mbglib

2 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

The ship essentially is a floating hotel in these situations-- the gangway is manned 24/7 and you can come and go as you please until the all aboard time for your day of departure which will be listed at the gangway. 

Thank you.

Hi, I have a b2b planned from Boston to Quebec City and back in Aug/Sept on the Emerald Princess.  On the nights in Quebec City, will the ship have a required onboard time or is one allowed to come and go at will?  Thank you.

On 3/29/2024 at 2:39 PM, cr8tiv1 said:

If you list it on the app, you will receive a "free" personalized chocolate/mousse cake.  You will also be celebrated on any digital board as you pass by with your Medallion.  Wait staff will sing to you.

 

If I were you, I would make plans to decorate your cabin on your own.  I find Princess' packages to be extremely expensive.

 

You may bring flowers onboard (but may not take them off/not supposed to).

 

 

We celebrated our 50th Anniversary on the Emerald last December.  I put it on our personalizer and nothing was said to us,  I was disappointed as we have celebrated birthdays onboard and they made us feel special.  Still had a wonderful cruise, of course!

Thank you LACruiser88 and Paula.  Great info.

Thank you Ken and Jerry.  We like sea days too.  

Hello, I have read various reviews about the Island Princess and am pretty hesitant to sail her, but I would like to take some of the itineraries offered.  I am looking for pros and cons from people who have cruised on the Island Princess lately.

Also, I read an old review that said all the balconies on the Lido and Aloha decks were open with no covering.  Is this still true?

Thank you.

23 minutes ago, Teechur said:

It's $427 Canadian or $316 American for a similar room. The extra U.S $111 will buy us dinner and drinks.😁

I noticed that all of the Marriott properties near the airport include a free shuttle.

https://www.marriott.com/search/findHotels

Thanks, but I was thinking she was talking about the Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport.  I could have misread though. 🙂

On 3/3/2024 at 6:04 PM, Teechur said:

I wish we were able to sail on to Montreal but appreciate the extra night on the ship at Quebec.

(HAL cruises to Montreal. Apparently, Princess ships are too tall to clear a bridge along the way.)

We will take the Princess excursion bus from Quebec City that stops in Old Montreal and then delivers us to the Airport. We will spend the night and fly out early the next morning.

I have searched for a hotel with a free airport shuttle, but haven't found one.  Have you?  If you don't mind...:-)

Thank you to all of you who offered valid suggestions and sympathy.  I hope perhaps my post was beneficial in helping others to think about and to form a plan if they ever are in this situation.  I know it has for me.

I went to my regular doctor today and seem to be doing well.  My husband is being treated for kidney stones.

I won't post any more or answer any more posts.  

Mod, would you please close this post?

1 hour ago, NavyVeteran said:

I hope OP's experience isn't the norm. I had a completely different experience.

 

DW and I got COVID three days before the end of our cruise on the Caribbean Princess from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale last year. DW was sick and stayed in the medical center overnight. I had no symptoms. We were both isolated in our cabin until the end of the cruise. We received our medical records the day before disembarkation. On disembarkation morning, we waited in our cabin for a late departure. We had a very good breakfast delivered by room service that morning.

When it was time to leave, two people came to escort us off. We had requested wheelchair assistance for DW, so one of them had a wheelchair. There was a slight delay when I noticed the wheelchair was broken and they had to go get a replacement chair. They then took us off the ship through a private passageway bypassing lines and other passengers. We were planning to take a taxi to the airport. There was a long line of people waiting for taxis. We bypassed that line, and one of our escorts flagged down a taxi for us. We then took a taxi to the airport and boarded as normal.

Disembarkation day was the fifth day since the first symptoms. We both wore N95 masks the entire trip to try to avoid infecting others.

Unlike the treatment OP received, I thought the treatment we received was very reasonable and helpful.

 

I don't think the problem is that Princess has unacceptable disembarkation policies for people in isolation - I think the problem is that Princess does not have - or does not follow - consistent disembarkation policies. Different ships handle it differently. And they are also dependent on the port's policies and personnel, and different ports handle things differently. My experience was very acceptable - OP's was not.

I am happy to hear that this could have been handled well and happy it was for you.  I appreciate your well-said post.

Just now, SCX22 said:

Didn’t say it was you.  There was another poster who suggested discretely hiring an attorney.  Trying to quell that idea

You said you thought this was a money grab.  It wasn't/isn't.  That seems to indicate you were saying that I was trying to make it a money grab.  It doesn't matter, I know my reasons for posting.

