more than 200 Regata guests stranded on Christmas Island

[spunky123]

NV GAL:

 

I think a luxury line such as O could have done much better. Things that could have been done:

 

1) Officers who arrived on Christmas Island could have worked with local authority to allow those waiting to have shelter in one of the nearby cement buildings.

 

2) O could have set up a medical stand or an area where anyone who needed medical support could go. The ship has a nurse and a doctor and first aide supplies. The doctor probably needed to stay on board for the other guests but with at least 30% of their passengers stranded in the tropical sun maybe they could have spared the nurse. Since O sent out fruit plates, water and sandwhiches they could have sent out zinc oxide and other medical supplies - sun screen (I am not in the medical field so I may be leaving off something off but that could have at least set up a medical area. Anyone with health concerns should have been tendered back first. Setting up a medical area would have helped identify those in need.

 

3) Christmas Island had a bus that took people on a tour of the island to a "hotel" that I did not see as I did not go on the tour. I heard it was primitive but it did offer shelter from the sun. Possibly the officers could have arranged to offer passengers who wanted shelter a bus ride to the hotel. Maybe there would have been somewhere to sit.

 

4) When people were waiting in line for the tender service they should have given out return tickets but instead they disbanded people and then later handed out tender tickets in an unorganized fashion. Before disbanding people they could have given them the numbers so they would have in mind who had been waiting the longest.

 

I have not had officers' training and don't have the education to know the exact protocol for this situation. My feeling is that I paid for a professionally run cruise and the company is licensed and should know what to do even if I do not. O markets itself as a luxury line not a fly by night operation. I expected more and was disappointed by their response.

 

I also was disappointed by the disorganization and problems they had with the equipment for the presentations. Were you there when they had to cancel the lecture because they could not get the computer to function? This cruise was more disorganized than the other O cruise I was on. But the food, the chef, the cabin steward and the staff on board were very good. The chef was always out and about asking people how they enjoyed their dinner. I thought the chef was the star of the cruise. :)

 

I, too, was stuck on Christmas Island. I overheard the captain trying to reach the shore agent for 2 hours and he was nowhere around. My feeling is that once the captain realized the distress the shore-bound travelers were in, there was an immediate surge of water, juice, sandwiches and other food items sent to shore. It was very hot and miserable, but I do feel like the ship did what they could to help us out. I was told they will NOT be stopping on Christmas Island on the return to San Francisco.:D

Not so bad, as there was nothing there to see or do.

[Shining Clem]

Spunky, First our sympathy to you and Mr Spunky on the loss of your son. It's something that you don't ever "get over" and yet you don't want to be defined by...... but it can't help but influence your out look on life and things like this.

 

We have had a little bit of experience "mucking about in boats" on the NE Atlantic & Great Lakes, and one of us spent considerable time with Chapman, studying for a course. Canadian boat builders, Danish seamen & US Navy WW II are in my genes. On the oceans and waterways of the world, especially among professionals, be they fishermen or freighter crews, there generally exists a sharper sense of generosity, community and responsibility than often found on land. (Pirates excluded) It is not uncommon here on CC to see news of cruise ships rescuing stranded sail boats, marathon rowers, etc. Hostile navies will cooperate to aid submariners. Crews especially, are aware of "There by the Grace of God, go I". That is why I find this incident appalling.

 

People tend to be forgiving if there are honest mea culpas instead of trying to pretend it didn't happen. If something had happened to a passenger, they know very well even a poor lawyer could take the line to the marine scrap yard.

It is good to know that the food and hotel service on board is going to be great. Maybe the Chef will give some of those very jr officers some lessons in responsibility and customer service.

 

Guess there wasn't any shortage of dinner conversation topics after this incident! :);):rolleyes: Enjoy your future cruises with no drama, except for what is on a stage!

[azam71209]

I'm sure the food was great on the Titanic too. As cruise passengers we are entirely reliant on the professionalism and attention to safety of the crew.

 

If a crew is not sufficiently trained to handle something like 200 marooned passengers for a few hours, what would happen if there were a real crisis at sea?

[baldercash]

I'm sure the food was great on the Titanic too. As cruise passengers we are entirely reliant on the professionalism and attention to safety of the crew.

 

If a crew is not sufficiently trained to handle something like 200 marooned passengers for a few hours, what would happen if there were a real crisis at sea?

 

Just read this on a recent Nautica review I think it goes to the quality of the staff.

