Does anybody know what a "Code Alpha" is?

[StLouisCruisers]

We had two code alphas on the Diamond Dec. 3 -18. One a day or two out of Los Angeles that was rumored to be someone in the Princess Theater falling. Someone later said that person died and it could have been a heart attack.

 

Then just before the ship left port in Kauai (final port before 4 or 5 sea days) a code alpha was called on deck 14 outside the Horizon Court near the pool. The poor man was taken off the ship in about an hour, and his wife was led off by a female staffer who wrapped her arms around her and hugged her goodbye. They put her in a taxi and onlookers claimed a lot of luggage had already been taken off. Someone had to have rushed to their cabin to pack up all their belongings so we could leave port on time.

 

I never seem to find out what actually happens, it's always "I heard this" and "I heard that"!

[Jayjoans]

On our Alaska cruise it seemed like "Alpha, Alpha, Alpha" was being called over the intercom at least twice a day. I'm sure due to the age of most of the passengers. After awhile it sort of became a joke, although for those that needed help I'm sure it wasn't. Even now, years later every so often one of my kids will yell "alpha alpha alpha" when they need some help.

[OceanDreaming2]

We were also on the Diamond Princess 12/3-18 and witnessed the incident in the Princess Theater. We ate lunch with some of the passengers who responded to the scene. They said the passenger had no heart beat and was not breathing but they also saw and spoke to her later in the week. She was doing quite well.

 

We also saw the ambulance in Kauai but didn't hear the Code Alpha.

 

And, then there was the power failure the night before we arrived in Honolulu. I'm not sure what "code" that was but the captain came on the intercom several times between 10:15 PM and 11:15 PM letting us know we needed worry.

 

Too bad about Sweet Louie. The Checkmates were part of our entertainment package on the DP.

[smoothdancer]

I was on the Diamond Princess the cruise before (the 11/18 sailing) and out of nowhere, within just minutes, came down with a life threating medical condition. This can happen to not just to the elderly but someone like myself in top physical condition. I was taken off of the ship at our stop in Mexico and it was done with precision and very fast.

 

Prior to us arriving in Mexico a surgeon was contacted and was waiting for us at the hospital when we arrived. Porters were sent to our cabin to help my husband pack our suitcases and he tells me it happened in about 5 minutes flat. We were also checked off of the ship that quickly. The hospital was only about 5 mintues away and a port agent was waiting for us when we docked to take us to the hospital. Security was on one side of the stairs leading down from the ship and blocking the side that I was taken off. They almost created a wall around us so that only the people close to the gangway even knew what was happening. I was off the ship very fast supervised by the Doctor and we were on our way. It took us a day and a half to get from the Pacific to land and during this time I was kept heavly sedated with morphine. I can't go into the absolute nightmare that occured on the ship as it is just still to horrific to talk about. I am not sure I will ever talk about it again. Three weeks later as I start to recover I still have nightmares over this day and a half. Due to the condition I was in the pain was undescrible and unbearable and at one point I was told if I did not sign a waiver that stated they would not be held responsible for my outcome they would stop all the morphine injections.... Of course I signed whatever they wanted me to sign. I just dont understand how they could have a nursing staff with zero compassion.

 

Here is what I can say though.... Although we were taken off of the ship, and I had emergency surgery about a hour after arriving at the hospital, Princess never left us for the entire 9 days I was in a Mexican hospital.

 

A port agent who spoke both English and Spanish was assgined to us and he did everything for us. He found lodging for my husband, he took him into town to draw money and get Peso's. When we ran into language barriers he was at the hospital acting as a translator. He was at the hospital everyday to make sure we had all we needed.

 

A customer service agent in LA was also assigned to us. She gave us her cellphone number and told us she was available 24-7, and she was. She also was in contact with my husband every day to inquire about my health and medical services I was receiving. She spoke with my family at home and told them as well she could be contacted 24-7. When it was time for me to be released from the hospital she arranged for a car service to take us across the border. We never came out of the car while going over the border, the car service agent handled the entire process. The CS arranged for our hotel stay in San Diego, was able to get a refund on our flight home, rebooked our flight at the Princess discount and made sure that at each stop wheelchairs were waiting for us. She knew our flight schedule and within an hour of arriving home she called to make sure we had made it home safely.(We arrvied home at 1:30 in the morning) Later we found that one critical medical record was missing. She secured the record, had it translated into English and had it faxed to us immediatley.

 

It was absolutley beyond our expectation as to how Princess stuck with us throughout this entire situation. One would of expected once off the ship, thier responsibility ends. Being in a foreign country where we did not speak the language I dont know how we would have managed and it was a great comfort to my husband and somewhat of a weight lifted off of his shoulders to know that he was truly not alone trying to figure it all out.

 

We had no travel insurance, Princess knew this and helped us with this monster cost by using thier discounts and passing that savings on to us to at least keep our lodging and travel cost down.

 

Ya know this is the first time I have been able to write about this, 3 weeks later. I cannot express how absolutely frightining it is to be in this situation and the profound effect it has on your life and everyday thoughts. Our Dr here in the US told me that based on the blood cell count reports I brought home I was literally an hour away from death. Sometimes it makes me shutter to now understand how close I was to death, and survived to tell about it. Soon, when I figure out the words I will be sure to write to Princess with our graditute.

LOL.... no need from any cruise credits for us. I cant possibly see myself with a desire ever again to board a cruise ship. Certainly, no fault of the cruise line but I know it would just resurface to many bad memories of a dream vacation gone terribly wrong.

[StLouisCruisers]

Smoothdancer, I am so sorry to hear about your horrible experience. But in reading your post, I was also amazed to hear about how much help Princess gave you. I feel reassured that if anything were ever to happen on the ship, they would do all they could to assist in such a scary time. Sorry to hear about the lack of compassion by the nursing staff. Not sure why they would act that way.

 

I so wish you had the travel insurance because I know this whole ordeal must have been quite costly for you. The medical costs, the hotels, food for husband, airfare, car trip to the States, etc.

 

I wish you well in your recovery! Thanks so much for posting!

[Cruise or Lose!]

There's only one word for the "ghouls": VULTURES.

 

They sound like indifferent relatives who go out and have the china and the jewels appraised 5 minutes after Grandpa's death.

[jean s]

Smoothdancer, I wish you good health and hope you are fully recovered soon. It is impressive and really amazing that Princess stayed close and really helped. It's nice to know that they cared so much about their passengers.

[CruisinCoach]

We had two "Code Alphas" on my recent Dawn cruise and both passengers, unfortunately, passed away. According to a crew member, who we spent time with on an excursion the day after the second one, code alpha does in fact mean a death has occured. Here's hoping I never have to hear a "Code Alpha" over the PA ever again.

[Leadft]

I too was hospitalized on my first cruise ever (RCCL), due to severe bleeding during my 3rd month of pregnancy. I was put on strict bed rest in the ship's medical center for 4 days. During that time, I got to know the doctors and nurses quite well. One of the doctors, a handsome man from South Africa, told me that it is not unusual for at least one passenger to die on just about every sailing. The age of many passengers, combined with the excitement and/or extra physical activity and/or large quantities of food can often lead to medical emergencies and death. Every ship has a morgue to deal with this issue. Ever since he told me that, I shiver a little when I hear one of those "code Alpha"s.

[JLC@SD]

Not sure that this would help. It would have the whole ship screaming around in panic every time there was a report of a fire (which happens much more than you might think). At least this way, most of the passengers are blissfully ignorant of what is going on or what's being investigated.

 

....which I am sure is the purpose of the codes. Unfortunately we live in a society that stops and gawks at car accidents.

[daveco58]

On our Alaska cruise it seemed like "Alpha, Alpha, Alpha" was being called over the intercom at least twice a day. I'm sure due to the age of most of the passengers. After awhile it sort of became a joke, although for those that needed help I'm sure it wasn't. Even now, years later every so often one of my kids will yell "alpha alpha alpha" when they need some help.

 

Reminds me of a cruise I took on Royal Viking Line (back when the average age of cruisers was around 90). No less than 4 pax died on a 14 day cruise. At the time I worked in a Hospital, and the PA was busier on the ship than it was at work. lol

[Guest Daimen]

We had at least 2 code alphas while on-board the Sea Princess back in September 07. One PA was made at around 2.30 in the monring, waking us all up asking for passengers willing to donate blood, which was quite 'scary' at the time.

[ShoMeChiefsFan]

In addition to distress signals like Mayday and pan-pan, most vessels, especially passenger ships, use some emergency signals to internally alert the crew onboard, and in some cases also the passengers. These can be in form of blasts on alarm bells, sounding the ship's whistle or code names paged over the PA system.

• Mr. Skylight paged over the PA system is an alert for the crew onboard and means there is a minor emergency somewhere.[1]

• Mr. Mob means man overboard. [2] Man overboard can also be signaled with three prolonged blasts on the ship's whistle and general alarm bell. [3]

• Code Blue usually means a medical emergency.
  
• Assemble at Muster Stations or Abandon Ship, seven or more short blasts on the ship's whistle and general alarm, followed by one long blast.[3]
  
• Fire and emergency, continuous ringing of the general alarm bell for ten seconds and a continuous sounding of the ship's whistle for ten seconds.[3]
  
• Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, used by many cruise lines to alert crew to a fire or other serious incident onboard without alarming passengers.[4]

[MichCook]

4. Most importantly, as soon as some of the "ghouls" onboard get an inkling that there might be a death or medical debark, they immediately run to the reception desk to try to get their hands on a free upgrade. I have had cruises where there were dozens of passengers at the reception desk within minutes of announcing a death onboard. They all wanted that cabin - even before the body was cool.

