Millenium bus accident

[Gypsea]

Just announced on the news that a tour bus carrying passengers from the airport to the Millenium has gone over a cliff.

 

Everyone say a prayer as there were lives lost.

[Moons31]

I just saw it on CBS. It was in Chile and they were from the Millie...so sad

[lkb125]

Just saw on the news that a bus tour from the Mille had an accident in Bolivia . anyone hear of this? it was on our local news. My thoughts and prayers are with these people. Lorelle

[June Bug]

I saw it on CBS evening news and it was in Chile. this is terrible!

[kannna]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/03/22/chile.crash.ap/index.html

 

so sad

[pacthepuppies]

Just heard on Headline news- 11 dead some US citizens- no names released yet- so so sad...:(

[drfun48]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

 

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - A bus carrying cruise ship tourists tumbled down a mountain ravine in northern Chile Wednesday, killing 11 people, including some believed to be U.S. residents, officials said.

 

Several other passengers were injured in the crash along a rugged highway near the Pacific port city of Arica, 1,250 miles north of Santiago, said Juan Carlos Poli, an Arica city hall spokesman.

 

"We have confirmed 11 people killed," Poli said. He said some of the dead were thought to be from the United States but did not have an exact number or identities.

 

The crash occurred as the tourists returned to their Bahamas-registered Millennium cruise ship after visiting the nearby Lauca National Park.

 

"We still do not know the causes of the accident, but the road in that was has several cliffs and is very curvy," Poli told the Associated Press by telephone.

 

He said it was not immediately known how many people were on board the bus, which had a capacity for 54 passengers.

 

--

[kannna]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/03/22/chile.crash.ap/index.html

[amyr]

Oh dear. There are a regular or two from here on board Millie now. Also, my travel agents are on board with a large group. From the article it seems that it was an excursion bus.

 

Extra prayers tonight.

[RodPat]

We have 60 people from our community on this cruise. Believe me we are praying tonight. Pat

[dileep]

Oh dear. There are a regular or two from here on board Millie now. Also, my travel agents are on board with a large group. From the article it seems that it was an excursion bus.

 

Extra prayers tonight.

 

florisdekort & scapel are both on this cruise.

List of known Cruise Critic members on board at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=6083643&postcount=807

 

We will pray for them and the 11 poor souls who died and the injured. I am sure the mood on the ship is heavy. The bridge cam shows the ship still in port in Arica in the dark at 8 pm or so.

 

[dkjretired]

from Royal Caribbean about the accident.

 

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=rcl&script=410&layout=9&item_id=834681

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

My prayers go out to the passengers on the Millennium and most of all to the families of those who perished on the excursion bus. I also hope for the best for those who were injured and survived. What a nightmare for all concerned!

[CalKev]

per CNN reporter this is the tour bus companies site and description of tour. Very sad.

 

http://www.viator.com/tours/Arica/3452ARI302O/Lauca-National-Park-Chungara-Lake

 

 

 

Lauca National Park (Chungara Lake) Starting from USD $85.00 per person

Change Currency

Duration: 12 1/2 hours

Commences: Arica, Chile

[A Little Pixie Dust]

Here is a list I pulled from the roll call for the cruise:

 

Final List To Print- Cruise Critic Millennium

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1. hollytreecruiser: Nancy & Charlie from TX doing 3 BTB (Includes Carnival Cruise)

2. Cruize Aholic: Ginny & Karl , Central, Fl doing BTB

3. . Hebe: - Deb and Joseph from Outside of Philadelphia,PA (Cabin 7212) BTB --traveling with friends Marc and David. Looking forward to seeing our Previous Trans friends -- Jean/Phil Joe/Jan Vance/Beryl Rex/Tom. Doing the March 5th Cruise also

4. Woodturner: - Fran & Joe from Moorpark, Ca Cabin 7181 BTB

5. florisdekort: Amnon & Floris from San Francisco, CA BTB

6. Sunnygal: Joyce & Dan from Tucson, AZ (BTB) Cabin 8131

7. begood2me: Dave and Marc BTB

8. Scapel: Joe & Jan from Louisiana -cabin 7206 traveling with friends Vance & Beryl from Blackpool, Eng.

9. lddam: - Marcia and Dave from Wappingers Falls, NY (90 miles north NYC)

10. Bestz5403: - Ann and Ira from Miami, FL Cabin 8086

11. JoanP: Joan & Jules, Suzanne & Marilyn, and Lauren & Barbara (South Florida)

12. Mandy and Charlie from Manchester, NH traveling with Al and Kathy from Illinois.

13. sandy3: Dixie & Stan from Wichita, KS.

