10:17pm: Rosario Strings break. Journalist's father returns to stateroom (556) to elevate injured leg. Journalist's mother attempts to retrieve item but cannot. Returns to stateroom to nurse journalist's father's leg.

Journalist's Father's Sore Leg

10:20pm: Journalist goes to Front Office to request assistance. Is accompanied back to the scene of the incident by ship's Bar Supervisor, who asseses problem. Recent dry dock refit of seating in Explorer's Lounge caused seats to be fixed with no egress to underneath.

10:27pm: Ship's Chief of Security Steve Hine arrives. Assesses situation. Advises journalist that it will require the ship's carpenter to effect rescue of missing item. Said rescue will have to wait until the following morning.

Steve Hine - Security Chief

10:35pm: Ship's Bar Manager arrives. Converses with Bar Supervisor in Tagalog (pronounced ta-GAH-log, the national language of the Philippines.) Journalist does not understand. Ship's Bar Supervisor calls for Explorer's Lounge Steward and Stewardess, gives directions in Tagalog. Journalist does not understand. Steward returns with ice tongs and flashlight. Stewardess returns with short broom. Journalist does not understand.

10:40pm: Rescue attempt underway.

10:50pm: Bar Manager and Bar Supervisor continue to strategize.

10:55pm: Steward sent to retrieve large roll of sticky tape.

11:02pm: Bar Manager and Bar Supervisor hard at work with sundry implements.

11:13pm: Bar Supervisor issues directive to Steward in Tagalog. Journalist does not understand.

11:17pm: Steward returns with young female waitress from another shipboard bar. This waitress has very small hands.

11:19pm: After instructions in Tagalog (which the journalist did not understand) the young waitress removes jewelry from left hand and arm, sticks unadorned hand between seat cushions and retrieves victim lens cover.

11:20pm: RESCUE ATTEMPT IS SUCCESSFUL!

A Proud and Heroic Rescue Squad

11:30pm: Weary and grateful journalist returns to stateroom (558) with camera lens duly protected with retrieved lens cover [the victim.]

9:15am, 5 November: Journalist contacts Dustin Coomer, Guest Relations Manager, to offer kudos and heartfelt thanks for excellent staff efforts.

"That was YOU???" asks Mr. Coomer.

"How do you know about it?" inquires journalist.

"It was written up as an incident report that I read this morning," said Mr. Coomer. And then he laughed. And laughed again.

Dustin Coomer,
Guest Relations Manager

This incident goes to illustrate that when you travel on a Holland America ship, you can expect the staff to go above and beyond. This journalist is very grateful and appreciative of the efforts of the Rescue Squad.