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Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
That's only generous though until you realize that they only had 2 hours to buy drinks and anything physical that a person bought in that short time was left onboard anyway..

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Most people were on the last night of their cruise having boarded in Savona. It was only a small number who had boarded that day in Civitavecchia - I don't think I have seen the actual numbers stated anywhere?

I originally read this package re the full refund and 30% off a future cruise as being for those who were booked on her future cruises [which of course won't take place] who wished to cancel and not swap to another vessel. Now it seems to have changed overnight with the addition of the onboard account etc for those who were aboard at the time... they deserve considerably more.. all refund of everything they spent and whatever their costs were for the trip, including Moggie in the cattery plus a cash payment. Who the heck will want a time limited future cruise voucher if you were aboard at the time of a sinking ship?

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Originally posted by PamM:

Most people were on the last night of their cruise having boarded in Savona. It was only a small number who had boarded that day in Civitavecchia - I don't think I have seen the actual numbers stated anywhere?
....
Pam

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Originally posted by DAMBROSI2:
It looks on the webcam as though the ship is being pumped of the petrol now.

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I think its just preparations. The pumping is said to start this weekend.

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3. Reading this I am not sure how it could be tampered with?[/QB]

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However on reading various other bits around the net it appears the data has to physically saved to retain it.. read here and here. I have also read in another forum that one of the bridge officers needs to actually save the data. There must be someone here who has experience of actually using this type of VDR who knows for sure?

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
I've read it was just under 700 passengers (out of 3000 in total?) who embarked at Civitavecchia

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Thanks Tom, so not a small number by any means, but not the main bunch. My personal feelings are that even if a muster had been held it would have not made any difference. How many people on the first evening would have orientated themselves sufficiently with a vessel that size to know how to reach their muster station from wherever they happened to be? I bet most could not even find their way back to their cabin.

[ 01-24-2012: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

Cruise lines are great when everything goes right, but when something goes wrong they go into the "head in sand routine", I have seen it and had it happen to me.

It would be nice if just for once a line could stand up and try and do something proactive.

the modern media ways make some things much more easier to see and record...

VRT video clip flooded restaurant C.Concordia

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Originally posted by PamM:

Most people were on the last night of their cruise having boarded in Savona. It was only a small number who had boarded that day in Civitavecchia - I don't think I have seen the actual numbers stated anywhere?

I originally read this package re the full refund and 30% off a future cruise as being for those who were booked on her future cruises [which of course won't take place] who wished to cancel and not swap to another vessel. Now it seems to have changed overnight with the addition of the onboard account etc for those who were aboard at the time... they deserve considerably more.. all refund of everything they spent and whatever their costs were for the trip, including Moggie in the cattery plus a cash payment. Who the heck will want a time limited future cruise voucher if you were aboard at the time of a sinking ship?

Pam

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I read the compensation offer too and it is a complete insult to them.

Carnival corp should be funding out of their own savings and profits an entire refund of ALL belongings lost in the cabins including lose cash (that insurance wont cover), jewelery, clothing, electronic equipment etc. Carnival corp should also set up and fund ongoing medical costs for trauma/stress related issues caused or aggravated by the sinking of their ship.

I hate to say it but Carnival corp looks like an evil greedy money hungy empire here wanting to screw over the survivors of this disaster. From what I hear other cruise lines are more generous. Apparantly the passengers on Aurora's maiden voyage that broke down all got a refund and free cruise out of it?? according to rumours.

There are just so many rumours and stories the only thing I can now believe is that Costa Concordia is indeed lying on her side.

Tuesday, January 24th 2012

Time 3.00 pm (CET)

With reference to news reports on discounts and promotional offers, Costa Cruises asserts that the company has never offered any discount on future cruises to guests who were on board the Costa Concordia for the cruise of Jan. 13, 2012, and involved in the accident. The information published by a newspaper and reported in various news outlets is unfounded, as is confirmed by the English passenger who was quoted by the newspaper.
Costa Cruises reiterates that after the tragic accident the company’s priority has always been to provide the maximum possible assistance and solace to the people involved. From the outset the company has been fully aware of and saddened by the suffering and hardship endured by guests and crewmembers and has acted with this firmly borne in mind.

