Recently its like going into a haunted house.

Is the site on automatic control. Where has Malcolm disappeared to.

The Norway transit site remains unattended with cobwebs and unposted for many months

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Originally posted by topgun:
Is the site on automatic control. Where has Malcolm disappeared to.

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Yes the web site was on Auto pilot! I have been in Prague (a wonderful city) and Joe's been in Florida!

Try shutting me up, now that I'm back!

[ 03-28-2002: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

The first couple of days out of San Diego were a bit chilly - many people came expecting Hawaii temperatures the moment they set sail - they shivered.

Experienced a 'first' when medication was dropped by parachute for a very sick passenger - too far from land for helicopter Medi-Vac assistance. Actually there were three such drops by UCG aircraft - one was a C130 - first from San Diego, then Sacramento and finally San Francisco. These drops necessitated stopping the ship for the lowering of a lifeboat and, of course, delayed our arrival in Hilo. I believe some tours were cancelled and others departed later. Many passengers lined the outside decks - it was quite something to see the tiny 'chutes drop from the planes and watch, through binoculars (which we fortunately had), the efforts of the lifeboat crew to retrieve them before speeding back to the Statendam. I know they couldn't hear us but a great cheer went up as the 'chutes were captured and hauled on board. The drop planes circled until each drop was safely on board.....then they dipped their wings and flew home.

A few people on board were very upset and complained loudly about being so inconvenienced.

Following the last drop (3 'chutes that time) we set off at full speed for Hilo where the passenger was to be admitted to hospital - most unfortunately the patient died before we reached port. Our Captain was most forthcoming with detailed information as to what was going to happen and what was going on.

Has anyone else experienced such valiant efforts to save a life?

For those who are wondering about the Casino regulations while in Hawaiian waters - they've been relaxed a bit since last year - the Casino may now open when travelling between ports.

The Bingo jackpot topped US$8,000.00 - really went down to the wire.I didn't win it ......but I didn't play!.......we did come home with a couple of nice mugs for our Trivia efforts!.....and we received tiles and (although late) HAL bags........HAL is a great Line!!!

Now Topgun - have you booked your next HAL cruise?

Holland America will have to wait til next January. I have to go with them again since we got a $300 US on board credit for putting up with the road gang in the next cabin on the last trip.

You know, in a small way the people who are so warped as to have a problem with a rescue at sea are getting what they deserve by becoming bent out of shape in the first place. While civilized and compassionate folks lined the rails to watch an interesting naval operation, and in the case of the Norway even helped with the rescue, the loosers who were "inconvenienced" had to stew in their own bile. Serves them right!

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Originally posted by Namlit:
I am just completely amazed at some people's lack of compassion for fellow humans.............I wonder, Green, did you happen to pick-up any comments from these folks after they learned the sick person had died?

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Sadly, I did hear several comments to the effect that 'people over 80 should not be allowed to cruise'......"after all he came on board with oxygen...and my plans for Hilo are all messed up", mostly from full suite travellers who took pains to let everyone know that that's how they always travelled. As it happened, the sick passenger was in a full suite. It's true that he was apparently over 80 - some claimed 94 - but I have no verification of his age.

Does anyone have any idea who would pay for the flights used to make the medication drops? I would assume that his medical plan, insurance (if he had one) would pick up the cost of the medication and medical attention expenses but maybe that's not correct.

Green, I don't know of anyone actually paying the USCG for such services... They are a branch of our armed forces, and a part of the Department of Transportation, paid for, like the rest of the military, by our taxpayers... At the moment, USCG are very underfunded, they get the "bottom of the barrel" after the rest of the military is funded and are very overlooked, even though they are charged with defending our miles and miles of coastline... Talk about "homeland security"...