14. . Zeke81: Linda & Arlen , Wichita, KS (anniversary) Cabin 7102-- with three other couples Judy and LeRoy from Georgetown, TX (his retirement), Fran and Dave from Wichita (first time cruisers), and McGees.

15. . desktopdetective: - Cathy from Huntington Beach CA, traveling with a friend, Toni, from Long Beach CA

16. . Jellybee:- John & Gerri Fallows, Ontario, travelling with Gerri's brother Bernie and sister-in-law Rosie from Ontario. Our 25th cruise and Bernie & Rosie's 3rd.

17. GWM Mongo: Rose and Terry from Alberta, Canada and friends

18. Cruiser77: Minna and Mika coming from TX.

19. FastEddy: Ed & Val from Michigan

20. Two Friends:—Alias “The Girls”, Michel & Connie from California

21. Cruisechaos:—Darin and Natalie from San Francisco Bay area, Calif.

22. Jaybee: - Jean & Phil (Orly Hotel) from Sun City, AZ- Cabin 9201

23. Zebras:

24. A-N-T: Tobes & Ang: from Vancouver, Canada

25. Pacruz: Chuck & Marsha (Steeler Country)

26. EOdonnellp: Dean & Des

27. centrum: Rona & Ian from South Florida

28. SueBee0: Sue & Larry from NJ. & friends Dorothy and Jan from Ohio

 

 

My prayers will everyone on the ship, on the tour and their familes. What a tragic accident.

 

Desiree

[KamloopsCruisers]

We too will keep the families, passengers and crew in our prayers tonight.

 

Our hearts ache for each of them.

[dileep]

I just emailed Joe Reynolds (scapel) on the ship and hope to get a reply!

 

Viator is a pretty big outfit with tours in many cities in many cities around the world. A friend used them in Beijing!

 

It is likely that they sub-contract the tours to local operators.

[wrp96]

According to the Celebrity website, this was an independent tour, not one operated by Celebrity.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/aboutceleb/travelAlert.do;jsessionid=00005u3cFBaBu2TkP3GukXraj2L:1051tg60i?pagename=travel_alert_1

[amyr]

I just emailed Joe Reynolds (scapel) on the ship and hope to get a reply!

 

You may have to wait awhile, a glance at the icafe webcam shows it as standing room only in there.

 

I was worried about my TA's Marc and David, but I finally remembered that they were disembarking in Arica to take the Machu Picchu excursion. I wonder what time Millie was scheduled to depart, and what time she actually will.

[A Little Pixie Dust]

Unfortunately, almost all tours are independantly operated and not by the cruise line no matter what country/cruise line you are on.

 

Since the article named the excursion as being from the Millie - it may have been a tour that would have been passengers only and originating from the ship.

 

This is so sad.

 

Desiree

[CalKev]

Busy internet cafe on Mille.

 

[dileep]

You may have to wait awhile, a glance at the icafe webcam shows it as standing room only in there.

 

I was worried about my TA's Marc and David, but I finally remembered that they were disembarking in Arica to take the Machu Picchu excursion. I wonder what time Millie was scheduled to depart, and what time she actually will.

 

I now remember that Joe was considering going to Machu Picchu too, but his wife Jan might stay on board.

 

I found next years itinerary that shows a 6 pm departure from Arica. It is now past 9 pm there.

[A Little Pixie Dust]

I was looking at that too. It is really crowded. Everyone trying to email family.

[dkjretired]

they are now reporting 12 dead, five injured, three seriously. They showed a still picture of the bus and it is a wonder that anyone survived. It appears the whole top of the bus has been crushed.

[kitty9]

My prayers are with all the passengers and crew of the Millennium, and all their families at home. This is such a sad event. God Bless Everyone.