Disappointing end to July 17th Freedom cruise

[Cruisegirl6]

Ok I need to express my opinion on this situation:

 

1- I understand it was a medical emergency, I feel for that person and their family very sad to have happened....but with all the thousands of people aboard its normal for somebody to get ill, sick seriously, etc.

 

2- I not understand one thing I know if that happened to my other half or family I would NOT want the ship to divert to bringing my loved one to Nassau for medical care, what a horrible place to get medical care, they not up with all the latest technology as we are here. I rather skip Nassau and chance taking the extra few hours back to the states. .

 

3- I fly Southwest often, take day trips to go to court hearings for work...there have been many times that my hearing has been cancelled and I always called southwest and told them of my situation and always have been given the credit back with NO PENALTY. The credit is not given back to my credit card but for a future fare to be taken within the year. They are wonderful have you told southwest of your situation when you first called them?

 

4- I believe RC made a decent fair decision to refund back 150 to every person for the extra cost of the airfare, that was what they thought would be average to cover most of the people. Your costs were more, so I would write to corporate explain the situation, send copies of all receipts of the cost of your flights, car rental fare, etc. everything...and ask them what they can do and also explain that it would only be fair that they pick up the entire cost...see what they do, they may not pay the entire cost but hopefully close to it.

 

5- You say that they only gave you a 800 number of the airline, well that is all they liable to do because you have not chosen to get the airfare through RC. If you purchased the airfare through RC, RC would take care of the flight arrangements for you and pick up the extra costs to get you home.

 

6- It was not RC fault that they had long lines to make ship to shore calls its an emergency that I feel RC handled it properly providing these calls to passengers, but of course with all those people that needed to make calls FOS only can provide so many calls at once. Many cell phones work on the FOS my service provider included, only we get roaming fees, If in your position I would used my cell phone to call the airline. You also have the option going to the internet and using that to get your flight info so you would know the flights and such that are available for you when you get off the ship.

 

7- Since we now have an ipad we do take it with us, its a good idea...for those who not have them taking a laptop has its advantages for emergencies but I say just use the internet aboard the ship so you not have to lug that laptop with you. An ipad if you have one is small/light definately take that. The ipads work in certain places on the FOS not in staterooms yet...

 

So take this as a lesson always prepare for the unforeseen...types of emergencies happen all the time nobody can prevent them. I remain to tell you that you should write corporate with your concerns immediately and I would do it in a way to get a return recipe/proof of shipment so you can keep tract on top of this issue.

[brfan]

As I stated in the original post, I have no problem with the decision to divert. My issues were with the way RCCL handled customer relations (or more accurately, didn't handle it) onboard and after the fact. Do you believe that "Here's an 800 number for Southwest; good luck getting a line out" is adequate?

 

What more did you expect them to do? If you couldn't get a line out what makes you think they could do any better?

[Cruisegirl6]

I failed to mention when we fly to the port, we fly the day before...and choose a flight around 4pm, we always arrived at noonish the day of the flight and was able to jump on an earlier flight with no extra cost, this happened to us on southwest and american airlines had no trouble at all changing flights.

I also would purchase the flight insurance if my hometown is more than 8 hours away from the port being used. You would of been best to rent a car like MrsPete mentioned.

[branch155]

What more did you expect them to do? If you couldn't get a line out what makes you think they could do any better?

 

1) Functioning internet terminals. If they're not working, fix them. Quickly. Same with the printer.

 

2) Extra Guest Relations staff to help in whatever way they can

 

3) Proactively offer whatever help they can -- free cell phone service, free internet access -- whatever.

 

Just off the top of my head.

[teajak]

Call Southwest it is amazing what their reps can and will do, best in the business when you need help.

[ChollaChick]

I understand why you are upset, OP, however I think that the cruise line did the right thing. They took care of the ill passenger, which in my opinion trumps any flight issues that passengers had.

[OTownNick]

I am not sure, but perhaps Choice Air (the service offerred through RCL) may have prevented this from happening? I would check out what they cover and consider this if flying to/from a cruise. Thankkfully Ive only had to fly once so far- to San Juan.

[PH8]

I am always amazed how some people get so mad when they are inconvenienced due to an emergency such as this.........same with getting stuck in traffic and making you late......

 

Isnt it much better to be late than be that person who is very ill or died due to that accident?

