# Why haven't they rescued the cruise line passangers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135 "2013-02-13T00:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/1 "2013-02-13T00:20:24Z")
Have they said why there’s no apparent interest in rescuing the cruise liner passengers? Normally you hear about ships in the area picking up as many passengers as possible. I thought it was required for all ships to help rescue passengers? The SS Californian was blamed for ignoring the Titanic’s distress signals and is blamed for many of the deaths. Since then it seems like people get rescued from ships in distress pretty quickly. I imagine it’s much more difficult for the older passengers with preexisting health problems. > **[Cruise ship still gross, passengers say, but it’s finally moving | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/12/travel/cruise-ship-fire/index.html?hpt=hp_t3)** > > A Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico with about 4,200 passengers and crew is being towed to Alabama after a weekend engine fire, the cruise line said. > [@](#): > > Some on the ship reported sewage sloshing around in hallways, flooded rooms and trouble getting enough to eat after a fire in the ship’s engine room Sunday left it drifting in the Gulf of Mexico. Passengers dragged their mattresses onto the ship’s open deck to stay cool and get away from the nasty smells inside. > > “The odor is so bad, people are getting sick and they’re throwing up everywhere,” said Brent Nutt, whose wife is aboard the ship. > > But not all passengers share the same dire view of the situation. > > A poster on the cruising forum [cruisecritic.com](http://cruisecritic.com) said her sister reported passengers have enough food and are “enjoying the extended vacation.” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/2 "2013-02-13T00:26:19Z")
The ship is afloat, its being towed, it has food, the media is likely sensationalizing the “unsanitary conditions”, the tug has a Coast guard escort, the passengers will be conveyed to the nearest port, flown home for free, have their entire cruise bill refunded and be given a credit for a free cruise in the future, along with discounts. Shit happens, I don’t know what else these people can reasonably expect, although I fully expect there to be lawsuits. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/3 "2013-02-13T00:27:29Z")
They’re not sinking, and it sounds like they’re in no danger of sinking. They’re currently being towed back to port with a Coast Guard ship escorting them. That sounds a lot safer and easier than trying to transfer several thousand people to another ship while at sea. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/4 "2013-02-13T00:44:04Z")
I asked my husband the same thing (he spent a bunch of time on navy ships), and he said ship to ship transfers are exceedingly dangerous, and only the kind of thing they’d do if there was something seriously on fire, or otherwise presenting a clear and present danger to the people on the ship. Even anchored, ships move in three dimensions, and people and smaller boats can be crushed or otherwise damaged. The potential for dysentery doesn’t count as hazardous enough to risk it, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/5 "2013-02-13T00:54:34Z")
OMG, they’re being towed to Alabama! Wouldn’t it be more merciful to drown them at sea? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/6 "2013-02-13T01:20:17Z")
I see they originally wanted to tow the ship to the nearest port. But that didn’t work out. I guess if any of the blue haired bingo ladies gets chest pains the coast guard cutter can transfer them quickly for medical help. I saw a report a couple years ago about elderly people that sell their homes and permanently live on cruise ships. Cost wise its almost the same as a retirement home and cruise ships have doctors if they are needed. [http://www.silverplanet.com/lifestyles/retirement-living/cruise-ships-different-way-retire/46559#.URrqevJZM8o](http://www.silverplanet.com/lifestyles/retirement-living/cruise-ships-different-way-retire/46559#.URrqevJZM8o) > [@](#): > > Carnival initially planned to tow the ship to Progreso, Mexico, but strong currents that had pushed it 90 miles north by Monday night prompted the decision to move the ship to Mobile instead. The change also made it easier on the 900 passengers who don’t have passports, the cruise line said. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/7 "2013-02-13T01:49:30Z")
it was drifting north and Mexico was no longer closer. transferring people is risky. three crew recently were killed, two inured, in a lifeboat drill on a ship over the other side of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/8 "2013-02-13T01:57:27Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I saw a report a couple years ago about elderly people that sell their homes and permanently live on cruise ships. Cost wise its almost the same as a retirement home and cruise ships have doctors if they are needed. > [http://www.silverplanet.com/lifestyles/retirement-living/cruise-ships-different-way-retire/46559#.URrqevJZM8o](http://www.silverplanet.com/lifestyles/retirement-living/cruise-ships-different-way-retire/46559#.URrqevJZM8o) My parents knew a man who pretty much did this. His wife had Alzheimers, and it was cheaper and safer to care for her on board ship than at home or in an institution. She had better food and care, he didn’t have to try to learn how to shop and cook and do laundry, etc. He was old, too. ---
