Incident on Pacific Dawn

[NSWP]

I have seen a video of a wave going over the top of the Dome on Regal Princess before she became Pacific Dawn, but all decks were closed at that stage....there is no Deck 15 on Pacific Dawn the highest deck is Deck 14....

 

Yes, that is the cruise I was on in September 2007, LA to Sydney, last journey of Regal Princess before conversion to Pacific Dawn. A few days out from Sydney after leaving Dunedin off the bottom of South Island of NZ, we got hit by a Force 12 gale, 12-14 metre seas, damaged bow of ship and the big waves came over hitting the dome lounge up top and smashing the bar and showers on deck 14. Buffet was shut down and Elevators shut down for 24 hours, all outside decks from Deck 7 - Promenade Deck were closed down, half a dozen pax broke legs etc falling down the stairs, a real mess. No passenger or crew member went overboard though.

 

The you tube video is still around somewhere. The Captain Andrew Froude who we dined with a couple of times as his wife was an old workmate of one of the ladies on our table said the seas were some of the biggest he had been in. Certainly the biggest seas I have been in during 20 odd cruises around the world in ships from 12,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes. As a result of the storm and damage and having to throttle back to 10 knots we missed the Sounds and were late into Sydney Harbour. We were all off the ship in a couple of hours and off she went to Singapore for conversion to Pacific Dawn as she now is.

 

A lot of workers were on board between LA and Sydney doing various things on the ship including fitting extra CCTV cameras to decks and public areas, I spoke to one of the techs who said the CCTVs were being increased from 20 odd to 60 odd due to the ship going over to P&O Australia, work that one out for yourself, (anticipating trouble?):o

 

Re the recent fatality on Pacific Dawn, in the reported 4 metre seas I doubt that any open decks were closed off to passengers. A tragic incident.

 

I thought some of you might be interested in my story. Thanks to Brissycruiser for bringing the incident up.

Edited April 16, 2018 by NSWP

[Aus Traveller]

I have seen a video of a wave going over the top of the Dome on Regal Princess before she became Pacific Dawn, but all decks were closed at that stage....there is no Deck 15 on Pacific Dawn the highest deck is Deck 14....

You are correct. I was quoting the 'deck 15' that I had read without thinking it through. I am more accustomed to the Sun-class Princess ships that have a 15th deck (the Sun deck) so didn't realise it was an error.

 

Pacific Dawn was also in heavy seas (I believe 14 metres) in June 2012. We were on the Pacific Pearl and were able to skirt the worst of the weather. The Pearl was smaller than the Dawn. We had 12 metre seas. Naturally, all the decks were closed.

[Aus Traveller]

Yes, that is the cruise I was on in September 2007, LA to Sydney, last journey of Regal Princess before conversion to Pacific Dawn. A few days out from Sydney after leaving Dunedin off the bottom of South Island of NZ, we got hit by a Force 12 gale, 12-14 metre seas, damaged bow of ship and the big waves came over hitting the dome lounge up top and smashing the bar and showers on deck 14. Buffet was shut down and Elevators shut down for 24 hours, all outside decks from Deck 7 - Promenade Deck were closed down, half a dozen pax broke legs etc falling down the stairs, a real mess. No passenger or crew member went overboard though.

 

The you tube video is still around somewhere. The Captain Andrew Froude who we dined with a couple of times as his wife was an old workmate of one of the ladies on our table said the seas were some of the biggest he had been in. Certainly the biggest seas I have been in during 20 odd cruises around the world in ships from 12,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes. As a result of the storm and damage and having to throttle back to 10 knots we missed the Sounds and were late into Sydney Harbour. We were all off the ship in a couple of hours and off she went to Singapore for conversion to Pacific Dawn as she now is.

 

A lot of workers were on board between LA and Sydney doing various things on the ship including fitting extra CCTV cameras to decks and public areas, I spoke to one of the techs who said the CCTVs were being increased from 20 odd to 60 odd due to the ship going over to P&O Australia, work that one out for yourself, (anticipating trouble?):o

 

I thought some of you might be interested in my story. Thanks to Brissycruiser for bringing the incident up.

I don't think P&O were anticipating trouble, rather, they were trying to prevent it or help investigators if there was an incident. After Dianne Brimble's death, P&O increased the security presence on their Australian-based ships. Even so, Mark Brimble still keeping going on... and on .... about the lack of security on cruise ships. I do not know if he has set foot on one.

[Tigerlily75]

A lot of workers were on board between LA and Sydney doing various things on the ship including fitting extra CCTV cameras to decks and public areas, I spoke to one of the techs who said the CCTVs were being increased from 20 odd to 60 odd due to the ship going over to P&O Australia, work that one out for yourself, (anticipating trouble?):o

 

Interesting, I read an almost identical post about Carnival Legend when she was coming to Australia for the first time. Installation of a ton more CCTV cameras. I wonder if it's an Australian regulation of some kind, or if we're just a bunch of troublemakers ..