On a joint basis with rescue teams, the Company worked to provide evacuated passengers and crewmembers with all the necessary assistance to ensure they were able to return home. Subsequently, it contacted guests by telephone after they had returned home to check on their physical and emotional wellbeing, and to confirm that they will receive a refund for the cruise and all material expenses related to it.
As previously announced, the company welcomes discussion with its guests and all consumer-protection associations to determine indemnity for the hardship endured, with the support of tourism-sector trade associations with which it has been in contact for days.
Driven by its sense of ethics and the values of fairness and responsibility that guide it, the Company also has given all customers with bookings for future Costa cruises the opportunity, if they feel hesitant to cruise, to cancel their cruise booking by no later than Feb.7, 2012. All travel agents who work with the Company were informed of this days ago.

Costa Cruises would also like to clarify that starting on the day after the accident, all advertising initiatives planned were cancelled out of respect for those affected by this tragedy. The Company was unable to stop only one postal promotion, which had already been sent to some customers at the end of December.

Costa Cruises is incredulous at the disgraceful and unfounded assertions made about the Company without any form of verification.

Now I am going to say this again...

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Originally posted by jetwet1:
Just to be clear, the post I made was a direct copy from Costa's own facebook page.

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Originally posted by jetwet1:
Costa has just announced their compensation package for those on this cruise.

Costa will refund the entire cost of the cruise, as well as all travel expenses incurred in reaching the embarkation port and returning home after the evacuation. The line will also reimburse any medical expenses incurred due to the accident.

The line will also refund all onboard expenses, with credit card charges being credited back to customer accounts and cash deposits refunded as well.

Costa will also make every effort to return belongings left in in-cabin safes. The line will keep passengers informed about the return of any personal belongings salvaged, as well as other forms of compensation that may be forthcoming.

That's it..... Nope, don't think we will see any lawsuits after that amazingly generous package

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Sometimes, people who are have for reasons of their own already formed an adverse opinion of an entire company read things into what the company says which are simply not there, and never were - and then proceed to criticise the company for the things that the company never said. Some may call that "prejudice".

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Originally posted by PamM:
There was a very interesting chat on Radio 2 [Vine] yesterday with a dancer from Bournemouth who had done her duties [by all accounts well] and was air lifted off at the end. It can probably be listened to again on the website by those in the UK. She told the truth and where she didn't know/hadn't seen something said so. This is more of what should be reported, not the artistic license the press have taken and are painting and planting in the public's mind over some aspects.

Pam

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Pam, thanks for the reference - I've just listed to it on iPlayer. (For those interested in listening/able to do so, it starts at about 1h42m into the programme.) She was an impressive witness.

I've been struck by one thing in particular: the discrepancy between the stories of confusion in the evacuation, and the fact that over 4000 people survived - abut 99% of those on board. (Is this in fact the most successful evacuation ever?). This dancer was strongly of the opinion that the key to the success was the fact that they were so close to land: she suggests that had they been out at sea the survival count much be much lower. For example, she mentions that she saw lifeboats making trips from the island to the area around the ship and picking up people from the water.

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Originally posted by DAMBROSI2:
Great shots from AP. Those chairs look like they might be from a buffet area??

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Originally posted by Globaliser:
I see nothing wrong in what Costa said there, particularly as Costa said nothing about this being the entire package that was on offer, so it cannot be criticised for that. Costa simply dealt with three specific topics which would immediately come to mind for anyone affected. All of them were dealt with in a positive way, for which Costa could not be criticised.

Sometimes, people who are have for reasons of their own already formed an adverse opinion of an entire company read things into what the company says which are simply not there, and never were - and then proceed to criticise the company for the things that the company never said. Some may call that "prejudice".

However, I concede that that's better than simply fabricating adverse stories against the company, which is what some sections of the press seem to have been doing. No doubt, some advocates of "free speech" will nevertheless think that that's acceptable press behaviour.

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Sorry for the delay in getting back to you on this, I managed to mess up my neck, resulting in a couple of really boring days laying in bed with a neck brace.

Anyways, what I was trying to point out was, the first part I posted was a direct copy and paste from Costa, not some form of edited piece from myself.

As I have stated before on here, the way the PR has been handled for this whole situation is amazing to me. Even after their latest offer they really have done very little to try to show what the company is doing behind the scenes.

Moving on for a second, it is being reported that the wreck could stay in place for over a year before an attempt is made at re-floating the ship.