RCCL Pays George Smith Estate

[Lil' Lori]

Hello I just saw on Fox News, that RCCL is paying "George Smith Estate" 1 million dollars. Hum, I personally think this is a bad precedence, for the cruise lines to set. I wonder if the overboard rate will go up. I could see someone scheming this. Just thought people should know about this latest chapter in the story. Anyone elses thoughts. Lil' Lori

[tncruiseman]

I just saw the same thing and had the same thoughts. I am sad for the family and his new wife, but in all seriousness, how can a cruise line be held responsible for our own actions? I could see the settlement if a crew member pushed him but cannot understand with the facts as they appear right now. Perhaps there is more. With this precedent, there will more than likely be a lot more incidents as you said Lori.

[Dave]

I just read about it on Drudge. Curious for sure. And the settlement actually happened last summer but was just announced. The settlement has the usual legal language of RCI 'not admitting any guilt' or words to that effect. Of course we all know the reality is that practically everyone will look at it as RCI being at fault and paying things off just to avoid a messy public trial. I wonder what the foundation in George's memory has as it's charitible goals?

RCI should have stuck to their guns and not caved in.

[Diddn]

I wonder what the foundation in George's memory has as it's charitible goals?

Just my suggestion:

- mandatory FST before possibility to open a balcony door,
- heightening of cruise ship's rails - specially at balconies,
- hiring of addl. staff to bring drunk women, sleeping in other places, back to their own cabin,
- printing brochures "How you can get cash back from your cruise line, even without any reason"

Sorry, I couldn't avoid this posting.


Diddn

[Dave]

It took me a minute to figure out what FST is.....field sobriety test.

I'm waiting for the balconies to be totally screened in as a result of too many passengers either being stupid or deciding that a cruise ship makes for a great suicide location.

[tncruiseman]

Balcony screening wouldn't surprise me one bit, although I'd rather be without one than have it that way. Maybe the lines will just up their liability insurance coverage and leave things the way they are. It really is impossible for them to stay one step ahead of fools when it comes to those type precautions.

[Nadine]

When will society begin to make people take responsibility for their own actions? This is getting ridiculous. And who is going to pay the $1,000,000? Ultimately it will be you and I.

On our last cruise, we were at the guest relations desk when an obviously drunk passenger loudly requested a complaint form. It didn't take a genius to figure out that a bartender probably refused to serve him more liquor and he was hacked off. Hurray for that bartender!

Nadine

[Dave]

Nadine,

You nailed it - We passengers will pay the price for the settlement. So many people think of corporations as some sort of endless fountains of money that can be tapped without any consequence to the consumer's bottom line. Everything is passed on via higher prices to the consumer.

[Sonny V]

It certainly doesn't help my RCL stock.

Sonny

[vacation bound]

A person's life was lost - a woman age 25 (during the cruise) has lost her husband and your so worried about your stock and what it means $ wise to you. Being from Ct this case has taken on a little more meaning to those who were affected by his loss. A little sensitivity would not hurt. And yes the wife has matched funds from RCI for a foundation in her husband's name.