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Abandoned Ship: An Intimate Account of the Costa Concordia Shipwreck
On January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia — a thousand foot long luxury cruise ship, twice the size of the Titanic — ventured into shallow water and smashed into the rocks of a tiny island off the coast of Italy, throwing the four thousand passengers and crew members into a state of chaos. The captain and officers all abandoned ship, leaving the few remaining castaways to fend for themselves as the boat toppled onto its side and water flooded into the passenger decks.
In the wee hours of the night, newlyweds Benji Smith and Emily Lau feared for their lives, desparate and terrified after a malfunctioning lifeboat left them stranded on the sinking ship. By this point, the other lifeboats had all gone. They had been left behind.
This thoughtful memoir — hailed by The Daily Telegraph as "a compelling, minute-by-minute account of the chaotic evacuation" — tells the remarkable story of the couple's harrowing escape, as they clung to a rope and rapelled down the hull of the doomed vessel.
But the astonishing story continues, as they find themselves stranded in Rome and ignored by the United States Embassy. With only the clothes on their backs, they relied upon the kindness of strangers to help them find food and shelter, clothing and medical attention. And finally a ticket home.
But even then, in the safety of their own home, they would find their sleep haunted by nightmares and their days crippled by anxiety and insecurity. And even as they struggled to overcome PTSD, they would simultaneously find themselves in a battle with the news media to even have their story told.
Praised by Newsweek/The Daily Beast for its "honest reflection and frightening detail", this gripping, triumphant story is ultimately a spiritual tale, the story of a pair of survivors who find hope and meaning in the aftermath of a tragedy.
In the wee hours of the night, newlyweds Benji Smith and Emily Lau feared for their lives, desparate and terrified after a malfunctioning lifeboat left them stranded on the sinking ship. By this point, the other lifeboats had all gone. They had been left behind.
This thoughtful memoir — hailed by The Daily Telegraph as "a compelling, minute-by-minute account of the chaotic evacuation" — tells the remarkable story of the couple's harrowing escape, as they clung to a rope and rapelled down the hull of the doomed vessel.
But the astonishing story continues, as they find themselves stranded in Rome and ignored by the United States Embassy. With only the clothes on their backs, they relied upon the kindness of strangers to help them find food and shelter, clothing and medical attention. And finally a ticket home.
But even then, in the safety of their own home, they would find their sleep haunted by nightmares and their days crippled by anxiety and insecurity. And even as they struggled to overcome PTSD, they would simultaneously find themselves in a battle with the news media to even have their story told.
Praised by Newsweek/The Daily Beast for its "honest reflection and frightening detail", this gripping, triumphant story is ultimately a spiritual tale, the story of a pair of survivors who find hope and meaning in the aftermath of a tragedy.
358 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
January 30, 2013
A captivating, heartfelt memoir of the tragic events on the night of January 13, 2012. Written from first hand experience, Benji and his wife were aboard the Costa Concordia as it hit land and began it's descent into the sea. He displays how the staff was untrained and not knowledgeable about the emergency procedures. Benji, his wife Emily, their family, and many other people were stranded on this cruise ship after the life rafts were deployed. Being stuck on a rope for hours worrying about whether they were going to live or die, Benji recounts these difficult situations and does a great job at engaging the reader. He makes you feel as if you are on the ship with them.
After they think the nightmare is over, they are only faced with much more than they could have ever expected. While there were very hospitable people willing to go above and beyond their jobs, or people willing to take in strangers and help them the very best they could, they were shipped and bussed to random locations without being told of anywhere they were going, they were turned away from the police, and they were pushed aside from the embassies.
"Abandoned Ship" was an extremely suspenseful book. Benji and his wife really persevered through such extreme stress and anguish but they were able to overcome.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The author was also nice enough to send along his wife Emily's CD "Isle of Lucidity" which was absolutely beautiful. She is very talented and has a fabulous voice. This was Emily's way of coping with the shipwreck and she composed this with such honesty. I enjoyed the CD and have listened to it several times.
After they think the nightmare is over, they are only faced with much more than they could have ever expected. While there were very hospitable people willing to go above and beyond their jobs, or people willing to take in strangers and help them the very best they could, they were shipped and bussed to random locations without being told of anywhere they were going, they were turned away from the police, and they were pushed aside from the embassies.
"Abandoned Ship" was an extremely suspenseful book. Benji and his wife really persevered through such extreme stress and anguish but they were able to overcome.
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The author was also nice enough to send along his wife Emily's CD "Isle of Lucidity" which was absolutely beautiful. She is very talented and has a fabulous voice. This was Emily's way of coping with the shipwreck and she composed this with such honesty. I enjoyed the CD and have listened to it several times.
March 20, 2013
I won this book from GoodReads. thank you. I'm not sure how to react to a book like this. As with any well-written book, I felt like I was there.
I read what I expected to find here, the play by play of the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship , and how 2 brave passengers, Benji Smith, and his new wife, Emily, physically survived being abandoned by the boat's captain, officers, and crew. They were misinformed, mistreated, misguided, and abandoned in so many more situations than just that sinking ship.
There is such a disastrous story here that occurred for far longer than the hours and hours they clung disperately to a rope - and each other.
(With every page, I pictured my own cruise along these very same waters, safe, and happy, in a massive sized ship. My ex husband and I had been delighted to discover our captain was the same PROFESSIONAL we sailed with on a previous cruise. A thorough and well carried out fire drill had been performed.)
