Family Kicked Off Cruise Because Child Was Sick

[a christian]

How could they treat human like that. They act like they were dogs. This family should get all the money back concerning this cruise. They should sue them for more.

[Have Mercy]

I hate that this happened to them but as heartless as it seems, they had to look out for the greater good. They didn't know until after the ship had left that the child wasn't contagious. How many horror stories have we heard about a virus spreading like wildfire through a cruise ship? They have to look out for the greater good. This is just a sad situation all around.

But had they let her stay on the ship and she was contagious and the whole ship got sick, people would have been angry and wanting to sue because they didn't kick the one who started it all off the ship.

[may b]

i feel so sad 4 the lil baby baby this is my word 2 u hold on u can make it and the family of the baby dont give up keep on trying to get the money god will give yell a blesing to get the money back stay strong

[saint louis_911]

Dehydration in not contagious.

[nunya23]

saint louis_911 wrote:

Dehydration in not contagious.

That's what I was thinking, did they kick them off because of their concern with getting the child to a hospital because if they believe the child was dehydrated, she would not have been kicked off just for that unless worried about what caused the dehydration. A virus of some sort. Really though, this is sad what happened to the family but it is very important, especially if you have kids to purchase any necessary insurance before traveling. Anything can happen. But if this happened, then I am definetly not going on my cruise this Summer!

[Gloria James]

Sorry about your trip, but that was BAD
planning from the beginning. Why in the world would you take a 7 month old baby on a cruise where you are going to expose the baby to hundred of other people and their germs. That was a bad decision that the mother made.

[Jack]

Why doesn't the media actually print/report on the full story? Instead of just giving the "poor victim"'s version?

The cruise company went above and beyond what they were required to do. Who's fault is it that the family didn't have passports? The family's. Who's fault is it that the family didn't want to spend the money on travel insurance? The family's. Who's fault is it that the family apparently cared more about their trip than their child's welfare? The family's.

Oh yea, POOOR family.

[Quid Pro Quo]

Gloria James wrote:

Sorry about your trip, but that was BAD
planning from the beginning. Why in the world would you take a 7 month old baby on a cruise where you are going to expose the baby to hundred of other people and their germs. That was a bad decision that the mother made.

I agree I wouldn't have taken a baby on a trip like that either. but, they didn't deserve the treatment they got.

About the trip insurance, isn't that for like if your luggage is lost, how would it have protected them in this case?

[Jack]

Quid Pro Quo wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree I wouldn't have taken a baby on a trip like that either. but, they didn't deserve the treatment they got.
About the trip insurance, isn't that for like if your luggage is lost, how would it have protected them in this case?

Most travel insurance covers medical evacuations--via a helicopter--from a ship. It also help cover medical costs wherever you're located--whether that be in Miami or in Barbados...

[Confused]

Thats great if Royal Caribbean was concerned about the other passengers but you don't throw a family off of your cruise ship at 11PM with a small child and leave them stranded in another country. I believe the cruise line should pay Mr. Cortez for all of his expenses. If I was Mr. Cortez I would already have a lawyer lined up. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines can forget me ever booking a vacation with them.

[walmartisnasty]

i worked for royal caribbean and on ships for 2 years. i was on several ships new and old-some right out of the shipyard. and i know first hand some of the most disgusting stuff that goes on below decks and ect. i have seen food carts picked at by crew members with dirty hands as they head to the big buffets, i have seen food carts roll thru overflowing toilet water on the ground and i know the doctors are pretty halfassed in their abilities and attitude. cruise ships have mandatory safety drills and i can't remember ever seeing all the positions manned when i did it--and the turnover rate is so high that the group for certain emergency stations never know exactly what to do as a team. plus most of them don't speak any english -which is by law required. there are so many crew members from sketchy backgrounds all over the world that it is no wonder a few people have gone missing. no back ground checks. security was always pretty much a joke and the entertainment is lame. i should know i helped run the shows. wish i had a video camera then to document this stuff.

[Jack]

Okay, since some are only believing what the media says, here's the other side of the story:

Royal Caribbean International released the following statement:

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.

[Sasha]

What a shame! I am shock to hear of the mistreatment from Royal Carribean cruise line. I am planning a family cruise and they were #1 on my list. But now I am truly reconsidering.

They may need to hire another doctor for their cruise ship.

[JKI]

i have a family of six and we are planning a trip with this same company in two weeks and i have four kids and none under 3 but i tell u if i go and they kick my ass off they will never hear the end of this .. i will have that cruise line as my own... they better think again

[linda]

They should be given all there money back ,Insurance or no Insurance. They had a raw deal.

[Dianne]

JAY wrote:

I dont beleive a word of this....absolutely more to this story!!

I think there is more to this story too.

[Dianne]

Jack wrote:

Okay, since some are only believing what the media says, here's the other side of the story:
Royal Caribbean International released the following statement:
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.

This sounds more like the truth to me.

[Mary]

If you had been on this ship, and contracted the Norwalk virus from this child, methinks you'd be singing a different tune.

And stop shouting. We can hear you just fine.

WOW wrote:

THIS IS JUST CRAZY!! A COLD A DANG COLD. LIKE SOMEONE SAID WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR WAS THAT!?! I HOPE THEY ARE CONTACTING A LAWYER.THE LEAST THEY SHOULD GET IS A REFUND D@MN THE CRUISE, THEY CAN GO ON A DIFF. ONE

[wickedwitch]

Jack wrote:

Okay, since some are only believing what the media says, here's the other side of the story:
Royal Caribbean International released the following statement:
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.

thanks...now this sounds more like what actually might have happened.

[wickedwitch]

maybe the cruise line should sue the cortes family for slander or libel....