My extended family of 6 (myself, my fiance, my mother, his mother, and my daughter and her fiance) embarked upon a week long Caribbean cruise - the vacation of a life time for most people. We arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, healthy, happy and excited from literally each coast of the U.S. and everywhere in between -- California, Utah, Illinois and Massachusetts. We boarded Carnival's Victory cruise ship on Easter Sunday after completing standard embarkation paperwork, including a new health waiver on which we noted we were all fever-flue-cough-cold-free.
Within two days of boarding the ship, my fiance's 78 year old mother fell ill with a respiratory illness. She was directed to the infirmary and given Theraflue. Two days later, my future son-in-law fell ill and was directed through the same process. Both recovered relatively quickly. On Thursday, April 28, I started to feel the effects of a sore throat and congestion, which have intensified rapidly to a severe viral infection that has continued despite disembarking the ship on May 1. The remaining 3 persons in our cruise party -- including my 68 year old mother -- have developed similar symptoms.
Thankfully, neither of the elderly mothers is as sick as I am. After two doctors visits, countless medications, and a week off work (in addition to the week off to cruise), I am still battling this illness -- the worst I've had in 30 years. Adenovirus 14 -- a well documented cruise ship respiratory virus -- is suspected. I have no voice, am battling a fever, and am praying this doesn't degrade into a bacterial infection or pnuemonia.
I failed to mention that mid-week during our cruise, I mentioned our illnesses to a cruise ship employee after we'd missed dining room dinners. The ship employee confided in me that the ship had an issue with a virus. "An issue with a virus..." Think about that for a minute. Completely undisclosed to patrons, but known to employees! Completely undisclosed to patrons despite requiring patrons to sign a waiver attesting to being cough-cold-flue-fever-free! Denied by Carnival Cruise Lines Customer Care representatives during a conversation this afternoon. A potentially life threatening illness for the infirm or elderly, known by Carnival but not disclosed to patrons.
So what else did Carnival do when I called to report my concerns and request minor renumeration?
1. Deny all knowledge of a ship bourne illness
2. Imply that the illness was coincidentally contracted by all 6 of us during transit from our 4 coast to coast locations
3. Imply that all six of us may have falsified our health document
4. Blindly and unreasonably stand by it's policy regarding ship bourne illnesses.
A quick check of the CDC's website implies that the virus was likely contracted and incubated on the ship, despite denial by Carnival. A quick sanity check of the circumstances surrounding our arrivals and illnesses confirms that we likely contracted the illness on board and fell one by one to its symptoms.
All this after I have loyally cruised only Carnival on a dozen voyages in the past decade and taken or referred over 20 new Carnival guests with me during my island adventures??? What a disgrace to Carnival, it's reputation and to the industry! What an insult to a loyal, frequent cruiser! What immoral and unethical treatment of patrons! I shiver to think what would have happened had one of the elderly "grannies" fallen as ill as I am this week. Hospitalization for sure if not a funeral.
I may never cruise again after this week's experiences and my disappointing response from Carnival representatives. Maybe it's just as well considering we will all likely survive our illness - why risk it again with an unscrupulous cruise provider. But what I would be interested in is whether a local network would be interested in covering this story and putting a little heat on Carnival. Again, my experience appear to have bordered on unethical treatment and misrepresentation by Carnival. I'd make a great interview subject - no voice, fever, mucus running from my nose and eyes watering. My travel family would further enhance the aesthetic value.
Thank you.
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