Riveria Noro, Is 25% enough?

[RJB]

With all that we went thru since almost from the beginning of the cruise and coming back 2 days early it is not nearly enough. After Tortola we made a speed run to Miami with chemicals all over everything on the ship, even the floors and as a few people said we were outrunning the TV signal. The last 2 days on Riviera were no fun and not close to what we paid for. Even in St.Maarteen they cleared the ship for most of us 2 hours late and did not get off until 11:30. To sum it up we lost 2 days on the way back to Miami and the cruise was cut 2 days short. In my book that adds up to 40%. At the least. Oceania has to step up and take care of us as they should. It is not the time to be cheap about it. :(:(:(

[bitob]

I agree. Your compensation is a pittance. Your entire cruise was ruined, including your days on board. The failure to cure the ship is all theirs. They waited too long to take the necessary action. Personally I think you should all get a full refund. The ship never should have sailed. Your cruise should have been cancelled

[RJB]

I agree. Your compensation is a pittance. Your entire cruise was ruined, including your days on board. The failure to cure the ship is all theirs. They waited too long to take the necessary action. Personally I think you should all get a full refund. The ship never should have sailed. Your cruise should have been cancelled

Thank you. I hope that some one in upper management reads and understands what we went thru. Thanks again for your post.

[Lrob]

I agree with you. Not enough. This ship should not have sailed. The number of code red days since November are unacceptable. The outbreak level on your cruise not tolerable. It is not passengers bringing this on board. It is somewhere in the ship. It is not an insignificant problem. It is not a matter of perspective. It is simply unacceptable and dangerous to immune compromised passengers. For others it is a matter of not being provided the cruise they paid for by a long way. Oceania needs to clean this ship and make this right. And they should step up and do it NOW.

[LHT28]

I am sure you can find a good lawyer to take on your case

for full refund

 

I am sure some here can give you a name of one

[RJB]

I am sure you can find a good lawyer to take on your case

for full refund

 

I am sure some here can give you a name of one

Don't think that is the answer. management has to step up and do the right thing.. Have read in the past that in impossible to sue Oceania or other cruise ships because of where there corporations legal home is.

Edited February 21, 2016 by RJB

[hypercafe]

I also think you should get more, sounds like at least half of the trip was bad at the least. Even though you deserve more I do not think you will see any.

[CruiserPK]

The compensation package is woefully inadequate. Another issue to consider is your personal health Which you cannot quality in $$. My concern is the constant inhalation of harsh chemicals and the fact that we were in that situation for 8 straight days. I intend to seek medical advice once I have returned home.

[ORV]

Hmm, Imagine how those of us on the TA felt, with zilch, not even a "sorry for your inconvenience". Seems all we got were people here accusing us of exaggerating the issue.

[RJB]

Hmm, Imagine how those of us on the TA felt, with zilch, not even a "sorry for your inconvenience". Seems all we got were people here accusing us of exaggerating the issue.

Not true. I was on that board and posted many times how I thought that management should step up and did not. They did not do the right thing and maybe learned a lesson from that. It is true that there were people on that board who thought you should get nothing, but I was not one of them. Go back and check. Should be there for all to see.

[ORV]

Not true. I was on that board and posted many times how I thought that management should step up and did not. They did not do the right thing and maybe learned a lesson from that. It is true that there were people on that board who thought you should get nothing, but I was not one of them. Go back and check. Should be there for all to see.

 

Yes, you started a thread in favor of compensation. The majority here though was very critical, not necessarily of me but of another poster.

[RJB]

Yes, you started a thread in favor of compensation. The majority here though was very critical, not necessarily of me but of another poster.

I think some were also very critical of me, but I did not care. Compensation was the right thing to do. There are some people who think Oceania can do no wrong, but they should be fair and honest on these boards.

[515kitty]

I feel bad for all that were looking forward to have a wonderful holiday turn into such misery. We arrived into Miami and are to get on Riviera tomorrow. Now it has been interesting as the ship is setting there and have not seen one person on any deck front to back it looks lifeless. Really strange! If all this cleaning is being done wouldn't you think you would at least see workers on the ground coming and going? I can only hope this problem has been handle. I do have my doubts.