There was nothing professional about their cruise. NO FIRE DRILL! NO SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS! NO EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW!
This book upset me. I could list all the ways they were mistreated and mishandled both at sea and on land, but everyone needs to read this book for themselves Read it BEFORE a cruise. Read it INSTEAD OF a cruise. , but READ IT. READ. READ IT.
This book does not end where I expected it to end. Both Benji and Emily stayed shell shocked from their experiences. I felt chapters 56 - 67 were written because they NEEDED to write them.
Post traumatic stress disorder doesn't just effect returning soldiers. I sincerely hope this couple continues to survive, and, in time to heal.
I read what I expected to find here, the play by play of the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship , and how 2 brave passengers, Benji Smith, and his new wife, Emily, physically survived being abandoned by the boat's captain, officers, and crew. They were misinformed, mistreated, misguided, and abandoned in so many more situations than just that sinking ship.
There is such a disastrous story here that occurred for far longer than the hours and hours they clung disperately to a rope - and each other.
(With every page, I pictured my own cruise along these very same waters, safe, and happy, in a massive sized ship. My ex husband and I had been delighted to discover our captain was the same PROFESSIONAL we sailed with on a previous cruise. A thorough and well carried out fire drill had been performed.)
There was nothing professional about their cruise. NO FIRE DRILL! NO SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS! NO EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW!
This book upset me. I could list all the ways they were mistreated and mishandled both at sea and on land, but everyone needs to read this book for themselves Read it BEFORE a cruise. Read it INSTEAD OF a cruise. , but READ IT. READ. READ IT.
This book does not end where I expected it to end. Both Benji and Emily stayed shell shocked from their experiences. I felt chapters 56 - 67 were written because they NEEDED to write them.
Post traumatic stress disorder doesn't just effect returning soldiers. I sincerely hope this couple continues to survive, and, in time to heal.
January 5, 2013
This book is a compelling first-hand account of the Costa Concordia disaster. I bought this book and read it from cover to cover in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Benji Smith tells the story of how he and his wife escaped the sinking ship and were abandoned by nearly everyone they hope would help them. The story is a very personal journey, an exploration of some of the highs and lows of humanity in response to this tragedy, and some of the lessons we might learn from it. The author's writing style is very engaging. After finishing this book, I felt almost as if his experiences were my own. I'm very glad I read this book.
April 21, 2013
The author spends too much time grinding axes. There is about 10-15% of this book that is about the events, and the rest is the author describing how wonderful he and his wife are, amd how un-wonderful everyone else in the world is. And throws in some self-satisfied atheism for good measure.
February 17, 2015
I won this book from a giveway on Goodreads.
I remember hearing about the crash of the Costa Concordia and thinking about what it would possibly be like to go through something so traumatic. I was very excited to read this account since it would put me right in the middle of it. I also received the CD Isle of Lucidity by Emily Lau, music based on the shipwreck. It is a lovely CD and goes well with the book. I recommend listening to them together, as I did.
Abandoned Ship: An Intimate Account of the Costa Concordia Shipwreck is the memoir of Benji Smith, a survivor the disaster. He and his wife, Emily Lau, were aboard the Costa Concordia for their honeymoon when it hit a coral reef and began to sink. They endured a series of really terrible events, surviving a sinking ship, making it to the safety of the shore, being stranded in a foreign country with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and, finally, dealing the acute stress inherent in any such a situation.
Reading this book allowed me to feel like I was on the ship, experiencing if first hand. Benji Smith's writing style is unique and intriguing, weaving the facts together with philosophical ponderings and meaningful thoughts that gives great depth the story. I felt like I could connect with each person introduced and it was very effective in getting across the magnitude of the events and the importance of working together and not giving up in the face of the insurmountable. There were many points in the book where I teared up, from sadness and happiness alike.
The most interesting and terrifying part of the book, however, is not the crash or the escape, but the utter lack of responsibility taken by the cruise ship company and the lack of care by the embassies, countries, and companies involved. This book tells how the survivors of this shipwreck were essentially abandoned and left to fend for themselves, not only by the captain who abandoned ship after causing the crash, but by nearly every form of authority involved. If you read this book for no other reason, read it to be informed about what large corporations and faceless governmental organizations, including the American embassy, do to help those who are in need (or, in this case, do not do).
Visit my blog for this review and more!
I remember hearing about the crash of the Costa Concordia and thinking about what it would possibly be like to go through something so traumatic. I was very excited to read this account since it would put me right in the middle of it. I also received the CD Isle of Lucidity by Emily Lau, music based on the shipwreck. It is a lovely CD and goes well with the book. I recommend listening to them together, as I did.
Abandoned Ship: An Intimate Account of the Costa Concordia Shipwreck is the memoir of Benji Smith, a survivor the disaster. He and his wife, Emily Lau, were aboard the Costa Concordia for their honeymoon when it hit a coral reef and began to sink. They endured a series of really terrible events, surviving a sinking ship, making it to the safety of the shore, being stranded in a foreign country with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and, finally, dealing the acute stress inherent in any such a situation.
