“But why go on a cruise, then do it, and ruin the trip for everybody?”
A couple years ago we were on a cruise and the very first night one of the passengers — a man in the singles group — died on the dance floor. Even though we didn’t know the person, for those saw or heard about what happened, it did have a sobering result. Believe it or not, most passengers didn’t know about it. They put a small tent thing around the man until help came, took him away in a gurney, and the activities continued. The fact that people were dancing again within a half-hour might be the creepiest part.
We went on Carnival once. I never considered suicide, but it could’ve been a way off the ship, I guess. Suicide is harsh.
Long ago I was a paramedic. One of the most surreal moments I had was running a code (cardiac arrest) on the dance floor of a nightclub attached to a hotel. Drinks were served and people sat at their tables and watched the entire scene unfold.
He was later pronounced dead at a local ER.
A well organized Cruise Ship should have an action plan or protocol for just such events. All employees should be trained to know what that action plan is, or know who to ask about it. Stuff happens when you’re underway, just as when ashore. In short, The Show Must Go On!