2 hours ago, memoak said:

I would for sure like to know the reason. Disembarkation times are never guaranteed because things like Coast Guard, customs etc. can delay things or speed them up. We were on a b2b last year where the first leg did not finish disembarking until 11:00

The service had no availability as they were completely booked.    I did call twice.    The shuttle we were finally on was completely full.  We did wear masks. In hindsight, I should have called a taxi or uber or something similar.

8 hours ago, SCX22 said:

The more people write about this, the more this is sounds like a cash grab.

 

When one cruises, one agrees to the passage contract which pretty much waives all passenger rights and puts them at the mercy of the cruise line.  Even if this were to go to court, Princess mandates all litigation would have to happen in LA County, California.  

 

Medical records were produced by the ship staff.  The matter should be taken up with the insurance provider to make the person financially whole again.

 

It was the choice of the ill to sit and wait in the cold for 3 hours for a ride.

What an absurdly rude and completely unnecessary comment to make!  No where did you see me post that I was seeking any money other than from my insurance company.  I posted this mostly to warn others to dress warmly when debarking in Galveston and to question whether Princess could consider, based on the limitations on them, changing their policies.  I have gotten several responses with ideas for what I should have done and that is good, because at the time, I wasn't really in a great shape to think of more solutions.  

8 hours ago, waltd said:

And so they sat in the Cold for 3 hours?   Put it on a credit card and when you get home fight it out with your travel insurance or Princess.   They are elderly. You don't sit in the cold for 3 hours.

You are quite right.  I did try to move my original shuttle time up.  I don't even know for sure why I didn't call a taxi.  I am not quite comfortable with using Uber yet, but am getting better and will learn more.  I do have a better plan if, God forbid, this happens again.

9 hours ago, scottca075 said:

Why didn't you call a a taxi rather than wait until 10AM?

Believe me, I have asked myself that many times.  I wasn't thinking clearly.  I also have had a lot of difficulty getting taxis at Galveston in the past and have seen people having to wait on an Uber outside the port (which I wasn't really able to walk to), but maybe that is better now.  I have a definite plan if this ever happens again.

10 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

 

Don't be surprised if they only give you something insulting like $50 obc

I don't want/expect them to offer me anything.  I just hope they do take a look at their policies and try to find a better solution within the time, etc. limitations imposed on them.  

20 hours ago, AZjohn said:

As all the others, I empathize with what a horrible experience you had.

 

There have been many posts since Covid about similar experiences, that Princess (as well of other cruise lines) want to get you off the ship ASAP because their liability (and morality) is over at point.

 

Personally, what I have taken away of these horror stories is my wife and I are completely responsible for ourselves once we walk (or rolled) off the ship.

 

That means if my wife gets really sick similar to you, I am going to everything I can do myself (without asking others) and book someone to pick us up immediately, regardless the cost or what was planned under normal conditions (I’m not telling OP waiting for their shuttle for 3 hours was wrong, Im saying what I personally will do). And once we get picked up we are immediately going to a hospital for further care or a hotel room to rest and get better)

 

Again, for me I will never-ever think about how much money we can loose, My only priority is get to a safe location stat and know we can deal with out of pocket cost and insurance at a later time.

 

Cheers

Believe me, I have "should'a, could'a, would'a the situation in my mind several times in the last two days.  I definitely have a plan now and won't worry about the money.  Like I answered someone else, neither of us were thinking clearly.  I don't think we were worried about the money then, but just about our original plans, (Not smart, I know)  We did contact the shuttle service and asked to be picked up earlier, but they had no empty seats.

3 hours ago, 2and2 said:

Just kind of wondering how you knew those other people had COVID?. I know how cold it was, and how far that walk is. I am surprised you found a place to sit outside. There is very few places to rest and catch your breath.

The other people told each other they had Covid and I overheard.  Two couples, each with a spouse with Covid.

15 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

This is a well thought out emergency plan. Would trip interruption/travel insurance cover all of these added expenses?  Would Princess Vacation Protection cover you considering you are now OFF the ship?

 

I feel for the OP.  When you are not feeling up to your game, your thoughts are muddied and struggling to stay on top of the emergency.  I hope you are on the mend.

