Never Again RCI

[dliteu]

Never post, usually a lurker, but have to rant.  Took my first and last cruise with RCI.  The ship was beautiful, big...food, well I think that has been posted about enough, what I am ranting about is the customer service.  Went with Mom, Sister, and Brother, 2 balcony rooms.  On the 4th day of the trip, Mom gets real sick.  I mean real sick, so they transported us ( Mom and me) to the emergency hospital in Cozumel (if you could call it that).  Mom's lungs were full of fluid.  Caught a Rhinovirus on the ship.  No one's fault.  I AM SAYING THIS IN CAPS. THANK GOD WE BOUGHT INSURANCE.  Between the $2700 that RCI charged us for about 1 hour in the emergency room on the ship and the hospital in Cozumel holding us hostage (literally would not treat her without a down payment of $4,000 Then another $2,000 and finally another $1998 before they would release her the next day to an air ambulance back to Texas.  The RCI contact in Cozumel actually stiffs us for $6. Gave him $100 to cover the $47 dollars each Mexico charged us to come into the country he kept the change.  The contact's name was Daniel..  Not a big deal, but really....Never did hear from him again after he delivered the forms we needed for Mexico. Not can I get you a hotel, would you like some food, Not let me help try to get you home.  not spit.  The hospital was in the middle of a very poor neighborhood without any resources close by. At any rate, my mom is currently in hospice from this delightful trip and RCI has yet to reach out once to check on us.  On top of that, I have repeatedly called to get the release of her records from the ship, which I need to get the funds back from the insurance with no response other than to fill out a form and they are 6 weeks or more in getting the info sent to me.  I feel almost as if we were put in a lifeboat and were cut loose from the ship to drift away on our own.  Spent what I consider quite a lot of money on RCI and anticipated this trip for a year, but this company has no heart.  Never again RCI.  Worst of all less than three weeks ago I was on a cruise with my sweet mother and now we are preparing for her passing.  I am certainly not blaming RCI for her illness, just the treatment or non-treatment of us during an emergency.    MOST IMPORTANTLY BUY INSURANCE....CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH

[twangster]

Sorry to hear about your mother.  Good call buying travel insurance.  

[dliteu]

1 minute ago, twangster said:

Sorry to hear about your mother.  Good call buying travel insurance.  

No doubt

 

[teddie]

I am so sorry.  Unfortunately, people do get ill while traveling, and your insurance purchase was smart. 

 

Now I'm going to say this:  frequently, people become ill or get injured and transported off a ship on every sailing.  I know your distress is still fresh here. You had insurance--good on you for taking the right care.  Please know that waiting for the documents from any provider is a waiting process,  including from RCIs medical department.  Having difficulty in a foreign country is an added burden. 

 

I do not think another comparable cruise line would handle things much differently--they stabilized her, had her transported, and billed you as expected. I am no RCI cheerleader, by the way.  You've been through a tough time, and I wish you the best. 

 

Teddie

[dliteu]

2 minutes ago, teddie said:

I am so sorry.  Unfortunately, people do get ill while traveling, and your insurance purchase was smart. 

 

Now I'm going to say this:  frequently, people become ill or get injured and transported off a ship on every sailing.  I know your distress is still fresh here. You had insurance--good on you for taking the right care.  Please know that waiting for the documents from any provider is a waiting process,  including from RCIs medical department.  Having difficulty in a foreign country is an added burden. 

 

I do not think another comparable cruise line would handle things much differently--they stabilized her, had her transported, and billed you as expected. I am no RCI cheerleader, by the way.  You've been through a tough time, and I wish you the best. 

 

Teddie

Thanks

[dliteu]

4 minutes ago, teddie said:

I am so sorry.  Unfortunately, people do get ill while traveling, and your insurance purchase was smart. 

 

Now I'm going to say this:  frequently, people become ill or get injured and transported off a ship on every sailing.  I know your distress is still fresh here. You had insurance--good on you for taking the right care.  Please know that waiting for the documents from any provider is a waiting process,  including from RCIs medical department.  Having difficulty in a foreign country is an added burden. 