Reading this book allowed me to feel like I was on the ship, experiencing if first hand. Benji Smith's writing style is unique and intriguing, weaving the facts together with philosophical ponderings and meaningful thoughts that gives great depth the story. I felt like I could connect with each person introduced and it was very effective in getting across the magnitude of the events and the importance of working together and not giving up in the face of the insurmountable. There were many points in the book where I teared up, from sadness and happiness alike.
The most interesting and terrifying part of the book, however, is not the crash or the escape, but the utter lack of responsibility taken by the cruise ship company and the lack of care by the embassies, countries, and companies involved. This book tells how the survivors of this shipwreck were essentially abandoned and left to fend for themselves, not only by the captain who abandoned ship after causing the crash, but by nearly every form of authority involved. If you read this book for no other reason, read it to be informed about what large corporations and faceless governmental organizations, including the American embassy, do to help those who are in need (or, in this case, do not do).
Visit my blog for this review and more!
April 24, 2013
This book told the story of Benji and Emily's experiences when their honeymoon cruise turned into a disaster when the ship crashed on rocks and sank. It seems they were more upset by the lack of help they received from both the Hong Kong and US embassies than by the actual experience itself. The boat sank on a holiday weekend, and people at the embassies didn't want to be disturbed or bothered by helping their fellow countrymen. In contrast to the professionals (embassy personnel, police, cruise ship representatives), the local hotel owners offered free food and housing for the disaster victims, and friends of a friend of a friend were especially helpful. This couple also were disillusioned with the media's coverage of the event, for the media just wanted the sensational details about the sinking of the ship, not the irresponsibility of the embassies in offering so little help. Call me a cynic, but the media just seems to want to crank out the next disaster story to hook their viewers, so why the surprise that they didn't want to go in depth on the story? It must have been an appalling experience. However, I did not like this main character. He'd left his former wife and kids (one with severe disabilities) over religious differences, which he was well aware of before he married. On their trip, several times he talked about how he'd like to bring the kids on a similar trip, but after the sinking he didn't even call them to let them know he was ok; he asked a relative to do that. Throughout the whole narrative, I just heard, " I . . . I . . . I . . ." He seemed totally self-absorbed, which I suppose is typical in such traumatic events. I can't imagine that he'd done much international travel before, because he was so naive about the Italian way of doing things. Unfortunately, we often discover that people aren't as helpful as we'd like when we encounter difficulties in our travels, but that's the risk we take when we travel. Can you imagine being on that cruise ship whose electrical system recently broke down and they were stranded 8 extra days without air-conditioning, food, and working toilets? Having taken many groups of high school student overseas for cultural exchanges, you learn to anticipate problems, be flexible, and roll with the punches. Sometimes the worst things make great stories years later. I'm glad Benji and Emily were both able to go through counseling and get some closure on their issues.
January 26, 2013
When I read books I want them to have meaning. I want them to affect me. I want to feel something.
At first, and I will be the first to admit, I didn't know what Benji Smith was doing with this work. I thought to myself, "why is he talking about the waitress? Why so much time talking about the musician? Why a chapter about his kids and former religion?" I kept reading anyway because I knew this story was about a shipwreck.
And it was. The actual shipwreck was only a part of the story. If you are reading this wanting blood and carnage, death and sorrow, then you'll find it, but it's not the focus of the story.
The real shipwreck occurred afterwards. It happened after the real ship started sinking.
And I paused, and thought, and connected all of the pieces Benji Smith laid out for me to put together. The picture was much grander than the ship sinking. The half submerged cruise ship was just the beginning.
Because of the author's writing style I felt like I was there. I envisioned everything happening. Having seen the author and his wife on television after the event I pictured them. My mind filled in the missing pieces with clips from the movie Titanic and my own experiences in life.
And then the real shipwreck happened. And it kept happening.
I can say this isn't a rant piece, nor is it a piece about what everyone did wrong. It's a real life story about the very people who experienced it. When their emotions were raw, so were mine. When they were happy, so was I.
I sat there after reading the book and thought about the bigger picture of my own life. I pondered, I reflected, and I told myself to re-prioritize.
That's what I want out of a book, and this one delivered.
At first, and I will be the first to admit, I didn't know what Benji Smith was doing with this work. I thought to myself, "why is he talking about the waitress? Why so much time talking about the musician? Why a chapter about his kids and former religion?" I kept reading anyway because I knew this story was about a shipwreck.
And it was. The actual shipwreck was only a part of the story. If you are reading this wanting blood and carnage, death and sorrow, then you'll find it, but it's not the focus of the story.
The real shipwreck occurred afterwards. It happened after the real ship started sinking.
And I paused, and thought, and connected all of the pieces Benji Smith laid out for me to put together. The picture was much grander than the ship sinking. The half submerged cruise ship was just the beginning.
Because of the author's writing style I felt like I was there. I envisioned everything happening. Having seen the author and his wife on television after the event I pictured them. My mind filled in the missing pieces with clips from the movie Titanic and my own experiences in life.
And then the real shipwreck happened. And it kept happening.
I can say this isn't a rant piece, nor is it a piece about what everyone did wrong. It's a real life story about the very people who experienced it. When their emotions were raw, so were mine. When they were happy, so was I.
I sat there after reading the book and thought about the bigger picture of my own life. I pondered, I reflected, and I told myself to re-prioritize.
That's what I want out of a book, and this one delivered.