It is definitely a good plan and in hindsight, what we should have done.  We were definitely not thinking straight.  I was still muddled from the dehydration, and, as it turned out and unbeknownst to me, my husband was in pain.  We ended up at another doctors in Houston that evening with my husband who has suspected kidney stones.  They ended up giving him pain and urged him to fly home the next day as planned unless he got worse.  We did and he is getting treatment this afternoon.  So his thinking was muddled too!  It has been a very unpleasant few days.

We didn't have Princess insurance, but our insurance is supposed to cover us from the time we leave home until we are back home.  We shall see.  They paid well the other time we had to make a claim.

9 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Knowing what you know now, you would tell them you will get off after the last passengers get off.

 

Maybe the last group is 9-930?  

It is a shame, they just want you off and once you’re off, they are done with you.  
 

At least you may have helped the next one of us who might face this situation.

 

I’ve found, once you get off the ship, you are on your own.  Only

person to ask questions, is security.  And, they want you to quickly move out of the terminal.

 

Good ideas, but we did tell them we wanted off last, but they weren't listening.  We weren't even allowed in the terminal, but once we were off the ship, no one cared.

8 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

Logistically, it would make sense for the sick passengers to be let off ASAP.  Cabins have to be vacated by 8:00 or 8:30 am and all the lounges will are used as disembarkation lounges for non sick disembarking passengers.  There would be no other place to quarantine.  It wouldn’t make sense to stop the disembarkation schedule to let sick passengers off when it was convenient for them.  It would delay the process.  As far as escorts, the ship doesn’t want them touching stuff (ie elevator buttons).  Once the sick passengers are off the ship, they aren’t the ship’s problem anymore.  Thus wanting to get them off ASAP.

 

Again, sorry for being the devil’s advocate.

We were taken to a lounge with only the other isolated passengers.  We could have stayed there.  I know why they want us off asap, but that doesn't make it right.  I also understand the escorts, but really three people including security for two senior citizens is a bit unreasonable.  It was the way they treated us that made it even more stressful.  You weren't there, so you wouldn't know.

6 minutes ago, memoak said:

This is not new. Back in 2022 we were 2 over over 200 covid patients who were disembarked after everyone else was off the ship and we all stood in line for well over 2 hours to get to the Covid buses to go to hotels since Canada was still ferrying people from leaving the country for 10 days after getting the disease. Not fun 6 days in a hotel room with no service 

So sorry that happened to you and those were even buses that Princess was scheduling!

13 minutes ago, Princessfan20 said:

Getting hurt or sick on a cruise ship is not a pleasant experience.  Our family had a similar experience when contacting Covid on a Princess ship plus luggage was lost also.  Also, a family member injured themselves on a Princess ship off of South America and it was a 4 day ordeal getting back home for appropriate  treatment.

 

Even with Princess insurance you really have to advocate for yourself and expect that they want you out of their hair ASAP.

I agree, but what does one do to advocate?  Sounds like I am being snarky, but I would really like to know, no snark intended. 🙂

4 minutes ago, sunviking90 said:

csteinke@princesscruises.com

5 minutes ago, sunviking90 said:

So sorry you had this experience. I think the worst part was the stress of being told you’d be kicked off before you’d be able to get your Medical info. @SCX22raises a good point, but It would be nice if the ships had a crew member assigned as a liaison to ensure people in this situation are not just “dumped”. If you do not hear anything from Princess in 4-6 weeks I would encourage you to go higher up. I have done this in the past when I had had no responses after months. Email for Collin Steinke (director of customer relations) is csteinke@princesscruises.com. CC customer relations when you do. 
 

Thank you.  Not being able to know we would get the medical records was stressful.  Just having crew members who treated one with respect and didn't laugh about being druggies or domestic abusers would have been nice.  I appreciate the email address.

14 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

Don't mean to be the devil's advocate, but Princess is damned if they do and damned if they don't in these situations.  When Princess tries to contain a potential outbreak, people complain.  When they don't control an outbreak, people complain.

 

Glad you're feeling better.

Like I said, I understand the need, but don't agree with the procedures and feel being disembarked that early was pointless once I was outside the terminal and mixed with everyone else.  I even had to request a mask and did wear it until we got to our hotel room in Houston to try to protect others.

  Also, even when trying to contain an outbreak, to be required to walk that far around the outside of the terminal in the cold was unacceptable.  One of the people with Covid was in a wheelchair, but the other one and I were not.  Perhaps I could have requested it.  I did tell one of my "escorts" that I needed to rest, but he just urged me on.