RCl Responds to Allegations Involving Disappearance!

Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from Royal Caribbean and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com


Royal Caribbean International Responds to Allegations Involving George
Smith's Disappearance With Factual Chronology

MIAMI, Jan 05, 2006
George Smith, IV tragically disappeared from the Brilliance of the
Seas sometime in the early morning hours of July 5, 2005, while the
ship was sailing in the Mediterranean Sea on a 12-day cruise enroute
to Turkey. The reason for his disappearance is being thoroughly
investigated by the FBI but is still unknown. The FBI has requested
that Royal Caribbean and others connected with the incident limit
their remarks so as not to compromise that investigation, and we have
resisted commenting until now. Even today, we will not comment on
items which could interfere with the FBI's investigation.

All of us at Royal Caribbean extend our deepest sympathies to Jennifer
Hagel Smith and the whole Smith family. They have suffered an
inconsolable loss, and it is totally understandable they want answers
and some measure of closure regarding Mr. Smith's disappearance.
However, there has been a lot of inaccurate and unfair speculation
about our company's response to the incident, and the time has come to
set the record straight.

I. Royal Caribbean acted immediately upon learning Mr. Smith might
have gone overboard, searched for him, and performed a thorough
investigation to find out what happened.

II. The ship's crew responded properly to the one complaint of
"partying" noise coming from the Smith cabin during the night in
question.

III. We notified Turkish and U.S. law enforcement authorities promptly
and cooperated fully with their investigation, and we continue to
assist the FBI in its search for the truth. This included promptly
sealing the cabin and canopy over the lifeboats, providing authorities
with access to all passengers and crewmembers, and providing all other
information requested or known. All evidence in the cabin and on the
canopy was protected until the Turkish authorities finished their
forensic investigation late that afternoon and told the ship those
areas were released for cleaning.

IV. At each and every step, Mrs. Hagel Smith was treated with
compassion and, while in Turkey after the incident, was provided
constant assistance and support, including a personal escort from the
ship throughout the ensuing investigation.

V. Upon learning of Mr. Smith's disappearance, we kept the family
informed until they directed us not to contact them.

I. THE COMPANY ACTED PROMPTLY

The initial reports of blood on the canopy came in just after 8:30
a.m., over two hours after the ship had docked and many passengers and
crew had departed. Within 10 minutes, the canopy area was secured, and
a thorough search of the ship was undertaken for passengers in the
cabins above and surrounding the bloodstain. Three guests, including
Mr. and Mrs. Smith, were initially unaccounted for and did not respond
to pages. By approximately 9:15 a.m., the ship's officers gave
instructions that American and Turkish authorities be notified.

As part of the search following the initial passenger reports of
seeing blood on the canopy, the ship's Chief Officer entered the
Smiths' cabin at 8:41 a.m. and determined the cabin was empty. Since
the Smiths had not been found, the Captain ordered the cabin sealed
and a guard was posted around 8:50 a.m. Ship's personnel continued to
search the ship for the missing guests.

Shortly before 10:00 a.m., the Staff Captain and two other ship
officials went to the Spa, where they had been informed Mrs. Hagel
Smith was having a massage. She was asked to come out of the treatment
room and to meet with them in a nearby private room. The officers were
relieved to have found one of the missing guests, but requested her
help in ascertaining any information concerning the whereabouts of her
husband. She responded that she was not aware that Mr. Smith was
missing or where he was. Mrs. Hagel Smith also told the officers her
husband may have slept elsewhere. She added they had been partying and
that he had slept elsewhere on the ship on at least one other night
during the cruise.

Allegations that the ship's crew harshly informed Mrs. Hagel Smith
about the blood stained awning are not correct. Having found blood on
the canopy and having not located Mr. Smith thus far, even though a
search was still underway, the Staff Captain determined it was best to
advise Mrs. Hagel Smith her husband might have gone overboard. But he
first thought it helpful for her to have a female officer as a
companion during what he feared would be a very difficult time.

Approximately 15 minutes after she was located in the Spa, Mrs. Hagel
Smith was introduced to the ship's Guest Relations Manager, Marie, a
ship's officer. Marie was in her office and was asked to assist and
support Mrs. Hagel Smith. There, at approximately 10:15 a.m., the
Staff Captain told Mrs. Hagel Smith that something outside the ship
indicated Mr. Smith may have gone overboard. While there is no good
way to deliver such horrific news, he was careful not to mention any
blood out of concern for her well-being. At one point, the Staff
Captain was specifically asked whether blood was found on the outside
of the ship. The Staff Captain did not wish to answer in Mrs. Hagel
Smith's presence, but she may well have inferred the answer from his
silence.

An intensive search of the ship was immediately undertaken, completed
and failed to find Mr. Smith. The ship has a sophisticated system,
called "SeaPass," which keeps track of people who enter or leave the
ship. As part of the investigation, the "SeaPass" system also was
reviewed to ensure that Mr. Smith had not simply walked off the ship
with other passengers who had gone ashore. He had not.

Once ship officers concluded that Mr. Smith was missing and had
possibly gone overboard, they attempted to determine a likely
timeframe in which that might have happened. The ship's officers
computed that George Smith left the ship in Greek waters based upon an
analysis of various interviews taken during that day, computer logs of
the ships coordinates, and other information that had been compiled.
After completing their investigation and analysis, the ship then
contacted the Greek Coast Guard at 1:57 p.m. to conduct a search.

II. THE CREW RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY TO THE SINGLE NOISE COMPLAINT

At 4:05 a.m. during the night, a guest in one of the cabins adjoining
the Smiths' cabin called the Guest Relations desk and complained about
loud voices and drinking game noises coming from the Smith cabin.
Security went to the Smith cabin in response to that complaint, but
the noise had already stopped, and there was no answer to our
knocking. We now know from interviews of passengers conducted after
Mr. Smith was found missing that the guest pounded on the wall at
about the same time he called the Guest Relations desk and the noises
stopped almost immediately. Since there was no noise when security
arrived or any report or sign of violence or danger, security left
believing all was well. We had no justification for invading a guest
cabin on the basis of one simple partying noise complaint.

