I'm a bit surprised myself.
Mainstream brands aren't apt to capture my attention. It takes a lot. But sometimes the winning is in the heart, not in the tangible.
Yes,
I was impressed with our stateroom and veranda.
I was even more impressed with the stateroom and veranda of our travel companions.
I was impressed with the attention to detail and service we received.
I was impressed with the joy every staff member had in doing their jobs.
I was impressed with the piano player in the piano bar.
I was impressed with the champagne bar.
I was impressed with the musicians in the latin bar.
Those won my affection, but they did not win my loyalty.
What won my loyalty is the human kindness shown by the young Swedish Captain Patrik Dahlgren of the Navigator of the Seas.
As I sat with a friend next to the ship's rail on the starboard side enjoying lunch and a cold beer, our ship passed a small rickety boat full of Cuban refugees including children. They were shouting for help as they bailed water out of their boat.
I became nauseous and tearful as we quickly passed them and they faded into the horizon. The entire ship became more alive than usual as everyone was upset and contacting the ship's bridge requesting assistance for the refugees. Very quickly, Captain Dahlgren was able to stop our extremely large ship and turn her around.
We found the refugees just 50 miles off the coast of Cuba and 35 from Key West. We waited with them until the Key West Coast Guard arrived to complete the rescue.
I'm sure this happens all of the time so it's not 'news-worthy' given what is happening in Japan and the Middle East. But I want it to be. I think about their risk/benefit analysis and decision to take the risk with their lives to come to the US. I want them to be able to remain.
I can't find anything online that tells me whether or not our 'Wet Feet/Dry Feet' policy remains, or whether the Leahy-Levin Refugee Protection Act of 2010 passed and impacts 'sea refugees.'
And I cannot find anything online that tells me what happened to these desperate people. I'm saying prayers.
My affection and loyalty has been won.
Thank you to the Royal Caribbean and the Key West Coast Guard!
Mainstream brands aren't apt to capture my attention. It takes a lot. But sometimes the winning is in the heart, not in the tangible.
Yes,
I was impressed with our stateroom and veranda.
I was even more impressed with the stateroom and veranda of our travel companions.
I was impressed with the attention to detail and service we received.
I was impressed with the joy every staff member had in doing their jobs.
I was impressed with the piano player in the piano bar.
I was impressed with the champagne bar.
I was impressed with the musicians in the latin bar.
Those won my affection, but they did not win my loyalty.
What won my loyalty is the human kindness shown by the young Swedish Captain Patrik Dahlgren of the Navigator of the Seas.
As I sat with a friend next to the ship's rail on the starboard side enjoying lunch and a cold beer, our ship passed a small rickety boat full of Cuban refugees including children. They were shouting for help as they bailed water out of their boat.
I became nauseous and tearful as we quickly passed them and they faded into the horizon. The entire ship became more alive than usual as everyone was upset and contacting the ship's bridge requesting assistance for the refugees. Very quickly, Captain Dahlgren was able to stop our extremely large ship and turn her around.
We found the refugees just 50 miles off the coast of Cuba and 35 from Key West. We waited with them until the Key West Coast Guard arrived to complete the rescue.
I can't find anything online that tells me whether or not our 'Wet Feet/Dry Feet' policy remains, or whether the Leahy-Levin Refugee Protection Act of 2010 passed and impacts 'sea refugees.'
And I cannot find anything online that tells me what happened to these desperate people. I'm saying prayers.
My affection and loyalty has been won.
Thank you to the Royal Caribbean and the Key West Coast Guard!
2 comments:
The Wet Feet/Dry Feet Policy Still applies...those people probably did not want to be "saved" what a shame...wish they'd made it to shore.
I, too, was on the ship and impressed by the quick action of the crew. I found a story this week that the Coast Guard and their outcome:
http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-repatriates-48-cuban-migrants/2011/04/08/
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