 

Medical Service

 

There were several complaints among guests about the high cost of medical treatment aboard. For example, our visit to the medical center for a minor bronchial infection resulted in charges of $1221.00. Others complained of unneeded and high priced medications. There was also some question as to the current credentials of the Doctor on board, since in 2009 his medical license was revoked by the State of Tennessee. As of December 19, 2011, neither the Doctor nor Oceania Cruises had produced evidence of a current license to practice medicine. Over 40 passengers concerned with this issue submitted a written protest to Oceania to which the Company has not responded. Until this question is resolved, many passengers who received medical services on board plan to dispute the charges made to their credit card on the basis that the charges are based on fraud. Despite Oceania's stated concern for the health and safety of their guests, they did not, it seems, sufficiently examine the credentials and background of the only person on board whose primary job is, indeed, the health of guests and crew.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=31912495 for the rest of the review.

 

Seems to be a theme building.

[Nuka]

I was stranded on Christmas Island on that hot sunny day. For those that have never been there, it was not a place where one can go to a restaurant/lounge and hang out until Oceania resolved the tender situation. It's very primitive with not many services that more sophisticated ports offer. Being near the equator meant that the sun shone strong. Only shade was on concrete on the side of a building or underneath one Oceania white nylon gazebo that was used mostly for drinks and one local one nearby. Not adequate for 200+ passengers. Three hours into the incident, I saw one of the officers very interested in a tide table from one of the locals. Not very reassuring.

 

The tender tickets to get back should have been passed out by 'need' for any passengers suffering. The next day, an elderly lady was crying in the laundry room and showed me and others her severe shoulder sunburn that was blistering. Sad.

 

In the end, my feeling is that the planning and some of the decisions weren't made in the best interests of the guests and that is how my expectations were let down.

[spunky123]

azam71209 and Shining Clem - You are both 100% correct. I need to rethink my priorities. Mr. Spunky is in 100% agreement with you and would not consider another cruise with O. Also I heard today from another travel agent about the medical doctor over charging, running needless tests and not having a medical license on Nautica. I am thinking Amazara may be the way to go.

 

I'm sure the food was great on the Titanic too. As cruise passengers we are entirely reliant on the professionalism and attention to safety of the crew.

 

If a crew is not sufficiently trained to handle something like 200 marooned passengers for a few hours, what would happen if there were a real crisis at sea?

[Mura]

I'm quite surprised to read this about the medical officer on Nautica.

 

In November 2005 I used the doctor on Regatta, and more recently my husband used the doctor on Insignia, and while the fees were high we just figured that was due to the fact that most charges are higher on a ship than on land. Beyond that, our insurance reimbursed us for all but about $50 on each occasion.

 

We certainly were pleased with both doctors' expertise and had no doubts about the status of their licenses! Maybe we were wrong ... But it would seem very hazardous for any cruise line to consider using an unlicensed doctor.

 

OTOH, a good friend of ours who has no medical training at all served as the ship's doctor many years ago on a boat plying the Hudson River in NY. (He is now in his late 80s.) He told us some pretty funny stories ... but that boat wasn't exactly "at sea".

[ORV]

Just read this on a recent Nautica review I think it goes to the quality of the staff.

 

Medical Service

 

There were several complaints among guests about the high cost of medical treatment aboard. For example, our visit to the medical center for a minor bronchial infection resulted in charges of $1221.00. Others complained of unneeded and high priced medications. There was also some question as to the current credentials of the Doctor on board, since in 2009 his medical license was revoked by the State of Tennessee. As of December 19, 2011, neither the Doctor nor Oceania Cruises had produced evidence of a current license to practice medicine. Over 40 passengers concerned with this issue submitted a written protest to Oceania to which the Company has not responded. Until this question is resolved, many passengers who received medical services on board plan to dispute the charges made to their credit card on the basis that the charges are based on fraud. Despite Oceania's stated concern for the health and safety of their guests, they did not, it seems, sufficiently examine the credentials and background of the only person on board whose primary job is, indeed, the health of guests and crew.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=31912495 for the rest of the review.

 

Seems to be a theme building.

 

Quite odd but when I click on the link in your post it bring up a reply to box for this thread with a quote of the post that you quoted.

 

Can you check the link you intended to post and repost it. Thanks.

[Shining Clem]

because they fly a home "flag of convenience"? Have no idea what the maritime laws here are.

 

As for overcharges & unnecessary tests, they have to err to the point of over caution and they know most will have insurance to cover it. The fact that insurance rates go up isn't of their concern.

 

Hope those with bad burns from this episode have a through skin & scalp scan by an experienced dermatologist in the coming months.

 

Miami is probably totally fixated on their problems in getting the Rivera out of the Italian ship yard on time and in good condition.

 

Everyone stay healthy!

[baldercash]

Quite odd but when I click on the link in your post it bring up a reply to box for this thread with a quote of the post that you quoted.