March 9, 2013
I remember when the Costa Concordia sank off the coast of Italy. I remember seeing the picture of the liner laying on its side in the water. I remember being stunned that a ship that size would sink in today's world. But as I am not an avid news watcher, I never paid that much attention to the details of the disaster. I heard vague reports of either alcohol or drug use by the captain or the helmsman...or whoever drives one of those cruise liners. I won this book in a First Reads giveaway and had it for a couple of weeks before I got around to starting it. Once I did the pages just flew. Benji Smith gives an account of the disaster from a passenger's viewpoint in clear and concise language. I felt like I was there with passengers as they struggled to escape the sinking vessel. I breathed a sigh of relief when they finally were off the side of the ship and into a rescue boat.
But then a strange thing happened. The book kept going and I discovered that the sinking cruise liner was only the beginning of the troubles for Benji and his new bride Emily. The rest of the book is the true heart of the story. What came after was an odyssey of indifference and annoyance from the very people that are supposed to help when a tragedy occurs. I'm sorry that Benji and Emily had to go through what they did, but by telling their story perhaps changes will be made. Maybe we'll start to hold people accountable for their lack of humanity. Maybe I'm just an optimist and you can't fight the system, but I believe if enough people hear this story then change is possible. I wish everyone could read this book.
But then a strange thing happened. The book kept going and I discovered that the sinking cruise liner was only the beginning of the troubles for Benji and his new bride Emily. The rest of the book is the true heart of the story. What came after was an odyssey of indifference and annoyance from the very people that are supposed to help when a tragedy occurs. I'm sorry that Benji and Emily had to go through what they did, but by telling their story perhaps changes will be made. Maybe we'll start to hold people accountable for their lack of humanity. Maybe I'm just an optimist and you can't fight the system, but I believe if enough people hear this story then change is possible. I wish everyone could read this book.
February 2, 2013
I'm not quite sure how best to say this, but I think everyone should read this book - it's a memorial for those that died, it's a beautiful story, but I think most importantly that it really just deserves to be read.
People need to know, to understand, to prevent. Or, at the very least, to be aware of the kind of apathy and indifference that is out there. The kind we don't see when we don't need to see its polar opposite.
Dammit, I've been reading the last half of this book for the last 2 hours solid, crying off and on for the better part of it, but I feel like I'm just not getting the words right to do it justice.
It's beautifully written, it's a story that needed telling, and more importantly, it need to be listened to - please read it.
Interestingly, the author's wife (Emily Lau) has also composed an album of music called Isle of Lucidity as her way to tell the same story. It's also beautiful all by itself, but I just wanted to say that I appreciate it so much more for reading the book and truly understanding where the music came from. You can find her album here: http://www.amazon.com/Isle-Lucidity-E....
I highly recommend listening to the album while reading the book.
People need to know, to understand, to prevent. Or, at the very least, to be aware of the kind of apathy and indifference that is out there. The kind we don't see when we don't need to see its polar opposite.
Dammit, I've been reading the last half of this book for the last 2 hours solid, crying off and on for the better part of it, but I feel like I'm just not getting the words right to do it justice.
It's beautifully written, it's a story that needed telling, and more importantly, it need to be listened to - please read it.
Interestingly, the author's wife (Emily Lau) has also composed an album of music called Isle of Lucidity as her way to tell the same story. It's also beautiful all by itself, but I just wanted to say that I appreciate it so much more for reading the book and truly understanding where the music came from. You can find her album here: http://www.amazon.com/Isle-Lucidity-E....
I highly recommend listening to the album while reading the book.
January 23, 2013
I understand why some people who are looking for a nautical novel/ship wreck review would find this book disappointing; this book is much more than just a ship wreck story. It is a well-written memoir about a very personal journey following a traumatic experience. Benji Smith, the writer, offers an insider view to the complicated and fascinating world of adventure, misfortune, and finding meaning amidst all these chaos.
This is the essential story without the media hype. He even discussed several major governmental and media organizations in his book in great details. He also invoked several other episodes in his life prior to the ship wreck to illustrate several points he is trying to make. All very interesting, and reminds me of some personal challenges that I have had in my life.
I laughed, cried, and sighed through the book. Smith's writing style is casual, detailed, yet refreshingly honest. I appreciate how sincere the writer is in sharing this story, instead of just giving in and sharing the "popular version".
I highly recommend it.
This is the essential story without the media hype. He even discussed several major governmental and media organizations in his book in great details. He also invoked several other episodes in his life prior to the ship wreck to illustrate several points he is trying to make. All very interesting, and reminds me of some personal challenges that I have had in my life.
I laughed, cried, and sighed through the book. Smith's writing style is casual, detailed, yet refreshingly honest. I appreciate how sincere the writer is in sharing this story, instead of just giving in and sharing the "popular version".
I highly recommend it.
March 1, 2013
Thank you Goodreads and Benji Smith for the gift of this book which I received in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. This memoir by Benji Smith details the harrowing experience that he and his new bride, Emily Lau, endured when the cruiseship Costa Concordia wrecked off the coast of Italy on January 13, 2012. While there has been lots of information about this shipwreck in the news over the past year, Smith presents a very eye-opening, firsthand account of what went on before, during and after the wreck. He recounts the terror that he and his wife felt while they were waiting to be rescued and the total ineptitude of the Costa Cruiseline in not having safety measures in place and failing to aid the survivors after the ordeal.
