If you're considering passports and/or insurance

[Lisa F]

This poor family is going through hell on a cruise because they have neither. What a freak accident made worse by not having the means (legal or financial) to get back to the US. Many people wonder if the extra expense is worth it if not required, but this demonstrates why even though it's not required, it's a good idea to have a passport if you're leaving the country.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/c...-to-get-back-to-u-s-with-sick-child-on-cruise

 

[lorimay]

Omg, I couldn't imagine. How scary.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Poor little guy. I hope he's going to be okay. At this point, getting off isn't going to get them home any faster than the ship would, if they're supposed to be back in PC on Wed.

 

[Lisa F]

Poor little guy. I hope he's going to be okay. At this point, getting off isn't going to get them home any faster than the ship would, if they're supposed to be back in PC on Wed.

I actually saw the story first on fb (friend of a friend) and it happened a week ago, their first night on the cruise. NCL wanted them to get off in Mexico but they refused because they would be stuck in Mexico for at least 3 days and they were worried about the quality of medical care there and said they would have to prepay before they would be seen.

At this point yes they will be back in the morning - hopefully there is no permanent damage. She says she's amassed over $10k in medical bills on the ship.

With passports and insurance they would be back in the US by now.

 

[cvjw]

This is exactly the reason I insisted my college aged son and friend get passports for a spring break cruise a few years back. Even though passports weren’t required, having one meant they could get back into the US on a plane if needed and not have to stay on the ship for reentry. You just never know when something really bad can happen, unfortunately.

 

[starry_solo]

Crazy!

 

[FigmentSpark]

I actually saw the story first on fb (friend of a friend) and it happened a week ago, their first night on the cruise. NCL wanted them to get off in Mexico but they refused because they would be stuck in Mexico for at least 3 days and they were worried about the quality of medical care there and said they would have to prepay before they would be seen.

At this point yes they will be back in the morning - hopefully there is no permanent damage. She says she's amassed over $10k in medical bills on the ship.

With passports and insurance they would be back in the US by now.

If you hear how the little guy is faring, please update. Thanks.

 

[Lisa F]

If you hear how the little guy is faring, please update. Thanks.

I've been following her live updates and the little boy is back to being septic again, they are putting him back on an antibiotic. They are docking tomorrow morning and social media being what it is, there are a lot of people chiming in, a lot of news outlets and authorities being linked so hopefully by the time they get there there will be an ambulance waiting.

Apparently the consulate in Mexico advised they stay on the ship as a few days in a local hospital waiting for an expedited passport could have a worse outcome than staying on the ship.

NCL is being the opposite of helpful. The family is being told they will NOT be allowed to leave the ship until their bill is settled in full, which is approaching $10k now for iv fluids, antibiotics and steroids since Saturday. They DO have travel insurance but we all know you have to pay OOP first and then they will review the claim and reimburse (except for evacuation.) I get the cruiseline's stance about settling up and I'm sure you sign something saying you will, but I don't think it is legal to keep someone who is in the middle of a medical emergency from getting the care they need because of an unsettled bill. This is not going to end up being good PR for them.

Of course I am going on a cruise myself a week from Saturday and there is nothing but anxiety provoking news all over the place! Hopefully by this time tomorrow this little boy is getting proper care and on the mend.

 

[belle032]

I absolutely feel for the family and hope that their son is hanging on and doing OK. I can't imagine the stress and the medical costs and the family deserves nothing but positive thoughts.

However....please please please invest in a passport! Yes, they may seem like an expensive and unnecessary cost, but when you truly break it down they are invaluable. They last for 10 years and are really the only form of ID you need for any kind of travel or government transaction. Even domestic air travel is moving towards requiring Real IDs and passports.

We just went on a cruise with another couple and the girl was the only one who did not have a passport. She was also the only one with a baby at home. God forbid there was some kind of emergency and she couldn't get there. No way.

Maybe I'm crazy but DH & I do not travel anywhere without a passport and I especially can't imagine not having one when cruising or leaving the US.

 

[MrMichaelJames]

I would not let the ship hold me or my family. I would physically leave the boat. What are they going to do? Restrain you? Yeah isn't going to happen with kids around nor the press sitting on a facetime call or streaming live on facebook. It would turn really ugly for NCL very quickly.