Shortly after 4:30 a.m., Mrs. Hagel Smith was found sleeping on the
floor of a corridor on the other side of the ship and a significant
distance from her cabin. Security was notified and arrived shortly
thereafter. As several ship personnel remained with Mrs. Smith, two
crewmembers went to her cabin at 4:48 a.m. to see if anyone was there
to assist in her return. They knocked and, not getting a response,
looked inside the cabin, found it empty and saw nothing amiss. While
the crewmembers were still outside the Smith cabin, the guest in the
other adjoining cabin looked out his cabin door, complained about the
earlier noise, and reportedly advised crewmembers to enter the cabin.
However, they had already opened the door and seen nothing amiss.

Mrs. Hagel Smith was taken back to her cabin by wheelchair at 4:57
a.m. by two security guards and a female supervisor. She was placed on
top of her bed and asked if she was all right. She answered that she
was okay, and the security personnel left the room. George Smith was
not present, and nothing appeared amiss.

The ship arrived in Kusadasi, Turkey, at 6:14 a.m., and passengers
were cleared to go ashore at 6:39 a.m. Only subsequent to Mr. Smith's
July 5 disappearance did Royal Caribbean learn that a number of other
guests also heard various noises apparently emanating from the Smith
cabin during the early morning hours. Unfortunately, none of them were
reported at the time. Only the one guest noted above called reception
to report the party-type noises. At the time, the crew responded
appropriately to a simple partying noise complaint.

III. WE PROMPTLY NOTIFIED TURKISH AND U.S. AUTHORITIES AND FULLY
COOPERATED WITH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS

Royal Caribbean has a port agent, who is a designated representative
to assist its ships, guests, and crew in any local matters in every
single port it visits worldwide. At 9:15 a.m., when George Smith could
not be located in response to the initial pages, the ship directed its
port agent to contact the Turkish police. The port agent also
contacted the U.S. Embassy. Royal Caribbean representatives in Miami
contacted the FBI directly at 10:19 a.m. Turkish time (3:19 a.m. EDT)
and were told that the FBI would notify other U.S. authorities
including the U.S. embassy in Turkey. As more information became
available, a second call was made to the FBI by Royal Caribbean at
10:28 a.m. (Turkish time) (3:28 a.m. EDT). The FBI maintains a legal
office in Ankara, Turkey, but by coincidence, it turned out that there
was an FBI agent in Kusadasi, who happened to be on vacation in that
area and the FBI asked him to attend the scene. The Turkish
authorities asked to speak to several people from the ship, including
Mrs. Hagel Smith, the Captain, and some crew and passengers. The ship
and its passengers were under the jurisdiction of Turkish authorities
since they were in a Turkish port. The Turkish authorities refused the
ship's explicit request that the interviews take place on the ship.
They were adamant the interviews take place in accordance with normal
police procedure and that they be conducted off the ship, beginning in
the police office in the Port terminal. It is the FBI's normal
practice that when such international incidents occur, the FBI will
usually rely on local police authorities, working in conjunction with
the FBI legal attache agents at the embassies, to conduct the initial
investigation and turn over the results to the FBI. The FBI confirmed
this policy as recently as a Congressional hearing on December 13,
2005.

The Turkish police arrived at the ship at 12:30 p.m. and conducted a
full forensic investigation of both the cabin and the canopy,
including taking blood samples, fingerprints, photographs, and
collecting other evidence in the room. They secured and removed such
evidence. The Turkish authorities informed Royal Caribbean that all of
this evidence has been delivered to the FBI. The Turkish police had
the authority to take whatever time was needed, and they did so. We
also gave them our full cooperation in doing so. Had they requested
more time, the departure of the ship would have been delayed for as
long as necessary.

In addition to Mrs. Hagel Smith, the police questioned two other
guests and four members of the ship's crew. All members of the crew
voluntarily gave testimony and answered police questions. By late
afternoon, the police advised us they had completed their forensic
investigation. They also advised us that they did not have any reason
to hold either Mrs. Hagel Smith or any of the other people questioned.
They said that would continue their investigation, but they had
obtained all the forensic evidence they needed and the ship, her
guests, and crew were cleared to leave. They said at that time that
ship officials could now clean the cabin and the canopy.

During the course of the day, the Captain observed passengers leaning
way over the balcony railings in order to view the blood and take
photographs. He was concerned about passenger safety and disruption to
the ship. The balcony railings on the ship are high, but even so,
there can be a danger if a person leans too far over. The Captain did
not clean the canopy immediately after the authorities authorized him
to do so, but two hours later, he thought it prudent to allow the
cleaning. He then personally spoke with the Turkish police and
re-confirmed that the authorities had no objection to cleaning the
blood from canopy. The Turkish authorities advised the Captain that
since they had completed their forensic investigation, collected blood
samples and taken photographs, they gave the Captain express
permission to clean the blood off the canopy. That was done at 6:15
p.m. using a pressure hose. It is simply not true that the canopy was
cleaned earlier than this or that it was ever painted over.

The FBI provided no instructions to Royal Caribbean in either of the
two calls which it made in the morning or anytime during the remainder
of the day, either directly or through their agent on the scene,
regarding preserving the blood found on the canopy or keeping the room
under seal for any period of time after the Turkish authorities had
completed their investigation. Royal Caribbean understands that the
FBI was in communication with the appropriate authorities. This belief
was confirmed with the arrival of the U.S. Consulate Representative
and an FBI agent to the police station in Kusadasi. Therefore, when
the Captain received permission from the Turkish authorities, who had
already completed their forensic testing, the Captain believed it was
permissible to wash the blood from the canopy.

Mrs. Hagel Smith, in conversations with her father and the ship
Captain, had stated she wished to join her parents and return home as
soon as possible. Only after the police released Mrs. Hagel Smith and
completed their examination of the cabin did the Captain allow Marie,
the ship officer who had accompanied her all day during the
investigation, to retrieve her belongings from her cabin and deliver
them to her so she could return home to be reunited with her family.
Aside from that one brief period when her belongings were being packed
between approximately 6-6:30 p.m. on July 5, the cabin remained closed
and off limits for another six days.

During this six-day period, Royal Caribbean was in continual
communication with the FBI. In fact, as noted below, it was the FBI
agent who acted as an intermediary in giving Marie the safe
combination so that she could retrieve Mrs. Hagel Smith's belongings
from the cabin. In addition, an FBI agent boarded the ship and
inspected the cabin on July 7.

