Sick Child-Familythrown off ship (merged)

[floridacruiser63]

Sad story, however the did not purchase insurance, no claim there.:confused:

[floridacruiser63]

Has anyone read this article yet

 

Family Says Cruise Ship Kicked Them Off Boat Because Child Was Sick

 

 

http://www.wftv.com/news/15998021/detail.html

 

 

 

 

I love RCCL but if this happened as the family told it... that's not good:mad:

 

CuriousCat

 

Yes, there is another thread posted.

 

There is always two sides to the same story, we are only reading one.:confused:

[RaftingBear]

I did have trip insurance for our January cruise on RCI's Monarch of the Seas. My partner became ill and ran up a $900+ medical bill. We have no complaint about the medical care; it was excellent. But I was billed for the medical costs upon leaving the ship, and I haven't gotten a penny from the insurance people yet.

 

My bet is, all you people chortling about how foolish the Corteses were in not buying trip insurance, have never actually tried to collect on yours

 

And for the guy who recommends always buying extended warranties: They don't pay off either. The fine print always excludes the things their research shows is mostly likely to go wrong.

[crusinmama06]

I did have trip insurance for our January cruise on RCI's Monarch of the Seas. My partner became ill and ran up a $900+ medical bill. We have no complaint about the medical care; it was excellent. But I was billed for the medical costs upon leaving the ship, and I haven't gotten a penny from the insurance people yet.

 

My bet is, all you people chortling about how foolish the Corteses were in not buying trip insurance, have never actually tried to collect on yours

 

And for the guy who recommends always buying extended warranties: They don't pay off either. The fine print always excludes the things their research shows is mostly likely to go wrong.

 

Read my post above, it took 3 years but we were able to collect. Hang in there

[cruiserbryce]

while that isnt an experience I would wish on anyone...typically when a story comes out in this manner there is usually more to know...and OP...why would this famail'y experience deter YOU from ever cruising with RC again?

[AmyGarner]

I did have trip insurance for our January cruise on RCI's Monarch of the Seas. My partner became ill and ran up a $900+ medical bill. We have no complaint about the medical care; it was excellent. But I was billed for the medical costs upon leaving the ship, and I haven't gotten a penny from the insurance people yet.

 

My bet is, all you people chortling about how foolish the Corteses were in not buying trip insurance, have never actually tried to collect on yours

 

And for the guy who recommends always buying extended warranties: They don't pay off either. The fine print always excludes the things their research shows is mostly likely to go wrong.

 

I think what most people were referring to when saying they should have had trip insurance (at least what I was referring to) was for them to be able to get home once the baby was discharged from the hospital.

 

I understand your frustration with getting reimbursed for your partner's medical bill, but it is like that with any insurance company. Filing a claim through health insurance (or even trying to to get them to pay for things that are covered) is always an ordeal. Hang in there, it will get taken care of.

[NiniB]

I agree with some of the other posters about not bringing babies that young onboard.. I would never have brought my daughter when she was a baby.. toooo many things can go wrong.. just imagine if the ship was on a sea day when that baby got ill... :eek:

[abridalmaven]

Again news reporters and NOT looking for the truth.I was just contacted by one, who asked me about a current issue. When I did not give him the answer he was asking for, he said, no I am just looking for people who have XXX response. He even asked me to come to CC and ask for only people who felt the opposite of what I did. Like I am going to do that RIGGGHT!

I may be outspoken, but I do not like to lie or promote anyone who does!

[wrp96]

My bet is, all you people chortling about how foolish the Corteses were in not buying trip insurance, have never actually tried to collect on yours

 

Actually I have collected on my travel insurance - multiple times.

[Janet524]

The reporter forgot to also mention that:

 

It clearly states in bold letters on RC's website that a valid passport is required for air travel to/from Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and Bermuda.

 

If something happens (you miss the ship, have to go the hospital etc) and have to fly out from one of these countries, then you will need a passport.

 

It also states that it is the sole responsibility of the guest to have these documents available, that RC strongly recommends that guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise, and that no refunds will be given for guests who fail to bring such items.

 

Wow...The responsibility of the guest to be, well - RESPONSIBLE - for him or herself! What a concept!!!

[hoop4321]

it was stated earlier that maybe a language barrier....i doubt it because they always do the annoucements in multiple languages. I am sure they would have someone translate. Each time a stupid person gets a free cruise, it makes my vacation pricier. It's Ok I guess as long as they get theirs:mad:

[2new2cruise2]

A 7 month old will deteriorate extremely quickly if unwell with stomach upset, they can easily die without appropriate treatment. A ship is very limited as to what it can do for a baby that young if it gets dehydrated or goes into convulsions (which can happen when a baby is dehydrated through that sort of illness). The ship did the right thing. The fact is that the family should have had insurance and passports, had they had them, there would not have been any problem with repatriation.

