What?! Oh my goodness, haven't heard anything on the news about it yet.

Hubby and I were just talking about it, frightening for sure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Concordia listed

Wow--that is scary.

Just saw a short blurb about it on the news.

It must have been very dark, I sure wouldn't have jumped off that ship if I knew it was that close to a shoreline.

What the heck went wrong with their navigational equipment to let them get into such shallow water?

International maritime law requires that the muster drill take place within 24 hours of the ship's departure but here in the US most ships do so as they leave the initial port of embarkation. Obviously not so in this case, they were to do it this evening.

What a tragedy.

Here is a link that might be useful: More Photos

What a terrible tragedy. how scary. Cruises aren't for me. I would be aware of all that water beneath me.

Let's see, we've been on about a dozen cruises over the last 30+ years. My DM and I sailed on the Ile de France from NYC to France -- and back in a storm. (Always had lifeboat drill very soon after setting sail!)

This Costa mess is like an airplane crash -- big news because it IS so rare. I love being on a cruise ship. It's like being a kid again; everything is done for you. The steward would bring every meal and snacks to your cabin if you asked. No cleaning, no planning meals, just larking about. I'd rather retire to a cruise ship than a nursing home any day! LOL

I'll be on my 15th cruise three weeks from tomorrow.

Interesting, I didn't know Costa is owned by Carnival.

One thing on cruising I found out: it is mandatory that everyone attends the boat safety drill.

Room stewards are checking every room to make sure all are out with their vests.

Every drill I've been to, the personnel takes it seriously in making sure everyone is informed and knows the rules.

Even when everyone knows the rules, a situation like this is rare-half the lifeboats unusable. Its a good thing they were close to shore!

I agree, this was a rare situation.

Read about this on break this evening at work. How horrible. Apparently, more seasoned passengers had to demand the crew release the life boats but when the finally did it was too late. I hate deep dark water and was considering a cruise someday to Alaska...now I'm not so sure anymore. That would be my worse nightmare to be in the ocean or a big ship going down.

I was almost in tears reading about a woman who handed back a young couple's baby because she couldn't hold on to it and thought they were all going to die anyway. The woman and her family got out and she didn't know if the baby and family did.

We have been on 27 cruises, just got back Monday from our family Christmas cruise. It won't stop me from cruising, but I can not imagine how scary and awful that was!

We have always had muster drill before we ever left home port! I still think flying and cruising are safer than driving!

Think there will be a big question on why wasn't there a safety drill before leaving the port?

All cruises I have been on there is always a mandatory drill before leaving.

Why didn't they have one?

See where the captain has been arrested.

More to come, I am sure.

On Holland America we had our drill before the ship even left the dock. It was my first cruise--my DH had been after me for years & I finally relented this past year - a cruise on HAL to Alaska. It was wonderful. The crew was very professional and I felt comfortable and safe. Now I'm ready to go on more cruises (but I'll be very careful which cruise line we use...will be happy to use Holland America again). So, did this Costa captain really leave the ship before it had been completely evacuated? It will be interesting to learn what the ship's black box shows.

I read that this ship has people coming and going into the different ports so they only do the drill every third day. Plus, they don't have to obey by the US Coast Guard rules. Hence, most didn't have the muster drill yet. I also read that the captain was on of the first off the ship and he's now under arrest. What kind of a captain is that??
Eileen

The ship hit a hidden reef - maybe it wasn't charted. If it was charted, someone was not watching. The Captain is being held responsible, but I'll bet the Navigator should carry plenty of blame. The ship immediately laid over onto its side. 5 people were killed outright. A few did not have a choice; they were tossed into the sea, others jumped. Proper launching of life boats is difficult when the ship is on its side. Stuff wasn't designed to work at this attitude. I suspect that the emergency power to run the boat hoists was compromised. Reports say that it was chaotic getting people off the ship. Tonight, there is one remaining passenger somewhere in the interior of the ship. Rescurers have spoken with him/her but have not been able to remove the person.

Think about it. How would you navigate inside the ship with it laying on its side. Up is not up anymore; the floor is now a wall, and doors do operate very well.

What a mess!

I think they found the person they knew was alive, it was the purser, sounds like he stayed to help passengers, the captain is under arrest. We have been on over 3 dozen cruises, never been on Costa, but this is one issue when you board outside the US or are on a ship that makes multiple pick-ups, different laws are in place internationally. But I think there is still a law that says you need to do the muster drill within a time frame.

Sounds like some of the lifeboats actually fell down onto people. Hard to know what it was like at that crazy angle.

We are leaving on our second cruise within a month tomorrow. This is about our 15th cruise, too. We adore them. This was a very rare occurance, as has been stated. I wouldn't hesitate to cruise again anytime.
I feel so bad for the victims and their families.