News reports discussing the Costa Condordia accident are
mentioning that it was on a Mediterranean cruise - which it was, but it
did not have any Greek port stops on this cruise. Though Costa Cruises,
whose parent company is Carnival Cruises,
does serve Greece,
this Mediterranean cruise went the other way, intending to travel up
along the coast of France and then down to Sardinia and Corsica before
returning to Rome.
While accidents such as this are fortunately rare, they can happen and
it never hurts to be prepared, whether you're traveling in Greece or
anywhere else.
- When things go really wrong, whether on a
ship or in a hotel, the power is often the first thing to go. Keep with
you a small squeeze flashlight or similar device. I have a crankable
cell phone charger with a flashlight function, small enough to keep in a
pocket.
- Personally see where the life preservers are in and
near your cabin, but also keep an eye out for lockers in other areas of
the ship.
- Charge your cell phone at night when you're in the
room with it - and take it with you during the day. In an emergency, it
could be your only link to the outside.
- Before your trip, key
in a few local emergency contact numbers, including your hotels, your
airlines, and local emergency authorities.
- While most cruise
ships, airlines, and hotels will strive to take good care of stranded
passengers, they may be overwhelmed - Costa Cruises has its hands full
right now with the needs of over four thousand passengers and crew
members, plus others who intended to join the cruise later. Your
personal travel insurance company
may be much more responsive in the aftermath of an accident. (And for
that same reason, I don't recommend taking a cruise line's suggested
travel insurance - go with a different, completely independent company.)
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