SHIPS & THE SEA-ZENITH (PART 1)
Mary ann Rizzo
I have been reading the various notes posted here and on one of the
Online Services regarding Celebrity-ZENITH's encounter with Hurricane
Edouard. Although I was not on that cruise, in my 46 years of ocean
travel I have gone through gales and storms too numerous to count, as
well as the erratic Hurricane Bertha of 1990. I've been in severe storms
dating back to the days before stabilized ships, and also including
Crystal Symphony's storm- tossed pre-inaugural crossing last year.
Having sailed twice on Horizon, Zenith's sistership, and noting the
efficient attitude of the Officers, Staff and Crew on board, I concur
heartily with those who are questioning the vituperous remarks of a few
people. I am also shocked at statements alleging two deaths on board
when there seems to be no evidence of same. One can be certain that the
Press would have picked up on that immediately--can those who state so
positively that there were two deaths produce any coroner's reports or
death certificates?
Despite storm-tracking technology and transmission of data to ships (and
aircraft), storms are still unpredictable. Hurricane tracks can be
unpredictable. I was on QE2 from Southampton to New York at the end of
July, 1990. In the 5- day crossing, we plowed through two gales AND
Hurricane Bertha. A freak of nature and definitely not a pleasant
experience. Bertha kept changing course. So did we. Bertha was supposed
to lose strenght as it moved North into colder waters. It intensified.
We finally could no longer avoid it and spend a miserable day with 60+
foot waves crashing over our bows. QE2, built to withstand the mighty
North Atlantic, creaked and moaned under the stresses of severe pitching
and rolling. COMMON SENSE told me to stay in my cabin (2035)--and each
time I tried to move around, I was hurled from one bulkhead to another.
Others on board were indeed injured, and china/glassware/bottles, etc.
went flying.
Does anyone remember reading articles and seeing photos several years
ago of QE2's late Capt. Alan Bennell sitting at what remained of the
piano in her Grand Lounge that broke loose when QE2 was hit broadside by
a wave in a sudden storm near New Zealand that caused a roll so severe
that some thought water almost entered her funnel? Similar thing
happened off the coast of England a few years later when friends of mine
were on board. Remember the huge wave that hit QE2 last year and damaged
her bow?
Ever hear of "rouge" waves that come out of nowhere? HAL's Rotterdam
was anchored off the coast of North Africa years ago, and almost capsized
when hit by one out of the blue. Some may even remember reading about a
huge wave in mid-ocean that almost destroyed Italian Line's
Michelangelo's bridge in the mid-1960's, killing several people on her
bridge.
CONTINUED IN PART 2...
-
MARY ANN RIZZO TJF...@prodigy.com
Derek Ott
On Sep 15, 1996 03:02:49 in article <SHIPS & THE SEA-ZENITH (PART 1)>,
'TJF...@prodigy.com (Mary ann Rizzo)' wrote:
> I am also shocked at statements alleging two deaths on board
>when there seems to be no evidence of same. One can be certain that the
>Press would have picked up on that immediately--can those who state so
>positively that there were two deaths produce any coroner's reports or
>death certificates?
>
the Zenith for the August 31 sailing. However, your post raises a question
that requires immediate attention.
We were also informed of two reported deaths aboard the Zenith on the
August 31 sailing. At the time we were told this, we were about to sail on
the IslandBreeze for a two night Cruise to Nowhere, but I was alarmed
enough at the rumor to call the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for
the City of New York, where I am the Consulting Forensic Anthropologist (an
identification expert), to make some inquiries.
As soon as we returned from our trip (Sunday, Sept. 8), I called the Office
again to enquire about whether or not two bodies had been removed from the
Zenith on September 7 while she was in port. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ALL
SUCH RUMORS ARE TOTALLY WITHOUT MERIT! If anyone had died aboard the
Zenith on the August 31 sailing, the bodies would have been removed either
in Bermuda or in New York. Such an incident would have to be investigated,
as thoroughly as possible. There were no cases reported to the OCME in New
York, and (just to be sure) I contacted a colleague of mine who is the
forensic toxicologist for the Hospital facility in Hamilton, Bermuda. Once
again, no bodies had been received from the ship for processing.
It strikes us that such rumors probably sprang from the injured--but as the
"news" was passed along from one person to another, it was exaggerated to
the extent that someone with a broken fingernail, ended up as someone with
a broken neck by the time the rumor had spread through the mill!!
