Bad Publicity For Celebrity

[Pushka]

I would suspect the cruise line would be worried that something could have happened , and there are lots of sea days between Australia and Singapore where help would not be at hand if needed.

On a coastal cruise , when not far away from local care ,all this may not have occurred

 

I agree with that. Chances are they may have been able to stay on if it was a local cruise with few sea days. International travel is a different issue. I wonder also if they had Insurance - and whether this pre-existing condition was covered. If not, then any issue arising from that would not be insured for and which could cost several thousands of dollars - recoverable from the family personally.

[MicCanberra]

I agree with that. Chances are they may have been able to stay on if it was a local cruise with few sea days. International travel is a different issue. I wonder also if they had Insurance - and whether this pre-existing condition was covered. If not, then any issue arising from that would not be insured for and which could cost several thousands of dollars - recoverable from the family personally.

I would suspect that the Dr for X was considering the duty of care and the ship's responsibility and not even know (or take into consideration) what sort (if any) of insurance they had.

[MMDown Under]

I would suspect the cruise line would be worried that something could have happened , and there are lots of sea days between Australia and Singapore where help would not be at hand if needed.

On a coastal cruise , when not far away from local care ,all this may not have occurred

 

I thought their decision could have been made, based on where the ship was cruising next.

[MicCanberra]

I thought their decision could have been made, based on where the ship was cruising next.

 

Possibly but also due to the lack of care shown by the husband. X had a duty of care to make sure that she would be looked after appropriately, that was in Australia at Cairns Hospital rather than in a balcony cabin with a wandering husband.

[Goya_Essence]

I'm a loyal Elite-level CC member with Celebrity. After reading this post, I think Celebrity should be ashamed. Haven't we all had moments of high emotion or feeling lost while on vacation? Shame, Celebrity. Shame.

[bazzaw]

I'm a loyal Elite-level CC member with Celebrity. After reading this post, I think Celebrity should be ashamed. Haven't we all had moments of high emotion or feeling lost while on vacation? Shame, Celebrity. Shame.

 

Like most things in life -- they can be viewed in different ways by all of us.

 

Personally, I am a person who has a strong sense of personal responsibility, and I hope that as I age, I do not become as selfish as I see others become as they age. I see some who voluntarily relinquish their car driver's licences - because they understand that they are becoming a danger to both themselves and others on the roads. But I also see those who think only of themselves - and wish to retain their "independence " to the death. I also see others who, by going on a sea going cruise, are also placing others in potential danger - and these are not just the elderly. This also applies to the MANY morbidly obese passengers who are very visible on all cruises.

 

There is no shame in what Celebrity had to do on this occasion -- and I believe that they and other cruiselines will have to monitor their passengers even more in the future, BEFORE selling a cruise fare.

 

Barry

[MicCanberra]

I'm a loyal Elite-level CC member with Celebrity. After reading this post, I think Celebrity should be ashamed. Haven't we all had moments of high emotion or feeling lost while on vacation? Shame, Celebrity. Shame.

 

I think you may have missed the gravitas of the situation. She was like a child who had been abandoned not one that had run away. Mr Arnold must take the blame for this as his wife should have been in his care.

[Pushka]

I'm a loyal Elite-level CC member with Celebrity. After reading this post, I think Celebrity should be ashamed. Haven't we all had moments of high emotion or feeling lost while on vacation? Shame, Celebrity. Shame.

 

 

If you've come to that conclusion then I'm not sure you've really read the thread. This was not one of those transitory memory lapses that we all experience.

 

After watching the lady on TV she clearly needs 24 hour care. Which her husband didn't do. There is no need to be ashamed of Celebrity. The lady might have suffered some catastrophic accident while she was left alone on the ship. Celebrity have done the right thing.

 

Barry, I will try to do exactly the same as I age. I expect most will but others do not accept personal responsibility for their own situation and this is an example of that.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Pushka

[Aussieflyer]

I see you have your new cruise in your signature. That was quick work :D

[Pushka]

I see you have your new cruise in your signature. That was quick work :D

 

:D

 

Life it too short.....:o

 

I will never reach loyalty with any cruise line - I look for itinerary and not the ship line. Will probably never cruise NCL though or Costa.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Pushka

[MicCanberra]

:D

 

Life it too short.....:o

 

I will never reach loyalty with any cruise line - I look for itinerary and not the ship line. Will probably never cruise NCL though or Costa.

 

You are right, life is too short.

Can I ask why not NCL?

