Another Missing on Cruise Ship

[TheSkipper]

Just read in the mornings paper that a fifteen year old boy from Ireland has gone missing aboard the Costa Magica off Cozumel, Mexico.

Discovered missing about 2AM Thursday morning.

Was traveling with his parents. Sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale on New Year's Day. Ship is due back on Sunday.

Mexican Navy searching for him.

Story stated that over a dozen people have gone missing on cruise ships in the last two years.

[DaCruzNut]

It's very sad when someone 'disappears' off of a cruise ship. It, almost, is always caused by an accident, involving stupidity, or foul play. In most cases, the person got so drunk that they thought they could walk on a railing, or something like that.

But, on the other hand, think of the odds. Twelve people in two years. I imagine that would work out to about one in a million! I'd still rather cruise, than fly.

[Joanandjoe]

Along the lines suggested by DaCruzNut (accidents, drink, and stupidity), did you see the statement released by RCCL regarding the Smith newlywed case? The cruise line basically claims that both husband and wife were partying so hard, and drinking so much, that he didn't make it back to their cabin the night before the night he disappeared, and that she passed out in the hallway, and wasn't in the room, the night he disappeared.

Even in her account, booze apparently played a big part in the Smith disappearance. Even on vacation, it seems that one can't afford to lose control of their senses. Tragic but nonetheless true.

[JoeyandDavid]

I saw the interview...i reserve judgement

[Mebert]

I'm with you JoeyandDavid. It's hard to come to conclusions when all of the facts are not known.

Now we're hearing about a 12 year old. This is a child. What is going on!

It just goes to show that even though the cruise ship environment is not just relatively safe, but very safe, children should be supervised all the time. I wouldn't think that a child got intoxicated and can't even guess as to why a child would be missing. It's extremely distressing to hear about a child going missing.

[boba]

:undecided: :undecided: We took our 2 teen dd"s on Voyager of the Seas in June and I was a wreck worrying about them doing something stupid. After a month of lecturing before we left, I had to relax or ruin my cruise. It's a parents worst nightmare on a ship. I tried to get them to hang with dear old dad, but they weren't having it. Go figure. :huh: :huh:

[jbond]

We cruised numerous times with our daughters when they were teenagers and now with our grandkids who are now both teenagers. We have always considered cruising to be a very safe environment. It has changed over the years, more people cruising and it would be foolish to think that "people of evil intent" don't cruise. I still feel that cruising is a much safer environment than any land based vacation, but you still have to be sensible. Life's tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid.

We were on Brilliance a couple of months after the Smith incident. The crew were not short of opinions on what happened. I've read a lot of reports by various people and the most concise, unemotional statement, IMO, was the one put out by RCI this week. It didn't show the Smith's in a very good light, but then every report I have read indicated that they were a very strange couple of honeymooners.

[Suzila]

They do sound really strange. You'd think honeymooners would want to keep to themselves, even if they got drunk, they'd go back to the room together. It sounds like he got into a fight and she ended up at the other end of the ship, passed out. What's that all about?

[Lisa63]

First and most importantly, my prayers go out to this young man and his family.

Statistically speaking, though, disappearance of passengers is a very rare occurence that the media is blowing out of proportion. Certainly, three missing passengers is three too many, yet still represents a very small percentage (close to 0%, in fact) of total cruisers during this period. That's not to say it should be ignored -- it shouldn't be -- but we all need to exercise caution no matter where we are. Of course, that won't prevent anything from happening, yet it could cut down on the number.

I wonder how many people go missing from hotels?

[KarenUK]

I agree with Lisa with thoughts to the family & also about how many go from hotels. We get alot of late teens going on hols to the Spanish & Greek islands & there is always someone who has heard of someone either falling off balconies, trying to dive into the swimming pools from their rooms or renting out scooters with dire consequences so I think being on a ship is just the same - you have to trust they will behave apropriately & worry the same as you would if they went on any "normal" holiday.