First Person Account of the fire on the Star

[oldIrish]

I just talked to my TA today about another matter and learned that she had 2 clients on the Star. They were actually deployed in a lifeboat and spent some time floating on the sea until things stabalized enough to bring them back onboard. This is the first that I heard of lifeboats actually being deployed.

 

In spite of your good intentions, I think you were had by your friend and travel agent.

Send me your address, I have a bridge for sale that you may be interested in.

[judynorth]

In spite of your good intentions, I think you were had by your friend and travel agent.

Send me your address, I have a bridge for sale that you may be interested in.

 

In the grand scheme of things, do you really think it matters? I certainly don't think that I have been "had" by my TA. Don't worry. I probably wouldn't believe a thing that you told me nor would I buy anything that you had to offer.

 

Now would everyone please leave the subject alone. I have been flamed enough.

[SDN]

 

Now would everyone please leave the subject alone. I have been flamed enough.

 

Maybe if you lower a lifeboat, you can escape this thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry

[Sea Breeze]

The smokers won't like my next comment but I really wish they would restrict smoking in the cabins. This fire is but one reason for that. We've cruised many times and have had a cabin that had smokers in it before us and it's uncomfortable as I'm asthmatic and smoke really gives me a fit. Because of this, we don't use the disco, the casino or any lounge that allows smoking. This is fine as we find other areas that are smoke free. I understand that smokers are upset w/the restrictions being placed on them but I hope they can understand that those of us with sensitivities to smoke have a bad time under certain conditions. Also, this past winter we have had numerous apartment fires due to cigarettes and if you think about it, a cruise ship is a floating apt complex! I really do hope the cruise lines will reconsider their smoking policy and ban smoking in the cabins. As someone mentioned, this may be a wake-up call for them.[/color][/size][/font]

Hope I didn't offend anyone with my comments but if I did, remember that smokers offend people by leaving a smokey cabin ... I really do like to breathe!!!

 

I have to agree about asthma, My daugther and I have it and we both have never smoked, We just cruised rccl Mariner and our cabin was very clean when we arrived, but I had to have my sheets taken off the bed and replaced. Unsure if the cabin steward smoked with the linen bag near by or the person whom was in the laundry room. I was awake all night with breathing problems. The following night after the sheets were replaced what a difference. I did tip more then the standard and when seeing the room sterward I thanked him again in person for changing the bedding for us.

 

I also don't want to upsent someone about smoking, but wanted to let people know some of us have allergies and that smoking heavily in cabin does affect the passengers coming in behind you.

[chicagolass]

In 1958- 1959 I remember that another Princess ship went on fire. We were on the sister ship cruising the Carribean. Does anyone know what caused that fire?

This tragedy brought it back to my mind. My heartfelt sympathy to all concerned on the Star Princess and on the Celebrity ship.

[Giorgi-one]

I Life comes with perils. Dispite what some people would like to believe, there are simply no guarantees that nothing bad will ever happen to us. We can't legislate a "perfect society" where nothing bad ever happens. Remember, none of us are getting out of here alive. So stop with the smoking hysteria and judgmentalness and blame towards smokers! Geez, they should be able to take a vacation and smoke in their own rooms!!

 

OK, that's my rant. Thanks for listening.

 

You are telling me that I have accept the "peril" of waking up to a fire because someone has to smoke in their cabin". You can't really be serious!

[zackiedawg]

You are telling me that I have accept the "peril" of waking up to a fire because someone has to smoke in their cabin". You can't really be serious!

 

Like it or not...yes. Smoking isn't illegal, nor is it banned in cabins. So for now, yes you do have to accept that peril. Like the many other things that can put your life in peril, from red-light runners to bad natural gas lines under your house to airplanes crashing on your house to robbers or muggers to choking on food or slippery marble floors. We learn to accept those risks, because we can weigh them against the reality of any of them happening to us. We control things when we can, and try to be ready for surprises, but know that there is a miniscule chance one day we may get surprised by something perilous.

 

If smoking in a cabin has created a fire that threatened lives (that is still to be determined), then that makes it 1 such perilous incident out of millions of smokers in millions of cabins on hundreds of ships on thousands of voyages over dozens of years. ONE. There are so many other threatening things in our lives with MUCH greater chance of harming or killing us...why would we panic and become reactionary over that one? How about lets cure cancer, stop AIDS, eliminate murders, stop drunk driving, eradicate child molesters, feed the hungry, go after corrupt dictators, stop tearing down forests, overhaul our educational system...there just seems to be so many other worthy causes that we could devote our energy to than some people who want to risk their health by breathing in smoke from a tube.

