Princess debarkation policies for people in isolation are unacceptable! Shame on you, Princess!

[mbglib]

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.

[mbglib]

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.

[mbglib]

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.  

[mbglib]

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.

[mbglib]

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.

[mbglib]

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.  

[SCX22]

3 minutes ago, mbglib said:

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.  

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

The title says “shame on you, Princess.”  Don’t really see what the shame is for.

Edited February 21 by SCX22

[mbglib]

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.

[mbglib]

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.

[mbglib]

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.

[mbglib]

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?

[jagoffee]

4 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I am 99% certain they had not booked a PCL transfer.

Let us make it 100% as she indicated on her initial post.

 

It was an emotional time for them and it may have been hard to think logical.  
 

 

Edited February 21 by jagoffee

[Host CJSKIDS]

1 hour ago, mbglib said:

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?

Happy to hear that you are doing well and hope your husband gets rid of his kidney stones quickly as I know they are so painful.  

 

Thank you for sharing your experience and hope Princess offers you an apology for how you were handled. 

 

I'll go ahead and close the post.