CRUISE SHIPS

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days. These memberships are for workers, students, maner. In March of this year, the ICCL released infor.
missionaries or anyone living overseas who wants to mation decailing the amoum of crime aboard ships over
guarantee air medical [ranspon home in case of a med# the past three years. The findings included 178 repons
kat crisis. of sexual assauh, four robberies and 24 missing persons,
Is enrolling in this yearly service buying peace of as submitted by the 15 participating cruise liners. Con.
mind or is it a bit paranoid? "It's probably a good idea, sidering more than 25 million people boarded cruise
especially if you have a chronic condition," Crye said. ships from North American ports during this time, the
Stan Bradley, executive vice president of Air Ambulance numbers still prove that these incidents are rare.
Card, agreed. "Cruises today are more far flung," Bradley Despite the negative news in the wake of such tragic
stated. "People are getting away from the Caribbean/ events, the cruise industry seems to be weathering the
Mediterranean/South Pacific. As more exotic inter# stonn. "There is more demand for cruises than ever. The
national travel is taking place, people are aware of ships are full," Crye said. "The industry has grown eight
the risks." percent for the past 20 years and continues to do so."
Regardless of your destina# While the cruising business
rion, it's a good rule of thumb [Q remains financially healthy and
remember that being adventur~ statistics say that it is one of the
ous is one thing, relying on the About Cruises safest modes of transportation,
local hospital in a third world cruises.abour.com the consensus is that you should
coumry or uopical island is quite never let your guard down. "If
another. Air Ambulance Card you have young children, super.
www.airambulancecard.com vise them. If you don't have con.
WEATHERING THE STORM trol of your faculties, make sure
Last December, the case of The Cruise Authority that someone you know and trust
George Allen Smith, a newlywed www.the.cruise.authority.com is with you," Crye added. Perhaps
who went missing on a cruise Garrison summed it up best with
ship, was enough to prompt thc International Council of Cruise Lines "A cruise ship and its crew and
government to step in and hold www.icc/.org passengers arc like a small city,
congressional hearings on the not like your family." .,:-

126 POINTS NORTH JULY 2006