are taking us shopping for essentials. Costa have put us up in this hotel but told us nothign and given us no further help than that. They left the hotel yesterday afternoon abandoning us here alone dazed bruised and confused.

 

After the ship Hit it listed people rang and panicked we were told to go to our rooms, glad ours was the 6th deck and not below. The announcements were that we had electrical porblems everything was under control, the english was announced by our international host. We were told this twice. and then by the staff numerous times, I think they believed it as well. We could not go into our cabin as our welcome spumante and glasses was shattered all over the floor and there were no lights, we could see the island was close from the balcony window so did not panic thinking everything would be okay. Cabin staff told us not to get our life jackets it was not neccesary we sat on stools and the floor joking with them, this went on for what seemed like an hour, the boat struck just after 9pm I think. Then a message came over the speakers all of the staff left immediately.

 

We were left alone as the abandon ship sirens screamed, we grabbed a coat and shoes in place of high heels our life vests, put them on and headed for the lifeboats. We stood on the deck for ages before the cabin staff told us to enter the lifeboats. We got into the boats we had a waiter in the drivers seat and some boys in white overalls, the lifeboat filled to capacity and they shut the door, people screamed the door was purshed open and people continued to enter the boat overflowing it the waiter in the drivers seat trying repatedly to get an answer form the bridge to drop the lifeboat. I dont believe that message ever came eventually an Indian engineer came who said he should be the driver the gate was sealed and they started to drop the boat, it was horryfying the boat was too heavy it lurched all of as standing were thrown to the floor the boat stuck on the side of the ship with men desperatly trying to lever it off the side of the boat.

 

Eneutally we got to the sea the waiter was too short to see out the top of the boat to steer they circled around the boat for ages and ages, eventually the engineer steered with the waiter on his shoulders we just kept circling with the shore so close and all those people still on the boat and we kept circling. Lifeboats crashed into each other they were empty but they were not going back to the boat they had no orders no instructions. Eventually we tried to dock but crashed into the wharf circled a bit more and docked.

 

We got of the ship dazed and confused trying to find a toilet for my 12 year old, a shopkeeper let people use his a long line for one toilet. The locals on the island gave us everything they had souvenier tshirts tops blankets. We were herded to the school, some to the church, here we sat on cold floors on our life vests this was about midnight when we got there. No one spoke English everyone was talking and we had no idea where we were or what was happening the staff were the waiters etc and no time did we see an officer. I saw the International english speaking host and asked him what was happening he said he had no idea and was as dazed and confused as me, I told him where we were and to come back and tell us, he never came back, from time to time we ventured out of the school to look and see what was happening as the ship submerged on its side where our cabin was. Eventually a lady in a shop or meeting place of some kind spoke english, she told me there was a queue for the ferry to the mainland. We joined the queue, and gave our names ( the first time) and got on the next ferry.

 

1 hour later we arrived on the mainland, we were given warmer blankets and pushed towards a tent we went through and had our names taken again we were then pushed through to a bus and taken to a school and told to stand in a corner for the port where we embarked, there were not enough chairs. We sat there for three or four hours we were then called to a bus, but when we got there we were told this bus was only for people who had cars at Civitivecchia, we had to wait for the airport bus.

 

We were then bussed to the Hilton Garden Inn and given a room, we were still told nothing given nothing by Costa, constantly I asked them and was always told to wait while they spoke to people in more common languages, Costa have done nothing but give us the room.

 

Wow! Glad you and your family are alright.

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Pobman

Pobman

Posted
Posted

One thing that has changed compared to disasters of old is every person now has a global voice via social media, forums etc. while in the past Costa could have snubbed you like this and nobody would know those days are long gone.

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Almost Packed

Almost Packed

Posted
Posted

I'm so thankful you and your daughter are safe.

 

I'm so sorry this happened to you and everyone else onboard.

 

I hope you are now home safe and snug in your own bed, and if not, shortly you will be.

 

know that you have fellow CC friends on these boards thinking of you and everyone else involved. I'm glad you are safe.

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