On two additional occasions (July 8 and 9, 2005), Royal Caribbean also
advised the FBI that the cruise was ending in Barcelona on July 11,
2005, and it was standard procedure for the cabin to be cleaned and
placed into service. Royal Caribbean specifically invited the FBI
aboard the vessel to conduct their own investigation. The FBI
acknowledged they understood the situation and in fact sent an agent
to board the vessel and inspect the cabin before it was cleaned. In
addition, on July 8, 2005, Royal Caribbean's President also
specifically asked the FBI if there was anything further Royal
Caribbean could do to help in the investigation. The FBI made no
further requests of Royal Caribbean during this time. Receiving no
objection or instructions from the FBI to the contrary, and knowing
that the Turkish authorities already conducted forensic testing and
released the cabin, Royal Caribbean saw no reason not to follow
standard procedure and prepared the room for the guests who had
pre-reserved the cabin. Three days later on July 14, 2005, for the
first time, the FBI called and requested that the cabin be vacated and
remain empty. Royal Caribbean complied with this request and has
continued to comply with all requests from the FBI to the present.

While anyone can second guess these decisions based on five months of
hindsight, the fact is that the Captain and crew protected the cabin
and the canopy not only for the amount of time needed for the
investigation, but for longer than any authority requested. They based
their decisions on any and all guidance received from the authorities,
all of whom we kept informed.

IV. THE SHIP'S CREW RESPONDED COMPASSIONATELY TO MRS. HAGEL SMITH'S
NEEDS

Royal Caribbean understood from the first moments of this tragedy that
Mrs. Hagel Smith's ordeal was traumatic and that she needed to be
treated sensitively. Her husband was missing and had apparently gone
overboard; any police inquiry would inevitably involve questioning of
the spouse; and she could not even gain access to her own belongings
because her cabin had been sealed. From the outset, the Captain and
crew therefore tried to provide her with support and assistance in a
sympathetic and compassionate manner.

Claims that she was abandoned, asked to leave the ship, or left alone
in Turkey are utterly false. Contrary to speculation and innuendo,
from the moment she was found at the spa and taken to Marie's office,
she was never even left alone. During her questioning in the terminal
by Turkish authorities, she had had two ship officers with her,
including Marie. During her questioning in the police station by a
Turkish (female) judge, she had an FBI agent and an official from the
U.S. Consulate with her. Marie, the Royal Caribbean officer with her
at the police station, was asked by the FBI agent to leave the group
during the judge's questioning. In fact, at least one Royal Caribbean
officer, Marie, accompanied her throughout the day and consoled and
comforted her from shortly after 10:00 a.m. until about 6:00 p.m. that
night, when Mrs. Hagel Smith retired to her hotel arranged by our port
agent and in the company of the U.S. consulate officer.

Reports that she was forced to wear clothing with the company's logo
are false. Mrs. Hagel Smith requested a change of clothes, since she
was still in the clothes she wore the night before. Marie helped Mrs.
Hagel Smith get a change of clothes before leaving the ship to be
interviewed. At approximately 11:35 a.m., one and a half hours after
she had been located in the Spa, Marie took Mrs. Hagel Smith to a
private room and offered her an opportunity to shower, rest and change
clothes before her interview with Turkish authorities. Mrs. Hagel
Smith accepted. Because her cabin was sealed, she had no clean
clothes. Marie therefore asked staff to get comfortable new clothes
from the ship's gift shop, most of which typically carry the cruise
line insignia. Mrs. Hagel Smith chose the specific clothes she wore
from a selection obtained from the gift shop. She was never forced to
wear anything. Marie lent Mrs. Hagel Smith a brush for her hair,
toiletries, and gave Mrs. Hagel Smith a bathrobe to use. In addition,
she gathered some magazines and even a CD player to help calm her
during the long day ahead. Finally, Marie gave Mrs. Hagel Smith her
own long-sleeved, zip-up sweater to wear over the clothes from the
boutique. Contrary to certain reports that she was prevented from
calling home, Mrs. Hagel Smith was, in fact, assisted in making calls
to her own family and Mr. Smith's family. Her first calls were to her
father at approximately noon Turkish time (5:00 a.m. EDT), after
unsuccessfully trying to reach her sister-in-law. The ship facilitated
these calls for her. The Captain participated in one of the phone
calls with Mrs. Hagel Smith's father, which involved the location of
the police interview. When the police insisted they wanted to
interview Mrs. Hagel Smith in their own facilities, a ship officer
tried to convince the police to do it on the ship, but they were
adamant and they asserted jurisdiction to conduct the investigation.
The Captain explained this to Mrs. Hagel Smith and to her father. Mrs.
Hagel Smith talked further with her father and then agreed to
cooperate and go off the ship for the questioning.

The ship allowed Mrs. Hagel Smith to place any call she wished. Soon
after she was informed that Mr. Smith was missing, she said she wanted
to call her own father and Mr. Smith's family. Marie helped her with
the former, but noted that Mrs. Hagel Smith had previously told the
ship's officers that Mr. Smith's absence from their cabin was not
necessarily suspicious, as he might have been with friends. Marie
therefore suggested she might want to wait to call Mr. Smith's family
until it was clearer that he really was missing. Marie still hoped
that Mr. Smith would turn up and thought Mrs. Hagel Smith wouldn't
want to frighten the family unnecessarily, especially in the middle of
the night in the U.S. as it was 11:35 a.m. Turkish time (4:35 a.m.
EDT). However, within 25 minutes it became clear that they should be
informed, and the ship facilitated the calls, starting at noon (5:00
a.m. EDT). In all, Mrs. Hagel Smith made at least seven calls home,
all but one via the ship or other company representative. The only
difficulty Mrs. Hagel Smith encountered was with respect to two calls
she attempted but was unable to get through due to problems with the
connection.

Royal Caribbean also tried to keep the Smith family informed of all
available information. In all, our company called the family five
times to provide them what little information was available. We
stopped calling when Bree Smith, Mr. Smith's sister, told us that she
was an attorney and did not want any more calls from the company.

Mrs. Hagel Smith initially met with police at the port terminal
station at 1:30 p.m., and later in the main police office
approximately one hour later. The Turkish judge who conducted the
official interview at the main police station decided to wait for the
U.S. consulate official to arrive before questioning Mrs. Hagel Smith.
Marie was with her during the questioning at the terminal as well as
sitting with her at the police station. Contrary to reports, Marie she
saw no incidents of taunting or efforts to humiliate Mrs. Hagel Smith.