 

I think you would find the complaint somewhat different had the child remained on board, not got any better and had died as a result of severe dehydration.

 

The ship's doctor most definately acted correctly. This is why cruise lines stipulate that children under 6 months old are not permitted to cruise. Losing that much fluid in a short time can and does kill.

 

 

TOTALLY AGREE!!

[bplazo]

We have collected several times from our travel insurance, however, we did have to be persistant.

[alwayshappytocruise]

We have collected several times from our travel insurance, however, we did have to be persistant.

 

Several times.....do you care to elaborate?

[mohavemommy]

A 7 month old will deteriorate extremely quickly if unwell with stomach upset, they can easily die without appropriate treatment. A ship is very limited as to what it can do for a baby that young if it gets dehydrated or goes into convulsions (which can happen when a baby is dehydrated through that sort of illness). The ship did the right thing. The fact is that the family should have had insurance and passports, had they had them, there would not have been any problem with repatriation.

 

I think you would find the complaint somewhat different had the child remained on board, not got any better and had died as a result of severe dehydration.

 

The ship's doctor most definately acted correctly. This is why cruise lines stipulate that children under 6 months old are not permitted to cruise. Losing that much fluid in a short time can and does kill.

They carried this story on my local evening news. It is just plain and simple. Nobody who had vomiting and diarrhea has just a "cold". :rolleyes: I wish people would stop listening to the drama and realize that. What the ship doctor did may have saved that child's life. The cruiseline is not in business to throw people off a ship, they are there to make money.

[ehfl]

It sounds like RCL handled the situation well from their end. The parents did not seem prepared. They didn't have passports. They didn't have insurance. They did not know how to take care of a child with a cold.

[land lover]

Actually I have collected on my travel insurance - multiple times.

My sister had fast service.

 

Alot has to do if you purchased primary or secondary insurance when it comes to the medical.....

 

My sister had primary coverage and was reimpursed quicky after emailing the info, her's just involved a 1600. dollar bill for strept throat through the ships Doctor, though.

[Goldryder]

RCI have made a statement about this incident...

 

While Royal Caribbean strives to provide all guests with exceptional vacations, our first priority is always the health and well-being of those on our ships.

 

At 7:30 p.m., April 22, the parents of seven-month-old Zoe Cortes telephoned the Guest Relations Desk onboard Majesty of the Seas, to ask about bringing their daughter to the ship’s Medical Facility, because of their concerns regarding her health. The parents were urged to bring Zoe to the Medical Facility as soon as possible.

 

At 11:20 p.m. that evening, the parents brought the infant to the Medical Facility. Upon examining Zoe, the onboard medical team learned she was experiencing diarrhea and vomiting. Because of this, and her young age, the onboard medical team was concerned she might also be experiencing some level of dehydration. Again, because of her young age, the onboard medical team felt strongly that Zoe needed an additional medical evaluation by a pediatrician at a land-based hospital. The parents were also told that the ship would be at the company’s private island in the Bahamas the next day, where there is no land-based hospital. All of these issues were explained to Zoe’s parents, who agreed to her departure from the ship.

 

At approximately 11:45 p.m., an ambulance was ordered to take Zoe to Doctor’s Hospital in Nassau, where the ship was docked at that time. Because the ship was scheduled to depart Nassau shortly thereafter, the ship’s staff offered to assist Zoe’s parents if one of them would like to remain onboard and care for their two other children, while the other parent escorted Zoe to the hospital. The parents declined that offer and decided the entire family would escort Zoe to the hospital. The ship’s staff then asked the family to gather their belongings to go ashore.

 

Royal Caribbean assigned a Guest Care specialist to contact the Cortes family in Nassau, to offer support and assistance, which included complimentary hotel accommodations in Nassau. The parents were also instructed to contact Royal Caribbean’s Corporate Guest Relations staff to coordinate a resolution to the unused portion of their cruise.

 

Prior to going to the media on April 25, Mr. and Mrs. Cortes had not contacted the company’s Corporate Guest Relations staff. Instead, that day, the Guest Relations staff pro-actively contacted Mr. and Mrs. Cortes to explain the details of the credit they were to receive for the unused portion of their cruise.

 

Despite the company’s strong disagreement with the manner in which the Cortes family's situation has been recounted in the media, as a gesture of good will, Royal Caribbean is providing the Cortes family with a refund of its cruise fare and reimbursement for its flights home.

