Mourning the Cruising Victims of The Fort Lauderdale Shooting

There has indeed been a lot of cause for reassurance among travelers over the last year to stay calm and cruise on among various attacks affecting transit, and unfortunately, the recent shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport prompts it yet again.

Cruise Hive is reporting that at least four of the dead, most in fact, were arriving at the baggage claim, where the fatal attack took place, in preparation to join a cruise the following day.

On the day of the attack, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam and Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess were in Port Everglades; and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Conquest, Costa Cruises’ Costa Deliziosa, Holland America Line’s Eurodam, Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess and Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas were all scheduled to be in the next day.

READ MORE: Multiple People Reportedly Dead in Shooting at Fort Lauderdale Airport

The identified deceased include 63-year-old Terry Andres from Norfolk, Virginia who was arriving with his wife, thankfully unharmed, to board a 16-day Caribbean cruise together. His birthdate was reportedly later in the month.

The second victim is 57-year-old Michael Oehme from Iowa who was set to join a Caribbean cruise with his wife Kari, shot in the shoulder and injured during the attack herself, and both veteran cruisers.

Third is 70-year-old Shirley Timmons from Ohio who with her husband Steve, also injured and in critical condition, was scheduled to join a family cruise with their 51st wedding anniversary approaching in the coming weeks.

And fourth, 84-year-old Olga Woltering was going to celebrate her husband Ralph’s 90th birthday onboard after being together for 60 years.

READ MORE: Sadness And Security Concerns Over Fort Lauderdale Shooting

Of course, we mourn all the five killed and six injured victims regardless of their travel plans, but the four cruising deceased certainly hit close to home for this cruise-specific writer.

As before, this event will not shake my resolve to continue traveling nor should it you. The attack is without a doubt worrying to travelers, but we cannot stop enjoying our favorite pastime. Vigilant and alert we must be, but cruise travelers we must never refrain from being.

The best way to honor the dead is to cherish their memory by doing what they were there to do: set sail on the seven seas. Our prayers go out to the souls of the deceased as well as their family and friends left behind.

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