As part of their investigation, the police requested a doctor to
examine Mrs. Hagel Smith for bruises or other signs of a struggle.
Marie insisted on going with her. Upon arrival at the hospital, Marie
insisted that all individuals in the room leave other than the
physician, a female nurse, and herself. Marie turned her body away to
give Mrs. Hagel Smith privacy. The exam lasted two minutes.

There have been suggestions that Mrs. Hagel Smith only cooperated with
the investigation by Turkish authorities because the captain told her
two officers would accompany her when interviewed with the authorities
and that the interview would be limited to a simple statement. The
captain was true to his word. As noted above, two officers accompanied
Mrs. Hagel Smith while she was first interviewed by Turkish
authorities at the terminal. When they were advised that a U.S.
consular official and an FBI agent were going to meet them at the next
location, one of the officers returned to the ship. One Royal
Caribbean officer, Marie, remained with her at all times, except when
Mrs. Hagel Smith was interviewed by a female Turkish judge, and the
FBI agent specifically told Marie to leave the room. The FBI agent and
the U.S. consulate official remained in the room with Mrs. Hagel
Smith.

The Captain never assured Mrs. Hagel Smith that she would only have to
give one statement -- he would never be in a position to control the
Turkish investigation, and, thus, would never give such an assurance.
Our first priority was to determine what happened to Mr. Smith. It was
our belief then, and it remains so today, that Mrs. Hagel Smith shared
that priority. The best way to advance the investigation was obviously
to cooperate with the investigators.

The ship was docked at a Turkish port and the Turkish police had
jurisdiction over the ship and all its passengers and crew. Refusing
reasonable demands by the police would not only be imprudent for
everyone (including Mrs. Hagel Smith), it would probably be
counterproductive. The Turkish authorities performed their important
duties responsibly and professionally. For example, part of the reason
that the questioning took longer than expected was that the Turkish
authorities waited for the arrival of the consular officer and the FBI
agent before continuing the questioning. Altogether, it took
approximately four hours from the time Mrs. Hagel Smith left the ship
until the authorities released her. It must have been a difficult time
for her, but it is unfair to suggest that this was an unreasonable
imposition that the Captain should have or could have spared her in an
investigation of a possible murder.

As the day continued, Mrs. Hagel Smith repeatedly said she wanted to
be reunited with her family. Royal Caribbean was fully prepared to
assist with these arrangements, and the Captain even offered to have
Mrs. Hagel Smith remain on the vessel until arrangements could be made
for her to fly home from Pireaus, but he was advised the U.S.
consulate official was already arranging for her travel home on a
Lufthansa flight. The final arrangements were subsequently made by
Royal Caribbean's port agent, who also made arrangements for a hotel
and transportation for Mrs. Hagel Smith to go to the airport on the
following day. Suggestions that she was kicked off the ship in Turkey
are false.

Later that afternoon, at approximately 5:45 p.m., the police released
Mrs. Hagel Smith and told her she was free to fly home. Mrs. Hagel
Smith gave the FBI agent on the scene the combination to her cabin
safe in order to be able to pack up Mr. and Mrs. Smith's personal
belongings. Marie offered to return to the ship to do so, and the FBI
agent gave Marie the combination to the safe. After verifying with
Mrs. Hagel Smith that she was authorized to open her safe, Marie
returned to the ship. She packed Mrs. Hagel Smith's clothes and
retrieved her passport and other valuables from the cabin safe using
the code the FBI agent gave her. Marie handed the valuables directly
to the U.S. Consulate official who was in the cabin with Marie. Ship
officers were only responding to Mrs. Hagel Smith's repeated requests
to be with her family.

Marie carefully packed the nicer clothing in the suitcases and used
company's shopping bags for the excess. The consular officer then took
Mrs. Hagel Smith to her hotel, which had been arranged by Royal
Caribbean's port agent. The consulate officer stayed at the same hotel
so she could accompany her to the airport in the morning. The ship
departed Kusadasi at 7:08 p.m.

During the day, ship officers and the company's port agent worked
closely with the U.S. Consulate and the FBI to ensure that Mrs. Hagel
Smith was treated with care and compassion. Together, these
individuals worked hard on her behalf and unquestionably softened some
of the worst edges of her ordeal. Each contributed as much as he or
she reasonably could and, while nothing could eliminate her ordeal, to
attack their individual efforts and contribution is unfair.

V. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR ANSWERS

The tragic disappearance of George Smith is a terrible heartbreak for
his wife and family and we understand that they are inconsolable. We
sympathize with their loss and their grief. We will continue to
cooperate fully with the FBI and other authorities in an effort to
find the answers we all want. The ship's officers and crew did their
best to assist Mrs. Hagel Smith in every way possible and to
facilitate a complete and untainted investigation. We commend them for
responding to this tragedy carefully, compassionately and
professionally.

By the length of their press release I'd say every lawyer in their
company had a crack at it to add a little something. Reads like a novel.

Ray Goldenberg wrote:
Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from Royal Caribbean and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com


Royal Caribbean International Responds to Allegations Involving George
Smith's Disappearance With Factual Chronology

MIAMI, Jan 05, 2006
George Smith, IV tragically disappeared from the Brilliance of the
Seas sometime in the early morning hours of July 5, 2005, while the
ship was sailing in the Mediterranean Sea on a 12-day cruise enroute
to Turkey. The reason for his disappearance is being thoroughly
investigated by the FBI but is still unknown. The FBI has requested
that Royal Caribbean and others connected with the incident limit
their remarks so as not to compromise that investigation, and we have
resisted commenting until now. Even today, we will not comment on
items which could interfere with the FBI's investigation.

All of us at Royal Caribbean extend our deepest sympathies to Jennifer
Hagel Smith and the whole Smith family. They have suffered an
inconsolable loss, and it is totally understandable they want answers
and some measure of closure regarding Mr. Smith's disappearance.
However, there has been a lot of inaccurate and unfair speculation
about our company's response to the incident, and the time has come to
set the record straight.

I. Royal Caribbean acted immediately upon learning Mr. Smith might
have gone overboard, searched for him, and performed a thorough
investigation to find out what happened.

II. The ship's crew responded properly to the one complaint of
"partying" noise coming from the Smith cabin during the night in
question.

