In the Drink – What does it really take to wind up overboard?

Monday Mantra

Don’t Fall for It … Don’t Fall for It … Don’t Fall for It …

In the Drink

What does it really take to wind up overboard?

Let me make this abundantly clear: You don’t just fall off a cruise ship.

Some of the stories you read in the newspaper make it sound as though you can just be strolling the ship’s deck, happy as a clam, when SPLASH — you’re in the drink. In these accounts, people “fall” or “tumble” off the ship and, amazingly, no reporter has ever speculated on how this can possibly happen when a 10-foot-high wall of Plexiglas panels circle the pool deck and waist-high railings provide a barrier elsewhere.

Just once, I’d like to see a newspaper reveal in its coverage what I’m willing to bet is the reality in the vast number of these truly unfortunate but extremely rare situations. I’m thinking it might sound something like this:

Nope. Chances are we’ll never get a story like that from newspapers or the television news. Instead, we’ll hear a vague account of someone falling off a cruise ship and those who’ve never cruised will continue to believe that you can just be strolling down the deck, happy as a clam, when SPLASH — you’re in the drink.

— Judi Cuervo

^{Sign up for weekly cruise news, fun contests, and exclusive offers delivered right to your inbox!}