Bad Publicity For Celebrity

[allyman]

Has anyone seen the Today Tonight adverts for tomorrow nights show? One of their big stories is about an elderly couple supposedly kicked off their cruise ship ..."and you won't believe what for". During the segment they show images of one of the Celebrity cruise ships, it was too quick for me to ascertain which one.

 

I know these shows specialise in sensationalism, but this doesn't look good for Celebrity. Now I have to remember to watch tomorrow night, given I am considering Celebrity Solstice for our next cruise....

 

Ally

[Jacs]

I heard something in the celebrity board just after this happened I think, I believe the speculation was that the woman had a disability of some sort? Will be interesting to see what they say is the reason.

[Royalty X]

Oh yeah, I remember reading something about it as well. This is from the Cairns Post...

 

A CRUISE company has defended forcing an elderly passenger with dementia to leave a ship while it was docked at Yorkeys Knob.

 

Adry Arnold, 78, and her husband were sailing on Celebrity Millennium last month and were told they were not allowed back aboard because the ship's doctor was concerned for Mrs Arnold's safety.

 

Mrs Arnold's story has gone viral after her nephew Don Stones posted a complaint on his Facebook page.

 

His post has been shared more than 5200 times on the social media website. "I posted it not only because they are my family, but because no one should (treat someone) like that and be allowed to get away with it," he said.

 

Mr Stones said his aunt was forced to stand at Yorkeys Knob marina with her and her husband's suitcases because she was not able to find her way back to her cabin.

 

"She was staying on board while her husband went to view Cairns while the ship was docked," he said.

 

"On his arrival back from sightseeing he was met by his wife and told they were not allowed back on the ship because the doctor did not think they were the kind of people who should be on the cruise ... if she was left alone."

 

Mrs Arnold was found by the ship's staff while trying to find her cabin and she was upset and crying, Mr Stones wrote.

 

"The couple, on the pension mind you, paid over $12,000 for the cruise, which will probably be the last one they will be able to go on together (and) had to find their own way back to their home," he wrote.

 

"This is a disgusting way to treat anybody, let alone an elderly couple, without even trying to resolve the issue at hand."

 

A Celebrity Cruises spokeswoman said staff felt it was "necessary to disembark" Mrs Arnold after she was found disoriented on the ship.

 

"Mrs Arnold was escorted to the ship's onboard medical facility while attempts were made to contact Mr Arnold, who was ashore and could not be reached," she said.

 

"Regrettably, since we were concerned for Mrs Arnold's safety and wellbeing while aboard the ship, particularly in a cabin with its own balcony, we felt it was necessary to disembark her."

 

The spokeswoman said the ship's care team arranged transport from the ship to Cairns Hospital.

 

"Mr and Mrs Arnold will receive a pro-rata refund for the remaining nine days of their sailing, as well as full refund of the monies paid for their second cruise," she said.

 

"We apologise if they have not yet received their refund and we are working with their travel agent to ensure that it is processed quickly."

[KarateMan]

By reading above if that is true it sounds like the poor woman really needed specialised care and should not have been left alone. Unfortunately dementia does effect people in a bad way that they cannot function the same as the rest of us and have restrictions imposed. Some people have to surrender their drivers licence. I believe that the cruise line has the right to disembark anyone who is unable to fend for themselves or have a carer with them. A cruise ship is not the ideal place for some people with certain medical problems. Unfortunately hard decisions have to be made.

[bazzaw]

For some time now, from personal observation, I have been thinking that there are indeed some people who should not be allowed on ships - for their and other's own safety. But I cannot think how, in this day and age, such a thing/condition of travel could be implemented.

 

Quite apart from the very elderly and grossly obese people, who are becoming increasingly common on cruiseships, there are those who appear to have medical conditions which perhaps should preclude them from sailing. I recall one very frail and elderly lady, leading her blind elderly husband by the hand and attempting to board a tender vessel in quite rough conditions.

 

I think that probably the cruiselines are on a beating to nothing regarding this.

