There are a lot of things to think about before packing up for that long awaited vacation and the promise of memories to last a lifetime. Most of them have to do with squeezing into a decent swimsuit and how much sunscreen to bring, and if you should take your pets to the kennel or have your neighbor watch them and have to worry the whole time.
The last thing anyone wants to think about as they set sail for that dream cruise vacation is if they're going to make it through 7 days in the Caribbean and get back home unscathed. But sometimes those dreams turn into nightmares, and the memories aren't what you expected.
The Senate held a hearing on cruise ship safety recently, prompted by the disappearance of Merrian Carver of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her dad Kendall, president of the International Cruise Victims Association, was there to tell her story.
Video Credit: C-SPAN
The full hearing is available at the C-SPAN Video Library
Senator Kerry has introduced The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008 to protect the millions of passengers every year who board that ship hoping for the time of their lives and to return home with only fond memories and perhaps a slight sunburn.
Unlike Merrian, who never made it back.