This was a very compelling read, but I thought the book could have been better edited. There were a number of errors and typos.
This was a very compelling read, but I thought the book could have been better edited. There were a number of errors and typos.
March 21, 2013
looking forward to reading this .may take it on my next cruise !!
update
A compelling and fascinating account of a dreadful tradgedy.
Benji certainly made the events come alive for me & although some of his writing could have done with editing I can understand why he wrote the book the way he did .Overall it was enjoyable reading & yes Benji the cats did kill the mice !
update
A compelling and fascinating account of a dreadful tradgedy.
Benji certainly made the events come alive for me & although some of his writing could have done with editing I can understand why he wrote the book the way he did .Overall it was enjoyable reading & yes Benji the cats did kill the mice !
March 14, 2013
This book is a first person account of the sinking of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy on January 13, 2012. Very well written and captivating. I almost felt like I was there. The author and his wife were on their fourth day on the ship. They were on their honeymoon. This book not only covers the shipwreck but also the complete lack of assistance given them by the U.S. and Chinese embassies (the author's wife is from Hong Kong) in the aftermath of the disaster. They had no money, no passports, only the clothes on their backs. It is shameful that our Embassy was so unhelpful and uncaring.
Definitely a page turner and very informative about the events of that night and their subsequent experience in getting home, and the months following while they dealt with PTSD.
Definitely a page turner and very informative about the events of that night and their subsequent experience in getting home, and the months following while they dealt with PTSD.
March 17, 2013
Ok- I do not usually write a review on a book that I did not finish, but this is an exception. This book deeply saddened me. I do understand that this man went through a horrible ordeal, but I found the book to be just a bitter diatribe on how he is angry at everyone. I was saddened at the many opportunities that he had to help others on the ship and he seemed to just let them fend for themselves. I was even more saddened about his spiritual journey. He openly admits his lack of a need for God. This author seems angry at everyone, Costa, the government, God... I do hope he finds answers and can let go of his bitterness, but I just couldn't continue reading.
March 27, 2013
having cruised many times, I was interested in learning more about the Concordia accident. I liked this book, but by the end, felt that the author had made his point too many times. Once they made it off the ship, no one wanted to help the survivors. yes, individuals helped them, but the cruise line, the US govt and the Italian govt all came up short. This was drilled into my head over and over. But overall, I'd recommend the book, especially if you've cruised or plan to.
April 9, 2017
Great book ... Thoughtfully written about an amazing tragedy.
I remember reading and hearing on the news about the cruise ship that sank ... And as I began to read this book I thought "what more is there to learn?" There is so much more!!! Mr. Smith tells such a complete and amazing story. It certainly makes you realize the world is not out there waiting to help you out ... You are your own destiny. Thank you Benji & Emily for sharing your story!
I remember reading and hearing on the news about the cruise ship that sank ... And as I began to read this book I thought "what more is there to learn?" There is so much more!!! Mr. Smith tells such a complete and amazing story. It certainly makes you realize the world is not out there waiting to help you out ... You are your own destiny. Thank you Benji & Emily for sharing your story!
March 15, 2013
Well, I grew up with Benji so this was pretty interesting to read! The story is harrowing and I'm sorry people had to live through it. The information about the Embassies and police not helping them was incredibly frustrating. However, I do wish the book had photos, a little less Mormon-bashing, and a bit fewer f-words.
March 18, 2013
This event was a terrible tragedy. I was disgusted by the reponse of our embassy. However I did not enjoy reading this book. The author is so negative about everything from Italy to the mormon church it was stressful reading about the event and everything else through his negative perspective.
April 13, 2013
I thought that although the experience of the ship wreck was very interesting, I thought that there was too much repetition and too many irrelevant side stories. I also didn't connect well with the characters and I thought that the ending was too drawn out.
October 22, 2019
While I had a few problems with the attitude of the author, I wanted to find out what happened, so I kept reading. My biggest complaint is that it seems as if no one ever did any proofreading of the book before it was published. There are so many typos (repeated words, omitted words, missing letters, etc.) that I found it inexcusable. Had this happened once or twice, I would have thought these errors were just not picked up upon editing. This happened so often however, that it makes the writing look amateurish and it was hard to take seriously. There were also a few inconsistencies that made me question the veracity of events. For example, a man who did not know how to swim and was wearing a life jacket, supposedly swam all the way under a lifeboat to keep from being hit by it. It would be impossible for someone wearing a life jacket to swim under water at all, let alone the distance needed to pass under a lifeboat. All in all, I think this story was worth telling, but I did not care for this account of it.
February 12, 2019
I enjoyed learning about the shipwreck and aftermath, but a lot of the book was a little annoying and unnecessary. I was uncomfortable reading about the many times the author and his wife unabashedly asked for discounts. I could have done without the religion/atheism tangents. And much of the author’s points were repeated too often. It’s almost like he had the chance to write a book, so he crammed in all the random things he ever wanted to write about. Also it’s a pet peeve of mine when there are tons of typos.
January 26, 2024
Tragic but also inspiring
Wow where to start. The sinking of the Costa Concordia was truly sad and scary. I truly admire Benji and Emily for their strength , their love for each other and their honesty. Thank you for sharing this story. Thanks for shedding light on those in power who chose to do nothing to help. How awful.