 

Unfortunately, on October 27, 2007, while booking their cruise, the Cortes family declined to purchase travel insurance, which would have compensated them for expenses related to this matter. Similarly, Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all of its guests travel with passports.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352991,00.html

 

Pretty much says it all. The family had no passports, no insurance, declined to offers given to them regarding the child's health concerns early evening...RCI organised a package of assistance and the family has basically thrown it back at RCI.

[Goldryder]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352991,00.html

 

Statement from RCI....and I know which one I believe, and it isn't the family's version.

[cruisecrasy]

Sounds like to me anyway, there will be a lawsuit comin' after its 'tossed' about in the public forum - :(

[Merion_Mom]

RCI have made a statement about this incident...

 

While Royal Caribbean strives to provide all guests with exceptional vacations, our first priority is always the health and well-being of those on our ships.

 

At 7:30 p.m., April 22, the parents of seven-month-old Zoe Cortes telephoned the Guest Relations Desk onboard Majesty of the Seas, to ask about bringing their daughter to the ship’s Medical Facility, because of their concerns regarding her health. The parents were urged to bring Zoe to the Medical Facility as soon as possible.

 

At 11:20 p.m. that evening, the parents brought the infant to the Medical Facility. Upon examining Zoe, the onboard medical team learned she was experiencing diarrhea and vomiting. Because of this, and her young age, the onboard medical team was concerned she might also be experiencing some level of dehydration. Again, because of her young age, the onboard medical team felt strongly that Zoe needed an additional medical evaluation by a pediatrician at a land-based hospital. The parents were also told that the ship would be at the company’s private island in the Bahamas the next day, where there is no land-based hospital. All of these issues were explained to Zoe’s parents, who agreed to her departure from the ship.

 

At approximately 11:45 p.m., an ambulance was ordered to take Zoe to Doctor’s Hospital in Nassau, where the ship was docked at that time. Because the ship was scheduled to depart Nassau shortly thereafter, the ship’s staff offered to assist Zoe’s parents if one of them would like to remain onboard and care for their two other children, while the other parent escorted Zoe to the hospital. The parents declined that offer and decided the entire family would escort Zoe to the hospital. The ship’s staff then asked the family to gather their belongings to go ashore.

 

Royal Caribbean assigned a Guest Care specialist to contact the Cortes family in Nassau, to offer support and assistance, which included complimentary hotel accommodations in Nassau. The parents were also instructed to contact Royal Caribbean’s Corporate Guest Relations staff to coordinate a resolution to the unused portion of their cruise.

 

Prior to going to the media on April 25, Mr. and Mrs. Cortes had not contacted the company’s Corporate Guest Relations staff. Instead, that day, the Guest Relations staff pro-actively contacted Mr. and Mrs. Cortes to explain the details of the credit they were to receive for the unused portion of their cruise.

 

Despite the company’s strong disagreement with the manner in which the Cortes family's situation has been recounted in the media, as a gesture of good will, Royal Caribbean is providing the Cortes family with a refund of its cruise fare and reimbursement for its flights home.

 

Unfortunately, on October 27, 2007, while booking their cruise, the Cortes family declined to purchase travel insurance, which would have compensated them for expenses related to this matter. Similarly, Royal Caribbean strongly recommends that all of its guests travel with passports.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352991,00.html

 

Pretty much says it all. The family had no passports, no insurance, declined to offers given to them regarding the child's health concerns early evening...RCI organised a package of assistance and the family has basically thrown it back at RCI.

 

IF this account is completely accurate, as a stockholder in RCL, I am UNHAPPY that the company is paying for their airfare home! It obviously is too late as a PR move, since the &$%# passengers have already gone to the media, and it's contrary to good business practices!

 

:mad:

[beachchick]

Actually I have collected on my travel insurance - multiple times.

 

As have we and as has my mother.

 

beachchick

[H82seaUgo]

Too bad RCI buckled. It seemed they did everything right, yet still had to pay out.

 

:rolleyes:

 

The Cortes did everything wrong, yet got rewarded.

[luvscruising2007]

I am really glad to read the RCL version of the story. Perhaps now everyone will agree that the Cortes family presented a biased side of the story. RCL even paid their airfare. They waited 4 hours to take their child to the doctor. The RCL physician definitely made the correct decision.:o

[Aquahound]

The article posted by the Op states the family was on a 5 night cruise on the Majesty. Considering the Majesty does not do 5 nighters, I wonder what else the story got wrong. :rolleyes: