The name of the article is "A long way to go to ensure passengers' safety on cruise ships".
I must protest, even just from the name. Do YOU ever, I mean EVER feel unsafe while on a cruise? Do you worry about the guy in the corner, or falling off the ship or about anything else?
If the article had a comment section I would put this there, but since it does not, I am starting the conversation here. I know Chris Elliot, and everyone knows he tends to write :senstionalistically" - which is why he gets published.
But don't you deplore using such suggestive headlines just to get readers?
Maybe you don't think of a floating vacation as a dangerous activity -- after all, the last headline-grabbing sinking of a cruise liner was that of the MS Sea Diamond, which ran aground near Santorini, Greece, back in 2007. Two passengers disappeared and were presumed dead in that incident. The cruise industry also contends that it has an outstanding safety record when it comes to onboard crimes such as theft and assaults.
Just one little problem: The federal government doesn't require cruise lines to report these crimes in a meaningful and systematic way, so we have to take them at their word. And some passengers don't.
This is how it starts out. Then it goes into the worst cruise ship cases ever, trotting out Laurie Dishman, who alleges she was raped in 2006. This is still the last, good case anti-cruise people have to refer to.. isn't that a bit ridiculous?
The point of course, in the end, is that the Cruise Safety Bill of 2010 which Obama is about to sign this week DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.
Didn't I tell you you they would not be satisfied with this bill. Didn't I tell you it was not over?
This is how the article ends: "Even with these new measures in place, and the possibility of future regulation, one thing seems certain: Just because the ship isn't sinking doesn't mean that it's safe."
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I am not a person to feel unsafe. I did survive the war in Vietnam. I have also traveled quite a bit.
With that said I firmly believe that we all are in much more danger in our cities and towns than we are on cruiseship.
Of course I am referring to the US based cruiselines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean. In third world countries cruiselines I would not care to cruise.
TM
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CRUISES
Century 4/1998
Mercury 4/2000+4/2006+7/2007
Sensation 4/2002
Infinity 4/2003
Summit 4/2004+4/2005
Carnival Liberty New Year's Eve 2007
Liberty of the Seas 5/2008+11/2009
Solstice 4/2009
Oasis 4/2010+4/13/2013
Allure 1/16/ 2011
Equinox 4/11/2011
Sounds like checkbook journalism funded by the land-based cruise industry to me.
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Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. ---Groucho Marx
Navigator of the Seas 2005, 2006
Holiday 2005, 2006, 2008
Sovereign of the Seas 2007
Carnival Fantasy 2008
Carnival Fascination 9/14/09
Freedom of the Seas 11/28/10
The things that they do best is start needless wars and then losing them and leaving the country bankrupt.
TM
__________________
CRUISES
Century 4/1998
Mercury 4/2000+4/2006+7/2007
Sensation 4/2002
Infinity 4/2003
Summit 4/2004+4/2005
Carnival Liberty New Year's Eve 2007
Liberty of the Seas 5/2008+11/2009
Solstice 4/2009
Oasis 4/2010+4/13/2013
Allure 1/16/ 2011
Equinox 4/11/2011
Yes, it must have been a slow news day! I suspect that this piece of drivel must have been in the can just waiting for such a day to be published Anyone with half a brain can see through the "facts" to the sensationalism.
It's like the headline: "passenger falls off cruise ship". How the hell does one fall off of a cruise ship?
When Congress passes a bill to keep us safe in the streets of our cities, I hope that the President signs that as well.
TM
__________________
CRUISES
Century 4/1998
Mercury 4/2000+4/2006+7/2007
Sensation 4/2002
Infinity 4/2003
Summit 4/2004+4/2005
Carnival Liberty New Year's Eve 2007
Liberty of the Seas 5/2008+11/2009
Solstice 4/2009
Oasis 4/2010+4/13/2013
Allure 1/16/ 2011
Equinox 4/11/2011
Media - what bunch of drama queens! Like some 12 year-old brother always looking for a way to jump up and scare you.
That is how they make money. They keep people scared and tell you half-truths and misquote speeches.
They want you to go and read that article or watch that news show, so they have to embelish the facts to perk people's interest.
Of course they do our society a great injustice.
TM
__________________
CRUISES
Century 4/1998
Mercury 4/2000+4/2006+7/2007
Sensation 4/2002
Infinity 4/2003
Summit 4/2004+4/2005
Carnival Liberty New Year's Eve 2007
Liberty of the Seas 5/2008+11/2009
Solstice 4/2009
Oasis 4/2010+4/13/2013
Allure 1/16/ 2011
Equinox 4/11/2011
Is Obama planning to regulate the hotels next . I find that he is infringing on the individual rights of the people of the US and other countries.
How are they going to enforce the reporting requirements on cruise in other countries without infringing those countries laws .
If the act of assault happens in Australian waters who will the ship report to
the Australians or the FBI . I would say that if they reported it to the FBI , the australian police would refused to give the FBI any help .
As a Canadian I feel that the current administration is stepping on my Canadian rights of free speak and travel.
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SS Ithaca , Volendam , Mariner of the Seas (x2) , Veendam , Coral Princess , Island Princess (x3) , Emerald ,Sapphire (x3)
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Washington Post article on "Cruise Safety"
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