We were expelled from the "Enchantment of the Seas"

[jamedur]

On the occasion of my parent´s 45th wedding anniversary, fourteen members of my family, planned and organized during several months a Ship Cruise. But the whole trip ended up being a real disaster.
We were expelled from the "Enchantment of the Seas" of Royal Caribbean in Aruba on March 25th of 2009.
Only few hours after starting our cruise, one of my relatives, whith whom we shared our cabin, decided to consult the Cruise Medical Doctor because she had an estomach upset and indigestion. Without much investigation and to her great surprise, she was immediately diagnosed with a virus called Norovirus and ordered her to keep quarantine, return to her cabin and stay isolated there with the other persons with whom she shared the cabin even though they had not presented any symptoms of illnesss.
Unfortunately the Medical team of the Ship did not notify personally the rest of the occupants of the cabin the strict isolation measures and the serious consequences of not complying with them.
When, unaware of the terrible implications of not staying isolated in our room, we entered the Restaurant of the ship for dinner, we found that several members of the crew were waiting for us and disregarding the astonished look of the other guests of the restaurant, they virtually threw us away from the Dining Room.
Then, without giving us the time or chance of presenting our own version and explanations we were summoned to trial by the Cruise Authorities commitee: (Captain staff, Goran Peterson,) (Luis Acosta, Director of the Hotel) and (María Forero, Director of the Medical Center) They resembled more a Jury of the Inquisition than members of the crew of a recreational cruise.
Finally, after a long and tense day waiting for a reply we were forced to leave the ship in the most humiliating way. We had to pay our hotel in Aruba, all our expenses of transportation, etc and buy our own return tickets to home. We returned to our homes dissapointed and sad leaving our parents, brothers and the rest of our family in the Ship.
Thinking now with a cold mind, I ask my self the following questions:
Is it possible to diagnose that a patient suffers a viral illness (norovirus) without having the appropiate test equipment in the Ship?
Why the Medical staff of Royal Caribbean did not make a follow up of the state oh health of the person who was sick?
Why they expelled from the ship a person without being certain of her Health Condition.?
And left this person abandoned in a foreign land away from home, without knowing if she had enough means to cope with the situation?
Why the members of the crew did not notify the other occupants of the cabin personally of the quarantine instead of giving the sick pasenger a piece of paper without stressing its importance.?

CERTAINLY THIS IS THE MOST UNFORGETABLE HOLIDAY THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD

 

[Mbandy]

My girlfriend Susan was quarantined on a Carnival ship a while back. The ship's Dr knew full well that Susan's symptoms were thr side effects of antibiodics she was taking but she was quarantined anyway. I can appreciate your frustration. I was extremely angry about the whole thing. The interesting thing is that I was not quarantined. I could come and go as I pleased.

I feel your pain and I'm sorry you had a bad experience.

 

[Calgon1]

What a terrible thing to have happen. It certainly sounds as though there was a failure to fully communicate, and/or understand somewhere. Hopefully, your travel/cruise insurance covered your expenses ....

 

[lizzitish]

My parents had a little taste of this last month while cruising on the Jewel...apparently my mom forgot the pepto...had a small case of "the runs". Dad went down to the drs to ask if they had any to give her. Right then they quarantined mom for 3 days, and dad for 1. Mom was put on a bland diet, and dad could have anything he wanted as they had all meals delivered to the room....The funny thing that I thought of was that if they planned ahead and had brought the pepto, no one would have known thereby not getting quarantined. Mom/Dad did say that they were treated very well, and the dr. was very nice to both of them. Sorry to hear you had such a horrible time...

 

[Mbandy]

lizzitish's parents had the same situation as Susan. Forgot the immodium. There were some exceptions to our situations though. Susan was "locked up" before breakfast. When we called room service we were told no hot food would be delivered to the room. I was told by the Purser's Office that if I wanted hot food I would need to go to the buffet and fix Susan a plate myself. NOT!! Took me about two minutes to get to the hotel director's office. My voice carries too. By the time I was finished with him we were able to order anything we wanted from room service and were told the pay per view movies would be free for the duration (big deal).

It is nice that lizzitish's parents were treated well by the Dr. & staff. I can not say the same for the way we were treated. A simple "We're sorry for the inconvenience" would have gone a long way. I understand the reason for it since it is CDC regulations and the cruise line has no choice in the matter. However, a little sensitivity and consideration for the person(s) losing out on their vacation should be mandatory cruise line policy.

Bottom line, stay away from the ship's doctor for minor stomach distress and bring your own pepto, immodium, etc.

OK, off my =soapbox