Rosemary,,
First as to your vow renewal , I agree completely that this was not handled properly and feel that
DCL owes you at the least an explaination of what happened and why things went so wrong. I also agree with what you said about the captain, if he is to busy then he should not be advertised as part of the plan. My apologizes to you regarding the vow renewal. However I can not agree with the other DIS members on the support they have given you on the illness. While I completely understand how disappointed you were with being isolated! Trust me I know because I was also on my cruise in Nov. But read below to understand why disagree.
"Things got worse: The next day, after a day of over indulgence in food, the food at Palo was excellent by the way, I woke with a slight tummy upset - nothing much - a few episodes of diarrhoea and a little nausea. Notification in the cabin said if you are ill ring the medical centre for a 'free assessment' - so I did - what a big mistake that was. They said I had to go and see the doc. By the time I got there I was greatly improved - the whole episode of my illness lasted about 3 hours, - the doc asked me a few questions pressed my tummy and told me I had the Norwalk and would be confined to my cabin for 48 hours!!!! What!!!! We had just docked at
Castaway Cay on a four day cruise, last year I miised Castaway because it couldn't dock!! Sorry he said, you have to stay in your cabin for 48 hours - which would be 9 am on disembarkation day!!!! He said I couldn't 'mingle' on board. I was feeling 90% better and improving all the time and was sure it was only because I had over indulged the day before!!"
Ok I guess I am going to be flamed for my responses here , but I feel like it must be said. I have IBS..lets get that out of the way so diareaha can be a daily thing for me regardless of norwalk or not . However I am pretty good at knowing when the ibs is acting up, if I have been stressed out...etc. I too read the note that is posted everywhere about reporting all illnesses to the infirmary. On Monday of the cruise both my nephew and I had diareah and a fever. I knew that we had to go , and I knew what the deal would be. Had I thought that it was from eating to much rich food/over indulging..etc I would not have gone. I believe that there must have been something that prompted you to go to the ships drs. I found the infirmary well staffed, friendly, and knowageable. The dr told me that the "big" norwalk outbreak was started by one lady that infected an entire plane full of people and a lot of fellow cruisers. How could I , knowing that I was indeed sick take a risk at being responsible for others getting sick and ruining their cruise also? I know how disappointed I was that we had to stay in the cabin, but it was the "RIGHT" thing to do.
"So there I was, confined. Guest services did do their best to make me as comfortable as possible."
Yes Guest services will do all they can to make it ok for you. I found that they went above and beyond the call of duty!
"he next day, I called Brent and asked what the chances were of my being let out as I was well. He said it was up to the discretion of the medical centre. 'Oh no Madam - you must stay in your cabin for 48 hours', came the reply. I said I would wear gloves, mask, or anything else, keep out of everyone's way, only use the toilet in our cabin, and not eat or drink except in our cabin. 'No madam, it is law you have to stay in your cabin for 48 Hours' (as mentioned earlier this would take me to 9 am on disembarkation day). They were not prepared to examine me again, or come to any contingency at all, they would just not bend the rules at all. I can quite understand that they did not want me infecting their ship and also the other guests, and If I had been vomiting and diarrahoea all day and really ill I could have understood it, but what I had was so, so mild, and I did not believe I had the Norwalk - anyway, how many other people were walking around the ship with an 'over indulgent' tummy and not even told them!!! I couldn't undrstand, how my family were allowed into my 'infectious environment' and then allowed to go around the ship - same goes for the staff that came into my room!!"
I feel that it has nothing to do with Bret to make the decision as to weather you are allowed out or not. Imigration laws require all non us citizens to report before the ship can be cleared. If you did not report this would hold up the entire ship. Also once of ship laws are different. For example while we were not allowed off the ship at nassua we could go off at freeport due to a 24 hour requirement by the bahamas(however we were to ill to do so). Staff that enter your room...well because I became close to our room stewart I learned that staff is not allowed into the room unless they are from the health center, when we were in the room and a man came to clean our room he wore protective gloves, used special cleaning supplies , and trash was placed in the red plastic bags. He said that his job and that of several other stewards is just to handle the cabins with medical isolation. They are trained...recieve special medical care to make sure that they dont get sick. Food services, also have to follow this same rule...the room server that came with our food advised me that they have to follow rules after coming to my room...hand washing...not touching doors in public areas...etc. Guest services also does this.
The said I was to go to immigration, then go back to my cabin and have my breakfast in my room and then a different nurse said I could go to breakfast in the dining room - 'But I will be breaking the law' - they didn't care they just wanted me off their ship.
This is not true, there is no room service availible to ANY guest availible on departure. Even in the Roy suites! Its simply not possible.
I was so, so upset, that they expected me to stick to the law until it suited them! I became very angry and told them if they insisted I stay in my cabin for 48 hours and that was what I was going to do, and if they wanted me off the ship before 9 am they would have to carry me off and I was not going to immigration at 6 am, they would have to stick to their laws, and come to me! I was so adamant.
I find this immature...I know you were disappointed but PLEASE!
Like I said bring on the flames people...but I have a right to my feelings. Like I said, I do feel bad for you Rosemary....I was there with you, but I made the best out of a horrible situation, and I would NEVER treat anyone the way you describe below.
The next day, I did go to immigration, and was angry, so I made a point of telling them at immigration and ohers that 'Disney had let me out to infect everyone with the Norwalk'.
How horrible of you! Think of people around you that may have heard you. Is this really the way to behave?
I then went to collect the photographs from shutters - we had upgraded our photo package to $499 which included 54 photographs. My daughter and I spent over an hour writing all the numbers down, Shutters were delighted that we had written the numbers down as it saved them lot of work.
I agree again with you..this was not good, and you deserve a response.
When they gave me the photo's - I couldn't believe it - every one was WRONG!!!! They had printed 54 incorrect photographs - this was just too much - I checked that we had put the right numbers on, and we had - the man wanted me to stay and go through it all again - I was just so angry and upset, I became very irate - I shouted I wasn't going to stay, he can sort it out, anway I didn't want to infect him with Norwalk, even tho Disney had said Iwas allowed out before my 48 hours quarantine was up!!!!
But I still wouldnt have done that..screaming...telling everyone that I had norwalk....
I went straight to Guest Services and demanded to see Brent - who of course wasn't there - this only added to my frustration - and I started shouting - the poor young lady behind the desk was almost in tears - I know it wasn't her fault directly. I went to get some coffee telling everyone on the way that I was infecting the ship (Please folks, if I thought I was in any way infectious, I do have a heart, and would not have put anyone, particularly the children at risk and would have stayed in my cabin).
Then why did you act that way and do what you did? I dont understand. Why did you tell people on the way to get coffee that you were infecting the ship?????????
Day in Rainforest Spa - Brent never knew about this and had to check with the office - we did receive the day, but of course couldn't use it!!!
I hope that they will refund this for you as it was a mistake.
Ok...Now I know I am putting myself out there. But I have been where she was. And I agree 100% on the following...it was disapppointing. The vow renewal got messed up and on the shutters and the rainforest.
To all that may get sick on board all I can ask is that you do the right thing, if I prevented even one person from getting sick I did the right thing.
Aimee
"getting the flame resistant suit ready to go!"
