Check this out...Yuk!!!

[mmouse37]

Read the story at the link....

http://www.local6.com/travelgetaways/4365719/detail.html

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Hmmmmmmmmm.....so thats what it means when they say "don't let the bed bugs bite!!" Sorry I couldn't resist.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Ewwwwwwwwwww!!!

Oh great, something else to stress about

 

[232271]

there are links to tell you what to look for with bed bugs, check some out so you can check your bed out.

this can happen at any hotel or even your own home, so dont panic, just educate yourself on how to look for the bugs.


The bedbug is a secretive in its behavior and is similar to a flea in that its body, too, appears to be flat. However, while the flea appears squashed together, the bedbug appears squashed down. As a result, these insects can squeeze into very small openings. As mentioned above, the areas to look for bedbugs include mattresses (including mattress tufts and buttons or under piped edges), box springs (edges and within the enclosure underneath), bed frames and hollow areas where frame components connect, floor and wall moldings, picture frames and in any other objects adjacent to the victim's sleeping area.

 

[mmouse37]

I remember seeing something about this on 20/20 or similar show....unfortunately, I think they are around more than we care to know....

I am surprised the infestation was just limited to one cabin....are they passed on from person to bedding to bedding...meaning could it have been someone's pillow from home that they brought onboard that intially infested the bed in the cabin?

 

[232271]

I remember seeing something about this on 20/20 or similar show....unfortunately, I think they are around more than we care to know....

I am surprised the infestation was just limited to one cabin....are they passed on from person to bedding to bedding...meaning could it have been someone's pillow from home that they brought onboard that intially infested the bed in the cabin?

This pest is carried from one place to another in luggage and on clothing. With more bedbug problems, hotel and motel travelers run a greater risk of contact with bedbugs and may eventually bring bedbugs home with them.

 

[mommasita]

That is disgusting....The poor couple Makes me paranoid now. I think they should be compensated for more than their cruise fare. AT least medical care..

Bet, we will all do some testing now..

 

[TooPure4u]

I worked briefly for Terminix in the past and the majority of times bed bug problems surface is when a NEW mattress or NEW bed is purchased. It isn't necessarily something that comes from travelers. More cases of bed bugs are reported after bringing home a new bedroom set than any other reasoning. No matter how you slice it, it is still absolutely disgusting. lol

 

[3redheads]

Here is a copy of their post to another board: (the couple in the news story)

"Here is their Post, gave me the willys:

recently boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise, on March 26. My wife and I paid for a guaranteed balcony room. The first night we noticed a bug between the sheets, but brushed it off and didn't pay too much attention. The next morning we found 2-3 more bugs in the bed, called for the staff to check it out. An officer came up and stated he was stunned as this has not happened before, while his maintenance guy states ‘let me check one spot’. Behind the headboard was a swarm of bugs, they were climbing up curtains and in our clothes in the closet. They moved us to a non-balcony room, without mention of any reimbursements of fees. They took all of our clothes to be laundered, therefore we spent two days in the same clothes. However, my wife and I tried to make the best of it, since I had had a heart attack 1 month prior, and we were on the cruise to attempt to relax. We spoke with lower management about needing a balcony, to avoid long walking distances to the decks since I have a 100% blocked right coronary artery, it is impossible for me to walk extended distances. We would not have gone on the cruise without having a balcony room. They stated they did not have any available and moved us to a smaller room with no balcony. Soon after, the passengers who had had the room which we were moved to, walked in while I was in bed in my underwear. Apparently, security did not take their keys from them when they were moved. We asked to speak to the highest member of management on the boat, since the head guest service person could not answer questions about re-imbursements, etc. Meanwhile, due to the stress levels, my wife was in tears and I was popping nitro pills from chest pains. It took 24 hours just to be allowed to speak with a higher level manager. We decided to leave the ship at the first port in San Juan, Puerto Rico. My wife is an optometrist, and paid $2400 dollars for replacement doctors to fill-in for her, so we decided we should try to salvage our vacation elsewhere. Royal Caribbean finally decided to refund our money and pay for a flight home on April 3. Prior to leaving the ship, my wife realized she was missing items of clothes (pajamas). Management found them in the original bug infested room and stated that they were laundered and then rushed them to us prior to leaving. My wife wore these pajamas on Thurs. and Fri. nights. On Friday she started developing bumps and by Satuday she developed an incredible rash and hives on her arms, face, neck and back. Sat. April 2 she ended up in the ER on the island of Vieques for a Benadryl shot in the butt and IV steroids. The itching has continued and on April 4th, the bumps on her face were even worse. She went to a dermatologist here at home (Boca Raton, FL), on April 4th, who stated that the bumps definitely look like bites. He biopsied one bump and then stitched up the wound. Additionally, stronger medications were prescribed. As a doctor, my wife is very embarrassed and disconcerted attending to patients looking like she does. As you can expect, she and I are quite upset. The cruise line has reimbursed some of our costs but they are being very difficult to deal with. I just wanted to pass this story on to you, in case it might be of interested. I did not take pictures of the bugs but I have many pictures of the bites and my wife is still covered with them. From what I have found by researching "bed bugs", the pictures shown are exactly the bugs we saw. They are blood sucking bugs that are difficult to get rid of, can spread diseases and usually the infestions grow unless something serious is done. Just by witnessing the ship's employee say, 'let me check one spot' and finding a swarm in that spot, we were pretty sure that this was far from an issolated incedent. Higher management's comment to us was that in the hospitality industry 'bed bugs are common and always will be'. Well, we've never seen them before.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I am suddenly feeling very buggy just sitting here reading this. Thanks for the heads up.

Tink

 

[la37]

Reading this makes me itch. I'm cruising in about 3 weeks and will definately check the beds before I sleep in them.

 

[pediatric-rnp]

One of the distinct trademarks of bedbug bites is that they are usually found in linear clusters of three - it's known as "breakfast, lunch and dinner". That is one of the "clinical pearls" used for diagnosing this type of bite. Honest! I see these bites frequently in the kids I follow medically in the community clinic I work in - the area of the city I work in is very, very poor, and a lot of the furniture in their homes is second, third,fourth or fifth hand, and infested with them. I have learned never to sit down when I do a home visit. I also never wear my coat in or bring a pocketbook, bag or anything else if I can avoid it - roaches are another little creature that likes to travel - don't need to be bringing them home, either!

 

[HappyLawyer]

ok, i so hope they sue that company, how dare they not reimburse them hotel and med expenses.