 

I do not think another comparable cruise line would handle things much differently--they stabilized her, had her transported, and billed you as expected. I am no RCI cheerleader, by the way.  You've been through a tough time, and I wish you the best. 

 

Teddie

I guess what has really upset me is the lack of contact, from the very person that RCI said was my contact in Mexico. I do not speak Spanish and was an effort to get any help.   And no follow up from RCI.  Have no idea how other lines would stack up in these circumstances but I would hope their travelers are treated better.  That's all.

[firstimer2009]

I’m so sorry that happened to you. I became very sick on a Med cruise in Oct 2019 and realized how vulnerable you can be on a ship.  
 

How did the hospital take payment? On a credit card?  Think of all the people that wouldn’t have money available

on their card.  

[soremekun]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's condition.  My condolences.

 

I'm not prying, no need to respond.  Were there any pre-existing conditions that exacerbated the Rhinovirus?

[teddie]

 

18 minutes ago, dliteu said:

I guess what has really upset me is the lack of contact, from the very person that RCI said was my contact in Mexico. I do not speak Spanish and was an effort to get any help.   And no follow up from RCI.  Have no idea how other lines would stack up in these circumstances but I would hope their travelers are treated better.  That's all.

 I understand. I am hoping you contacted your insurance company directly while in Mexico and they provided the support and accommodations you required.  
 

Teddie

[A&L_Ont]

1 hour ago, dliteu said:

I guess what has really upset me is the lack of contact, from the very person that RCI said was my contact in Mexico. I do not speak Spanish and was an effort to get any help.   And no follow up from RCI.  Have no idea how other lines would stack up in these circumstances but I would hope their travelers are treated better.  That's all.

I first want to say that I’m sorry to read about your mom. I hope that she is doing as best as possible. It is unfortunate that you have to scramble now to get the paperwork for insurance, when your time really should be focusing on her. 
 

I have read other people’s experiences with the shore side assistance from RC and Princess and your experience was the polar opposite of theirs.  Helping them find a hotel, driving them there, leaving their cell number for a contact to call at any time as a few examples. Maybe the shore side agent’s role has changed over time but what you got is not what you needed, nor deserved.  
 

I have read the same experiences of health care in Mexico with funds up front etc and the fact that you didn’t feel comfortable in the neighbourhood didn’t help you.  That’s when a supportive shore side assistance would have really made your hard experience somewhat bearable. 
 

When the time is tight I think it wouldn’t hurt for you to contact RC HQ to share your experience with the lack of help from their agent in Mexico. I’d like to think that RC would want a representative who would leave their cruise guests with a feeling of relief during their medical stay not what you experienced.  At the same time of contact, you could find out if there is a way to get the medical information from the ship quicker. 
 

Most importantly, as you state, the need for medical insurance is key. If anyone ever questioned needing it hopefully they read your thread and hopefully it will change their mind.
 

I’m so sorry that your mom got sick.  I’m sending prayers to her and to your family as well.

[Billy Baltic]

Sorry to hear about your Mother’s illness. 
 

I sincerely hope the poster who reacted with laughter to the first post, did so by accident. If not, this place is getting worse by the day. 

[seeing the sights]

Sorry for this happening to you. One question did you buy the insurance from RCI or a 3nd party insurance?

[time4u2go]

52 minutes ago, Billy Baltic said:

Sorry to hear about your Mother’s illness. 
 

I sincerely hope the poster who reacted with laughter to the first post, did so by accident. If not, this place is getting worse by the day. 

I wondered about that also.  It was pretty harsh.

[Cruising89143]

3 hours ago, Billy Baltic said:

Sorry to hear about your Mother’s illness. 
 

I sincerely hope the poster who reacted with laughter to the first post, did so by accident. If not, this place is getting worse by the day. 

I had not noticed that but went back to look. Sad. Who could possibly find humor in any of this? 

[dliteu]

15 hours ago, soremekun said:

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's condition.  My condolences.

 

I'm not prying, no need to respond.  Were there any pre-existing conditions that exacerbated the Rhinovirus?

She was having a great time until she became ill, so I am going to say no

[dliteu]

15 hours ago, firstimer2009 said:

I’m so sorry that happened to you. I became very sick on a Med cruise in Oct 2019 and realized how vulnerable you can be on a ship.  
 

