Cruise Talk: SS Norway Crew Member Overboard

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Topic: SS Norway Crew Member Overboard

Namlit
First Class Passenger
Member # 1940

posted 03-06-2002 08:33 PM

This from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

A 24 year old female crew member from the SS Norway was plucked from the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday after spending 10 hours treading water. She was picked up by the cruise liner in Bahamian waters about 135 miles northeast of Great Inagua Island. Her condition was reported as "stable". No word on how the woman fell... she was reported missing after the ship conducted a late night roll call.

That woman is extremely lucky. Ten hours in the water.. we're talking needle in a haystack here, aren't we? Wow!

Posts: 309 | From: Greene County, Indiana, USA | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 03-07-2002 02:37 PM

That's amazing !

How did she prevent herself from drowning after keeping herself above water so long ?

Ðraikar

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-07-2002 03:39 PM

7th March: A report from D.M.Scott, crew member, aboard the Norway:

Just in case you've been seeing CNN newscasts concerning the Norway, they are, in fact, true. Sometime Monday evening a Romanian cabin
stewardess left the ship under still unknown circumstances.

After hours of searching through the night with the aid of two US Coast Guard Hercules & several
cutters, oneof our bridge watch AB's spotted her this morning. She had been treading water - with high seas & white caps - for more than 10 hours.

Her condition is stable, no aspiration of water, & in good spirits. Best we know at present, she fell over the Viking Deck aft railing accidentally. An
investigation is underway.

We are currently steaming to St. John as we have no time to make St. Maarten. We will return to a normal schedule on Thursday. Anyone spotting a Norway life-preserver is asked to return it... several were not returned to the ship including the emergency flare lifering from the bridge.

All crew are now happily back aboard.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Namlit
First Class Passenger
Member # 1940

posted 03-08-2002 07:36 AM

This is really an amazing survival story, when you think about it. To be treading water in high seas and whitecaps for ten hours is in itself a testament to the woman's sheer will. But then you throw in the fact that she was even found in such conditions at all... No orange life preserver or other bright, attention-getting implements, far from land, the wind and current having surely swept her many miles from where she originally went into the drink... it's just incredible to me that they found her at all.

I don't have CNN, but I hope that they are focussing on the many heroic aspects of this story. I'm very much looking forward to hearing about this adventure first-hand from the participants next week on the Norway.

Posts: 309 | From: Greene County, Indiana, USA | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

RuthPerk
First Class Passenger
Member # 1609

posted 03-08-2002 08:25 AM

Here's the link to the story on the CNN website:

CNN story

Posts: 329 | From: Victor, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

titanicsteve
First Class Passenger
Member # 2142

posted 03-08-2002 08:52 AM

Wow what a woman! She is lucky the propeller blades never got near her!!!

Posts: 510 | From: Ireland (near Titanic birthplace!!) | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

barr xx
First Class Passenger
Member # 2537

posted 03-13-2002 03:26 PM

I was on that cruise and will have a review over at *****-****.com either 3/14 or 3/15.

Steve

[ 03-13-2002: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Posts: 17 | From: No. California | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-13-2002 03:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by barr xx:
I was on that cruise and will have a review over at *****-****.com either 3/14 or 3/15. Steve

Steve, you are very welcome to post it here as well! (See menu left)

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

titanicsteve
First Class Passenger
Member # 2142

posted 03-14-2002 10:42 AM

mmmmm www.*****-****.com never seemed to work lol Can we have the address? Its ok to post an address isn't it malcolm!? Well within reason lol

Posts: 510 | From: Ireland (near Titanic birthplace!!) | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-14-2002 04:31 PM

It's a rival web site! They don't post the cruisetalk address for their readers.

Hopefully barr xx will be kind enough to post the review in our Readers Review section?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Namlit
First Class Passenger
Member # 1940

posted 03-19-2002 07:56 PM

Just a couple of additional details on this issue gleaned from talking to crew-members on the Norway last week:

- The woman and her boyfriend had been hanging-out on the small open "crew only" deck below the pool deck, aft. The boyfriend left her for a moment to get a drink, when he returned, she was gone. His concern eventually set in motion the unusual crew roll call that ascertained she was no longer on board several hours later.

- The woman (get this) DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM!!