III. We notified Turkish and U.S. law enforcement authorities promptly
and cooperated fully with their investigation, and we continue to
assist the FBI in its search for the truth. This included promptly
sealing the cabin and canopy over the lifeboats, providing authorities
with access to all passengers and crewmembers, and providing all other
information requested or known. All evidence in the cabin and on the
canopy was protected until the Turkish authorities finished their
forensic investigation late that afternoon and told the ship those
areas were released for cleaning.

IV. At each and every step, Mrs. Hagel Smith was treated with
compassion and, while in Turkey after the incident, was provided
constant assistance and support, including a personal escort from the
ship throughout the ensuing investigation.

V. Upon learning of Mr. Smith's disappearance, we kept the family
informed until they directed us not to contact them.

I. THE COMPANY ACTED PROMPTLY

The initial reports of blood on the canopy came in just after 8:30
a.m., over two hours after the ship had docked and many passengers and
crew had departed. Within 10 minutes, the canopy area was secured, and
a thorough search of the ship was undertaken for passengers in the
cabins above and surrounding the bloodstain. Three guests, including
Mr. and Mrs. Smith, were initially unaccounted for and did not respond
to pages. By approximately 9:15 a.m., the ship's officers gave
instructions that American and Turkish authorities be notified.

As part of the search following the initial passenger reports of
seeing blood on the canopy, the ship's Chief Officer entered the
Smiths' cabin at 8:41 a.m. and determined the cabin was empty. Since
the Smiths had not been found, the Captain ordered the cabin sealed
and a guard was posted around 8:50 a.m. Ship's personnel continued to
search the ship for the missing guests.

Shortly before 10:00 a.m., the Staff Captain and two other ship
officials went to the Spa, where they had been informed Mrs. Hagel
Smith was having a massage. She was asked to come out of the treatment
room and to meet with them in a nearby private room. The officers were
relieved to have found one of the missing guests, but requested her
help in ascertaining any information concerning the whereabouts of her
husband. She responded that she was not aware that Mr. Smith was
missing or where he was. Mrs. Hagel Smith also told the officers her
husband may have slept elsewhere. She added they had been partying and
that he had slept elsewhere on the ship on at least one other night
during the cruise.

Allegations that the ship's crew harshly informed Mrs. Hagel Smith
about the blood stained awning are not correct. Having found blood on
the canopy and having not located Mr. Smith thus far, even though a
search was still underway, the Staff Captain determined it was best to
advise Mrs. Hagel Smith her husband might have gone overboard. But he
first thought it helpful for her to have a female officer as a
companion during what he feared would be a very difficult time.

Approximately 15 minutes after she was located in the Spa, Mrs. Hagel
Smith was introduced to the ship's Guest Relations Manager, Marie, a
ship's officer. Marie was in her office and was asked to assist and
support Mrs. Hagel Smith. There, at approximately 10:15 a.m., the
Staff Captain told Mrs. Hagel Smith that something outside the ship
indicated Mr. Smith may have gone overboard. While there is no good
way to deliver such horrific news, he was careful not to mention any
blood out of concern for her well-being. At one point, the Staff
Captain was specifically asked whether blood was found on the outside
of the ship. The Staff Captain did not wish to answer in Mrs. Hagel
Smith's presence, but she may well have inferred the answer from his
silence.

An intensive search of the ship was immediately undertaken, completed
and failed to find Mr. Smith. The ship has a sophisticated system,
called "SeaPass," which keeps track of people who enter or leave the
ship. As part of the investigation, the "SeaPass" system also was
reviewed to ensure that Mr. Smith had not simply walked off the ship
with other passengers who had gone ashore. He had not.

Once ship officers concluded that Mr. Smith was missing and had
possibly gone overboard, they attempted to determine a likely
timeframe in which that might have happened. The ship's officers
computed that George Smith left the ship in Greek waters based upon an
analysis of various interviews taken during that day, computer logs of
the ships coordinates, and other information that had been compiled.
After completing their investigation and analysis, the ship then
contacted the Greek Coast Guard at 1:57 p.m. to conduct a search.

II. THE CREW RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY TO THE SINGLE NOISE COMPLAINT

At 4:05 a.m. during the night, a guest in one of the cabins adjoining
the Smiths' cabin called the Guest Relations desk and complained about
loud voices and drinking game noises coming from the Smith cabin.
Security went to the Smith cabin in response to that complaint, but
the noise had already stopped, and there was no answer to our
knocking. We now know from interviews of passengers conducted after
Mr. Smith was found missing that the guest pounded on the wall at
about the same time he called the Guest Relations desk and the noises
stopped almost immediately. Since there was no noise when security
arrived or any report or sign of violence or danger, security left
believing all was well. We had no justification for invading a guest
cabin on the basis of one simple partying noise complaint.

Shortly after 4:30 a.m., Mrs. Hagel Smith was found sleeping on the
floor of a corridor on the other side of the ship and a significant
distance from her cabin. Security was notified and arrived shortly
thereafter. As several ship personnel remained with Mrs. Smith, two
crewmembers went to her cabin at 4:48 a.m. to see if anyone was there
to assist in her return. They knocked and, not getting a response,
looked inside the cabin, found it empty and saw nothing amiss. While
the crewmembers were still outside the Smith cabin, the guest in the
other adjoining cabin looked out his cabin door, complained about the
earlier noise, and reportedly advised crewmembers to enter the cabin.
However, they had already opened the door and seen nothing amiss.

Mrs. Hagel Smith was taken back to her cabin by wheelchair at 4:57
a.m. by two security guards and a female supervisor. She was placed on
top of her bed and asked if she was all right. She answered that she
was okay, and the security personnel left the room. George Smith was
not present, and nothing appeared amiss.

The ship arrived in Kusadasi, Turkey, at 6:14 a.m., and passengers
were cleared to go ashore at 6:39 a.m. Only subsequent to Mr. Smith's
July 5 disappearance did Royal Caribbean learn that a number of other
guests also heard various noises apparently emanating from the Smith
cabin during the early morning hours. Unfortunately, none of them were
reported at the time. Only the one guest noted above called reception
to report the party-type noises. At the time, the crew responded
appropriately to a simple partying noise complaint.