Wow where to start. The sinking of the Costa Concordia was truly sad and scary. I truly admire Benji and Emily for their strength , their love for each other and their honesty. Thank you for sharing this story. Thanks for shedding light on those in power who chose to do nothing to help. How awful.
August 28, 2021
Review
This was a decent book. My only negative about the book was that too much time was spent talking about the Costa Concordia and all the complaints about everyone who didn't help. If it was more minimized, the book would have been better.
This was a decent book. My only negative about the book was that too much time was spent talking about the Costa Concordia and all the complaints about everyone who didn't help. If it was more minimized, the book would have been better.
January 24, 2025
A harrowing event with heart wrenching consequences. Unfortunately, this particular account could have been told in half the time, and was ruined by the sappy, anti-God rhetoric. It was also repetitive and negative. I continued reading in hopes that it would turn a corner, but it never did.
November 6, 2018
It's hard to be critical of someone who lived through such a tragedy so I won't
January 28, 2014
Most people remember watching the half submerged cruise ship Costa Concordia as it lay on its side after the captain went off course to take the ship closer to a small island. The captain ran the ship aground and 32 lives were lost in the partial sinking.
The book Abandoned Ship by Benji Smith is the story of the events leading up to the tragedy and the terrible circumstances some of the survivors found themselves in once they were rescued from the ship.
Benji and his wife Emily were on their honeymoon and had two couples with them. Emily is from Hong Kong and the couple are accompanied by some members of her family. The language barrier is a struggle but the group is enjoying their vacation until the ship passes too close to shore and collides with a reef. The journey takes a startling turn from there as passengers on the ship are given wrong information and the crew scrambles to regain control.
Directly following the collision the crew was told it is only an electrical issue and that passengers should return to their cabins. Benji and Emily joined other passengers in the mass confusion on deck. Some of the passengers returned to their cabins and some milled around their assigned life boats but nobody was given instructions as to if an evacuation is necessary or how it will be handled.
As the ship began to list and had been adrift for over an hour the six hour long evacuation began. Passengers clambered into life boats and the ill equipped crew starts to abandon ship. Some of the life boats were never deployed due to either problems with the equipment or the lack of launch knowledge on the part of the crew.
Emily and Benji finally leave the ship after hanging off the side of the hull on a makeshift ladder for over three hours. Their group stayed together and they think their harrowing ordeal is over but they soon find out that their hardships are only beginning.
They are hustled onto ferries without being told what has happened or where they are going and they only have the clothes on their back. They have very little cash and no passports.
Soon the group is taken to a hotel. Benji asks when they will see a Costa representative. The hotel owner tells them the cruise line has nothing to do with their accommodations. Costa has set nothing up for the survivors. Benji and Emily soon learn they are depending on their embassy to help them get passports and ID so they can make plans to return home.
Smaller countries such as England, Australia, and Taiwan have ambassadors from their embassies on site right away. Shuttles are made available for their citizens to travel to shopping centers to get necessities. Two countries ambassadors are absent: China and the United States.
In order for Benji and Emily and their group to get to the embassy in Rome they must hire a taxi. The fare takes up much of the remaining money the group has and the trip must be repeated several times before they have the papers they need to travel.
The embassy employees are irritated because the ship wreck happened on a holiday weekend and they are forced from celebrations into work to help the survivors make plans to go home. Many survivors are treated with disrespect and anger.
Benji and Emily do make their way home but they wanted their story to be told in full. Most news outlets wanted to talk about the ship wreck only and not about the miles of red tape they had to wade through and the lack of help the embassy offered. Benji wrote Abandoned Ship to bring to light the gaps problems they encountered with the embassy and its employees.
I can't imagine going through a ship wreck only to be told there is no plan set in place for me to go home. The failure of the system is made apparent in Benji and Emily's story. One can only hope that changes were made to keep this from happening to others.
The book Abandoned Ship by Benji Smith is the story of the events leading up to the tragedy and the terrible circumstances some of the survivors found themselves in once they were rescued from the ship.
Benji and his wife Emily were on their honeymoon and had two couples with them. Emily is from Hong Kong and the couple are accompanied by some members of her family. The language barrier is a struggle but the group is enjoying their vacation until the ship passes too close to shore and collides with a reef. The journey takes a startling turn from there as passengers on the ship are given wrong information and the crew scrambles to regain control.
Directly following the collision the crew was told it is only an electrical issue and that passengers should return to their cabins. Benji and Emily joined other passengers in the mass confusion on deck. Some of the passengers returned to their cabins and some milled around their assigned life boats but nobody was given instructions as to if an evacuation is necessary or how it will be handled.
As the ship began to list and had been adrift for over an hour the six hour long evacuation began. Passengers clambered into life boats and the ill equipped crew starts to abandon ship. Some of the life boats were never deployed due to either problems with the equipment or the lack of launch knowledge on the part of the crew.
Emily and Benji finally leave the ship after hanging off the side of the hull on a makeshift ladder for over three hours. Their group stayed together and they think their harrowing ordeal is over but they soon find out that their hardships are only beginning.
They are hustled onto ferries without being told what has happened or where they are going and they only have the clothes on their back. They have very little cash and no passports.
Soon the group is taken to a hotel. Benji asks when they will see a Costa representative. The hotel owner tells them the cruise line has nothing to do with their accommodations. Costa has set nothing up for the survivors. Benji and Emily soon learn they are depending on their embassy to help them get passports and ID so they can make plans to return home.
