Robert C. Nelson
Visitor Story Submission Date: February 28, 2006
Visitor Submitter:
Date: November 9, 2001
Port Of Call: Nassau
Age: 56
Hometown: Jacksonville Beach
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Ship: Sovereign of the Seas
Key Points:
November 2001, my husband, Bob, and I decided to take a Royal Caribbean Cruise to the Bahamas.
While onboard “Sovereign of the Seas”, Bob purchased a shore excursion through the cruise line to go scuba diving on November 9, 2001. When he left the ship that morning for his scuba diving adventure, it was last time I saw him...
The dive master, who was also his diving “buddy”, had left him to assist another diver with their equipment. Later, I learned that the sea was really too rough that day to go diving. All other dive companies had canceled their dives, because of this; therefore, they should never have been out diving.
There was a search and I was put off the ship, as it moved on. I still don't recall how many days I was alone in the Bahamas, before my sons came to take me home.
When we got home, my son contacted Royal Caribbean International (RCI) to request a copy of the report, but he was told there was no report and nothing on file. Through the courts, I had attempted to make RCI responsible for this, but due to the fact that my husband had signed a waiver, and since RCI did not own the scuba diving company, I was unsuccessful. I still can't understand why RCI is not responsible for what they sell on their cruises.
Robert C. Nelson
Missing On Shore Excursion Dive
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines - November 9, 2001
