Kicked him where? Ouch!

*********

Witnesses Say Newlyweds Argued on Cruise
Man Disappeared From a Royal Caribbean Ship in the Mediterranean
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, AP


Jennifer Hagel-Smith, wife of missing man, calls the accounts that she kicked her husband "ridiculous" and "outlandish."

STAMFORD, Conn. (Jan. 6) - A man who disappeared from his honeymoon cruise last summer argued in the ship's bar with his wife, who kicked him in the groin hours before he vanished, two witnesses said Friday.

The witnesses told The Associated Press the FBI has interviewed them about the July 5 disappearance of George Allen Smith IV of Greenwich.

"I was very surprised by their behavior, that a honeymoon couple would act that way," said Margarita Chaves, a 29-year-old teacher from Phoenix.

Smith disappeared from a Royal Caribbean ship in the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Greece. Blood stains were found running from the balcony of Smith's cabin to life boats. No one has been charged and no body has been recovered.

Smith's wife, Jennifer Hagel-Smith of Cromwell, was found sleeping on a floor in a corridor far from the couple's cabin the night he vanished, the cruise line said Wednesday.

Hagel-Smith and her attorney say she was unconscious and has no recollection of what happened. Hagel-Smith said she passed an FBI polygraph test. Federal authorities have said she has cooperated with their investigation.

I've been sort-of following this story. So many questions...it's really quite a bizarre story. The people on the RCI CC board have been rabid over it! It's sad, but then there are just so many weird reports about the couple being horribly drunk, hanging out with disreputable people, lover's quarrels, flirting with others and even possible adultery with a crew member. It seems like every time I read about it, the story changes. Who knows if we'll ever know what really happened.

Sounds like they were from Wisteria Lane???

Hello All:

Well, I'm going to ring in on this thread with a small story of my own, on the one and only RCCL branded cruiseship I've been on. (In fact, the cruise was so short and the experience so dreadful that I've never even acknowledged the story to people who know me here on the LCT board.)

Anyway, to make a long story as short as possible...several years ago a TA friend-of-a- friend of mine insisted that my partner and I join a group of gay men and women going on a Halloween weekend cruise from LA to Ensenada and back. (This was not a "gay" cruise, just a group of 60 or so gay people on a ship that holds 2000 passengers.)

I really was reticent about going but got talked into it, and the price was a giveaway $300. Back then I was still new to cruising and rather unexperienced, having only been on a Celebrity (owned by RCCL, btw) cruise to Alaska (which was actually quite enjoyable for a large ship).

Ok, cut to the chase. Our group had its own private party in one of the smaller lounges, everyone was in costume, some tame (my partner and I just wore our tuxes with black masks), and some quite provocative, showing plenty of skin.

The private party ended about midnight with no incident, everyone attending had a good time. Afterwards, my partner went to back to the stateroom to sleep and I went to the main lounge for another drink.

It was at this lounge where problems started. I sat at the end of the bar with a mutual friend talking and having our drink. Unfortunately, some members of our group, (nobody we knew well) decided that they would do some same-sex dancing, hand-holding, and acting (in my opinion) too provocative for the "demographics" of the room, and for that matter the entire ship. Well, all "hades" broke out, with several young "thugs" starting fights, throwing fisticuffs...what a nightmare! Several people were hurt, one very badly.

I won't comment furthur on the social politics of the scene since I doubt it's an appropriate discussion here, except that it really woke me up about the reality of the types who go on these short "booze-cuises". And I also noticed that the boys who picked the fight were clearly not of drinking age, yet obviously intoxicated.

By the way, my next cruise was on RSSC "Song of Flower" and the beginning of my education on "real" cruising...being with likeminded mature, sophisticated travelers.

Do I cast shade on RCCL? No. They didn't cause the problem (unless they served the minors) and security dealt with the troublemakers.

This is simply my own story of being on a cruiseship where violence broke out in front of my eyes.

Eric

The latest on this bizarre case (NY Post today) is that they are questioning some Russian young men from NY, who were thrown off the ship after videotaping themselves having s** with a young woman. They were hanging out with the husband the night of his death.

The wife supposedly argued with the husband the night he went overboard over the fact the casino manager hit on her and he didn't stand up for her.

We'll never know what really happened. But one thing is certain. The cruise line moved too quickly to clean up the scene and thereby destroyed valuable evidence. Tom.

Hi Tom!

Hope you and your lovely wife are doing well...

I will always fondly remember our mutual tours last September and truly pray that the New Year brings you both happiness and prosperity.

Hiro and I are settling into our new home, have hosted a Christmas party for my company, and look forward towards a few months of quiet. (With the exception of my B-day next week (46), where I think Hiro's got something up his sleeve.)


April 23 '06, sees us off to uncharted territory in Europe starting in Turkey.

We leave RSSC for the first time in several years and join friends on Oceania "Regatta" for 14 days starting in Istanbul and finishng in Venice. This time, I'm taking a big cue from you guys and booking as many private driver guides as possible on our cruise.

Oceania provides a different experience than what we've become used to on RSSC, but I'm game to try it out and report back "just the facts, mam."

BTW: Funny thing about the Oceania cruises. Everyone seems game to try one out because of the interesting itineraries, but the mean average reviews are, well... so-so / glowing. What to believe? I guess we'll take it for a spin...

I miss you guys...

You're both a class act!



Eric & Hiro

Did you all hear that another young woman was missing from a Costa cruise ship this weekend. The report was that she went overboard and drowned. I can't understand how anyone can "fall" off a ship.

Eric,

What a horrible experience you had!!! I know that I had a few, MUCH less extreme "happenings" on the "other" lines. This was mostly regarding VERY unprofessional staff and entertainers on the ship. It really can leave a bad taste in one's mouth! It can also leave you feeling somewhat unsafe.

As I stated on another thread, I am not surprised that people have the unfortunate experience of finding themselves on the wrong side of the railing on the "booze cruises"!

RSSC is certainly a completely different experience!

Sheri

Hi Eric. Mona and I miss you too. Glad you and Hiro are doing well. Happy birthday. Yes, those tours we took were wonderful. Seems like so long ago.

We don't have any big cruises planned this year. Just a week in the Caribbean in March, and Alaska with Mona's family in July -- both on Princess.

Hope to see you on a future cruise some day. Tom.