Smaller countries such as England, Australia, and Taiwan have ambassadors from their embassies on site right away. Shuttles are made available for their citizens to travel to shopping centers to get necessities. Two countries ambassadors are absent: China and the United States.
In order for Benji and Emily and their group to get to the embassy in Rome they must hire a taxi. The fare takes up much of the remaining money the group has and the trip must be repeated several times before they have the papers they need to travel.
The embassy employees are irritated because the ship wreck happened on a holiday weekend and they are forced from celebrations into work to help the survivors make plans to go home. Many survivors are treated with disrespect and anger.
Benji and Emily do make their way home but they wanted their story to be told in full. Most news outlets wanted to talk about the ship wreck only and not about the miles of red tape they had to wade through and the lack of help the embassy offered. Benji wrote Abandoned Ship to bring to light the gaps problems they encountered with the embassy and its employees.
I can't imagine going through a ship wreck only to be told there is no plan set in place for me to go home. The failure of the system is made apparent in Benji and Emily's story. One can only hope that changes were made to keep this from happening to others.
April 10, 2020
Probably won't go on a cruise anytime soon
I've been fascinated with this story since the Nova program about Why Ships Sink and some of the ensuing reporting on how little legal protection you really have at sea, and it was interesting to read a first-hand account of this event. While I felt that there was sometimes a focus on unnecessary details or stories (for example, a skippable series of pages written all in Chinese to give the reader a sense of what it means to not understand the local language), most of the driving story was fast-paced and made the book hard to put down. Some of the details during their escape of the ship were kind of confusing, and maybe with some illustrations or something, it might have been easier to follow.
I've been fascinated with this story since the Nova program about Why Ships Sink and some of the ensuing reporting on how little legal protection you really have at sea, and it was interesting to read a first-hand account of this event. While I felt that there was sometimes a focus on unnecessary details or stories (for example, a skippable series of pages written all in Chinese to give the reader a sense of what it means to not understand the local language), most of the driving story was fast-paced and made the book hard to put down. Some of the details during their escape of the ship were kind of confusing, and maybe with some illustrations or something, it might have been easier to follow.
July 9, 2017
If you want to read a book that shows a couple doing their best to "work" the system, along with the unassuming people who tried to help them, this is it.
To capsulize the story, Benji and wife are treated to a Mediterranean cruise by her elderly aunt and uncle. Nothing quite pleases them about the cruise, other than their ability to throw clothing and bath towels on the floor of their stateroom, so their room steward could pick them up. The ship, after being driven into shallow waters by the captain, who's been drinking and carousing, begins to list onto its side, as it's slowly sinking.
Benji and Ms. Benji, meet up with the aunt and uncle, all dressed in life-jackets, on the lower side of the ship, while tugboats attempt to rescue the passengers. Is Benji alarmed? Is he attempting to comfort his wife or his elderly relatives? NO! Good old Benji is taking pictures! Hhmmm...you say...whatta guy! Hey! Never let a sinking ship go to waste!
From then forward, Benji is obviously setting the stage for a PRIMO law-suit ... once off the ship (safely), NOTHING goes the way he thinks it should. Trust me...he's not afraid to let anyone and everyone know about it, too. But he does find a phone in a local pub, who is feeding many of the passengers, where he calls a reporter. And also begins manually notating every tiny detail of this experience. I don't know about you, but after such an ordeal, leaving several people dead, I would have been on my knees, kissing Mother Earth, and thanking God for my safety.
The clothing given to them by the cruise lines is sub par; the food doesn't measure up; hotel accommodations not to his liking; neither the American nor Italian Consulates will open up to assist him on Sunday...blah...blah...blah. While everyone else, including the aunt and uncle, accept the plane tickets home, compliments of the cruise lines, Benji and wife refuse them. WHY? He didn't trust the cruise lines, or something like that. Nahhh...much more believable, is that Benji was working on recording anything/everything for the suit. Heck...why not? It wasn't costing him a nickel, and they really wanted to see a little more of Italy.
Meanwhile...I guess there wasn't a cash machine around, or no one back in the U.S. would wire them some money, but the poor, put-upon couple, after calling home, found a friend, of a friend, of a friend living in Rome, and moved in with them, while waiting to lodge their complaints with the consulates, and trying to set up live interviews with American television. Ohhh... and to enjoy a few more days in Rome...begging for discounted clothing from shop owners, and repeating their cruise story over and over and over again, ad nauseum.
Somehow, I began to think many of the people they met or contacted, began to feel as I did ... something is rotten in Denmark, or with Benji.
Yeah...yeah...yeah...they finally got back to the good old USA, where this "poor" couple spent $350 an hour for some counseling, and ended up going to a spa, of sorts, so they could commune with nature, a la natural (nude).
I have no doubt that good old Benji has milked this story, and the miss-treatment he and his wife believe they received, for all it's worth. Writing a book is one thing, and I might have enjoyed the story had it not been so self-serving.
To capsulize the story, Benji and wife are treated to a Mediterranean cruise by her elderly aunt and uncle. Nothing quite pleases them about the cruise, other than their ability to throw clothing and bath towels on the floor of their stateroom, so their room steward could pick them up. The ship, after being driven into shallow waters by the captain, who's been drinking and carousing, begins to list onto its side, as it's slowly sinking.