**Author:** ![dexter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@dexter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dexter)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/9 "2013-02-13T02:18:16Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > OMG, they’re being towed to Alabama! Wouldn’t it be more merciful to drown them at sea? Well, at least no one will be wearing cheese on their heads when they get there. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/10 "2013-02-13T02:25:02Z")
I read that they preferred not to dock in Mexico (Progresso) as there are approx. 900 passengers on board w/o passports. I had no idea you could cruise without one. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/11 "2013-02-13T02:28:27Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > OMG, they’re being towed to Alabama! Wouldn’t it be more merciful to drown them at sea? Well, now that you put it that way… ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/12 "2013-02-13T14:26:51Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > I read that they preferred not to dock in Mexico (Progresso) as there are approx. 900 passengers on board w/o passports. I had no idea you could cruise without one. Americans can still travel on [closed loop cruises](http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/closed_loop_faq.xml) (depart and arrive back to same port) with only government issued ID and a certified copy of their birth certificate. If you need to depart the ship for any reason and travel by air back to the US then it becomes a problem. Suddenly you need consular assistance to sort out emergency travel documents. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/13 "2013-02-13T16:34:59Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I guess if any of the blue haired bingo ladies gets chest pains the coast guard cutter can transfer them quickly for medical help. I’d be surprised if there is one reasonably sized passenger ship nowadays that doesn’t have a helicopter pad. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/14 "2013-02-13T16:49:35Z")
I don’t know of many, if any, cruise ships that have helo pads aboard - certainly not the one I sailed on or the ones I saw in the various ports we visited. Granted, I’m no expert, but I’ve also looked at a lot of cruise line websites, and I don’t recall ever seeing a ship with a helo pad. Not saying they don’t exist - I just didn’t see any. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/15 "2013-02-13T16:58:43Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Shit happens, I don’t know what else these people can reasonably expect, although I fully expect there to be lawsuits. > > :rolleyes: I see what you did there. You win the Kimberly-Clark award. Decorate your tree with it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/16 "2013-02-13T17:03:28Z")
I correct myself - just for grins, I went to Royal Caribbean’s site. Their larger ships do have helo pads, but not the smaller ones. Obviously on my trip, I just saw smaller vessels. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/17 "2013-02-13T17:05:26Z")
I wonder how many millions of advertising dollars it will cost to erase this damage. 😃 Get ready for lots of Carnival Cruise line tv ads for the next year. I have wondered how much bad press hurts the cruise ship industry? There seems to be at least one ship full of puking people every month or two. That norovirus just rips through a ship of people and ruins everyones holiday. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/18 "2013-02-13T17:17:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wonder how many millions of advertising dollars it will cost to erase this damage. 😃 Get ready for lots of Carnival Cruise line tv ads for the next year. > > I have wondered how much bad press hurts the cruise ship industry? There seems to be at least one ship full of puking people every month or two. That norovirus just rips through a ship of people and ruins everyones holiday. People forget. It was not too long ago that the cruise ship in Italy ran aground. Carnival will probably just lower prices to fill up the ships. While the situation does seem newsworthy, the coverage does seem to be a bit overboard (pun intended) and the cruise industry should be in PR hell for a while, but they will lower prices and people will forget. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/19 "2013-02-13T17:20:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wonder how many millions of advertising dollars it will cost to erase this damage. 😃 Get ready for lots of Carnival Cruise line tv ads for the next year. > > I have wondered how much bad press hurts the cruise ship industry? There seems to be at least one ship full of puking people every month or two. That norovirus just rips through a ship of people and ruins everyones holiday. Plus I think that the trial of the Costa Concordia captain is coming fairly soon, another black eye for Carnival. Yup, they’ll be offering bargain cruises galore. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135/20 "2013-02-13T17:21:26Z")
I know before this happened, my mother declared she’d never go on a Carnival cruise. Apparently a group from her church recently went on one and there were lots of robberies aboard. She implied that perhaps a band of thieves took the trip specifically to rob passengers. Personally, I decided I’d never go aboard a Carnival vessel after enduring their obnoxious commercials with (I think?) Kathy Lee Gifford. As good a reason as any, right? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-havent-they-rescued-the-cruise-line-passangers/650135.md?page=2)