III. WE PROMPTLY NOTIFIED TURKISH AND U.S. AUTHORITIES AND FULLY
COOPERATED WITH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS

Royal Caribbean has a port agent, who is a designated representative
to assist its ships, guests, and crew in any local matters in every
single port it visits worldwide. At 9:15 a.m., when George Smith could
not be located in response to the initial pages, the ship directed its
port agent to contact the Turkish police. The port agent also
contacted the U.S. Embassy. Royal Caribbean representatives in Miami
contacted the FBI directly at 10:19 a.m. Turkish time (3:19 a.m. EDT)
and were told that the FBI would notify other U.S. authorities
including the U.S. embassy in Turkey. As more information became
available, a second call was made to the FBI by Royal Caribbean at
10:28 a.m. (Turkish time) (3:28 a.m. EDT). The FBI maintains a legal
office in Ankara, Turkey, but by coincidence, it turned out that there
was an FBI agent in Kusadasi, who happened to be on vacation in that
area and the FBI asked him to attend the scene. The Turkish
authorities asked to speak to several people from the ship, including
Mrs. Hagel Smith, the Captain, and some crew and passengers. The ship
and its passengers were under the jurisdiction of Turkish authorities
since they were in a Turkish port. The Turkish authorities refused the
ship's explicit request that the interviews take place on the ship.
They were adamant the interviews take place in accordance with normal
police procedure and that they be conducted off the ship, beginning in
the police office in the Port terminal. It is the FBI's normal
practice that when such international incidents occur, the FBI will
usually rely on local police authorities, working in conjunction with
the FBI legal attache agents at the embassies, to conduct the initial
investigation and turn over the results to the FBI. The FBI confirmed
this policy as recently as a Congressional hearing on December 13,
2005.

The Turkish police arrived at the ship at 12:30 p.m. and conducted a
full forensic investigation of both the cabin and the canopy,
including taking blood samples, fingerprints, photographs, and
collecting other evidence in the room. They secured and removed such
evidence. The Turkish authorities informed Royal Caribbean that all of
this evidence has been delivered to the FBI. The Turkish police had
the authority to take whatever time was needed, and they did so. We
also gave them our full cooperation in doing so. Had they requested
more time, the departure of the ship would have been delayed for as
long as necessary.

In addition to Mrs. Hagel Smith, the police questioned two other
guests and four members of the ship's crew. All members of the crew
voluntarily gave testimony and answered police questions. By late
afternoon, the police advised us they had completed their forensic
investigation. They also advised us that they did not have any reason
to hold either Mrs. Hagel Smith or any of the other people questioned.
They said that would continue their investigation, but they had
obtained all the forensic evidence they needed and the ship, her
guests, and crew were cleared to leave. They said at that time that
ship officials could now clean the cabin and the canopy.

During the course of the day, the Captain observed passengers leaning
way over the balcony railings in order to view the blood and take
photographs. He was concerned about passenger safety and disruption to
the ship. The balcony railings on the ship are high, but even so,
there can be a danger if a person leans too far over. The Captain did
not clean the canopy immediately after the authorities authorized him
to do so, but two hours later, he thought it prudent to allow the
cleaning. He then personally spoke with the Turkish police and
re-confirmed that the authorities had no objection to cleaning the
blood from canopy. The Turkish authorities advised the Captain that
since they had completed their forensic investigation, collected blood
samples and taken photographs, they gave the Captain express
permission to clean the blood off the canopy. That was done at 6:15
p.m. using a pressure hose. It is simply not true that the canopy was
cleaned earlier than this or that it was ever painted over.

The FBI provided no instructions to Royal Caribbean in either of the
two calls which it made in the morning or anytime during the remainder
of the day, either directly or through their agent on the scene,
regarding preserving the blood found on the canopy or keeping the room
under seal for any period of time after the Turkish authorities had
completed their investigation. Royal Caribbean understands that the
FBI was in communication with the appropriate authorities. This belief
was confirmed with the arrival of the U.S. Consulate Representative
and an FBI agent to the police station in Kusadasi. Therefore, when
the Captain received permission from the Turkish authorities, who had
already completed their forensic testing, the Captain believed it was
permissible to wash the blood from the canopy.

Mrs. Hagel Smith, in conversations with her father and the ship
Captain, had stated she wished to join her parents and return home as
soon as possible. Only after the police released Mrs. Hagel Smith and
completed their examination of the cabin did the Captain allow Marie,
the ship officer who had accompanied her all day during the
investigation, to retrieve her belongings from her cabin and deliver
them to her so she could return home to be reunited with her family.
Aside from that one brief period when her belongings were being packed
between approximately 6-6:30 p.m. on July 5, the cabin remained closed
and off limits for another six days.

During this six-day period, Royal Caribbean was in continual
communication with the FBI. In fact, as noted below, it was the FBI
agent who acted as an intermediary in giving Marie the safe
combination so that she could retrieve Mrs. Hagel Smith's belongings
from the cabin. In addition, an FBI agent boarded the ship and
inspected the cabin on July 7.

On two additional occasions (July 8 and 9, 2005), Royal Caribbean also
advised the FBI that the cruise was ending in Barcelona on July 11,
2005, and it was standard procedure for the cabin to be cleaned and
placed into service. Royal Caribbean specifically invited the FBI
aboard the vessel to conduct their own investigation. The FBI
acknowledged they understood the situation and in fact sent an agent
to board the vessel and inspect the cabin before it was cleaned. In
addition, on July 8, 2005, Royal Caribbean's President also
specifically asked the FBI if there was anything further Royal
Caribbean could do to help in the investigation. The FBI made no
further requests of Royal Caribbean during this time. Receiving no
objection or instructions from the FBI to the contrary, and knowing
that the Turkish authorities already conducted forensic testing and
released the cabin, Royal Caribbean saw no reason not to follow
standard procedure and prepared the room for the guests who had
pre-reserved the cabin. Three days later on July 14, 2005, for the
first time, the FBI called and requested that the cabin be vacated and
remain empty. Royal Caribbean complied with this request and has
continued to comply with all requests from the FBI to the present.

While anyone can second guess these decisions based on five months of
hindsight, the fact is that the Captain and crew protected the cabin
and the canopy not only for the amount of time needed for the
investigation, but for longer than any authority requested. They based
their decisions on any and all guidance received from the authorities,
all of whom we kept informed.

IV. THE SHIP'S CREW RESPONDED COMPASSIONATELY TO MRS. HAGEL SMITH'S
NEEDS

Royal Caribbean understood from the first moments of this tragedy that
Mrs. Hagel Smith's ordeal was traumatic and that she needed to be
treated sensitively. Her husband was missing and had apparently gone
overboard; any police inquiry would inevitably involve questioning of
the spouse; and she could not even gain access to her own belongings
because her cabin had been sealed. From the outset, the Captain and
crew therefore tried to provide her with support and assistance in a
sympathetic and compassionate manner.

