A little too much excitment on the Valor this Sunday!!

[Lydia B.]

Just returned from a fabulous time on the Valor yesterday. On Friday night we had a bit too much excitement. An announcement was made that a passgenger had taken ill and that we were turning around (we were heading toward Nassau) and that a medical helicopter had been dispatched to land and take the passgenger off the ship. After about an hour the helicopter was seen in the distance flying towards the ship.

It was extremely windy the seas were fairly rough. The helicopter was trying to land in the stern area where the jogging path is, it had to circle the ship about 6 times in order to land.

While this was happening the latest Pirates of the Caribbean was playing on the outdoor big screen with the helicopter trying to land right behind it....all very surreal!! The rumors we heard was that it was a senior that had suddenly started to have internal bleeding...that she had already received 3 transfussions and they needed to get her to a hospital.

Unfortunately we never heard if she was ok, sure hope so.

The next day we arrived in Nassau about 3 hours late which messed up folks excursions, but if via Carnival they were reimbursed.

That afternoon the Captain put a note in everybody's room that a glass of wine or a beer was on Carnival at dinner.

I thought this was a nice gesture as the delay sure wasn't Carnival's fault.

Another story that proves...get travel insurance.

Other than this sad glitch, it was a great cruise, good crew, clean ship and didn't loose too much of my remaining retirement account in the casino. Lydia of Ohio

P.S. meant to say to much excitement on Friday not this Sunday, sorry...couldn't edit the header.

[tikimon]

Sure hope the woman is doing well now.

 

I don't belive that a helicopter can land on a Carnival ship?

I have never seen a helipad on any Carnival ship.

 

My guess is they just hovered low enough to drop down a basket to air lift her off the ship.

[piggfarm]

That same ting happen to our Valor cruise in December, we left Miami around 5 PM and was heading towards Cayman Island. About 9PM the CD came on and informed everyone that a helicoper was coming to pick up an ill passenger. Around 10PM the Coast Guard helicopter arrived, they hovered off the starboard side. They lowered a crew member down, lifted the ill passenger up then the crew member. The Coast Guard was outstanding, I have seen them on TV but in person is unreal. Hope the ill passenger recovered.

A big thanks to the brave men and women of the Coast Guard.

[travler27]

I think they can land a helicopter anywhere there is enough room. The big "H" painted on the deck is not necessary.

[dobiemom]

P.S. meant to say to much excitement on Friday not this Sunday, sorry...couldn't edit the header.

There's an "advanced edit" button that let's you edit the title. :)

[Banditswife]

WOW-- hope they are okay. But it gives you a great story to tell your grandkids.

[iceleven]

First of all, I hope the passenger is now safe and healing.

 

Secondly, it was kind of Carnival to offer a drink to the guests but isn't that a bit presumptuous to assume all guests consume alcoholic drinks? Seems to me there are those who are going to be left out. And no, I'm not sweating the small stuff. I would be happy to enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. Just a simple observation.

[AdrenalineRush]

First of all, I hope the passenger is now safe and healing.

 

Secondly, it was kind of Carnival to offer a drink to the guests but isn't that a bit presumptuous to assume all guests consume alcoholic drinks? Seems to me there are those who are going to be left out. And no, I'm not sweating the small stuff. I would be happy to enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner. Just a simple observation.

 

Im sure they let the kids or anyone else have cans of soda if they wanted.

[hunchm77]

We were on this same cruise :) The drinks were for soda and non alcoholic drinks also. We sure hope this Lady is doing well!

[divngmedic]

Every time I read one of these threads makes me want to get back into aeromedical flights again. But then I remember the two times we fell out of the sky and decide against it.:rolleyes:

[Green Boy]

Same thing happened to us on the Valor last Sept... it was pouring down rain that night and 1000 people were standing out in the rain watching the chopper pick up the sick person.. it was unreal.... it's good to know that the coast guard can get you off the ship in an emergency.... it was just about the coolest thing I have seen...

[happy cruzin]

There's an "advanced edit" button that let's you edit the title. :)

 

 

Good to know, thanks! I guess it's true that you learn something new - everyday!! ;)

[Tapi]

I think they can land a helicopter anywhere there is enough room. The big "H" painted on the deck is not necessary.

From the Carnival Splendor last year

[cruiser-007]

God bless the helicopter crew and medical staff for their abilities to do that.

 

Hope that person is doing well. Thanks for the story!

[travler27]

Tapi,

I know the Coast Guard always gets the kudos in these cases and they surely do a great job. However, that sure looks like a US Navy helicopter in the pic you posted. Is that correct?

[tntornadox]

Tapi,

I know the Coast Guard always gets the kudos in these cases and they surely do a great job. However, that sure looks like a US Navy helicopter in the pic you posted. Is that correct?

 

I presume this is from when the Splendor was adrift and supplies were being flown over from the aircraft carrier.

[AdrenalineRush]

I presume this is from when the Splendor was adrift and supplies were being flown over from the aircraft carrier.

 

Correct, the carrier was USS Ronald Reagan.

[golfadj]

Life does happen on a ship and this happens fairly often.

 

On last cruise las tmonth we we were on Valor had left Aruba and for a sick passenger had to go back 4 hours to get them medical treatment as we were to far for air lift.

 

On one before that we were off the coast of US and passenger was airlifted.