 

To the extent that smokers affect other people, there are already laws and rules laid down to protect people from second hand smoke in public places...and there is plenty of discouragement out there for others to not get hooked on smoking. Those who do still smoke are now facing morality police, who want to dictate whether they have the right to make a decision which risks their own life...and if that succeeds, can we know for sure that the same morality police won't decide to ban foods which people might use to gain weight, alcohol because some abuse it? Where does it stop?

 

Some argue that cigarettes are still putting your life in danger, even if the second-hand smoke is contained...they might light a fire! Banning cigarettes because they might start a fire would be like banning knives because someone might use them as a weapon. Are we going to eliminate knives from ships? Steaks will be served pre-cut from the kitchen?

 

I think it is perfectly reasonable that we all have to live with the peril of waking up to a fire because smoking is not illegal and the risk of a fire from smoking is so miniscule as to be insignificant.

 

By the way, I am a non-smoker, I've never smoked, nor do I intend to. I dislike smoke and would prefer that everyone in the world quit. But making it illegal is not how I want that to happen.

[k.m.]

Like the many other things that can put your life in peril, from red-light runners to bad natural gas lines under your house to airplanes crashing on your house to robbers or muggers to choking on food or slippery marble floors. We learn to accept those risks, because we can weigh them against the reality of any of them happening to us. We control things when we can, and try to be ready for surprises, but know that there is a miniscule chance one day we may get surprised by something perilous.

 

Having been in a housefire caused by a smoker, as a small child I consider the comparison of a fire caused by smoking to that of a plane falling out of the sky or being blown up by natural gas lines etc., etc., as totally ridiculous... Every year there are people injured or killed by smoking related fires in this country. Give me a break!

[zackiedawg]

Having been in a housefire caused by a smoker, as a small child I consider the comparison of a fire caused by smoking to that of a plane falling out of the sky or being blown up by natural gas lines etc., etc., as totally ridiculous... Every year there are people injured or killed by smoking related fires in this country. Give me a break!

 

That's very unfortunate for you to have been in such a fire. And that may cause you to be more sensitive to or fearful of such a situation. But that doesn't make the odds any different.

 

Every year there are people injured or killed in this country by fires caused by space heaters. Christmas lights. Irons. Appliances. Candles. Fireplaces. Stoves. Overloaded extension cords. Kitchen cooking fires. Combustible oily rags.

 

Also every year in this country, people are killed in airplane crashes. Car crashes. Train crashes. Guns. Knives. Animal bites. Lightning. Assaults. Slips in tubs.

 

While you are especially sensitive about smoking, apparently due to latent post-traumatic stress over having been through a fire caused by a cigarette, there are more home fires each year from cooking (#1), heating (#2), and arson (#3).

 

Despite their danger in sparking house fires, we don't ban christmas lights, candles, space heaters, irons, ungrounded extension cords, or cheap Asian-made appliances.

 

And if you were to compare the number of house fires in America last year (360,000) to the number of houses existing (118,000,000), the odds are pretty good that you'll be OK even with a smoker in the house. Only a small percentage of the 360,000 house fires were caused by cigarettes.

 

So no, I'm not kidding. I am sympathetic to your situation...I can understand where your fervor against smoking comes from. I don't smoke, hate smoke, and would love to see it go away. But remember that not all smokers are inconsiderate and careless. I have a smoker in my family who is so obsessive about fire safety that they will only use wet ashtrays, will fill ashtrays that contain cigarette butts with water to soak, and will only dispose of them in metal cans, filled with water and wet paper towels, after they've soaked for at least 15 minutes. All butts are kept in portable ashtrays and ashes are dumped into them. If more people were cautious about fire safety...not just smokers...there would be far less house fires. Not using the brown or white extension cords in the house, keeping things away from space heaters, keeping fire extinguishers in kitchens, and turning off unnecessary electronics...as well as wetting down and being careful with cigarette disposal, would make the world a safer place.

[SDN]

 

How about lets cure cancer

 

I know a good place to start-Stop smoking

 

there just seems to be so many other worthy causes that we could devote our energy to than some people who want to risk their health by breathing in smoke from a tube.

 

The problem is that "smoke from a tube" is not contained and travels through the air not only risking "their" health but others as well. They aren't just "breathing in" smoke but are also blowing it out. (It's interesting how you left out that small detail from your argument)

[zackiedawg]

I know a good place to start-Stop smoking

 

I agree. Smokers should stop smoking for their own health. But it's their choice. I choose not to be a smoker...but far be it for me to tell someone else what they must do.

