Cruise worker sent crooks for cruisers' homes

cbs4.com ^ | June 11, 2010 | Joan Murray and Tiffani Helberg

[MamaDearest]

Emphasis mine.

[D-fendr]

I can’t remember where, but somewhere on FR I recently read the Cruise lines were controlled by Mexican gangs?

[Frantzie]

Cruise ships s*ck. Cattle cars at sea and petri dishes for bacteria with rapist employees.

[dr_lew]

One needn’t go this far.

[truthguy]

Cruise ships s*ck. Cattle cars at sea and petri dishes for bacteria with rapist employees

I agree. I hate to say it but when these giant Cruise Ships were built and they lowered the rates, they invited the scum of the earth to come on board. I've had friends who have had terrible times on the these Cruises. There are some exceptions like the Cruises to Alaska where you have a different type of clientele. There are also some wonderful cruises of historical type on smaller ships in the Mediterranean. But the ships that go to the Caribbean or Mexico. Forget about it.

[truthguy]

Bethsaida Sandoval?

Sounds like the Amish are causing trouble again.

[dennisw]

yikes

[D Rider]

Sandoval

Damm Amish at it again.

[napscoordinator]

Frantzie,
You always have a way of explaining things. I just got back from my 12 day Baltic Cruise on Celebrity Cruises. It was fun and glad they did not send anyone to steal my stuff :). In some ways, you are right on your description, but they are alot of fun too.

[libertarian27]

John Lumsden of Boca Raton was one of those targets. CBS4 News spoke with him as he and his wife were about to set sail on a Royal Caribbean ship out of Miami Friday.

Hey Look! This couple is away on a cruise again...we can hit their house.../sarc

I get a kick out of people upset at their information being stolen and then again putting their information out in the public on a newspaper article about it....wonder if they have a dog..../sarc

[Cardhu]

Ping for later

[WVKayaker]

What a crock.

Cruise ships are owned by many different companies, mostly corporations based overseas. They are the cleanest, most enjoyable way of vacationing. They are NOT the crap you claim, and I have lots of first-hand experience. I own a travel agency, and have taken more than 30 cruises. These are little cities, and are better kept and more secure than most anything on land.

I doubt any of you have ever been on a cruise ship, much less gone anywhere on one. It is a floating hotel. It allows you to wake up to a new opportunity and experience each day. The food is great. Disclaimer: I do not book Carnival. It is not good enough for my clients, mostly golfers doing Bermuda and the Caribbean. I prefer Celebrity, MSC, and NCL.

Do bad people work on cruise ships? Maybe, but NOT MANY. They are screened and re-screened, and the crew is run like the Navy. There are cameras everywhere, and lots of people to help you. It is not in their interest to allow bad things to happen. That is why it is so sensational in the news. It is rare. NATALIE HOLLOWAY WASN'T ON A CRUISE.

As for clean, I usually get up in the middle of the night to pee (hey, I'm an old man and I drink liquids). I can't think of one instance where I went outside the cabin at 1:30 am and saw someone cleaning, right down to the baseboards. The chrome gets polished and the wood glows. There are also little dispensers placed onto all lanes into public areas these days, in their efforts to contain the idiot's germs that are brought aboard. I have never gotten sick on a cruise, and have no clients that have reported a problem. Clients usually report problems first!

Cruising is the best way to get away... and you can find a cruise these days, from a port nearer you. No air... no long security lines... good margaritas!

- Onboard Celebrity Horizon final cruise... Baked Alaska!

[jocon307]

I’m pleasantly surprised they solved these crimes.

[Frantzie]

Nonsense. They pay almost no taxes and cause more damage to reefs than the oil industry.

[RoadTest]

I agree with you. Cruises are generally good.

[Frantzie]

Bingo. I have a friend who did loads of them before the mega ships. The smaller ships back then were a lot of fun. The mega ships today are like floating malls with loads fo low lifes. Alaskan crriose are still pretty small ships. The monster ships are stupid. Usually like Disney World - filled with ovrweight people who eat like pigs and want mindless entertainment.

My idea of vacation is not cruising around in a petri dish with 3,000 people where there might be an outbreak of something.

[MayflowerMadam]

Cruises of 14 days or longer seem to have a better group of people. Older and more classy. Not many big families — and I mean “big” in every way.

[visualops]

A background check found what police called "a history of theft and forgery."

So why was she hired in the first place?

[WVKayaker]

Your response is ridiculous. I imagine you'd prefer people to stay home and play video games. Is that your lifestyle?

... As part of its austerity budget designed to rein in a government debt predicted to rise to $4 billion by next year, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced an increase in the air and sea departure tax of $5, from $15 to $20 per passenger.

The increase in the sea departure tax is expected to generate an additional $9.2 million for the government and will come into force in October.

During the ongoing budget debate some industries affected by tax hikes have been offered olive branches but so far tourism has seen no compromise in the $40 million the government expects to raise through the departure tax increase and an increase in the hotel room tax.

Carnival Corporation spokesperson Jennifer de la Cruz said: "The Bahamas is currently the most expensive destination for cruise passenger taxes in the region.

"Increasing the cost for cruise lines to visit this already expensive destination, particularly given the current economic climate and business challenges the travel industry is facing, does not make sense.

"It would be more logical for the government of The Bahamas to focus on ways to reduce the cost of visiting the country rather than increasing taxes."

[MamaDearest]

I doubt any of you have ever been on a cruise ship, much less gone anywhere on one.

You would be wrong. You own a travel agency and thus get a significant discount on your cruises (I have a relative who owned one until her untimely death). Some are much better than others (I agree with your statements about Carnival and Celebrity). Bermuda IS exceptional for golfers, but it is also a wonderful family destination with the bus and ferry ticket system, Crystal Cave and the gorgeous sandy beaches. I recommend the southern Caribbean cruises, but the east and west are also good for those beginning to cruise.

Events at Sea 2010