[RJB]

I feel bad for all that were looking forward to have a wonderful holiday turn into such misery. We arrived into Miami and are to get on Riviera tomorrow. Now it has been interesting as the ship is setting there and have not seen one person on any deck front to back it looks lifeless. Really strange! If all this cleaning is being done wouldn't you think you would at least see workers on the ground coming and going? I can only hope this problem has been handle. I do have my doubts.

Very strange that there is nothing going on. Please let us know if this changes.

[Travelcat2]

While I certainly have empathy for those passengers that were onboard the Riviera on the last cruise, it seems that passengers are looking for whom to blame and Oceania seems the likely choice. As has been mentioned, suing Oceania will get you nowhere and may be a exercise in futility.

 

From what I'm reading, the service suffered (amongst other things) partially because the crew were spending so much time disinfecting the ship. Passengers had to deal with wet surfaces which must have been uncomfortable (to say the least). My question to the passengers (once you have had a chance to recover from the cruise), is what, IYO (in your opinion) what was the crew suppose to do? Nothing? IMO, the ship had to be disinfected - every possible surface - in order to begin the containment of the virus.

 

There is no question that this was not a pleasant cruise, however, if the equivalent of "Typhoid Mary" boarded the ship - told no one - did not visit the doctor or stay in her cabin and people began to get sick, is this Oceania's.fault?

 

If you read the contract between Oceania and passengers, they have no legal liability. However, Oceania management cares very much about their passengers and therefore offered the 25% discount and 25% off a future cruise (in addition to "housing" passengers for 2 nights).

 

In any case, perhaps the Center for Disease Control should look more deeply into what, if any, possible immunity crew members and/or children have when it comes to norovirus. Are most crew members immune because of something they do or because they have been able to build up immunity after being around sick passengers for so long?

Edited February 22, 2016 by Travelcat2

[RJB]

While I certainly have empathy for those passengers that were onboard the Riviera on the last cruise, it seems that passengers are looking for whom to blame and Oceania seems the likely choice. As has been mentioned, suing Oceania will get you nowhere and may be a exercise in futility.

 

From what I'm reading, the service suffered (amongst other things) partially because the crew were spending so much time disinfecting the ship. Passengers had to deal with wet surfaces which must have been uncomfortable (to say the least). My question to the passengers (once you have had a chance to recover from the cruise), is what, IYO (in your opinion) what was the crew suppose to do? Nothing? IMO, the ship had to be disinfected - every possible surface - in order to begin the containment of the virus.

 

There is no question that this was not a pleasant cruise, however, if the equivalent of "Typhoid Mary" boarded the ship - told no one - did not visit the doctor or stay in her cabin and people began to get sick, is this Oceania's.fault?

 

If you read the contract between Oceania and passengers, they have no legal liability. However, Oceania management cares very much about their passengers and therefore offered the 25% discount and 25% off a future cruise (in addition to "housing" passengers for 2 nights).

 

In any case, perhaps the Center for Disease Control should look more deeply into what, if any, possible immunity crew members and/or children have when it comes to norovirus. Are most crew members immune because of something they do or because they have been able to build up immunity after being around sick passengers for so long?

The crew was great. They worked twice as long as they most likely were paid to do, but the passengers did not get what they paid for. Oceania is whom they paid and should responsible to give them what the paid for. The 25% discount was not enough and they have to step up and give their guests what they collected their money for. Just because their contract, which they wrote says they don't does not make them less responsible to their passengers. They could loose their whole business if people find them to blame and they are not concerned about what their customers think.

[Travelcat2]

The crew was great. They worked twice as long as they most likely were paid to do, but the passengers did not get what they paid for. Oceania is whom they paid and should responsible to give them what the paid for. The 25% discount was not enough and they have to step up and give their guests what they collected their money for. Just because their contract, which they wrote says they don't does not make them less responsible to their passengers. They could loose their whole business if people find them to blame and they are not concerned about what their customers think.

 

I truly understand how you feel and have been in a situation where there were multiple issues on board, including sickness (not Oceania) and I wished we could have been refunded our cruise fare. However, no one received any type of compensation. To say that it is frustrating is an understatement. On the other hand, when something happens that is the cruise line's fault (the fire on the Insignia last year for example), the cruise line will do whatever they can to satisfy their customers.