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I'm a loyal Elite-level CC member with Celebrity. After reading this post, I think Celebrity should be ashamed. Haven't we all had moments of high emotion or feeling lost while on vacation? Shame, Celebrity. Shame.

 

 

 

Celebrity can hold its head high for its actions.

 

Actions that may very well have saved the couple from themselves.

 

A cruise ship is not a Nursing Home.

 

 

 

 

[MicCanberra]

Celebrity can hold its head high for its actions.

 

Actions that may very well have saved the couple from themselves.

 

A cruise ship is not a Nursing Home.

 

 

 

Some ships may as well be with the gopher/ zimmer frame parking lot outside the MDR.:eek:

[rugbypopsie]

I think some people are over reacting...my 89 year old Mum is physically fit but has dementia, she lives with us and goes to a dementia specific day program every day. There are only 15 in the group...there are at least 5 or 6 staff to assist them, and this is a locked gate facility..there is no way they can get out and get lost. One of the problems with dementia is wandering and many elderly people die each year as a result of getting lost and perishing. I never let Mum out of my sight...within seconds she can be totally confused about where we are what we are doing or where she lives. The ship had every right to assess the situation as not acceptable. The husband left her alone on the ship, he must have known it was not a good idea, the ship tried to contact him but where unable to reach him (again what was he thinking!). Perhaps if he had been contactable they might have accepted his reassurance that he would not leave her alone again. There are just too many dangers for a person with this horrible affliction to be left alone on a ship...they are as vulnerable as a toddler would be.

 

Its sad that it happened but that is husbands responsibility. They can cruise with her perhaps the nephew might assist them by going too so his uncle can have a break.

 

Sue

[Pushka]

You are right, life is too short.

Can I ask why not NCL?

 

(Off topic :p) Just the look of the ships - we saw Epic in Rome and thought it looked garish. When I was comparing the Epic with RCL Liberty in detail I just didnt like the look of their product. I wouldn't cruise on Oasis/Allure because they remind me of live animal transports. Harsh I know :D)

[MicCanberra]

(Off topic :p) Just the look of the ships - we saw Epic in Rome and thought it looked garish. When I was comparing the Epic with RCL Liberty in detail I just didnt like the look of their product. I wouldn't cruise on Oasis/Allure because they remind me of live animal transports. Harsh I know :D)

Fair enough, I was wondering as we really enjoyed our cruise on NCL when we did the Baltic.:D

[molliemoo]

Interesting thread. I am sailing at the moment with my mother who is showing early signs of dementia. She is physically very well, but at the drop of a hat can become totally confused and disoriented. I booked this cruise knowing full well that I would have to be with her constantly, and am very happy to do so, given how much she has given to her children in her lifetime. She loves to cruise, and I don't know how long she will be able to, so for now, we will take it as it comes. I don't believe the problem lies with the cruise line!

[Aussieflyer]

I think some people are over reacting...my 89 year old Mum is physically fit but has dementia, she lives with us and goes to a dementia specific day program every day. There are only 15 in the group...there are at least 5 or 6 staff to assist them, and this is a locked gate facility..there is no way they can get out and get lost. One of the problems with dementia is wandering and many elderly people die each year as a result of getting lost and perishing. I never let Mum out of my sight...within seconds she can be totally confused about where we are what we are doing or where she lives. The ship had every right to assess the situation as not acceptable. The husband left her alone on the ship, he must have known it was not a good idea, the ship tried to contact him but where unable to reach him (again what was he thinking!). Perhaps if he had been contactable they might have accepted his reassurance that he would not leave her alone again. There are just too many dangers for a person with this horrible affliction to be left alone on a ship...they are as vulnerable as a toddler would be.

 

Its sad that it happened but that is husbands responsibility. They can cruise with her perhaps the nephew might assist them by going too so his uncle can have a break.

 

Sue

 

Interesting thread. I am sailing at the moment with my mother who is showing early signs of dementia. She is physically very well, but at the drop of a hat can become totally confused and disoriented. I booked this cruise knowing full well that I would have to be with her constantly, and am very happy to do so, given how much she has given to her children in her lifetime. She loves to cruise, and I don't know how long she will be able to, so for now, we will take it as it comes. I don't believe the problem lies with the cruise line!

 

Hats off to you two (and all the others who travel with parents or partners or anyone with this disease). Not only do you allow your mothers to have wonderful experiences, but as well you recognise that there will be a time when cruising is not possible anymore. My uncle was a long-timer Alzheimer's sufferer and needed specialist care for the last few years of his life.