Claims that she was abandoned, asked to leave the ship, or left alone
in Turkey are utterly false. Contrary to speculation and innuendo,
from the moment she was found at the spa and taken to Marie's office,
she was never even left alone. During her questioning in the terminal
by Turkish authorities, she had had two ship officers with her,
including Marie. During her questioning in the police station by a
Turkish (female) judge, she had an FBI agent and an official from the
U.S. Consulate with her. Marie, the Royal Caribbean officer with her
at the police station, was asked by the FBI agent to leave the group
during the judge's questioning. In fact, at least one Royal Caribbean
officer, Marie, accompanied her throughout the day and consoled and
comforted her from shortly after 10:00 a.m. until about 6:00 p.m. that
night, when Mrs. Hagel Smith retired to her hotel arranged by our port
agent and in the company of the U.S. consulate officer.

Reports that she was forced to wear clothing with the company's logo
are false. Mrs. Hagel Smith requested a change of clothes, since she
was still in the clothes she wore the night before. Marie helped Mrs.
Hagel Smith get a change of clothes before leaving the ship to be
interviewed. At approximately 11:35 a.m., one and a half hours after
she had been located in the Spa, Marie took Mrs. Hagel Smith to a
private room and offered her an opportunity to shower, rest and change
clothes before her interview with Turkish authorities. Mrs. Hagel
Smith accepted. Because her cabin was sealed, she had no clean
clothes. Marie therefore asked staff to get comfortable new clothes
from the ship's gift shop, most of which typically carry the cruise
line insignia. Mrs. Hagel Smith chose the specific clothes she wore
from a selection obtained from the gift shop. She was never forced to
wear anything. Marie lent Mrs. Hagel Smith a brush for her hair,
toiletries, and gave Mrs. Hagel Smith a bathrobe to use. In addition,
she gathered some magazines and even a CD player to help calm her
during the long day ahead. Finally, Marie gave Mrs. Hagel Smith her
own long-sleeved, zip-up sweater to wear over the clothes from the
boutique. Contrary to certain reports that she was prevented from
calling home, Mrs. Hagel Smith was, in fact, assisted in making calls
to her own family and Mr. Smith's family. Her first calls were to her
father at approximately noon Turkish time (5:00 a.m. EDT), after
unsuccessfully trying to reach her sister-in-law. The ship facilitated
these calls for her. The Captain participated in one of the phone
calls with Mrs. Hagel Smith's father, which involved the location of
the police interview. When the police insisted they wanted to
interview Mrs. Hagel Smith in their own facilities, a ship officer
tried to convince the police to do it on the ship, but they were
adamant and they asserted jurisdiction to conduct the investigation.
The Captain explained this to Mrs. Hagel Smith and to her father. Mrs.
Hagel Smith talked further with her father and then agreed to
cooperate and go off the ship for the questioning.

The ship allowed Mrs. Hagel Smith to place any call she wished. Soon
after she was informed that Mr. Smith was missing, she said she wanted
to call her own father and Mr. Smith's family. Marie helped her with
the former, but noted that Mrs. Hagel Smith had previously told the
ship's officers that Mr. Smith's absence from their cabin was not
necessarily suspicious, as he might have been with friends. Marie
therefore suggested she might want to wait to call Mr. Smith's family
until it was clearer that he really was missing. Marie still hoped
that Mr. Smith would turn up and thought Mrs. Hagel Smith wouldn't
want to frighten the family unnecessarily, especially in the middle of
the night in the U.S. as it was 11:35 a.m. Turkish time (4:35 a.m.
EDT). However, within 25 minutes it became clear that they should be
informed, and the ship facilitated the calls, starting at noon (5:00
a.m. EDT). In all, Mrs. Hagel Smith made at least seven calls home,
all but one via the ship or other company representative. The only
difficulty Mrs. Hagel Smith encountered was with respect to two calls
she attempted but was unable to get through due to problems with the
connection.

Royal Caribbean also tried to keep the Smith family informed of all
available information. In all, our company called the family five
times to provide them what little information was available. We
stopped calling when Bree Smith, Mr. Smith's sister, told us that she
was an attorney and did not want any more calls from the company.

Mrs. Hagel Smith initially met with police at the port terminal
station at 1:30 p.m., and later in the main police office
approximately one hour later. The Turkish judge who conducted the
official interview at the main police station decided to wait for the
U.S. consulate official to arrive before questioning Mrs. Hagel Smith.
Marie was with her during the questioning at the terminal as well as
sitting with her at the police station. Contrary to reports, Marie she
saw no incidents of taunting or efforts to humiliate Mrs. Hagel Smith.

As part of their investigation, the police requested a doctor to
examine Mrs. Hagel Smith for bruises or other signs of a struggle.
Marie insisted on going with her. Upon arrival at the hospital, Marie
insisted that all individuals in the room leave other than the
physician, a female nurse, and herself. Marie turned her body away to
give Mrs. Hagel Smith privacy. The exam lasted two minutes.

There have been suggestions that Mrs. Hagel Smith only cooperated with
the investigation by Turkish authorities because the captain told her
two officers would accompany her when interviewed with the authorities
and that the interview would be limited to a simple statement. The
captain was true to his word. As noted above, two officers accompanied
Mrs. Hagel Smith while she was first interviewed by Turkish
authorities at the terminal. When they were advised that a U.S.
consular official and an FBI agent were going to meet them at the next
location, one of the officers returned to the ship. One Royal
Caribbean officer, Marie, remained with her at all times, except when
Mrs. Hagel Smith was interviewed by a female Turkish judge, and the
FBI agent specifically told Marie to leave the room. The FBI agent and
the U.S. consulate official remained in the room with Mrs. Hagel
Smith.

The Captain never assured Mrs. Hagel Smith that she would only have to
give one statement -- he would never be in a position to control the
Turkish investigation, and, thus, would never give such an assurance.
Our first priority was to determine what happened to Mr. Smith. It was
our belief then, and it remains so today, that Mrs. Hagel Smith shared
that priority. The best way to advance the investigation was obviously
to cooperate with the investigators.