 

Wow, what a way to get an upgrade! geesh!:(

[titomalu]

We had an Oscar, Oscar, Oscar call in Nov. 2001 on board the Radiance of the Seas on its second lag of its inaugural season in the Southern Caribbean.

 

We were in St. Thomas and a lady stepped off the gangway in the St. Thomas port. She had a pretty rough fall. So it happens, even at the gangway.

[drguzmangarcia]

We had two "alfa alfa alfa" codes onboard the Jewel of the Seas the week of Nov 9, 2013. Next day there was an ambulance on the pier and some

Guests with their luggage ready to leave.

 

Now my point is, I have read so

Many stories about heart attacks and all dying because of them. My question would be, are these ships really prepared for such a life threatening event? Why is the dying rate so high?

 

Any answers?

[chrysalis]

We had two "alfa alfa alfa" codes onboard the Jewel of the Seas the week of Nov 9, 2013. Next day there was an ambulance on the pier and some

Guests with their luggage ready to leave.

 

Now my point is, I have read so

Many stories about heart attacks and all dying because of them. My question would be, are these ships really prepared for such a life threatening event? Why is the dying rate so high?

 

Any answers?

 

What is the dying rate?...do you know?

[swedish weave]

We had two "alfa alfa alfa" codes onboard the Jewel of the Seas the week of Nov 9, 2013. Next day there was an ambulance on the pier and some

Guests with their luggage ready to leave.

 

Now my point is, I have read so

Many stories about heart attacks and all dying because of them. My question would be, are these ships really prepared for such a life threatening event? Why is the dying rate so high?

 

Any answers?

 

There are several answers to your question, but first I might mention that this thread was started about six years ago.

 

Cruising attracts many aging people and many in poor health who don't adapt well to the increased activity of a cruise.

 

Some deaths on the longer cruises are not uncommon but I don't have any statistics. I doubt that the rate is much higher than in the nursing homes or assisting living facilities.

 

Many of those who lead a rather sedentary life go on a cruise and try to experience everything they can, thus leading to over exertion and health problems or possibly death.

[beg3yrs]

We had two "alfa alfa alfa" codes onboard the Jewel of the Seas the week of Nov 9, 2013. Next day there was an ambulance on the pier and some

Guests with their luggage ready to leave.

 

Now my point is, I have read so

Many stories about heart attacks and all dying because of them. My question would be, are these ships really prepared for such a life threatening event? Why is the dying rate so high?

 

Any answers?

 

Wow, what an old thread ...

 

There was an earlier post quoting a ship's doctor. It generally explained the rate seems high due to a combination of the high average age of the passengers, extra physical activity and excitement and finally, the increased consumption of rich food.

 

On our last Dawn Princess cruise we had at least two code alphas and a code alpha-tango. A member of the staff told me the "tango" meant "extremely urgent." That doesn't match up well with a previous post that said code alpha always meant death. It does match well with medical emergency.

[redtogo]

We had a Code Alpha in the inning room one night a couple of cruises ago. At one time I heard it was a possible heart attack. We were later told the person was okay.

[rpcv77]

Yes, what is the death rate on cruise ships? Until we have some stats, I think it would be hard to say it's high, based on anecdotal evidence. That being said, despite medical facilities on board and medical personnel, you are still on a ship in the ocean which may or may not give you easy access to a comprehensive medical facility. I think we all need to realize that should we experience a life threatening illness on board, that care might not be quite the same as a top notch ER/ICU close to ones home. Very, very sad for those who experience such a loss but I could think of worse places to die.

[dcrow72]

I witnessed a "code alpha" a few years back on the CB. The gentleman collapsed outside the casino. I immediately offered assistance since I'm an R.N. and within seconds, 2 nurses and 2 doctors were there with very modern equipment. I was very impressed with their management of the code including defibrillator and IV medications in an attempt to bring him back. Without immediate angioplasty or very advanced life support, there was nothing more they could do and the man was pronounced. I heard a page for a priest that was onboard. Very sad but it does happen. A friend's mom was cruising with her boyfriend and he had a heart attack and died. I now know that I really do need the travel insurance and will always buy it in the future; you never know. Even an appendicitis can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

[Antonintassie]

medical emergency

[caribill]

Yes, what is the death rate on cruise ships? Until we have some stats, I think it would be hard to say it's high, based on anecdotal evidence.

 

One web site says the following:

Close to 200 passengers die aboard a cruise ship each year. The vast majority die quietly and from natural causes, at peace on a vacation they planned for months in advance.

[TracieABD]

One web site says the following:

Close to 200 passengers die aboard a cruise ship each year. The vast majority die quietly and from natural causes, at peace on a vacation they planned for months in advance.

 

I can think of way worse ways to go.