One More Thread About The Sick Ship

[FinelyCruising]

....ahhh....I still need to get a handle on what happened with this group...I know the CDC boarded that sailing in PV and the number of cases was much less than the cruise even before that one, but I don't know for certain if the ship was undergoing the sanitization efforts on the 3/17 sailing as they were on the 3/27.

 

I am not quite sure what really happened on this sailing beyond people getting sick. Not to minimize people getting sick or being cavilier, I surely feel for those who did, it was my biggest fear getting on our sailing. I was happier to be surrounded by the bleach knowing that everying that could be done was being done.

 

I do think that those who were sick on the 3/17 ought to have been compensated by the cruiseline, without an insurance ordeal, and for the length of time they were confined. I think that is fair and reasonable to them and speaks volumes to goodwill. I am not sure if it was until our sailing the the cruiseline really caught up with itself in what it needed to do to combat this virus.

 

The 4th cycle of cruisers are onboard now. I hope they are all doing well. Three groups and a whole bunch of ships personnel and mexican locals have pioneered the best for them, for them to have a better experience than the three groups that preceeded them.

[SandyMc]

FinelyCruising - You're kidding, right? After all that has been written about illness on the Mercury, you really don't know that the March 17 cruise was where all the bleaching, staining, closing facilities and stonewalling information started? At least the March 27 cruisers were told about the "sanitizing" before boarding - they never felt compelled to tell us one thing!

 

I'm sorry and I don't mean to be rude but everyone has had an opinion on whether or not people "deserve" compensation and I respect that but - I also assume they have read all the posts about a subject before deciding the merits of the argument.

[cml3]

SandyMc

AS A FELLOW 3/17 PASSENGER I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK ONCE WE GOT OFF--(OR I SHOULD SAY THEY PUSHED US OFF) IT WAS "SEE YOU LATER".

MY TA SAID EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SENT IN A LETTER (CERTIFIED).

SHE ALSO STATED THEY SOMETIMES TAKE 4-6 WEEKS TO RESPOND.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GIVE UP!!!!!

 

BTW--WE NEED TO IGNORE SOME PEOPLES ATTITUDE. THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE "CELEBRITY BLEACHING EXPERIENCE"!!!!!!!!!

[FinelyCruising]

SandyMc - You are too funny! Nope not kidding....I am certain from speaking with the staff that there was a distinct different between what happened on 3/17 and what happened on 3/27.

 

Frankly, I am not sure if based on timing it was possible for the cruiseline to asses what was occuring on 3/17 since the CDC still had still not been able to confirm it was Noro when you had boarded, and I think I have that timeline correct.

 

The CDC came on board fairly late during your sailing to ensure the efforts were all pointed in the right direction, and once again, I have a sense that you may have seen things very similar to what the 3/27 group saw, but I am not sure if it was for the entire cruise. There were some posting from your sailing, and I did not get the sense from the posts that it was horriffic, just that there were people getting sick....

 

The 3/27 cruisers were told about the sanitzing prior to boarding, but I am certain that unless I had already been through it first-hand, I would not have had the faintest idea of what I was about to see.

[cml3]

I Don't Want To Answer For Sandymc But I Was Also On This Cruise.

The Cdc Came Out With There Report On 3/17. They Were Called For The Previous Cruise. (because Of The # Of Pass. Sick) So It All Started On Our Cruise. We Had Many Things Cancelled And Lots Of Bleach.

The Officials And Extra Help Came On Our Cruise Because There Were Still A Lot Of People Getting The Virus.

[cml3]

Ooops And I Forgot To Mention--they Knew And They Never Told Us!!!!

[rubrrick]

Rick, I chose not to go into the health problems for a few reasons. I would probably get things like 'you know you have asthma, don't blame it on X', 'I don't have breathing problems so it's wouldn't affect me' and 'so I guess you are going to sue?'.

 

Let's face it, these boards, lately, have not been known to be terribly sympathetic or empathetic towards ANYONE disparaging X. They will flame you in a heartbeat and, in fact, toasted me pretty well for what I had to say when I posted from the ship.

 

Food is something EVERYONE who cruises understands. It's a major attraction. Everyone talks, about it, critiques it, applauds it and denigrates it. I thought it was something everyone could imagine as a real down side to a cruise.

 

Gail...........I have not taken any side to this issue, as I was not on the 3/17 or 3/27 cruise. However, I have followed you for sometime, we have bantered back and forth on occasion, and I was just checking on you to make sure that you are OK. That's why I brought up health.

 

Unlike some, I don't expect you to sue them......you are a loyal and avid X customer. I think that Celebrity let you and everyone on your cruise down by not doing an effective job of communications. That, above anything else would anger me.

