Death on the Breeze.

[sandyh85]

John healds recently said that Bright Star wasn't only for a death, didn't he?

 

I would think a call over the speakers would bring people in a hurry, something not necessarily important for a death but infinitely important for an injury or heart attack.

 

 

 

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[Lizzrd4483]

Bright star is for "medical emergency". When they called it twice within about 3 mins we knew it probably was not good!

[Topo Gigio]

I don't think brighstar is for death, but for a serious medical emergency. It's the doctor that in the end has to declare the person as death!so when calling him/her at that point they don't know yet if the person is still alive or not even if he is not moving.

[mcwebber]

What happens if another passenger die?

 

By then enough food will be gone that there will be room in the freezer.

[kcwingwalker]

Having a loved one die onboard is not always as difficult for the family as you might think. I have experience with this one.

 

The medical emergency was handled quickly and professionally, but it was simply too late. I was given the opportunity to chose resuscitation and air lift to the nearest medical facility. Because my husband was terminally ill (he did have medical clearance for travel), the unexpected heart attack was in it's way a blessing. My husband had stated a few days prior to this that he would never go to a hospital again. I declined resuscitation.

 

The crew of the NCL Spirit was amazing. No passengers were aware of what had happened. My children and I had several days together to bond and grieve in an atmosphere that did everything possible to smooth the way for us. Whatever we needed was immediately available and at no charge.

 

NCL handled everything for us. A senior staff member and security was with me when I was interviewed by the police and city coroner (that's routine) when we docked. The interview was brief and I was treated with kindness and respect.

 

We were the first to disembark and our luggage was ready for pick up. Again a staff member stayed with us until we were ready to drive home.

 

 

Having four days together gave us the time we needed before we faced all that was ahead of us and it became a special time. Every worry or concern there was always someone to help.

 

The last full day my children and I went out to the uncrowded fantail with Ceasar salad, crusty bread and cheese and lots of fresh fruit. We ordered some good wine and had our own private wake. Yes, some tears and then lots of great "do you remember" and then the laughter. And, that's when we began to heal and gain the strength to go on with our lives.

 

It's not an experience I would ever wish to repeat, but I cannot begin to convey how much NCL helped us and how incredibly sensitive they were to our needs.

[Lovefuninthesun]

On the ship you will hear codes announced. Each code has a meaning. For example "Bravo" means a fire, "Sierra" means get a stretcher. When you hear Code "Bright Star" it means someone has died.

 

John Heald refuted that in a recent blog Q&A:

 

Q:

We had an emergency call that woke us in the middle of the night on our last cruise on Carnival Fascination. It was bright star and folks on Cruise Critic are saying that it’s when a passenger has died.

 

A: John says:

The call “bright star” is made, not when someone has died but when a guest or a crew member needs immediate and urgent medical assistance. It alerts the medical team, stretcher team and others to the location.

[elliair]

It's always sad to hear these incidences on cruise ships. My only good thought about it, is that they were doing what they loved doing best. Condolences to the family.

[sjn911]

As someone who has had many untimely deaths to deal with (our daughter 2 wks before we all were going to sail and my dad right before sailing) only to name a couple. I would not consider it intruding on our privacy. I often thought that FT's should post the bad with the good. I know that it's a grim thought to deal with on vacation, but it happens.

 

To give condolences to a grieving family is better then ignoring what happened.

I now really believe this..once a woman really fell apart in public when I offered condolences at a younger age and our mutual "friend" took a nonresponsive stance and now I believe it is ok to even be the cause of some big tears if all is done respectfully with proper timing and after having such a very hard time grieving my mom...I appreciate the love sent..however it is and however i can respond in the moment...at the right time I let everyone know when i am in a good place...it means everything to have people send remembrances or talk about it..we all need to cry off and on a long time anyway.

 

You have my love, respect prayers and condolences...you had some real whammys.

 

We had a lot of flying mom around to 'try' and a pretty hard last three days in yet a third hospital and a convalesence "small hope' place...and a messy and long getting her home..it pays to have some insurance in life for this and extra funeral expenses incurred and it is sad and hard leaving someone 24 hrs somewhere else and even thinking of a wait at home airport for pickup to one's chosen funeral home and we had a horrible mom alone lapse...I love the ships have morgues...in a way one can be closer escorting...than from a out of state semi- forced hospital thing...

 

Prayers to this family in their loss...Sarah

[LVDFW]

Wow, we heard "Brightstar" twice on our just-completed 15-nt cruise to Hawaii, and someone said that meant a fall. I never heard anything about any deaths, glad I didn't know what that meant when I was on board.

 

As far as I know

 

Operation brightstar - medical emergency

Operation Rising Star- Death

Bravo - man overboard

Code Alpha - fire

Sierra team - stretcher team

Delta - disaster, multiple casualties

[Cricket63]

Condolences to the family and friends of this man.

[mcwebber]

Having a loved one die onboard is not always as difficult for the family as you might think. I have experience with this one.

 

Not like the one I witnessed when a fairly young man died at HMC. They had to go down the beach carrying his bathing suit to find his wife and daughter since he didn't have any identification on him. It was quite traumatic for them as well as the passengers who witnessed the unsuccessful CPR attempts on the beach.

[mcwebber]

As far as I know

 

Operation brightstar - medical emergency

Operation Rising Star- Death

Bravo - man overboard

Code Alpha - fire

Sierra team - stretcher team

Delta - disaster, multiple casualties

 

The Greek alphabet ones will be called twice. e.g. Bravo Bravo port side.

[mitsugirly]

On the ship you will hear codes announced. Each code has a meaning. For example "Bravo" means a fire, "Sierra" means get a stretcher. When you hear Code "Bright Star" it means someone has died.

 

Is this on all ships? I have never heard any of these called before (at least that I can remember thank goodness).

 

Condolences to the family of the lost loved one.

[I Luv Crusin]

By then enough food will be gone that there will be room in the freezer.

 

I was thinking this but didn't say it! :rolleyes:

[buddha'smoo]

When you hear Code "Bright Star" it means someone has died.

 

Completely incorrect. It means there is a medical emergency. There is absolutely no benefit or need to announce a death to other PAX.

[racegrrl]

We heard "Operation Bright Star, Upper Laundry" called out while we were on the Conquest. I asked one of the bartenders we had gotten to know pretty well by then what that meant, he said it was an urgent medical emergency, that the stretcher crew would be dispatched, and the location they should go to. I was thankful it was not a death....but as others have mentioned I guess I could think of worse places to pass on.

[Topo Gigio]

We heard "Operation Bright Star, Upper Laundry" called out while we were on the Conquest. I asked one of the bartenders we had gotten to know pretty well by then what that meant, he said it was an urgent medical emergency, that the stretcher crew would be dispatched, and the location they should go to. I was thankful it was not a death....but as others have mentioned I guess I could think of worse places to pass on.

 

I was on this sailing and heard it too. It was laundry starboard side.