[justjim]

This time it was a fire aboard the Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of The Seas Cruise Ship. It seems every couple of weeks you hear of another "troubled" cruise. These incidents seem to be escalating to the point where a person might want to think twice about cruising. What is going on?

[Trayderjoe]

IMO, no, cruise ships have NOT suddenly become dangerous. As with life, there is a risk in anything with we do. Communication is different today than in the past, so we are getting information quicker and more broadly. Add in our natural sensitivity to cruise line issues right now and I can understand your question. I would also put forth that the cruise line response to the event is crucial. Ask the RC cruisers how they felt about the incident and compare that to the feedback from the other cruise line recently in the news and I am sure that you will see a completly different outcome.

If anything, I would submit that cruising is actually safer. Technology allows quicker identification of storms, faster identification of ships in the area and even at greater distances in years past, etc.

I have been on 10 cruises, with #11 coming up and fully intend to continue cruising as much as possible.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by justjim

This time it was a fire aboard the Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of The Seas Cruise Ship. It seems every couple of weeks you hear of another "troubled" cruise. These incidents seem to be escalating to the point where a person might want to think twice about cruising. What is going on?

Considering how many cruise ships there are now and, given the size of the newer ones, how many people are cruising, the accident rate is very low and most are relatively minor bearing in mind the on-board emergency response facilities.

However, I do think that the cruise lines are cutting back on preventative maintenance - trying to keep the ships at sea earning money rather than dry-docking them on a regular basis - and this may well be contributing to accidents that would otherwise have been avoided.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

I do think that the cruise lines are cutting back on preventative maintenance - trying to keep the ships at sea earning money rather than dry-docking them on a regular basis - and this may well be contributing to accidents that would otherwise have been avoided.

How do you support this broad statement.... other than the fact you stayed at a "Holiday Inn Express" last night?

[Bonny]

We just took our 50th. cruise & have 2 more booked. We love cruising.

[Sparty6971]

I have absolutely no fear of cruises. We started back in the 1990s with the small cruise ships and are loving the bigger ones now. Our lines of choice are Princess and Royal Caribbean and both have had issues on cruises but I wouldn't mind living on one of their ships full time. Comfy staterooms, great food, super service. . . I know people can offer up horror stories concerning every cruise line. Same can be done for all the airlines, trains, cars, buses, resorts, you name it. Sorry for the almost rant.

In short, IMHO no the cruises are NOT getting dangerous.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Bonny

We just took our 50th. cruise & have 2 more booked. We love cruising.

Wow! 50 cruises----we have been on eight or nine over the years and never had any problems---well, on one had some rough seas the last couple of days and a lot of people were sick as they even closed down the dining room and casino because they couldn't keep the plates or the chips on the tables. It really was rough seas. Our last cruise was on The Oasis of the Seas, largest cruise ship at the time, and we had a very good time. I guess everything is great until "trouble on the high seas" happens to,you. On a ship you are at the mercy of the crew and staff.

[jdsl1998]

Just got back on Sunday from NCL Breakaway out of NYC. This was the second week for this new ship. She was beautiful and the staff was fabulous. The waves got up past 23 feet and I felt safe, unless I looked outside...haha. Everything was in working order and of the highest quality. Plan on cruising again before the end of the year on Holland.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

How do you support this broad statement.... other than the fact you stayed at a "Holiday Inn Express" last night?

While I don't understamd your Holiday Inn Express reference, I do know that on the past three cruises the company has undertaken fairly extensive work - including rewiring etc. - that we have never experienced in our previous decade of cruising.

On one cruise they closed down part of a deck so that they could dismantle some awnings. That ship was then heading to Bahamas for a week for a significant refit, so the only reason for starting work while we were still at sea on a cruise was so they could get a head start and spend less time out of commission.

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by justjim

This time it was a fire aboard the Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of The Seas Cruise Ship. It seems every couple of weeks you hear of another "troubled" cruise. These incidents seem to be escalating to the point where a person might want to think twice about cruising. What is going on?

NO!

btk

[George Bieniaszek]

Love cruising!!! Been on 2 so far this year with one more scheduled in August, a destination wedding with a stop in Key West where my daughter is getting married

My wife and I did a cruise in late January and just for the heck of it, looked at the Royal Caribbean web site in April and saw a 4 day cruise out of Miami for $149 per person. Yes, it was on an older ship, but it was in beautiful shape and for $149 per person and the potential of eating 37 times per day HA HA HA, no brainer!! 8 days after we saw the ad, we were on the ship.

Living in Florida has its advantages that you are at most, 5 hours by car away from cruising and can get real good last minute rates.

[simpkinp]

I'm cruising again soon, so I don't think it's dangerous. This is 15th or so for me, and many more for my companion. I enjoy every one of them, no matter the weather or whatever. Everyone has its special times and memories. Nothing like it.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Trayderjoe

....I would also put forth that the cruise line response to the event is crucial. Ask the RC cruisers how they felt about the incident and compare that to the feedback from the other cruise line recently in the news and I am sure that you will see a completly different outcome.

If anything, I would submit that cruising is actually safer. Technology allows quicker identification of storms, faster identification of ships in the area and even at greater distances in years past, etc.

I agree that cruising is safer nowadays because of technology. I have been on more cruises than I can remember, am doing four in 2013 alone, and will not hesitate to continue cruising in spite of recent incidents. There have always been--and always will be--incidents!

As far as the RC cruisers in contrast to passengers on "the other cruise line," keep in mind two things: (1) the fire on the RC ship did NOT knock out the ship's power, and (2) when it happened it was much closer to port than the ship on "the other cruise line." Major differences....

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by Quixote

I agree that cruising is safer nowadays because of technology. I have been on more cruises than I can remember, am doing four in 2013 alone, and will not hesitate to continue cruising in spite of recent incidents. There have always been--and always will be--incidents!

As far as the RC cruisers in contrast to passengers on "the other cruise line," keep in mind two things: (1) the fire on the RC ship did NOT knock out the ship's power, and (2) when it happened it was much closer to port than the ship on "the other cruise line." Major differences....

But, Royal Caribbean was way more generous to the passengers than the other cruise line !!!

[asianthree]

try not to worry about things i can not change...cruise on