 

I am following this story to see what the conclusion will be, especially with the passengers that sailed on 3/17. If I understand you correctly, Gail, you will be receiving a 25% discount on the 3/27 cruise and an additional 25% cruise credit towards a future cruise, which some will use and others will not. Do you think that this is adequate compensation?

 

Rick

[FinelyCruising]

cml3 - Yes people were still getting sick on the 3/27 cruise too. They have to report these illnesses. One question...when the bleaching started on your cruise, were there no notes, no comments in the dailes about virus transmission or handwashing or GI issues?

[cml3]

Finelycruisung,

 

I Think We Are Talking On 2 Diff. Threads.

I Posted To The Other One About The Cdc Reporting On 3/17 About The Prvious Cruise. They Knew They Had To Start All The Cleaning And We Were Not Given The Option To Cancel. We Were Even Lied To Us At The Pier When We Asked If There Were Sick Pass. On The Previous Cruise. A Couple Of Days Into The Cruise They Started To Leave The Notes About Washing. I Asked On The Other Thread If You Were On One These Sailings--i Guess You Got On After Us.

From All Accounts I Have Read We Went Through The Same Thing You Did.

[Texasannie]

Not being familiar enough with these boards, I thought I could go back and pull up prior posts, but I guess they disappear after so many days. Believe me, the 3-17 cruise was just as saturated with bleach as the 3-27 cruise. The walls, the mirrors, the handrails, the elevators, the chairs, the bars, the handles to the cabins, and on and on. Many of us had ruined clothing. When I went to guest services to file a claim on a dress ruined by the wet bleach on the casino bar I was met with nothing but a blank stare. No apology, no explanation of what was going on, not even a shred of courtesy. Obviously, the crew had been told not to discuss the virus with the passengers.

 

The virus is not what ruined our cruise. It was the lack of management's ability to keep the passengers up to date and fully aware of what was going on. Had they met with us and asked for our assistance in controlling this virus, they would have made us part of the solution. Instead, we were treated indifferently and splashed with bleach all over the ship. Somehow it all became OUR problem, not their's. Rumors were rampant and I heard there were lines and lines at the infirmary. Many passengers were quarantined, but of course we had no idea how many because no one would talk to us about it. We were treated like cattle at the buffet when the dining room was closed. Surly and unhelpful crew there. I'm sure they were exhausted.

 

The soaking of everything with bleach was barely tolerable. I don't believe it was CDC protocol for them to do this. Look at the HAL boards. It took a week for my sense of smell to come back. I felt like all the hairs in my nose had been burned off. Ha! Kind of funny. But not.

 

All in all, it certainly did not make us feel "famous" in any way. Compared to cruises we have been on in the past, this was the pits. Not what we paid thousands of dollars for.

[cml3]

Texasannie,

 

Ditto!!!!!

[tuggers]

Be sure and send all snail mail letters certified, return receipt. And faxing, unless you had Hanrahans fax number is just going to go into Customer Service and probably wind up in someone's trash can. Sorry but I think that is the reality.

Did you get a read receipt for your email? They are such a nice thing to have. Then you can say ' To follow up on my original email which you received and read on such and such a date'. I like that.

FinelyCruising, I just really guess I don't get where you are coming from. It seems that you have been against everyone that has posted trying to explain how the cruise really was. You've been on every thread, nay saying and pooh poohing. I get the feeling you think if you make us explain it to you enough, we'll change our 'story', admit we were wrong and thank X for letting us take this cruise. If I am getting the wrong idea, then I apologize. JMO.

[Cindy G]

Referring back to page 1 of this thread.....I was on the 3-27-06 cruise. Yes, we were very lucky to have Gail on this cruise. There were several "key people" voicing complaints.

 

Gail, please accept my public "thank you."

[tuggers]

Thank you, Cindy, what a nice thing to say.

I do have to add that you were right in there sticking up for everyone yourself!

Great cruising with you again. Have you thought about the Z repo in Oct? Lots of fun!

[elsje]

Gail...........I have not taken any side to this issue, as I was not on the 3/17 or 3/27 cruise. However, I have followed you for sometime, we have bantered back and forth on occasion, and I was just checking on you to make sure that you are OK. That's why I brought up health.

 

Unlike some, I don't expect you to sue them......you are a loyal and avid X customer. I think that Celebrity let you and everyone on your cruise down by not doing an effective job of communications. That, above anything else would anger me.

 

I am following this story to see what the conclusion will be, especially with the passengers that sailed on 3/17. If I understand you correctly, Gail, you will be receiving a 25% discount on the 3/27 cruise and an additional 25% cruise credit towards a future cruise, which some will use and others will not. Do you think that this is adequate compensation?