Nevertheless, such rumors are stupid and frightening to both past, current
and future passengers, and especially to the Line and its officers, who see
it as an OUTRAGEOUS insult.
We were on board the Zenith yesterday (Sept 14, 1996) and she is in perfect
condition. The only remnants of her encounter with Hurricane Edouard are a
sizeable dent in the front of the external prow (cosmetic only) and a few
dings in the midline of her prow keel line above the Bull-Bush bow. These
will be repaired when she goes to dry dock in mid-late October. All of the
members of the crew that we have come to know so well with our frequent
visits to the ship this past summer seemed absolutely fine. They reported
that "hitting the wave" was "scary", but that any damage done to glassware,
bottles of booze, pianos, etc... was removed shortly after the ship arrived
in Bermuda. We chatted with the Master for a short time, and he assured us
that while the incident was unexpected and alarming, no serious damage was
done in any way, shape or form. The Line, Celebrity Cruises, is currently
considering restitution to the injured and dissatisfied.
Once again, please be advised that NO ONE DIED ON BOARD THE ZENITH during
her August 31 sailing.
Peg
Mary ann Rizzo
I'm glad to see that, as I suspected, NO ONE DIED on the Zenith!
Fred Lanyard
caldw...@usa.pipeline.com(Derek Ott) wrote:
>As soon as we returned from our trip (Sunday, Sept. 8), I called the Office
>again to enquire about whether or not two bodies had been removed from the
>Zenith on September 7 while she was in port. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ALL
>SUCH RUMORS ARE TOTALLY WITHOUT MERIT! If anyone had died aboard the
>Zenith on the August 31 sailing, the bodies would have been removed either
>in Bermuda or in New York. Such an incident would have to be investigated,
>as thoroughly as possible. There were no cases reported to the OCME in New
>York, and (just to be sure) I contacted a colleague of mine who is the
>forensic toxicologist for the Hospital facility in Hamilton, Bermuda. Once
>again, no bodies had been received from the ship for processing.
>
>It strikes us that such rumors probably sprang from the injured--but as the
>"news" was passed along from one person to another, it was exaggerated to
>the extent that someone with a broken fingernail, ended up as someone with
>a broken neck by the time the rumor had spread through the mill!!
my snip here
>Once again, please be advised that NO ONE DIED ON BOARD THE ZENITH during
>her August 31 sailing.
>
>Peg
Peg,
Thanks for a fact based report. I tend to put my faith in this type of
post and hope that others can do the same. Please continue to
contribute in this way as it is a help to all of us.
Regards,
Fred Lanyard
Living on your western shore, saw summer sunsets, asked for more...
dkolyer
This is in reply to mary ann rizzo's recollection of the 1960's storm in
which the Michelangelo was hit by a wave and deaths aboard resulted. I
remember that storm well. I was on the Queen Anna Maria of the Greek
Line, it was October of 1966, and the storm lasted days -- from the time
we left the Med and turned north at Cape St. Vincent off the coast of
Portugal. It was hell for days. Ropes were strung all around the ship so
people could hold on to something while making their way across lobbies;
there was no entertainment for days, most people missed their meals and
stayed in their cabins. The ship pitched so deeply into the waves that
the screws rose out of the water repeatedly, making the whole ship
shudder. It was 30 years ago next month and some of the memories of that
westbound crossing from Pireaus to New York have faded. However, I
remember enough to say it was a defining time in my life. Only once have
I since been as impressed with nature as I was that week -- it was when
Hurricane Andrew roared through my house.
No matter how much we try to avoid the issue, cruising does take
place on a vessel in the ocean. Nobody should complain if the ship
responds to the sea!
George in NY
On 15 Sep 1996 19:02:55 GMT, caldw...@usa.pipeline.com(Derek Ott)
wrote:
>On Sep 15, 1996 03:02:49 in article <SHIPS & THE SEA-ZENITH (PART 1)>,
>'TJF...@prodigy.com (Mary ann Rizzo)' wrote:
>
>
>> I am also shocked at statements alleging two deaths on board
>>when there seems to be no evidence of same. One can be certain that the
>>Press would have picked up on that immediately--can those who state so
>>positively that there were two deaths produce any coroner's reports or
>>death certificates?
>>
-snipped-
Peg, Thank you for an intelligent and informed post. Wish there were
more like yours on here.
George in NY - Sailing Zenith Oct 5th with confidence. 4th sailing of
Zenith in recent years.