- A number of passengers were upset that the ship back-tracked to rescue the woman, and became even more so after it was announced that Norway would not make the call at St. Martin due to time lost during the rescue.

- It was a passenger who first spotted the woman as they were searching for her in the water.

What a story!

Posts: 309 | From: Greene County, Indiana, USA | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

barr xx
First Class Passenger
Member # 2537

posted 03-27-2002 01:35 PM

I was the second person on board to see the girl in the water. The man that had the suite next to ours saw her first. We were in S018 so they must of been in S020. We were both standing on our balconys. I was looking straight out and he was looking out in front of the ship. Our suites were on the port side. He yelled out that he saw her and that she was still alive. I watched where he was pointing and spotted her as well. We both yelled down to a crew member who had the port side watch near the bow. The girl was about 100 ft off the port side. We spotted her about 50 to 60 yds in front of the ship. The crew member then radioed another crew member near the stern and they shot an orange smoke bomb out into the water so they would have an idea of where she was. They also threw two orange floatation rings in the water as well. The girl only had on her clothes and was dog paddling. As the ship went past her she was yelling for help. I yelled back to her that we saw her and that help would be coming soon. It took the ship about a half hour to get the boat turned around and back near the smoke bomb. When the ship was stopped they lowered a Boston whaler type boat in the water that included two divers. The boat went out to the smoke bomb but couldn't see her. In the meantime I went on the Sun deck above our suite which was now crowded with people. Someone standing next to me spotted her near the bow, maybe 150 ft out. We all yelled down to a crew member who in turn radioed the boat. It came back and picked her up.She had retreived one of the rinhs and had it around her neck when she was pulled out of the water. It was a miricle that she was spotted. I heard that she was about 3-4 miles from the ships original course. Any information about the girl is speculation as NCL was not saying much of anything. I had heard that she was 24 and from Romania. If you have any other questions please feel free to e-mail me at stevep@butler-johnson.com

Steve

Posts: 17 | From: No. California | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Namlit
First Class Passenger
Member # 1940

posted 03-28-2002 04:22 PM

Wow Steve!
Thanks for posting your fascinating, first-hand account of the rescue! What can you tell us about your fellow passengers who got upset that the ship had to divert for the rescue and eventually had to cancel the call at St. Maarten? By your account, it sounds like the poor woman might never have been found, had the Norway not gone back for her. I find it hard to believe that any passengers would have a problem with that, though many crew members I spoke with said that they did.

Posts: 309 | From: Greene County, Indiana, USA | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 03-29-2002 11:16 AM

that is an amazing story I would die from the fall from the ship never mind being in the water for 10 hours. just the thought of being in the water for a couple of minutes is scary. when we were in St Marteen the week following this event everyone was talking about it.it's an amazing survival story. I can't believe people are so selfish as to complain that they missed a port because the ship had to go back for her. Yes we might be disappointed in missing St Marteen but isn't life more presious than a vacation spot. It makes who wonder what type for person we share this fine planet earth with doesn't it!!!!!

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 03-29-2002 01:54 PM

Namlit - on one of our cruises we missed 2 ports, San Juan and Half Moon Cay. San Juan because during a storm one of the buoys in the channel had been knocked out of position and the US Coast Guard felt it was unsafe to go out and move it back. There were ships stuck in San Juan harbour and we heard later that those ships did not make it our for a couple of days - it must have been a nightmare for the cruise lines stuck there. Our Captain wisely chose not to try and enter the harbour. HMC was missed due to weather conditions. One lady passenger was so mad because she missed San Juan that she demanded a refund on her cruise - said the only reason she took the cruise was to see San Juan. We all told her she wouldn't see much of it for the few hours we were there and she should have flown there instead and spent a week.
The Captain was only thinking of the safety of the passengers when he cancelled these ports, but this woman just didn't get it.
There are a lot of people out there who only think of themselves and not of others.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

barr xx
First Class Passenger
Member # 2537

posted 04-01-2002 03:30 PM

There were a few people that were upset that we missed St. Martin. One guy in particular, shortly after it was announced that we would not be going there, was raving on how we were not a rescue ship and we should have left it up to the Coast Guard to find her. I wanted to throw the guy overboard myself and let him see how it feels to be out in the middle of the ocean all by himself, but I kept my cool and just laughed at him.
That said I expected NCL to do something, either a refund on the port taxes, a future cruise discount or an on board credit for another cruise. I am not demanding anything, and they absolutly did the correct thing in turning around and trying to find the girl. However it was not an act of God like a storm. It was one of their cruise personnel that caused the missed port. So far it has been about a month since the cruise and we have heard nothing from NCL. I loved The Norway, it was my first time on her, and I hope to sail on her again.