How did the hospital take payment? On a credit card?  Think of all the people that wouldn’t have money available

on their card.  

I honestly can't imagine what would have happened without credit cards.

[dliteu]

13 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

I first want to say that I’m sorry to read about your mom. I hope that she is doing as best as possible. It is unfortunate that you have to scramble now to get the paperwork for insurance, when your time really should be focusing on her. 
 

I have read other people’s experiences with the shore side assistance from RC and Princess and your experience was the polar opposite of theirs.  Helping them find a hotel, driving them there, leaving their cell number for a contact to call at any time as a few examples. Maybe the shore side agent’s role has changed over time but what you got is not what you needed, nor deserved.  
 

I have read the same experiences of health care in Mexico with funds up front etc and the fact that you didn’t feel comfortable in the neighbourhood didn’t help you.  That’s when a supportive shore side assistance would have really made your hard experience somewhat bearable. 
 

When the time is tight I think it wouldn’t hurt for you to contact RC HQ to share your experience with the lack of help from their agent in Mexico. I’d like to think that RC would want a representative who would leave their cruise guests with a feeling of relief during their medical stay not what you experienced.  At the same time of contact, you could find out if there is a way to get the medical information from the ship quicker. 
 

Most importantly, as you state, the need for medical insurance is key. If anyone ever questioned needing it hopefully they read your thread and hopefully it will change their mind.
 

I’m so sorry that your mom got sick.  I’m sending prayers to her and to your family as well.

Thank you

[silversneakers]

I am truly sorry this happened to you and your family.  I do know RCL has a care team and you might ask RCL if there was supposed to be someone assigned to you and your family to assist you through your process which I'm sure would have been a great relief to you and your family.

[dliteu]

15 hours ago, teddie said:

 

 I understand. I am hoping you contacted your insurance company directly while in Mexico and they provided the support and accommodations you required.  
 

Teddie

I did and they got us out of there the next day, and transported us to the Texas Medical Center.  No complaints what so ever about On-Call International.  From the phone staff to medics to the pilots.  A-1 First class. 

[TeeRick]

16 hours ago, soremekun said:

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's condition.  My condolences.

 

I'm not prying, no need to respond.  Were there any pre-existing conditions that exacerbated the Rhinovirus?

Interesting question.  A rhinovirus is the most prevalent of the viruses causing common cold.  Usually no severe symptoms at all requiring hospitalization (about 3% of total cases and those have underlying conditions).  Sorry it happened to dliteu's mom.

 

We always carry a GeoBlue Trekker annual medical policy renewable each year.

[BecciBoo]

Well at 74 your story did make me reconsider travel insurance and also that maybe our cruising days are almost over.  I got the RSV on Allure last September on our 5th day.  Made it home with no ship clinic visit (I thought it was allergies)  and then spent 4 months getting over it and the side effects.  That one is a doozie!   Pray your Mom overcomes Pneumonia or whatever she has, it can happen, it did to my MIL, she is still with us after her hospice in 2021.

[TeeRick]

50 minutes ago, BecciBoo said:

Well at 74 your story did make me reconsider travel insurance and also that maybe our cruising days are almost over.  I got the RSV on Allure last September on our 5th day.  Made it home with no ship clinic visit (I thought it was allergies)  and then spent 4 months getting over it and the side effects.  That one is a doozie!   Pray your Mom overcomes Pneumonia or whatever she has, it can happen, it did to my MIL, she is still with us after her hospice in 2021.

Did you get the new RSV vaccine this year?  

[BecciBoo]

Yep sure did back in October along with the newer Pneumonia plus regular flu.  I know these vaccines are iffy, but better have them than not.  I had all the Covid shots and never had it though my hubs and brother etc all had covid.

Edited February 20 by BecciBoo

[Oceansaway17]

I too am sorry to hear about illness.

but if the virus was caught on the ship, why would they charge you a lot of money.  I do not understand that portion.

[time4u2go]

1 hour ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I too am sorry to hear about illness.

but if the virus was caught on the ship, why would they charge you a lot of money.  I do not understand that portion.

There's no way of knowing where the virus was caught.