 

Can you check the link you intended to post and repost it. Thanks.

 

 

Nautica Cruise Review by TJ&EJ on Members cruise reviews.

Great Itinerary--Poor onboard experience

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=94339

 

Sorry I botched the link this should get you there.

[RetiredFL]

As mentioned earlier, most, if not all, cruise ships do not sail under the US flag. By doing that they are not subject to US laws and US licensing rules. Who knows what the medical rules are in the Marshall Islands.

The only time the US government and it agencies can get involved is when a ship is in a US port and then they conduct safety and health inspections. So if a ship never enters a US port it is never inspected and if it only enters once a year it is only inspected once a year. The inspections is somewhat limited and I am sure they do not check medical licenses.

Most cruise passengers and in fact most travelers do not realize that once they leave the US, Canada, etc. those country's laws do not provide much help and they are subject to the country they are in or the registry of the cruise ship.

Just for fun I did a little checking and found the following.

If you sail on NCL you are on a Bahamian ship. If you sail on Celebrity you are on a Maltese ship. At least on HAL you are on a Dutch ship.

Even that American of American companies, Disney, sails their ships under the Bahamas flag.

[baldercash]

A

If you sail on NCL you are on a Bahamian ship. If you sail on Celebrity you are on a Maltese ship. At least on HAL you are on a Dutch ship.

Even that American of American companies, Disney, sails their ships under the Bahamas flag.

 

All well and fine but I bet the above cruise lines use licensed Doctors. There is a big difference in flagging a ship to avoid taxes and another in staffing it with incompetent personnel that put passengers at risk!

[no fuss travel]

Let's be reasonable folks. Do you think specialists are actually going to work on a cruise ship. The top doctors have their own practices and are not about to work on a cruise ship. Once anyone has passed medical school, they are entitled to use the title Doctor. The charges my mother had to pay on RCCL were high too and they made us take her off the ship in Mexico to have her checked out to see if it was okay for her to continue the cruise. We had to pay extra charges for this checkup on top of what we had to pay to the ship line. The charges quoted seem reasonable to me to other cruise lines. These doctors working the ships are GP's not specialists so don't expect miracles.

[RetiredFL]

All well and fine but I bet the above cruise lines use licensed Doctors. There is a big difference in flagging a ship to avoid taxes and another in staffing it with incompetent personnel that put passengers at risk!

You would be surprised as to what goes on. Before I retired I worked in the medical area and there are many doctors, at least here in CA, that do not have a US license. The are mostly Eastern European but a few Asian also. They practice medicine and the only restriction is that they be under the "supervision" of a CA licensed doctor. That mean, in reality, that the licensed doctor reviews and signs off on their chart notes occasionally. They also use pre-signed RX pads from a licensed CA doctor to provide medications. Very similar to the nurse practitioner program.

So not every "Doctor" is a licensed practitioner.

[baldercash]

I would go with a European doctor on a cruise ship to an American doctor who has had their license pulled. I would assume the guy has to be reckless or a danger to patients before they would pull it.

[lovecruisingtoo]

I don't believe that any cruise line could call a staff member a medical "Doctor" unless they had a valid license. Having a license revoked takes doing something majorly wrong. O should have never put this "Doctor" on the ship.

[JimandStan]

All well and fine but I bet the above cruise lines use licensed Doctors. There is a big difference in flagging a ship to avoid taxes and another in staffing it with incompetent personnel that put passengers at risk!

 

Ships are not foreign flagged to avoid United States taxes, although that is a side benefit.

They do not fly the American flag because one of the requirements of being an American Ship is that an American crew must be used, which would be ruinously expensive.

 

Perhaps an even more important reason, is that it is widely accepted throughout the hospitality industry that Americans make lousy servants.

 

Should we be proud of that, or not? I cannot decide. :cool:

[ORV]

Ships are not foreign flagged to avoid United States taxes, although that is a side benefit.

They do not fly the American flag because one of the requirements of being an American Ship is that an American crew must be used, which would be ruinously expensive.

 

Perhaps an even more important reason, is that it is widely accepted throughout the hospitality industry that Americans make lousy servants.

 

Should we be proud of that, or not? I cannot decide. :cool:

 

Servant? Although I guess that's what they are I never really looked at the service staff that way.

[RetiredFL]

I don't believe that any cruise line could call a staff member a medical "Doctor" unless they had a valid license. Having a license revoked takes doing something majorly wrong. O should have never put this "Doctor" on the ship.

Wrong. A person becomes a Doctor when they receive their degree. They become a licensed Doctor when they pass the licensing requirements of their particular jurisdiction. So the person on board was a Doctor, just not licensed in any US jurisdiction.