 

Rick

 

Hey Rick..I do not mean to "butt in" but I am on the Trans Atlantic cruise and today I saw my family doctor and I mentioned what had been going on with the bleaching stuff on the Mercury. She told me there was no way I should be on any ship with that much bleaching going on. I sleep at night with an oxygen concentrator, but she said any healthy people should not be exposed to that much bleach fumes. think about all the people in inside cabins. Where do those fumes go. According to a lot of threads there was an enormous amount of bleach used. People complained about the smell, which my PCP said is not good to inhale for an extended perios of time whether you are healthy or not.

 

I am not blaming Celebrity or anyone for the Noro virus, but I do not understand the CDC in this matter. On their web-site they state that a cruise line can not get rid of the Noro virus when they only have 4 to 5 hours to spare to clean between disembarkation and embarkation. So to me it seems logical that the CDC mandates that Celebrity or any other cruise line needs to take their time to scrub the cruise ship down. If that means a day delay..so be it.

 

I also think we should have camera's in certain areas and fine the folks who do not wash their hands//just kidding..but hygiene is a major part with this noro virus.

 

Anyway..I feel for everyone involved..and I am glad I am not one of the crew members who had to bleach the whole time.

 

Good luck to all ~ Els

[FinelyCruising]

Gail -

 

I am not one who is easily led by others. I am also not an advocate, but I am one who formulates my own thoughts and am generally true to them. In many instances I am able to do so without bullying anyone, or suggesting they are being unfair, or purusading them that they are doing something contrary to humanistic moral values.

 

I am however growing concerned about the projections that come forth sporatically that appear to me to be more pent-up frustration taken out on those who simply had a better time than you because we (ie, my husband and myself) or some others who were on this cruise ended up having a few laughs and a few good times in spite of the bleach and the virus.

 

As someone once said, and I have no idea who really started this rumor other than my parents ....Life is what you make it. I make mine good no matter what.

[tuggers]

And as I have stated over and over:

I had some good times!!!

It just wasn't a Celebrity cruise and I think they handled things very poorly.

I had a great dinner table, the ports were great, I met some nice people and had some laughs. It was just a cruise where you had to work harder to have a good time. You had to make your jokes between the eye burning and coughing. I don't think that's the way it should be. I KNOW that's not the way it should be.

I have no qualms with your forming your own opinions. I just felt that we were all being asked to explain the same things over and over, by you. Like what we said could not possibly have value.

If I have the wrong idea, I am sorry. It's just how it seems to me.

[tuggers]

Els, the compensation is 25% of the actual cruise cost on the 3/27 one (less port fees, taxes and POSSIBLY on board credits). Whatever that dollar amount is you will be able to take it off of a cruise boarded before May 2007. So it is not 25% off the PRICE of a future cruise.

Accountability would swing more weight with me.

[FinelyCruising]

Gail --

 

It is not they way it 'should' be , but the way it was. I have had much better cruises as I am sure you have had as well. It was unusual, unique and unexpected. (Fact is I am a lover of those who overcome obstacles...you have me pegged!)

 

And I saw you on the beach in Zihua...I know the water was calm and suprisingly warm...I know the sun was out that day...I know you had to have had a good time....

 

I saw you!

 

;)

[tuggers]

the ports were great

 

I believe I said that!

[edieredmann]

Gail, I just wanted to thank you for all of your posts and valued information you have given me. You were one of the first ones to welcome me, on another board, to cruising. You provided me with lots of tips and info for our upcoming cruise, on the Mercury, on the 17th. You also took the time, while on your cruise, to give updates. Thanks again, and I hope your future cruises go much smoother for you!:)

 

" Life's a journey, not a destination"

[WillK]

Gail- I admire you're equanimity! You have what I believe they call, "the patience of Job".;)

[edieredmann]

Did you just quote yourself? :D

 

Maybe you want to expand on some of the HIGHLIGHTS then???

 

Wish I could claim it , but it's an anomynous one I learned somewhere in my years of working in education, and I identify with it.:)

[tuggers]

edieredmann, Thanks and glad I could be of help. I wish you smooth and bleach-less sailing!:D

Willk, no good deed goes unpunished, as they say!:)

[C 2 C]

The thing that bothers me the most:

 

Reading these posts about Celebrity while this blue ribbon add to the right of this page reads:

 

Ahhh, the Celebrity Treatment. How will it affect you?

 

I feel so badly for the people ignored by Celebrity during March 2006 because it is the same that Celebrity did wrong last Feb-March 2005 on Zenith. This management team has learned nothing and unless enough people get on their case they will treat the next Noro visit the same way. I had the misfortune to be on two sick ships last year, Zenith in March, Veendam in January. I respect HAL much better than Celebrity as a result of our experience even though I continue cruising on Celebrity. I now value Celebrity's attitude towards its most faithful customers the same way I feel about Celebrity. Your reputaion is only as good as my last experience. If someone else offers me a good deal I'll remember how X treated me when I tried to communicate with X.. It's only the excellence of the crew that keeps me interested in the X experience. It's not the loyalty program, it's no longer the food, it's certainly not the management.