 

 

Barry

[timtam2]

I think they did the right thing.And it is in the contract that they have the right to disembark you. If anything had happened to her whilst she was alone, I'm sure there would have been jumping up and down that it was Celebrity"s fault. Dementia sufferers need constant care and unfamiliar environments can be very frightening for them

[Esilef]

I think it's her husbands fault. He should not if left her alone knowing her condition.

 

I feel very sorry for her. It must have been very traumatic for her.

 

Yes her husband does deserve a well earned break but maybe he could have spoken to guest services and asked if he could pay a staff member to watch her for a couple of hours.

[The_Big_M]

Hadn't heard about this before.

 

I agree that Celebrity did the right thing. If she needed care and was wandering the corridors, worse things could have happened. Had that happened, then Celebrity would also have been criticised. They were right to disembark her as they are not trained care workers.

 

Regarding the comment above about paid dedicated supervision of passengers, that is not a service they provide and they are not trained for that.

[keagle]

Wasn't there a story about a elderly gentleman going missing not that long ago, who had a similar condition?

[NSWP]

If the husband had not left his wife alone on the ship, the incident might not have happened. Therein lies the problem..Mr Arnold.

 

In hindsight, the couple should have never purchased the cruise. One cannot expect ship's staff to be carers.

 

There is no way I or my wife would go on a cruise if we thought we would be a hinderance to others, whether other pax or ship's staff.

 

Personally I don't consider Celebrity Cruise Lines at fault at all, other than perhaps a medical staff member could have arranged for the couple to attend a local doctor or the hospital.

Edited December 6, 2013 by NSWP

[MicCanberra]

I have the show booked in, on our last cruise a couple was on board and the wife had dementia, they had a suite and also a carer to help as the wife was so bad. Someone with dementia can be just like a child, and I do not think anyone would leave their child unsupervised for a whole day.

Perhaps the husband in this story should have stayed with his wife, taken her with him or done the same as the person on my cruise. :D

[Mothballs]

I will have a look too. I worked in aged care for over 20 years and the most important part of managing dementia is routine. A person can present quite well but take them out of that routine or structured day and the behaviours become more challenging.

I agree that the husband should not have left his wife alone and obviously his decision making skills are not the best which unfortunately are a part of the aging process.

It will be interesting to see what the family has to say.

Elaine.

[bazzaw]

It will be interesting to see what the family has to say.

Elaine.

 

Probably much what every other family says in these situations -- it was all somebody else's fault.

 

Barry

[Mothballs]

Probably much what every other family says in these situations -- it was all somebody else's fault.

 

Barry

 

The family should just let it go and remember the old saying "A mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn by it".

Elaine.

[The_Big_M]

Probably much what every other family says in these situations -- it was all somebody else's fault.

 

Barry

 

Given that it's appearing in the press and the tv media, and this would only be driven by the family, that would appear to be the case.

 

People tend not to make as much noise about something when they think it's their own fault! :D

[MicCanberra]

The family should just let it go and remember the old saying "A mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn by it".

Elaine.

So true, while I feel sorry that the couple were off loaded, he put the ship in a very hard position. I am sure the story will be a onesided affair and present a little battler against an evil, uncaring corporation.

[gbenjo]

I'm sure channel 7 will beat it enough to turn it into a shock horror story. Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

It does make you wonder though sometimes, doing check in at the OPT as I do, why some people would even contemplate going on a cruise in the condition they are in both mentally and physically. Don't get me wrong,they are absolutely entitled to cruise and I say good luck and more power to them but in some cases you just wonder how they could possibly enjoy it.

[MicCanberra]

I'm sure channel 7 will beat it enough to turn it into a shock horror story. Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

It does make you wonder though sometimes, doing check in at the OPT as I do, why some people would even contemplate going on a cruise in the condition they are in both mentally and physically. Don't get me wrong,they are absolutely entitled to cruise and I say good luck and more power to them but in some cases you just wonder how they could possibly enjoy it.

We all know how many people die on board cruise ships, it is more frequent than most would believe.

My parents did a 57 day cruise from England to Australia and they had 33 people die whilst on board., most just from old and the associated ailments that comes with that.

