March 19, 2006
Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas disappearance
I've been putting off blogging about this, but since there are no new contest entries to publish, here we go.
The facts are that a man vanished from a Mediterranean cruise last summer while on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas. They found blood stains on a canopy that covers life boats, but no body.
There are two sides to every story. On one side we have the family of George Allen Smith IV, a 26-year-old honeymooner from Greenwich, Connecticut. The family wants an apology and for the CEO of Carnival to be fired because he called the incident a "nonevent."
"And so now comes the Smith case. But I mean, it's a nonevent. It's more entertainment than anything else," said Robert Dickinson, Carnival’s CEO. "The facts of the case, the story of the husband and wife, the bride and groom, and it's just absolutely bizarre, but it has nothing to do with safety on cruise ships. And the fact that we have to get up here and defend our safety record is absurd," Dickinson said, according to the letter.
Smith's family says "The lack of compassion illustrated by Mr. Dickinson in calling George's murder a 'nonevent' is beyond belief. His view that George's murder is a 'nonevent' is definitely not shared by George's family and friends whose lives have been devastated by his murder and the subsequent cover-up by Royal Caribbean."
Dickinson says, "My comments were within a larger discussion on cruise industry issues and were not meant to minimize the tragedy of George Smith's disappearance," Dickinson said. "I regret any pain my comments may have caused his family." Royal Caribbean says there is no cover up.
I honestly don’t know what to think. I don’t know why his family is so convinced that there was a murder or why they feel there was a cover up. On the other hand, cruise company's have to face facts; people are worried about their safety on cruise ships (if for no other reason than because of the media attention this case is getting) and saying that there’s no reason to defend their safety record seems a bit out of touch. Then again, I would go on a cruise tomorrow and not be overly concerned about safety.
Posted by James Trotta at March 19, 2006 2:32 AM
I have been on Royal Carribean cruises.I am certain they are involved and there is a cover up what I experienced and witnessed was horrifying.
Likely one of the foreigners or crack heads,they hire on the cruises. I was on Rhapsody of the seas april 4 03. I was stalked by a Female from Afrika white named Krista, things stolen Guys from India calling me in the middle of the night make lewd and disgusting gestures. I walked 14 year old females home to their parents who were being lured by the DJs from Canada after hours to hang out....... and drink......The men were pushing 30.....I have no doubt in mny mind RCCI is covering up. Worst of all I had booked another cruise they took my money then were over booked booked I was not allowed on nor given a refund nor another cruise. Another couple booked a suite on the 7th floor corner and I witnessed them being lied to and an attempt to convince them they could be upgraded to the 3rd floor hull.After paying 7 thousand they wanted to to give them a 1000 both people tiny room and keep their monies. There are some really frightening and deceitful people on all aspects of RCCI but the worst part is that since they are on international waters much of the illegal activities that would not be tollerated in the USA are allowed. One being working foreigners for tips like slaves. Usually the waiters are also cleaning cooking doing laundry 6 of seven days per week and do all meals. They basically have a slave system going on. I would look very very closely into Royal Carribean
It was very very terrifying experience. I was alone with a small child.Another thing...they rotate staff continually from ship to ship...6 months on 3 months off and then put them elsewhere. I was be friended by a female named Tiffany a Philipino adopted by Australians a dancer she told me of this. Many many people from other countries would tell of this. Also it make for a great way to cover up wrong doings. INVESTIGATE these people all the way.
What ever it takes LOOK AT ROYAL CARRIBBEAN >..I was only ripped off and harassed. I guarantee you ROYAL CARRIBEAN IS BEHIND IT>>>LIKELY A NUTTY EMPLOYEE..... They have cameras and videos 24/7.
All I got was if I didn't like it get off the ship they did nothing but cover up.
Fell free to call me but I would get some one undercovers to go as passengers with hidden cameras and videos...................
They will never admit to the truth and I assure you Royal Caribbean already knows who done it.
