Sad News from 4-16-05 Eastern (Bright Star)

[disneyma]

As many of you have read on the last morning of the cruise there was an all call at 3 AM of "Bright Star" "Bright Star". This is the code that is issued on the loudspeaker in all areas including all staterooms. Several people including the Captian Thord went to the stateroom that it had happened. Several dis people from other messages reported that a man had a heart attack on board and was taken downstairs and then offloaded a few hours at PC in an ambulance. (This was all reported by fellow disers...

Didn't think too much at the time until I found out that is was a father of a neighbor that was on the cruise. The neighbor was with her son, her future husband and mother, and father. It was her father that fell sick.

We just found out that he passed away on Sunday at PC hospital.

I just wanted to let some of you know that were on that cruise. Very sad....

I am sure that you all will keep the family in your thoughts and prayers...

Disneyma

 

[lbgraves]

How sad for them. Hopefully they will be able to look back on all the wonderful memories that they had together on the cruise one day and smile. I know that we spend more time together in that week on the ship than we do at home with work & school taking over.

 

[taeja71]

What a small world after all 'eh? So, sorry to hear that some thing this unfortuante happened. My thoughts will be with that family tonight.

 

[CM_Mom]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family who lost a loved one.

NOW for all the rest of us...Tomorrow is NOT guaranteed so practice "Random acts of Kindness". Call your mom and dad and tell them how much you love them and appreciate all the sacrifices they made to get you to adulthood.
Give your kids a hug and remind them that you love them and how special they are.
Tell that co-worker how much you appreciate their help.
Tell a stranger what a cute outfit she's wearing.
Each night as we go to bed, let's all be able to answer YES to the question "Was the world a better place today because I was part of it?"

 

[JJsmama]

I'm so sorry too. I was thinking how nice they were all together as a family in a joyous setting at the end.

Curious: Why would they put out the distress call into all the passenger staterooms? Seems like it would it would distress the passengers who could not help anyway and would get in the way if they all rushed out to see what was going on.

 

[lbgraves]

I believe that the PA system is in the hallway but you can usually hear some of it in the stateroom. I know that during the day if we heard the chime go off we held the door open so that we could hear it more clearly. That was probalby the quickest way to contact the variety of CMs who needed to go to the stateroom since they were probably located all over the ship.

 

[UGAFan0829]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family who lost a loved one.

NOW for all the rest of us...Tomorrow is NOT guaranteed so practice "Random acts of Kindness". Call your mom and dad and tell them how much you love them and appreciate all the sacrifices they made to get you to adulthood.
Give your kids a hug and remind them that you love them and how special they are.
Tell that co-worker how much you appreciate their help.
Tell a stranger what a cute outfit she's wearing.
Each night as we go to bed, let's all be able to answer YES to the question "Was the world a better place today because I was part of it?"

What a great thing to say, and I totally agree 100%. Thanks for reminding us!

I too, am very sorry for this family. I can't imagine how hard this must be for them. They are definitely in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[kmiles]

Curious: Why would they put out the distress call into all the passenger staterooms? Seems like it would it would distress the passengers who could not help anyway and would get in the way if they all rushed out to see what was going on.

That's also why they "code" the distress call. I'm sure the vast majority of guests onboard had no clue what "White Star" meant.

 

[mmouse37]

That was a very sad ending for those passengers...how sad that the last memory of family vacation would be of sorrow.

I believe the code name that they use for emergencies is "Bright Star", not that it makes much difference in this thread....but in case people hear it onboard they will know it is a medical emergency.

We were once seated in the Walt Disney Theatre when the "Bright Star", "Bright Star" code was announced. A few CM's left the theatre but for the most part guests had not a clue that there was even an announcement.

 

[ivanova]

I believe that the PA system is in the hallway but you can usually hear some of it in the stateroom. I know that during the day if we heard the chime go off we held the door open so that we could hear it more clearly. That was probalby the quickest way to contact the variety of CMs who needed to go to the stateroom since they were probably located all over the ship.

The way the PA system is set up it's either broadcasted only in public areas (hallway, lounges, theater, etc.) or it's broadcasted EVERYWHERE including inside staterooms .. like the evacuation drill announcements that start annoyingly 1/2 an hour before the drill .. they are LOUD and clear inside the staterooms.

They probably have no choice but to broadcast the bright/white star announcement everywhere, in order to notify all CMs that might be otherwise in their staterooms (and the announcement would be a lot faster than having to call several CM staterooms to reach the CMs they need to reach).

 

[jlowejd5]

My guess is that the code is really "Bright Star". I don't think DCL is twisted enough to use "White Star" as a passenger injury code. (Since White Star Lines was the company that owned the Titanic, and that didn't go so well)

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

It is "Bright Star" - I was awake and working on scrapbooks in the Promenade with part of our group when the alarm sounded. It is quite loud in the middle of the night with no guest/cm noise going on.

I had hoped that when the other poster reported that they had taken him off the ship that he would be ok.

I am sorry to hear that things didn't work out so well. My heart goes out to them.

 

[disneyma]

At 3AM you don't really hear too well.... I thought it was Bright star but someone else on the board has corrected me.... So it is Bright Star....

It did go into ALL the cabins... at 3AM it must be a quick way to get everyone they need to the one spot...including cast members that are sleeping...

 

[markºoº]

Now that I think about it, I remember hearing the "Bright Star" code on our Aug 28 cruise. We were in a Cat 3 and you can't really hear general announcements that are made in the hall way - need to open the door.

I clearly heard the Bright Star code in our cabin so it had to have been an all ship announcement. BTW, I believe this was during the day or early evening - not in the middle of the night.

 

[RickW]

That's also why they "code" the distress call. I'm sure the vast majority of guests onboard had no clue what "White Star" meant.

I agree with this, except I think that the "code" could have the opposite effect at 3:00AM. It's one thing to hear "Bright Star, Bright Star" while you are at dinner, or by the pool, but I would think that being awakened by some vague announcement in the middle of the night could cause more confusion and concern than just "Medical Emergency".

 

[CM_Mom]

If a situation occurs that would involve the passengers during the middle of the night, the announcement would also include specific instructions about what you should do and probably be repeated several times.

The previous poster was correct that the announcements can be sent to public areas only or all areas of the ship. In an emergency, the ALL CALL is the safest to ensure that you get the quickest response.

 

[Mary Anne]

Now that I think about it, I remember hearing the "Bright Star" code on our Aug 28 cruise. We were in a Cat 3 and you can't really hear general announcements that are made in the hall way - need to open the door.

I clearly heard the Bright Star code in our cabin so it had to have been an all ship announcement. BTW, I believe this was during the day or early evening - not in the middle of the night.

I was on that cruise and remember that announcement also. We were in our room on Deck 2. I don't remember what time it was.

 

[cookielulu]

I'm so sorry to hear what happened to the gentleman. We were 5 doors down from their room - it was 3am when I woke up to the announcemet. There was alot of running down the hallway but the staff was very quiet - I heard no voices. Believe me, I couldn't go back to sleep - I'm a very light sleeper. I heard them leave in about 45min. and there was a little commotion.

My DH opened the door to peek out and saw about 20 people - from all different departments - there were white shirts, cabin stewards and even the "yellow" jumpsuits. The next morning when they "kicked" us off the ship, we saw our room steward - who was cleaning that room - and he said the gentleman was OK - at that point.

My DH was in the Navy - on a carrier - and he said that is the quickest way to get "everybody" you need in one place is to make the announcement everywhere.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.