Steve

Posts: 17 | From: No. California | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 04-01-2002 05:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by barr xx:
One guy in particular, shortly after it was announced that we would not be going there, was raving on how we were not a rescue ship and we should have left it up to the Coast Guard to find her.

What kind of person regards missing a port of call more important that trying to save a human life? NCL should reintroduce the gang plank!

I agree with you Steve, that NCL should provide some sort of compensation for the inconvenience caused! The passengers did not recieve the exact vacation that they had paid for.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

colt
First Class Passenger
Member # 1215

posted 04-02-2002 08:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by barr xx:

That said I expected NCL to do something, either a refund on the port taxes, a future cruise discount or an on board credit for another cruise. I am not demanding anything, and they absolutly did the correct thing in turning around and trying to find the girl. However it was not an act of God like a storm. It was one of their cruise personnel that caused the missed port. So far it has been about a month since the cruise and we have heard nothing from NCL. I loved The Norway, it was my first time on her, and I hope to sail on her again.
Steve

Steve--I think that if anyone owes you anything, it would be that young woman that you and your fellow passenger spotted. I am sure that if she knew your name, she or her boy friend would certainly want to express their thanks. Well done!!!

Posts: 293 | From: Lisbon, Maryland, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

chrisrotlmacin
First Class Passenger
Member # 4531

posted 03-12-2004 01:12 AM

The girl retourned to Romania and she was on interwiews by romanian television and many news papers. Many of the cruise ships from Carnival ,NCL have romanian crew 5-10% , most of them woman working in dining and bar department .

Posts: 233 | From: Romania ,the home country of Dracula and with the best cruise crew in the world | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

RobHolland
First Class Passenger
Member # 3779

posted 03-12-2004 04:30 AM

quote:
Wow what a woman! She is lucky the propeller blades never got near her!!!

When a ship is sailing at normal speed, the moment someone falls overboard the ship has sailed so far from the falling point that a hit with the propellors is very unlikely. The props suck the water from under the ship, and 'spit' it out with great force behind the ship, so this waterforce would also push someone away. The biggest danger is the temperature of the water, the shock most people have when tumbling into the water, dangerous sea life like sharks and also the sun, which can burn you alive in case you're not found soon.

[ 03-12-2004: Message edited by: RobHolland ]

Posts: 762 | From: ms Rotterdam | Registered: Apr 2003 | IP: Logged

Cunardcoll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1226

posted 03-12-2004 05:35 AM

That woman was very lucky , but I don't understand why Norway was there , I tought she was still in Germany waiting for something to happen , Can anyone inform me of the latest news around her ??

Posts: 947 | From: Belgium | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Cunardcoll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1226

posted 03-12-2004 05:37 AM

Oops , didn't look at the date , it was 2 years ago , didn't remember it , but anyway , is there any news about Norway ??

Posts: 947 | From: Belgium | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 03-14-2004 02:36 PM

The word among the crew aboard the Norwegian Sea when we were aboard a couple of weeks ago was that the repairs to the Norway would cost as much as a new ship, so the odds are it will never sail again.

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 03-14-2004 02:44 PM

Hey Mr. Blanche, how was your cruise on N. SEA? Anyhow, I hope NCL fix up the blue lady....

[ 03-14-2004: Message edited by: Keitaro ]

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 03-15-2004 08:55 AM

The Norwegian Sea's "Texaribbean" cruise was just fine. Not great, but no major problems, either. It's clearly an older ship with some of the smallest cabins in the industry, and the old girl is getting a little tired. I expect her to be gone in the next year or two, depending on the other newbuilds.

That said, you can "steal" this cruise, easily less than $1000 for a couple in an outside cabin, so that makes up for a lot of shortcomings!

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

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