[Rlwadsworth]

Well, yes and no. Yes, we purchased travel insurance through the company through which we made our reservations. No, flight changes weren't covered (or so I was told by our rep).

 

I didn't have flight insurance through Southwest, although that wouldn't have covered the full cost of the alternate arrangements through AirTran.

 

Maybe yes maybe no. Southwest owns Airtran.

[cruzeluver]

Not sure why RCL should be expected to offer any financial compensation for an event occurring completely outside of their control.

 

Where would this extra guest relations staff come from? Are there not only so many on a ship?

 

Change fees, free internet, free phone calls ....someone is going to end up paying for all of that.

[CoachT]

No doubt -- lesson learned. Although in this situation, insurance for the flight on airline A won't cover you if a flight on airline A isn't available, and a flight on airline B costs significantly more. Like in this case :)

Not true. If you insure the cost of your entire trip, your costs due to "trip interruption" will be covered if you can show documentation. This depends on your policy.

[yogimax]

 

I not understand one thing I know if that happened to my other half or family I would NOT want the ship to divert to bringing my loved one to Nassau for medical care, what a horrible place to get medical care,

 

One of our friends is a kidney specialist in Nassau.

 

Your comment is rude and uninformed!

[matj2000]

Way to many people on the ships with a lot of pre existing medical conditions.

They should start screening certain passengers in the future when it gets to big of a liability.

For many, its pretty obvious..

[Cruisegirl6]

Yogimax- didn't mean it personally just stating that I would not want any medical care in a foreign place such as Nassau when I know it only take me another four hours to get back to the states...I remain to feel healthcare in Nassau is not up to what it is here, just my opinion....call it rude but its how I feel I just telling it as I feel just what cruise critic is all about our opinions and that was my opinion.

 

matj- this is why travel insurance is available to us for emergenices...emergencies such as this have been going on as long as the cruise indusry. I do believe cruise lines have ship to shore communications with top hospitals here in the states should they need advice and such.

[island lady]

Why?

 

How about an explanation of why a helicopter airlift was not possible. If the passenger could have been evacuated by helicopter, all the problems described could have been eliminated.

 

I agree...what good is a helicopter pad on a ship if they don't use it? Especially if it was a true emergency, it would have been much faster, and actually cheaper than having to offer credits to all the pax. Me thinks the fishy smell was not coming from the sea. RCI kind of fell down on that one from the sounds of it.

 

To the OP: With 5 people in your party, you could have rented a car right away at the various rental agencies near the port and took turns driving. I would think that would have saved a lot of time and money, and with the 150.00 bucks times 5, it would have more than paid for the rental car. Just a thought for next time. It only takes us about 9 hours to drive up there to visit the DD from where we live 5 miles from the port.

[Cruisegirl6]

Thats true but maybe some reasons such as:

 

1- the seas might been rough

2- the weather was not good and too windy to land

3- the family did not want to pay the expense for the helicopter ( believe all transportation, expenses due to medical condition is at the persons expense)

Could of been any of these?

Need nore facts :)

[SuchAVirgo]

Not true. If you insure the cost of your entire trip, your costs due to "trip interruption" will be covered if you can show documentation. This depends on your policy.

 

 

We have bought cruise care from RC with our upcoming cruise on the Serenade.. They do offer several benefits for people who independently book their own airfare.

[MikeNJ1109]

I agree...what good is a helicopter pad on a ship if they don't use it? Especially if it was a true emergency, it would have been much faster, and actually cheaper than having to offer credits to all the pax.

 

Is a helicopter pad required either under SOLAS or per USCG regulations? Just wondering ...

 

MAS

[EVALUATOR]

I have a little concern with the comments about people using the facebook pages.

 

First, those people could be using it to communicate with others that could be arranging their transportation.

 

Second, how would someone know what someone else was doing on the computers unless they were sticking their nose where it didn't belong.

 

Third, to have crew members "monitor" what others did is just an extension of sticking noses where they do not belong.

 

I agree, there were complications with the delays, but those computers are first come, first serve, with some expectation of privacy.

 

Posting something limiting computer use to re-booking travel arrangements seems fair, but otherwise MYOB.

[EVALUATOR]

I seem to recall the Indy has an almost similar incident a month or so ago.

 

They had a sick pax airlifted near Gibraltar. The helicopter flew out but pax was too heavy.