 

The problem is that "smoke from a tube" is not contained and travels through the air not only risking "their" health but others as well. They aren't just "breathing in" smoke but are also blowing it out. (It's interesting how you left out that small detail from your argument)

 

Actually, I didn't. Notice how I brought up that I fully agreed with the second-hand smoke being a problem that does merit control - as it is the one factor that isn't simply a moral-grounds attack. I am all for the concept that smoking bans in closed environments and public places should be enforced - I for one love that because I hate any smoke, and can't breathe the stuff. Where I see the issue crossing into a moral attack is when the person is in their own, confined space, at home, or in an open-sky public location, and being told they cannot smoke. I think there should be a bar or establishment that declares itself to be a smoking-allowed location, giving anyone in the public the option to not visit that establishment. And I think a smoker should be allowed to smoke at home or in a designated hotel room or cabin. It should be banned when it is affecting other people who are unable to avoid it.

 

Again, note that I am NOT a smoker...and never have been. Nor am I defending smoking...I'm simply saying that if we push too far to ban smoking, we should be prepared to start losing other moral-police issues like drinking and weight gain as the effects those have on other people begin to come out. Because laws came into being to deal with the second-hand smoke issue which was supposedly the ONE thing that made smoking different than other vices (it affected other people too), but the march to ban smoking has continued - and all new reasons are being brought up as the justification.

 

Anyway...I guess my stance here is coming in diagonally and doesn't fit into the puzzle. Smokers defending, and non-smokers bashing...and then along comes a non-smoker who thinks the bashing is going to far. So, back to the Princess fire...of which the cause has yet to be determined. if someone is found to be at blame for any reason, I hope they get strung up and beaten. If cigarettes get banned from cruise ships...it won't affect me...at least until they start going after fattening foods.

[bhchan]

in lieu of a total zero-tolerance ban on smoking onboard in general, what are smoker's feelings on limiting the smoking to a couple of areas on the boat instead?

 

While some feel that it is their [Pick your Deity]-given right to smoke and do as they please. I have to ask, do you mind if someone pees in the pool? Both are doing something to a shared environment, after all.

 

Back to the original topic, it's going to be months before we hear about the cause. I think it was great that Princess was able to salvage everyone's remaining vacation and provide a refund.

My cynical guess is that they have more leeway with this than the 'Turn', because this was clearly an accident and they have coverage from insurance (so their loss is at least partially compensated by the insurance company) while the other incident was marginally within 'normal' operation, and therefore, they had less leeway with giving things out for free.

 

Still, no matter what the motivation are from Princess, I'm glad that everyone felt well taken care of during the ordeal and are safe.

[dkholbrook]

I found this board anxiously hoping to read first hand accounts of the Star tragegy (or second or third for that matter) and although they are here they continue to be trumped by debates about smoking.

 

I may smoke or I may not, but whether or not they should ban it on cruise ships would be GREAT in another thread so we can save this one for people who were onboard to share their unbelievable experiences with the rest of us.

 

I had the pleasure of cruising on the Star Princess a few years ago and it is so sad to hear such a beautiful ship was the scene of such a disaster. But the stories of the professionalism of the crew and the calmness of the passengers is very inspiring.

[Sea Breeze]

Just yesterday I heard on cnn that the flight attentant that was scheduled on flight 11 I believe, (not positive of #) didn't work that day on 9-11, as she took her dad to the drs. Then this past weekend while away in another state for a wedding she was in a car accident( car ran a read light or stop sign and hit her car on her side.) and she was killed, while the rest of the family is ok. To some this is just odd,. to me it gave me goosebumps. So sad, but then again she was able too spend more time with her family so I guess its how you look at things.

[fuzzywuzzy]

I agree totally. I have been reading some of the posts and bringing myself a bit up to date on the comments of this terrible fire. My husband, sister and husband and myself cruised on the Star last year exactly - March 2005. We loved the ship and was horrified to hear the news of the fire.

 

I hope that this will prompt a review of the smoking policy onboard cruise ships. I have always been nervous about the fact that smoking is allowed in the cabins. I am truly amazed that it is allowed. To me this is no different than smoking on airplanes. If the airlines have forbidden smoking than why not cruise ships? This can and should be enforced and the sooner the better. After all, isn't it all about safety?

[Old Sea Legs]

The Star is now in Bremerhaven.