[MicCanberra]

Interesting thread. I am sailing at the moment with my mother who is showing early signs of dementia. She is physically very well, but at the drop of a hat can become totally confused and disoriented. I booked this cruise knowing full well that I would have to be with her constantly, and am very happy to do so, given how much she has given to her children in her lifetime. She loves to cruise, and I don't know how long she will be able to, so for now, we will take it as it comes. I don't believe the problem lies with the cruise line!

 

There is the solution to the issue that Mr Arnold didn't, and still hasn't, come to terms with. I hope you and your mum have many more cruises before it becomes to much.:D

[nursesusiee]

Interesting thread. I am sailing at the moment with my mother who is showing early signs of dementia. She is physically very well, but at the drop of a hat can become totally confused and disoriented. I booked this cruise knowing full well that I would have to be with her constantly, and am very happy to do so, given how much she has given to her children in her lifetime. She loves to cruise, and I don't know how long she will be able to, so for now, we will take it as it comes. I don't believe the problem lies with the cruise line!

 

I applaud you for taking Mum on a cruise! Many people have a hard time caring for someone with dementia, or are in denial- like I am guessing the couple/family in this article is.

 

Obviously, if a physician feels that a cruise passenger is unsafe to continue on a cruise, then there's a serious justified reason. Especially when that physician has to document a thorough exam, and write in his report why exactly someone is unfit to continue. I am sure there was a zillion pieces of paperwork and criteria that had to be met. I am sure it wasn't a simple, "oh you need to leave," and this elderly couple was thrown off the ship within 5 minutes.

 

12+ years of intense medical schooling vs. media sensation. I am wondering who is correct :D

Edited December 19, 2013 by nursesusiee

[MicCanberra]

I applaud you for taking Mum on a cruise! Many people have a hard time caring for someone with dementia, or are in denial- like I am guessing the couple/family in this article is.

 

Obviously, if a physician feels that a cruise passenger is unsafe to continue on a cruise, then there's a serious justified reason. Especially when that physician has to document a thorough exam, and write in his report why exactly someone is unfit to continue. I am sure there was a zillion pieces of paperwork and criteria that had to be met. I am sure it wasn't a simple, "oh you need to leave," and this elderly couple was thrown off the ship within 5 minutes.

 

12+ years of intense medical schooling vs. media sensation. I am wondering who is correct :D

Yes, great points made. The Media is just out for a quick story that grabs peoples attention.

[cruisine21]

Interesting thread. I am sailing at the moment with my mother who is showing early signs of dementia. She is physically very well, but at the drop of a hat can become totally confused and disoriented. I booked this cruise knowing full well that I would have to be with her constantly, and am very happy to do so, given how much she has given to her children in her lifetime. She loves to cruise, and I don't know how long she will be able to, so for now, we will take it as it comes. I don't believe the problem lies with the cruise line!

Just wondering how you get on with travel insurance for your mum? My dad is 85 and he said he will not go on any further cruises due to the insurance difficulties since he had a heart attack.

Edited December 19, 2013 by cruisine21

[Pushka]

I think that a heart attack is different from dementia. While you probably can't insure for either condition, it is unlikely that a person with dementia, if cared for and watched over, will have any other health issue related to that. So while you wouldn't be able to claim expenses from dementia, if there was a fall or some other accident you would most likely be covered. But a heart attack can result in further medical issues.

[molliemoo]

Thanks everyone for your kind responses. The latest cruise with Mum was hard work I must admit, but I had plenty of fun as well. I perhaps should have planned a cruise a bit further out from Christmas though - I've had to hit the ground running on returning home!

 

As for travel insurance, Mum is physically extremely well, so had no trouble getting insurance though Mum does complain about the cost, and can't see why her insurance costs so much more than mine!

 

Good luck to everyone out there facing similar issues - it's a long hard road ahead!

 

Mollie

[MicCanberra]

Thanks everyone for your kind responses. The latest cruise with Mum was hard work I must admit, but I had plenty of fun as well. I perhaps should have planned a cruise a bit further out from Christmas though - I've had to hit the ground running on returning home!

 

As for travel insurance, Mum is physically extremely well, so had no trouble getting insurance though Mum does complain about the cost, and can't see why her insurance costs so much more than mine!

 

Good luck to everyone out there facing similar issues - it's a long hard road ahead!

 

Mollie

Have a great Xmas and hope you can enjoy many more trips with your mum.:D