[MicCanberra]

Yes, that is the cruise I was on in September 2007, LA to Sydney, last journey of Regal Princess before conversion to Pacific Dawn. A few days out from Sydney after leaving Dunedin off the bottom of South Island of NZ, we got hit by a Force 12 gale, 12-14 metre seas, damaged bow of ship and the big waves came over hitting the dome lounge up top and smashing the bar and showers on deck 14. Buffet was shut down and Elevators shut down for 24 hours, all outside decks from Deck 7 - Promenade Deck were closed down, half a dozen pax broke legs etc falling down the stairs, a real mess. No passenger or crew member went overboard though.

 

The you tube video is still around somewhere. The Captain Andrew Froude who we dined with a couple of times as his wife was an old workmate of one of the ladies on our table said the seas were some of the biggest he had been in. Certainly the biggest seas I have been in during 20 odd cruises around the world in ships from 12,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes. As a result of the storm and damage and having to throttle back to 10 knots we missed the Sounds and were late into Sydney Harbour. We were all off the ship in a couple of hours and off she went to Singapore for conversion to Pacific Dawn as she now is.

 

A lot of workers were on board between LA and Sydney doing various things on the ship including fitting extra CCTV cameras to decks and public areas, I spoke to one of the techs who said the CCTVs were being increased from 20 odd to 60 odd due to the ship going over to P&O Australia, work that one out for yourself, (anticipating trouble?):o

 

Re the recent fatality on Pacific Dawn, in the reported 4 metre seas I doubt that any open decks were closed off to passengers. A tragic incident.

 

I thought some of you might be interested in my story. Thanks to Brissycruiser for bringing the incident up.

Thanks Uncle Les for sharing your experience.

[MicCanberra]

Interesting, I read an almost identical post about Carnival Legend when she was coming to Australia for the first time. Installation of a ton more CCTV cameras. I wonder if it's an Australian regulation of some kind, or if we're just a bunch of troublemakers ..

I think it is a well known that generally Aussies like to drink and socialise more than many other nations. Add in alcohol and the number of incidents tend to increase, cameras help with security and also with targeting where security personnel need to be, if there seems to be trouble brewing.

[The_Big_M]

Interesting, I read an almost identical post about Carnival Legend when she was coming to Australia for the first time. Installation of a ton more CCTV cameras. I wonder if it's an Australian regulation of some kind, or if we're just a bunch of troublemakers ..

 

Pretty much.

 

While not unique to Australia, "yobbos" are endemic.

[Tigerlily75]

Some of those Spring Breakers seem a bit raucous, but maybe we're just next level.. !

[MicCanberra]

Some of those Spring Breakers seem a bit raucous, but maybe we're just next level.. !

I would think the US cruises would just have extra security staff on, their labour is cheaper than ours and cameras are cheaper than our labour as well.

[wishfulone]

Some of those Spring Breakers seem a bit raucous, but maybe we're just next level.. !

The cruise lines have been aware of the college kids on spring break for years and have extra precautions and security in place.

[The_Big_M]

The cruise lines have been aware of the college kids on spring break for years and have extra precautions and security in place.

 

The difference between a short-term situation, and an ongoing one...

[MicCanberra]

The difference between a short-term situation, and an ongoing one...

And costs for labour.

[Aus Traveller]

And costs for labour.

I don't think there is any difference in the cost of labour. The only ship that employs Americans is the Pride of America that cruises in Hawaiian waters. They can only employ Americans because of the US PVSA law that only allows transport between US ports (without a foreign port of call) on ships that are American-owned and fully staffed by Americans. Otherwise, all cruiselines use mainly Indians as security staff and Indians, Indonesians, Philippinos and Mexicans in other crew jobs, with the exception of officers and cruise staff who come from many countries.

[NSWP]

No doubt the additional cameras were fitted onto Regal Princess just before conversion to Pacific Dawn as the ships would carry more families and party people, rather than mature age Princess cruisers, like myself.:') Thus additional surveillance required.

 

I reckon there would be even more cameras installed since 2007.

[MicCanberra]

I don't think there is any difference in the cost of labour. The only ship that employs Americans is the Pride of America that cruises in Hawaiian waters. They can only employ Americans because of the US PVSA law that only allows transport between US ports (without a foreign port of call) on ships that are American-owned and fully staffed by Americans. Otherwise, all cruiselines use mainly Indians as security staff and Indians, Indonesians, Philippinos and Mexicans in other crew jobs, with the exception of officers and cruise staff who come from many countries.

Except they are fitting the cameras for the Aussie ships (P&O Australia) where there is a difference in labour (or at least the pay structure) compared to all the other ships.