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I have a problem with your comments. I too have taken several cruises on RCCL and my observation of any young person in the disco makes me question their parents. RCCL is not there to supervise children. The ship is like a large city, i.e. New York City. Is the the city of New York to be held liable for the behavior of their citizens? Mind you it does not help the reputation of the City but how can you sue the city for someones calamity unless you can prove it directly. When you take a cruise you have to use your mind and THINK. You are taking a wonderful trip but you have to use your brain and beware. Just as you should not hang out isolated, late at night on the streets of New York or LA drunk or not drunk, it would also be unwise to do so on a ship, particularly alone. The ship personnel is not there to babysit adults. They do have programs for children and this is well supervised on all ships. However, for 14 yr olds to be in a club...well...you should ask...WHERE ARE THE PARENTS AND WHY ARE THEY NOT PARENTING! THE PARENTS BROUGHT THEM AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. Also, for you to purchase a cruise and not purchase travel insurance is completely irresponsible. Anyone that has traveled on any cruise should be aware of travel insurance. If you read any of the cruiselines brochures, be it Carnival, RCCL, Princess, et al, they clearly offer this protection should your cruise be cancelled..etc.
For you not to have this is your fault. Also if you personally witnessed this behavior by the personnel, why didn't you report it? Any one at the front desk could have helped you. You could have asked to speak with the Captain, but apparently you did not. You chose to complain and blame others.
We should all take responsibily for our failure when we do not put in place the proper procedures to protect ourselves......do not try to place blame elsewhere.
Remember, we cannot control the behavior of others but we can definitely handle our reaction to any given situation.
Posted by: Vic Durwin at March 19, 2006 2:07 PMHay Vic, lighten up. When Christina feels that things are not on the up and up, trust that instinct. Christina obviously felt uncomfortable about some of the things she experienced on her trip. And not everyone is into turning people in for questionable behavior.
Did you see "The Village." Just who can you trust. A ship is like a micro society. And the ship staff are really in CONTROL of that society. Now, I am not suggesting that the Captain and his Officers are anything other than decent, caring, intelligent people... but as the old saying goes, it only takes one bad egg to spoil the dozen.
Also, traveling with her child, Christina may have tried to keep a low profile since she was being stalked; getting lewd calls in the night. A quick comment on the insurance issue, everyone knows that flights get cancelled, not so much cruises. That lessons falls under live and learn, unfortunately.
Now for Christina, Those "slaves" you are so concerned about really LIKE the tips they make. Competition for those jobs is stiff! They know BEFORE they take their training that they will be working like dogs for the privelage of being there. Yes, like anyone, they probably complain about their jobs, long hours, bosses, passangers...you get the picture. But they sign up over and over again.
Posted by: Sharon Howell at March 19, 2006 9:16 PMI have taken several cruises, one with RCCL and with other cruise lines. Recently my daughter and I took a Caribbean cruise out of New York on NCL. During the cruise it became apparent that there were a group of people on the cruise that were out of control. They were men of Russian origin who lived in New York. At each time that they appeared, they were extrememly drunk , loud , intrusive and would have been arrested on land for disorderly conduct. They were grabbing at women, pushing men and continued in this way whenever we saw them. My daughter and I avoided them constantly. I pitied the folks who shared an elevator with them. When I read the story of the Greenwich couple and their tragedy, I was struck by the fact that the groom's companions were also men of Russian origin who had traveled from the United States. If these men were anything like the ones on our cruise, I would have no doubt that they were capable of murder. But the fact that the groom chose these types to befriend says much about him. I believe that like everything else in society, there is a need for greater secruity. Sometimes now, taking a flight is like riding a bus in a bad neighborhood. After a recent flight on Iberia , I was shocked when looking around as I left the plane. It looked like everyone on it had gotten into a food fight. I told my companion, "If a house looked like this, you would just burn it."Let's face it, there is no standard for behavior. And the barbarians are us.
Posted by: Nancy McCarthy at March 20, 2006 11:57 PMI JUST TOOK AN 11 DAY CRUISE ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS. THE CREW WAS FANTASTIC. THE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT AND THE FOOD WAS WONDERFUL.
MY SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO GEORGE SMITHS FAMILY, BUT TO ACCUSE ROYAL CARIBBEAN AND ITS CREW OF A COVER UP IS UNFAIR . PASSENGERS MUST TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND WATCH JUST WHO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH. MR SMITH WAS EXTREMELY INTOXICATED AND HE USED POOR JUDGEMENT TO INVITE 4 MEN THAT HE HAD JUST MET BACK TO HIS ROOM AND HIS WIFE, BY HER OWN ADMISSION, WAS ALSO EXTREMELY INTOXICATED AND LYING IN A HALLWAY SOMEWHERE. NOW DOES THAT SOUND LIKE RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR.
THANK YOU ROYAL CARIBBEAN FOR MY WONDERFUL CRUISE !!