Thumbs Down: Survivor Thailand

I booked the Atlantis X liveaboard (via the Internet) for a four-day trip from Phuket to the Similan Islands, beginning August 1. Bad weather prohibited us from leaving port until August 2, when we left at 6 A.M. Two hours into the adventure the generator went out. Almost everyone on board was sick from the diesel fumes and pitching seas. Then the electricity went out. Soon the crew went below, desperately bailing the water that the non-functioning bilge pumps were not displacing.

Four hours into the trip we reached the Similan Islands, where we were soon evacuated to a fishing boat. Then in total amazement, I watched as the Atlantis X sank in an hour. The fisherman who rescued us returned us to Phuket where Keith Holmquist of Atlantis Liveaboards met us. We were issued charge backs for the trip that were never honored, but fortunately I paid for my trip with a credit card

I had to take the trip this summer or wait a year. I have just commenced chemotherapy. I had a choice of vessels later in the season and would have taken one of those — if not for the chemotherapy. I also had a winning bid on a luxury vessel called the “Aqua One,” which I would have loved, but had to turn it down. I also used 70,000 frequent flier miles to do this trip; and so I was more than upset when we were told that there would be no liveaboard excursion that we could go on after our vessel sank.

It was the end of a once- in-a-lifetime adventure — although I prefer to think that maybe someday, I will be able to do this trip, again. I just don’t know when! And I dread to think how this would have turned out had we left when we were scheduled.

Nansy Mackenzie
Miami Springs, FL