[MicCanberra]

No doubt the additional cameras were fitted onto Regal Princess just before conversion to Pacific Dawn as the ships would carry more families and party people, rather than mature age Princess cruisers, like myself.:') Thus additional surveillance required.

 

I reckon there would be even more cameras installed since 2007.

Definitely, it is cheaper and easier than having a staff presence at all points.

[Aus Traveller]

The Regal Princess was converted to the Pacific Dawn five years after Diane Brimble's death in 2002. With the enhanced security P&O put on its ships following that incident, the Pacific Dawn would have had extra security cameras installed at the time of its conversion.

[NSWP]

The Regal Princess was converted to the Pacific Dawn five years after Diane Brimble's death in 2002. With the enhanced security P&O put on its ships following that incident, the Pacific Dawn would have had extra security cameras installed at the time of its conversion.

 

As I said extra CCTV's were being fitted to Regal as we sailed between LA and Sydney, there were a 50 tradies on board, also retro fitting twin cabins to be 4 berth. Laying new carpets and more. It was like a construction site. Everyone on board got some obc and 20% off their next cruise for the inconvenience, without asking.

[The_Big_M]

Except they are fitting the cameras for the Aussie ships (P&O Australia) where there is a difference in labour (or at least the pay structure) compared to all the other ships.

 

The pay structure is different on Australian ships for service staff i.e. those who rely on tips.

 

No reason to believe the pay structure is different for non-tipped staff like security.

[Brisbane41]

This whole incident now that the truth has come out has seriously started to make me question whether every news article I read or watch on TV is actually true. It was all lies from the start and pure fabrication. Even the TV news flash generic stock photos of cruise ships without any thought as to what the ships are. They even flashed a picture of Carnival Spirit docking at Circular Quay on the news yesterday when talking about the drug smuggler who was jailed for importation on the Sea Princess.

 

As much as I hate American politics and prefer to stick central and not extreme left or right, the news really is fake. All the stories on here prove the news makes things up as they go along.

 

As for people talking about yobbos which also happen to be my pet hate. Just cruise on Celebrity Solstice and they can be avoided or better still fly to Japan and take Diamond Princes out of Yokohama. Very relaxing and not a yobbo around for almost 5,000km. I love the Princess experience in Japan more than anything now because it also seems to weed out the other rude people of varying nationalities and the ship becomes more friendly.

[Pushka]

Agree. It’s all fake news. Cheap journalism. Careless editing. The art of true journalism is dead.

[MicCanberra]

I think you will still find a certain yobbo element on any of the ships / cruise lines but they do tend to be much less visible as they are much fewer in number. As for the news, I find some are fake, some are opinion and others are factual, by doing your own research of differing sources you can generally work out which is which. It is a bit like reviews, read them and make informed decisions using other sources for verification, if there is none, it is opinion or fake.

[mr walker]

Agree. It’s all fake news. Cheap journalism. Careless editing. The art of true journalism is dead.

 

Ha, I almost spat my coffee out when I read this. You seriously think that there was ever an any "art" in journalism, let alone "true journalism"? Some people may be 'better' at writing stories about events, but I'm not sure any of it is an art.

 

Parents raise their children in hope that they become doctors, lawyers(?), statesmen/women, captains of industry, maybe even captains of cruise-ships. How disappointed they must be when Johnny or Jenny turn out as regurgitators of 'news'.

[Pushka]

Ha, I almost spat my coffee out when I read this. You seriously think that there was ever an any "art" in journalism, let alone "true journalism"? Some people may be 'better' at writing stories about events, but I'm not sure any of it is an art.

 

 

 

Parents raise their children in hope that they become doctors, lawyers(?), statesmen/women, captains of industry, maybe even captains of cruise-ships. How disappointed they must be when Johnny or Jenny turn out as regurgitators of 'news'.

 

 

 

Yes I am. Journalism was a highly sought after qualification until the internet. Grammar and spelling had to be meticulous. Facts had to be verified. Prior to the Uni qualification then training was through the cadet system. All of this before the internet. I’d say up to the year 1995. The internet has spawned an era of crassness, laziness and stupidity. Shame about your coffee. You didn’t need to spit it out.

[Aus Traveller]

I suggest that the 'fake news' followed reports from passengers on board who didn't actually observe the incident, but thought they knew what happened. For example - the report that a 'freak wave' washed the woman overboard: that she stumbled as she approached the rail and went overboard: and that the woman was ill at bingo and went outside to throw up. This latter one would indicate it occurred on deck 7 whereas it happened on deck 14. Rumours would have flashed around the ship and people can tend to fill in the blanks in the information available.

 

I don't think we can totally blame the media. Someone on board reported these fake facts to them. If they don't print them, they are then seen as being behind in the game of reporting the news.