 

IMO, it is a matter of whether Oceania is directly responsible for what happened. Unfortunately I don't think that anyone can prove that all of this is Oceania's fault. They have spent untold thousands of dollars to fix this issue and have no doubt lost some valued customers. I do wish that there were a better solution.

 

Looking at it on the positive side (not easy to do), a 25% refund on this cruise plus 25% off of the next cruise is a 50% savings which is sounds like people are asking for. I suspect that the 25% off of a future cruise is to entice passengers to give Oceania another try.

 

Out of curiosity, will you sail on Oceania again?

[GeezerCouple]

I'm really surprised that Oceania doesn't have insurance for problems like this, such that passengers *can* be compensated in a somewhat meaningful way.

 

Obviously, the best, but impossible, would be to be able to "back up" and make sure that no one got sick.

 

But given that's not possible, why don't they (and all cruise lines) have insurance for this, or also for major mechanical breakdowns?

[tommiroke]

I truly understand how you feel and have been in a situation where there were multiple issues on board, including sickness (not Oceania) and I wished we could have been refunded our cruise fare. However, no one received any type of compensation. To say that it is frustrating is an understatement. On the other hand, when something happens that is the cruise line's fault (the fire on the Insignia last year for example), the cruise line will do whatever they can to satisfy their customers.

 

IMO, it is a matter of whether Oceania is directly responsible for what happened. Unfortunately I don't think that anyone can prove that all of this is Oceania's fault. They have spent untold thousands of dollars to fix this issue and have no doubt lost some valued customers. I do wish that there were a better solution.

 

Looking at it on the positive side (not easy to do), a 25% refund on this cruise plus 25% off of the next cruise is a 50% savings which is sounds like people are asking for. I suspect that the 25% off of a future cruise is to entice passengers to give Oceania another try.

 

Out of curiosity, will you sail on Oceania again?

 

Glad you finally appear to be coming out of your insisting that it isn't Oceania's fault in any manner howevr, you appear to be trying to place the blame 100% at a single source. In most, if all situations, nobody or thing is 100% at fault and for sure in this case there is not one single culprit. It is at least partially Oceania's fault for many reasons that have been repeated over and over again by people on the cruises since the Nov. TA and now the trip where quite possibly CDC directed Oceania to return Riviera to Miami for the deep cleaning that should have occurred after the TA and/or after any one of the subsequent cruises.

 

It is quite possible that passengers brought the virus aboard and equally possible the ship was never completely free of the virus after the TA. There is blame for all and the measly 25% refund for this cruise barely covers the shortening and the subsequent 25% off a future cruise still requires people who have had their cruise mostly ruined to pay another 75% of a future cruise that is extremely restrictive. This future cruise has to be taken in the next year which will be difficult for many people who already have plans since vacations are on a yearly basis and too late to book a cruise shortly.

 

By the way, 25% off each of 2 cruises is absolutely NOT 50% off. It is still only 25% off of the total spent. Your math is sorely lacking on that statement. Let me help you with the math. 25% of 1 dollar is 25 cents. 25% of the next dollar is 25 cents. You add those together and you have 50 cents out of 2 dollars or still 25%.

 

And, what about all the people on the TA and subsequent cruises that had the Noro on board and the only thing we heard was a measly $125 in OBC for people on the TA and following cruise and only given the OBC in the last 2 days of the cruise, too late to be spent and rejected by many as too little, too late!!!!! There were thousands of people on the TA and about 5 subsequent cruises before this one who got absolutely nothing for the problems at least partially the fault of Oceania and now a pittance for possibly 15% of the involved passengers. And this is how Oceania cares about all of their customers????????

Edited February 22, 2016 by tommiroke

[CruiserPK]

While I certainly have empathy for those passengers that were onboard the Riviera on the last cruise, it seems that passengers are looking for whom to blame and Oceania seems the likely choice. As has been mentioned, suing Oceania will get you nowhere and may be a exercise in futility.

 

From what I'm reading, the service suffered (amongst other things) partially because the crew were spending so much time disinfecting the ship. Passengers had to deal with wet surfaces which must have been uncomfortable (to say the least). My question to the passengers (once you have had a chance to recover from the cruise), is what, IYO (in your opinion) what was the crew suppose to do? Nothing? IMO, the ship had to be disinfected - every possible surface - in order to begin the containment of the virus.