Benji and Ms. Benji, meet up with the aunt and uncle, all dressed in life-jackets, on the lower side of the ship, while tugboats attempt to rescue the passengers. Is Benji alarmed? Is he attempting to comfort his wife or his elderly relatives? NO! Good old Benji is taking pictures! Hhmmm...you say...whatta guy! Hey! Never let a sinking ship go to waste!
From then forward, Benji is obviously setting the stage for a PRIMO law-suit ... once off the ship (safely), NOTHING goes the way he thinks it should. Trust me...he's not afraid to let anyone and everyone know about it, too. But he does find a phone in a local pub, who is feeding many of the passengers, where he calls a reporter. And also begins manually notating every tiny detail of this experience. I don't know about you, but after such an ordeal, leaving several people dead, I would have been on my knees, kissing Mother Earth, and thanking God for my safety.
The clothing given to them by the cruise lines is sub par; the food doesn't measure up; hotel accommodations not to his liking; neither the American nor Italian Consulates will open up to assist him on Sunday...blah...blah...blah. While everyone else, including the aunt and uncle, accept the plane tickets home, compliments of the cruise lines, Benji and wife refuse them. WHY? He didn't trust the cruise lines, or something like that. Nahhh...much more believable, is that Benji was working on recording anything/everything for the suit. Heck...why not? It wasn't costing him a nickel, and they really wanted to see a little more of Italy.
Meanwhile...I guess there wasn't a cash machine around, or no one back in the U.S. would wire them some money, but the poor, put-upon couple, after calling home, found a friend, of a friend, of a friend living in Rome, and moved in with them, while waiting to lodge their complaints with the consulates, and trying to set up live interviews with American television. Ohhh... and to enjoy a few more days in Rome...begging for discounted clothing from shop owners, and repeating their cruise story over and over and over again, ad nauseum.
Somehow, I began to think many of the people they met or contacted, began to feel as I did ... something is rotten in Denmark, or with Benji.
Yeah...yeah...yeah...they finally got back to the good old USA, where this "poor" couple spent $350 an hour for some counseling, and ended up going to a spa, of sorts, so they could commune with nature, a la natural (nude).
I have no doubt that good old Benji has milked this story, and the miss-treatment he and his wife believe they received, for all it's worth. Writing a book is one thing, and I might have enjoyed the story had it not been so self-serving.
April 15, 2015
For years, I have read accounts of the Titanic because I am fascinated about what happened - how it all went wrong and people’s behavior (both good and bad) in the situation. But it is an event that happened ages ago and I never stopped to think about how the survivors fared in the minutes, days, weeks, months, etc. after the shipwreck.
This memoir about the Costa Concordia shipwreck experience shares with us what the survivors went through. Their lives are turned totally upside down and they are left to fend for themselves in a foreign country with only a handful of people that are willing to help. It is heartwarming to hear about the people that threw open their doors to provide shelter and food while the embassies shooed them away because they had holiday parties to worry about.
Part of me felt odd reading about the author’s misfortune, but his goal is clear from the beginning – for people to get the full story, not just the edited sound-bites that the media was distributing. I encourage you to read it as well!!
The author, Benji, was also kind enough to send me a copy of his wife, Emily's CD "Isle of Lucidity" – her story of the experience but told thru music.
I won a copy of this book thru Goodreads First Reads.
This memoir about the Costa Concordia shipwreck experience shares with us what the survivors went through. Their lives are turned totally upside down and they are left to fend for themselves in a foreign country with only a handful of people that are willing to help. It is heartwarming to hear about the people that threw open their doors to provide shelter and food while the embassies shooed them away because they had holiday parties to worry about.
Part of me felt odd reading about the author’s misfortune, but his goal is clear from the beginning – for people to get the full story, not just the edited sound-bites that the media was distributing. I encourage you to read it as well!!
The author, Benji, was also kind enough to send me a copy of his wife, Emily's CD "Isle of Lucidity" – her story of the experience but told thru music.
I won a copy of this book thru Goodreads First Reads.
August 12, 2014
Well... This book was AMAZING!!!! There is so much in it that I didn't know because the media just wanted sensationalist stories and not the harsh truth, which Benji and Emily (yup, we're on a first name basis now) tried, multiple times, to get out there. Into the world and stuff.
Beyond that, this is a well written book, and really, everyone (in the US and China at least) should read it to learn about how our government(s) failed the survivors of that shipwreck. And the Carnival Cruise liner, and the embassy, and Congress. People have really forgotten about this disaster. They get it confused with the more recent one ALL the time. This book really brings disaster back into the spotlight, and it makes you a little bit horrified at the response. Not just the actual shipwreck, but the response to it was simply incompetent and selfish.
Benji Smith is HILARIOUS, by the way. The ending of the book was (while not relevant), so funny. I loved it.
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Beyond that, this is a well written book, and really, everyone (in the US and China at least) should read it to learn about how our government(s) failed the survivors of that shipwreck. And the Carnival Cruise liner, and the embassy, and Congress. People have really forgotten about this disaster. They get it confused with the more recent one ALL the time. This book really brings disaster back into the spotlight, and it makes you a little bit horrified at the response. Not just the actual shipwreck, but the response to it was simply incompetent and selfish.
Benji Smith is HILARIOUS, by the way. The ending of the book was (while not relevant), so funny. I loved it.
I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
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