 

They ran low on fuel, left, refueled, returned, and then took the pax off the ship.

 

In that case, the Indy going into a port might have been quicker.

[purpledew]

From Southwest Airlines:

 

Did You Know?

Not all reservations are refundable, but they are all reusable? Should your plans change, all of our fares can be applied to future travel on Southwest Airlines.

[Mainer59]

My family and I were on this cruise and I've got a few comments....

 

 

1. The ship was diverted for a medical emergency and I have every confidence that there were specific reasons for the choice of going to Nassau that were made by people more qualified than I would be. I see no reason for the experts to have to explain their reasoning to me than for an airline pilot to explain why they chose a specific airport in an emergency. They do what they need to do based upon conditions. What was done on another ship at another time is not this instance. And the fact that they do it all the time on TV really doesn't matter.
    
    
   
2. Review this board for any amount of time or just think about it a bit. There are many reasons why a ship could be delayed in leaving for the trip or returning. I choose to have RCI take care of my air and ground transportation arrangements and, as such, had no additional air or lodging expense when I missed my flight and had to be moved to another the following day. If you choose to save a few dollars by making your own reservations and cut times close you will eventually end up paying the price. For those choosing to make their own reservations… why should RCI be responsible to changing your reservations for you when they state in more that one place that arrival time is subject to change?
    
    
   
3. It is likely technologically impractical to provide the ability to give everyone on the ship who needs it concurrent access to telephone or internet service. Even if it is possible the likelihood that it will be needed is slim and the cost would increase fees even further.
    
    
   
4. One of the largest factors I saw in the overall delay getting off the ship was people scrambling for the exits before the ship was even docked. It was hours before they could begin calling numbered luggage tags because so many people felt themselves too important to wait in line. These are the folks I consider to have caused me to miss my 4:00 flight.
    
    
   

[branch155]

I am always amazed how some people get so mad when they are inconvenienced due to an emergency such as this.........same with getting stuck in traffic and making you late......

 

Isnt it much better to be late than be that person who is very ill or died due to that accident?

 

For the 3rd time: I am not mad, nor do I disagree with RCCL's decision to divert. My issue is with RCCL's handling of the issues arising from the diversion. And I would hope you would understand the difference between being 5 minutes late because of traffic and significant money and lost family time because of the diversion.

[cruzeluver]

My family and I were on this cruise and I've got a few comments....

 

 

1. The ship was diverted for a medical emergency and I have every confidence that there were specific reasons for the choice of going to Nassau that were made by people more qualified than I would be. I see no reason for the experts to have to explain their reasoning to me than for an airline pilot to explain why they chose a specific airport in an emergency. They do what they need to do based upon conditions. What was done on another ship at another time is not this instance. And the fact that they do it all the time on TV really doesn't matter.
   
2. Review this board for any amount of time or just think about it a bit. There are many reasons why a ship could be delayed in leaving for the trip or returning. I choose to have RCI take care of my air and ground transportation arrangements and, as such, had no additional air or lodging expense when I missed my flight and had to be moved to another the following day. If you choose to save a few dollars by making your own reservations and cut times close you will eventually end up paying the price. For those choosing to make their own reservations… why should RCI be responsible to changing your reservations for you when they state in more that one place that arrival time is subject to change?
   
3. It is likely technologically impractical to provide the ability to give everyone on the ship who needs it concurrent access to telephone or internet service. Even if it is possible the likelihood that it will be needed is slim and the cost would increase fees even further.
   
4. One of the largest factors I saw in the overall delay getting off the ship was people scrambling for the exits before the ship was even docked. It was hours before they could begin calling numbered luggage tags because so many people felt themselves too important to wait in line. These are the folks I consider to have caused me to miss my 4:00 flight.
   

 

 

Thank you for posting your calm, realistic views. Should help in quieting those that feel you cannot comment unless you were there.:rolleyes:

[Mainer59]

Way to many people on the ships with a lot of pre existing medical conditions.

 

They should start screening certain passengers in the future when it gets to big of a liability.

 

For many, its pretty obvious..

 

Hey. Good idea. Screen for any pre-existing medical condition so their issues don't inconvenience you. And screen for appearance and weight to ensure that they are appealing to your eye, including the type of clothing and hair color. And those who are athletic are almost as good as you but not quite so you can continue to be the most appealing person on board (at least in your eyes).

 

Anything else? Income requirements?