The ship was docked at a Turkish port and the Turkish police had
jurisdiction over the ship and all its passengers and crew. Refusing
reasonable demands by the police would not only be imprudent for
everyone (including Mrs. Hagel Smith), it would probably be
counterproductive. The Turkish authorities performed their important
duties responsibly and professionally. For example, part of the reason
that the questioning took longer than expected was that the Turkish
authorities waited for the arrival of the consular officer and the FBI
agent before continuing the questioning. Altogether, it took
approximately four hours from the time Mrs. Hagel Smith left the ship
until the authorities released her. It must have been a difficult time
for her, but it is unfair to suggest that this was an unreasonable
imposition that the Captain should have or could have spared her in an
investigation of a possible murder.

As the day continued, Mrs. Hagel Smith repeatedly said she wanted to
be reunited with her family. Royal Caribbean was fully prepared to
assist with these arrangements, and the Captain even offered to have
Mrs. Hagel Smith remain on the vessel until arrangements could be made
for her to fly home from Pireaus, but he was advised the U.S.
consulate official was already arranging for her travel home on a
Lufthansa flight. The final arrangements were subsequently made by
Royal Caribbean's port agent, who also made arrangements for a hotel
and transportation for Mrs. Hagel Smith to go to the airport on the
following day. Suggestions that she was kicked off the ship in Turkey
are false.

Later that afternoon, at approximately 5:45 p.m., the police released
Mrs. Hagel Smith and told her she was free to fly home. Mrs. Hagel
Smith gave the FBI agent on the scene the combination to her cabin
safe in order to be able to pack up Mr. and Mrs. Smith's personal
belongings. Marie offered to return to the ship to do so, and the FBI
agent gave Marie the combination to the safe. After verifying with
Mrs. Hagel Smith that she was authorized to open her safe, Marie
returned to the ship. She packed Mrs. Hagel Smith's clothes and
retrieved her passport and other valuables from the cabin safe using
the code the FBI agent gave her. Marie handed the valuables directly
to the U.S. Consulate official who was in the cabin with Marie. Ship
officers were only responding to Mrs. Hagel Smith's repeated requests
to be with her family.

Marie carefully packed the nicer clothing in the suitcases and used
company's shopping bags for the excess. The consular officer then took
Mrs. Hagel Smith to her hotel, which had been arranged by Royal
Caribbean's port agent. The consulate officer stayed at the same hotel
so she could accompany her to the airport in the morning. The ship
departed Kusadasi at 7:08 p.m.

During the day, ship officers and the company's port agent worked
closely with the U.S. Consulate and the FBI to ensure that Mrs. Hagel
Smith was treated with care and compassion. Together, these
individuals worked hard on her behalf and unquestionably softened some
of the worst edges of her ordeal. Each contributed as much as he or
she reasonably could and, while nothing could eliminate her ordeal, to
attack their individual efforts and contribution is unfair.

V. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR ANSWERS

The tragic disappearance of George Smith is a terrible heartbreak for
his wife and family and we understand that they are inconsolable. We
sympathize with their loss and their grief. We will continue to
cooperate fully with the FBI and other authorities in an effort to
find the answers we all want. The ship's officers and crew did their
best to assist Mrs. Hagel Smith in every way possible and to
facilitate a complete and untainted investigation. We commend them for
responding to this tragedy carefully, compassionately and
professionally.

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 19:29:05 GMT, Mike wrote:


By the length of their press release I'd say every lawyer in their
company had a crack at it to add a little something. Reads like a novel.

Hi Mike,

I was a little surprised that they sent out this release. I guess
Royal Caribbean got fed up with being ravaged on tabloid television.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

(Ray*Goldenberg) wrote:

I was a little surprised that they sent out this
release. I guess Royal Caribbean got fed up
with being ravaged on tabloid television.

I think Catherine Crier is supposed to comment on this case later this
afternoon (01/05) on her show on Court TV.

"Jeff Gersten" wrote in message
...
(Ray Goldenberg) wrote:

I was a little surprised that they sent out this
release. I guess Royal Caribbean got fed up
with being ravaged on tabloid television.

I think Catherine Crier is supposed to comment on this case later this
afternoon (01/05) on her show on Court TV.

Also there was a story in this week's issue of People Magazine.

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 19:29:05 GMT, Mike wrote:

By the length of their press release I'd say every lawyer in their
company had a crack at it to add a little something. Reads like a novel.

RCL is lying through their corporate teeth.
--
http://www.punkvoter.com/anim/anim-idiot.html

I really don't know what more RCI could have done.
If people act in an irresponsible manner at Sea, there can be severe
consequences.
I've been on enough cruises (over 40) to see first hand what unbridled
amounts of alcohol, and who knows what else, can cause people to do.
RCI gets a complete pass from me.
Cruising in confidence on 1/30/06 with RCI on the Enchantment.

On Mon, 9 Jan 2006 19:39:29 -0500, DaFlaBear wrote:

I really don't know what more RCI could have done.
If people act in an irresponsible manner at Sea, there can be severe
consequences.
I've been on enough cruises (over 40) to see first hand what unbridled
amounts of alcohol, and who knows what else, can cause people to do.
RCI gets a complete pass from me.

RCL has so much bad laundry to hide it's absurd. They have a history on
nonreporting or falsely reporting "accidents", rape, thefts, prostitution,
you name it. The overwhelming video and audio surveillance alone is a
secret they care not to share with anyone public.

Cruise ships are floating towns and like towns they have their share of
criminal problems and like towns, bad publicity means loss of revenues.
--
http://www.punkvoter.com/anim/anim-idiot.html

CC,
A lot of what you say is true, but do you (as someone I respect as a
REAL cruiser) believe all the nonsense this babe is babbling about?
She even wants to sue RCI for "making" her wear logo mechandise. WTF!
If I were her husband, I'd be glad I'm rid of her and in heaven because
living with her would be hell!

In article , says...


CC,
A lot of what you say is true, but do you (as someone I respect as a
REAL cruiser) believe all the nonsense this babe is babbling about?
She even wants to sue RCI for "making" her wear logo mechandise. WTF!
If I were her husband, I'd be glad I'm rid of her and in heaven because
living with her would be hell!

She's out for money.

Her lawyer was on of the cable programs. He said he that RCI should
have treated the whole ship like a crime scene, disembarked all of the
passengers sending them home, and had the FBI do a thorough investigation.

The lawyer appeared to be inept. He admitted that he has had only
one year of study of maritime law.