The RMS TITANIC struck an iceberg on April 14th, 101 years ago this evening. She sank during the wee hours of the morning on April 15th.

With a competent, well trained crew who showed great bravery during and after the sinking, the crew could not keep hypothermia from killing many passengers and crew.

We are in the midst of cruise ship casualties, especially concerning one cruise line. We watched one of their ships, without tug assists almost get blown down on Algiers Pt this morning as it was approaching it's dock in NOLA this morning, in high winds.

It's easy to say each passenger should be equipped for onboard emergencies but the truth is that these steel self-propelled boxes are also floating cities. These cities are usually going to list sufficiently when taking on water so as to render half of their lifeboats to be unlaunchable. Jumping overboard into the sea is never a good option either.

With today's technology, help will be enroute as soon as it is requested, from many sources and directions. A modern cruise passenger should consider what preps can be taken along to insure their (and their family's) safety until help can arrive in the event of an accident.

It would be a good idea before departure to be familiar with the geography of the cruise itenarary. Look at the possible sources of nearby countries that help would be dispatched from. Plan on stocking up a few bottles of drinking water in one's stateroom. Plan on taking a couple boxes of poptarts (poor man's MRE's) along. A good pocket knife, 60ft of 550 paracord, a compass, cellphone with international connectivity, 1gallon & 1 quart ziplock bags (to protect wallet, other water sensitive paperwork/items), and a spare roll of paper towel and toilet paper maybe good items to carry.

Attendance and careful attention at the lifeboat drill is strongly advised. If a serious incident did occur, remember the calm professionalism demonstrated by the officers and crew of the RMS TITANIC (and don't launch lifeboats until they are bloody filled to capacity) as the band played on in order to help maintain calm in a somewhat hopeless situation.

Just sharing some of my thoughts on this anniversary!

BONUS: RMS means Royal Mail Steamship