 

There is no question that this was not a pleasant cruise, however, if the equivalent of "Typhoid Mary" boarded the ship - told no one - did not visit the doctor or stay in her cabin and people began to get sick, is this Oceania's.fault?

 

If you read the contract between Oceania and passengers, they have no legal liability. However, Oceania management cares very much about their passengers and therefore offered the 25% discount and 25% off a future cruise (in addition to "housing" passengers for 2 nights).

 

In any case, perhaps the Center for Disease Control should look more deeply into what, if any, possible immunity crew members and/or children have when it comes to norovirus. Are most crew members immune because of something they do or because they have been able to build up immunity after being around sick passengers for so long?[/quote

 

The Norovirus can live a very long time on many surfaces. Why wouldn't we think Oceania is responsible when 3% had the virus two days into our cruise which is within the normal incubation period? We were allowed on a ship that had not been thoroughly sanitized. The library was open on embarkation day and locked the next day because it had not been sanitized. However, many of us had already gotten books. Perhaps someone got sick from handling a book that had virus germs. The casino was not being appropriately cleaned with sanitizer after people used the slot machines. Decks of cards and gaming chips were used daily during the cruise at the gambling tables yet we were not given mid cruise comment cards due to possible contamination. We wrongly assumed the casino would be shut down and looked there after the announcement was made that we reached the 3% threshold and CDC had to be notified. To my knowledge, it was open throughout the cruise.

 

We boarded only 30 minutes after normal boarding, not the 2 hours suggested in the email we received. We were not allowed in cabins until much later than normal and I suspect that passengers may have wandered around since nothing was roped off. I don't think this was the fault of the passengers. If you had no prior experience with Norovirus you had no idea how critical it was to avoid any public spaces until you knew they had been appropriately cleaned. Roping off the areas or having doors shut with signs on them would have been an appropriate option, or better yet, don't let passengers board until the ship has been totally cleaned after an outbreak of the Norovirus.

 

It is an all around terrible situation that was made worse yesterday with people getting sick after we disembarked. I feel terrible for those boarding tomorrow. I don't see how it will be possible to make that ship Norovirus free in such a short period of time.

[Wren3]

I feel bad for all that were looking forward to have a wonderful holiday turn into such misery. We arrived into Miami and are to get on Riviera tomorrow. Now it has been interesting as the ship is setting there and have not seen one person on any deck front to back it looks lifeless. Really strange! If all this cleaning is being done wouldn't you think you would at least see workers on the ground coming and going? I can only hope this problem has been handle. I do have my doubts.

 

Very unusual indeed not to see any activity let alone cleaning being done whether it be in the staterooms or elsewhere. We board Mar 13th and hope for the best.

[Christine Frances]

Very unusual indeed not to see any activity let alone cleaning being done whether it be in the staterooms or elsewhere. We board Mar 13th and hope for the best.

 

Is it possible that the crew were sent off the ship and it is being "bio-fogged"?. I have seen them do cabins on other lines where they go in with hazmat suits on and fog the room then seal them up. They could be doing that to the interior of the ship as well.

[Flatbush Flyer]

I am sure you can find a good lawyer to take on your case

for full refund

 

I am sure some here can give you a name of one

 

 

Really? A GOOD lawyer would cost more than the cruise. Contact travel columnist/ombudsman Chris Elliott (google him if you don't have his column in your local newspaper). He may be willing to look into it or, at least, get you the contact info for the most current upper management.

[LHT28]

Really? A GOOD lawyer would cost more than the cruise. Contact travel columnist/ombudsman Chris Elliott (google him if you don't have his column in your local newspaper). He may be willing to look into it or, at least, get you the contact info for the most current upper management.

 

LOL

I knew it would not be long for someone to recommend him

Looks like the crew beat the passengers to it :D

[CintiPam]

There was a crew of at least six wearing t-shirts that said ABC Cleaners onboard after we docked but before we were allowed to disembark. I ran into one while using the Ladies room outside the Terrace Cafe at 7:15 last night. She emerged from a stall talking on her cell phone while I was drying my hands after my 22-second scrubbing. She was running out (yes, without washing at all) until I stared her down, at which point she turned around and washed for about five seconds. I reported this to the Terrace Cafe employee there to check World Cards at the Terrace Cafe entrance a few yards away; for all the good it did!

Edited February 22, 2016 by CintiPam