HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- More than four hours after they fell from a cruise ship into the Gulf of Mexico, two vacationers were pulled from the water about 150 miles off the Galveston, Texas, coast early Sunday, according to the cruise line and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The 22-year-old man and 20-year-old woman apparently fell from a passenger's cabin balcony on the Grand Princess about eight hours after the cruise ship left the Galveston port, said Julie Benson, spokeswoman for Princess Cruises.

"When alerted to this, the ship stopped, initiated an emergency search operation, and returned to the position where the overboard incident was initially reported," Benson said, adding that the ship turned around and headed back within 10 minutes of getting word.

"Rescue boats were launched from Grand Princess, and the U.S. Coast Guard was notified," she said.

A cruise ship rescue boat pulled one passenger from the water at 5:30 a.m. and the second was rescued a half-hour later, Benson said.

The two passengers were in "fairly good condition" and were being examined by the cruise ship's medical staff, Benson said. A decision has not been made whether to take them to a hospital, she said.

"It's amazing these two are alive and well," said Kevan Shaw, a Grand Princess passenger.

Shaw said rescuers fished the woman out of the water, and he saw her bundled in a blanket looking "a little cold" on the ship, which has been anchored about 200 miles southeast of Houston.

As rescuers hoisted up the life boat, Shaw said, he and others "saw the man in the water" and he was "yelling and waving to us."

Coast guard officials "found the man nude in the water but he was then clothed and is now on the ship's deck in a wheelchair," Shaw said.

Houston Coast Guard Lt. Kevin Kurczewski said a rescue helicopter and jet were deployed at 3 a.m. to search for them.

The Grand Princess, with 2,783 passengers and 1,122 crew, departed Galveston Saturday afternoon for a week-long voyage through the western Caribbean, according to Benson.

[ 03-25-2007: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

Now I wonder what the man was doing on the balconly, nude? Any ideas?

[ 03-25-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

1. More people are crusing then ever before.
2. More ships have more balconies then ever before.
3. With more people crusing the average intelligence of cruisers is lower than it was 10 years ago. (My personal observation)

Eventually the cruise lines will have to develop some safeguard. Recent overboard passengers have been very lucky. But, as we know, most are never found. If the lines don't do something I'd expect the government to step in and regulate the problem.

quote:

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Originally posted by Fairsky:
Ok, let's talk solutions.

How about a wrist band beacon that activates in salt water worn by all passengers. The crew would know the moment someone had gone overboard. I know, what about when passengers are ashore at the beach? The band only activates when the ship is moving. There most be some technological way to solve this problem.

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I understand where you're going with this thought, but really, would any of us, or anyone else, want to wear a special wrist band beacon for their entire cruise? How would that be enforced? People are already fed up with the regimentation of having to dine at 6:30pm in the Seven Seas Dining Room at table #64!

I think the cruise lines need to put responsibility back where it belongs: with the people themselves. It's called "being aware of your surroundings." The cruise lines should stipulate in their ticket contracts that any costs involved in such search and rescue missions will be passed on to the guest and/or their families!

Overboard passenger, or family of the passenger, sues the cruise line for serving the passenger copious amouts of alcohol and not doing more to ensure intoxicated passengers don't jump overboard.

It would only take one or two such lawsuits for the cruise lines to develop some kind of safety measure.

People need to be responsible for themselves and not blame everyone and thing for their own misjudgements.

quote:

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Originally posted by PamM:

People need to be responsible for themselves and not blame everyone and thing for their own misjudgements.

Pam

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Agreed! I also think Rich made an excellent suggestion about amending the passage contract to address those that "fall" overboard. There really is no way to fall overboard unless you are doing something you shouldn't be doing. Things like climbing the rail, sitting on the rail, or being so drunk and stupid that you probably deserve to "fall" overboard and never be found. Meanwhile the 2000+ remaining passengers have to endure part of their vacation being ruined as the focus turns to the missing passenger. Maybe a couple class-action law suits against the estate or individual that jumped might be a deterrent?

What I don't want to see is cruise lines going to extreme measures such as walling in all public outdoor deck areas with glass and raising balcony rail heights to your neck. It would not surprise me if this were to happen some day. Anything to reduce the cost of liability. We already have "big brother" watching 24/7 as ships today are loaded with cameras everywhere, and more security onboard than ever before

Just like the alcohol and liquid restrictions, this is another consequence of cruising becoming affordable to the masses.

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:

There really is no way to fall overboard unless you are doing something you shouldn't be doing.

Maybe a couple class-action law suits against the estate or individual that jumped might be a deterrent?

Just like the alcohol and liquid restrictions, this is another consequence of cruising becoming affordable to the masses.

Ernie

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The deterrent is quite an easy one: all it will take is for ONE cruise line to slap ONE of these idiots with the cost associated with Search & Rescue operations. The cost of additional fuel, manpower, and the costs associated with having the Coast Guard or other military/quasi-military organizations conducting S&R can easily rise above $100K quite quickly.

Once you slap one of these buffoons with a bill in excess of $25K, this epidemic will cease post-haste.

quote:

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Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:

Once you slap one of these buffoons with a bill in excess of $25K, this epidemic will cease post-haste.

Tim

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Tim,
To be honest I'm surprised this is not already in practice?? Why should a cruise line pay for any of these expenses if the passenger is proved negligent? Of course I can't think of many situations where the passenger would not be negligent. Maybe if a crew member threw a passenger overboard, then the cruise line might be liable. I don't think that has ever happened.

Please don't tell me cruise lines are hesitant to pass on expenses due to bad publicity. I can already see the scenario. Poor Joe Bubba got shi- faced and tried to prove what a man he was by jumping overboard and killing himself. The cruise line ends up having to sue his estate for the rescue costs and his family takes it public on various talk shows. The big bad cruise line has no sympathy for the dearly departed and suddenly Cruise Line xyz are the bad guys.

I think cruise lines need to get beyond the worry of bad publicity, and together as an industry implement the policy you suggested. Then they need to stand behind each other if they ever have to act on the policy (and many will).

They are either drunk beyond any coherent thought, or they are suicidal and won't face the consequences of their actions anyway.

I could see the US coast guard slapping the cruise lines with the rescue costs for the increasing number of man overboard calls they are receiving. That could force the cruise lines to reexamine their policy and institute more preventive measure.

We simply cannot rely on passengers (intoxicated or mentally ill) to stay off the railings.

[ 03-31-2007: Message edited by: Fairsky ]

I guess the shock during the 'fall' relaxes certain parts of the body

The small print of the ticket should point out that any rescue attempts made will be charged to your credit card, whether they save you or not.