[Aussieflyer]

Perhaps there is a case for a "fit to sail" letter from a person's doctor in some situations, whether it be age, medical condition or whatever. Insurance companies can insist on a medical report for some conditions so maybe a similar thing for passengers. I know at my work if a person has been off sick with some conditions, a letter is needed to show they are fit to travel again.

 

And I agree, the woman should not have been left on her own at any time with this condition. The family really cannot blame anyone but themselves. And of course the media certainly will not let the truth get in the way of a sensationalised story so it might look bad for Celebrity. Just like the couple (portrayed as elderly as well) who were offloaded from Seabourn (from memory) for refusing to attend the safety muster as they were doing a B2B - stiff!

Edited December 6, 2013 by Aussieflyer

[cruisine21]

I wonder if they were able to get travel insurance? I doubt it if they disclosed the wife's illness.

Edited December 6, 2013 by cruisine21

[Gerko]

How does a pensioner afford a $12000 Celebrity cruise? Wish I could.

We were on a cruise last year and there was a mentally and physically handicap young man on board who every time I saw him was waving his arms madly about and shrieking. It was very uncomfortable for other passengers, particularly those sitting nearby in the dining room, and I really had to question whether he should have been allowed on board. Its not discrimination. Anyone who is dangerous to themselves or others, problematic for staff or likely to hinder the enjoyment of other passengers should be required to inform this to the cruise line at time of booking.

[Mothballs]

I'm sure channel 7 will beat it enough to turn it into a shock horror story. Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

It does make you wonder though sometimes, doing check in at the OPT as I do, why some people would even contemplate going on a cruise in the condition they are in both mentally and physically. Don't get me wrong,they are absolutely entitled to cruise and I say good luck and more power to them but in some cases you just wonder how they could possibly enjoy it.

 

I understand what you are saying but then we run the risk of imposing our values on other people. Some people just want to keep going until they drop.

Elaine.

[cruisine21]

How does a pensioner afford a $12000 Celebrity cruise? Wish I could.

We were on a cruise last year and there was a mentally and physically handicap young man on board who every time I saw him was waving his arms madly about and shrieking. It was very uncomfortable for other passengers, particularly those sitting nearby in the dining room, and I really had to question whether he should have been allowed on board. Its not discrimination. Anyone who is dangerous to themselves or others, problematic for staff or likely to hinder the enjoyment of other passengers should be required to inform this to the cruise line at time of booking.

We had a similar situation on our last cruise. Though it was a group of 6 people with a couple of carers.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

How does a pensioner afford a $12000 Celebrity cruise? Wish I could.We were on a cruise last year and there was a mentally and physically handicap young man on board who every time I saw him was waving his arms madly about and shrieking. It was very uncomfortable for other passengers, particularly those sitting nearby in the dining room, and I really had to question whether he should have been allowed on board. Its not discrimination. Anyone who is dangerous to themselves or others, problematic for staff or likely to hinder the enjoyment of other passengers should be required to inform this to the cruise line at time of booking.

 

If they had Super (and I believe its compulsory for everyone in Australia) they could afford it very easily.

One theory about the cruise lines setting themselves up in Australia is your very generous Super scheme. People will be retiring with hundreds of thousands of dollars in their accounts, and provided they have not spent it already by mortgaging the house it will be burning a hole in their pockets and they will be off.....not just on a local Pacific cruise either , but the full works .

 

 

 

[Gerko]

If they had Super (and I believe its compulsory for everyone in Australia) they could afford it very easily.

One theory about the cruise lines setting themselves up in Australia is your very generous Super scheme. People will be retiring with hundreds of thousands of dollars in their accounts, and provided they have not spent it already by mortgaging the house it will be burning a hole in their pockets and they will be off.....not just on a local Pacific cruise either , but the full works .

 

 

 

 

If you have a reasonable amount of Super then you are likely to be ineligible for the pension as it does have a means test. Its aimed as a back up for those who don't have super, which a lot of seniors don't as it was not compulsory in their day.

 

I agree your point though about people with super. My wife does cruise bookings for seniors and there's lots of them out there blowing the kids inheritances on cruises. I hope to be doing the same one day.