I've been on 16 cruises, (mostly with RCL and Celebrity) and I don't mind cruising with older passengers. What I do find disturbing is, cruise lines allowing passengers that are so handicapped that if there was an emergency, such as the Concordia, these people would not make it off the ship. Not only make it off the ship, they would hinder the exit by healthier passengers. I was on Celebrity's "Reflection" last December and learned from the staff, 3 nursing facilities allowed people so infirmed, that they actually had nurses assisting them to take this cruise. Some where on IV's and so immobile that to think they were having a good time, is unblievable. I could only imagine the caos in trying to evacuate these people in an emergency situation. The couple in the cabin next to us, needed assistance just to open the door to their cabin. The cruise lines has a responsibility to ensure the safety of all it's passengers and Celebrity failed miserably on this particular cruise. I took 14 cruises with my wife before she had a stroke and when asked if she would take another, she said "NO". She felt she would be a liability because of her wheelchair. I'm not saying people in wheelchairs should not take cruises....and I've seen many on the cruises I've been on. What I object to is allowing people so infirmed that they can't move or even be aware of where they are. I now shudder when I hear......."they have a "older" clientale". This is my first cruise with HAL and I hope the "older clientale" is just that..."older". I'm looking forward to my first cruise with HAL and from what I've heard so far, it will be a memorable one......by memorable I mean, not having the elevator door open and seeing a person in a wheelchair, held in place by a posey belt with a nurse holding a IV.