 

[Lisa F]

This is exactly the reason I insisted my college aged son and friend get passports for a spring break cruise a few years back. Even though passports weren’t required, having one meant they could get back into the US on a plane if needed and not have to stay on the ship for reentry. You just never know when something really bad can happen, unfortunately.

this is the most freak thing ever. It's a 4 year old who cut his eye on a toy - how many of us have that eyebrow scar from a cut gotten as a toddler/young child?

I honestly wish that passports were a requirement and I'm not sure why they are not.

 

[lorimay]

Seriously, they think they can hold this little boy on a ship that is docked in the USA??
He needs immediate attention, no way they can do that!!!

 

[GOOFY D]

This poor family is going through hell on a cruise because they have neither. What a freak accident made worse by not having the means (legal or financial) to get back to the US. Many people wonder if the extra expense is worth it if not required, but this demonstrates why even though it's not required, it's a good idea to have a passport if you're leaving the country.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/c...-to-get-back-to-u-s-with-sick-child-on-cruise

Sounds like they have travel insurance but that the bill will not be covered for some reason.

 

[Lisa F]

I would not let the ship hold me or my family. I would physically leave the boat. What are they going to do? Restrain you? Yeah isn't going to happen with kids around nor the press sitting on a facetime call or streaming live on facebook. It would turn really ugly for NCL very quickly.

I know, these people do not know who they are messing with (I don't know this woman but as a mother... believe me, they don't want to go there.)

Seriously, they think they can hold this little boy on a ship that is docked in the USA??
He needs immediate attention, no way they can do that!!!

right?

Who knows what is really going on but I watched a short video she made and she stated that the medical care they have received has been fine and that crew has been good so she doesn't sound like she is looking for trouble, she just wants to get her baby to a hospital ASAP.

The captain and officers should be doing what they can to make it easier on her, not harder. It is obviously not their fault they couldn't help her get off sooner due to the passport issue but they should be arranging for an ambulance and expedited debarkation the second they are cleared by customs rather than threatening to hold them on board for not being able to pay their bill (they have already paid it partially.)

 

[Lisa F]

Sounds like they have travel insurance but that the bill will not be covered for some reason.

I think the issue is twofold

they tried to get the insurance to help them get the child back home when they were in mexico but their hands are tied without the passports.

Also except for medical evacuation (where they prepay) travel medical insurance requires you to pay up front and then submit the claim and they reimburse you. They may get reimbursed but the cruiseline is requiring them to settle up but also threatening that they will not let them off the ship before they do. I can see them saying "you have to settle up" but I am not sure they have the legal legs to detain them if they can't. I think legally if they can't they have to pursue it through administrative means (debt collection). It's even worse given that this child is in a medical crisis at the moment and the detention could have longer term health consequences.

Even though it would ultimately cost the insurance company more for the medevac, it probably would have been less OOP expense to be evacuated from Mexico if they had passports to do so.

 

[lorimay]

Always about the almighty buck......

 

[Lisa F]

still following and an update - a friend of hers has been in contact with local authorities at Port Canaveral who confirmed that the child and a guardian cannot be detained aboard the ship and are now aware of the situation - they were advised to contact EMS as soon as they are in the process of docking and the authorities will handle getting the mom and child off the ship and into the ambulance.

How NCL could not know that would be the outcome and why they thought it was a good idea to make threats they could not follow through on is beyond me.

 

[71 Truck]

As far as then not being able to get off the boat without paying the bill. I think it could go on the credit card they put on file before sailing? They also should be in contact with the insurance company before they dock so the medical company and the insurance company can get this all taken care of ahead of time.
In the end the only thing that matters is the health and safety of the little boy.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

As far as then not being able to get off the boat without paying the bill. I think it could go on the credit card they put on file before sailing? They also should be in contact with the insurance company before they dock so the medical company and the insurance company can get this all taken care of ahead of time.
In the end the only thing that matters is the health and safety of the little boy.

A lot of people don't have credit cards with limits high enough to handle a $10K plus medical bill. Also, as mentioned before, to get insurance to cover it, they have to pay now and submit the bills for reimbursement. They are already in contact with the insurance company, but travel insurance doesn't work the same as your regular health insurer where your doctor will submit the bills to insurance and then settle up with you later.

 

[Lisa F]

As far as then not being able to get off the boat without paying the bill. I think it could go on the credit card they put on file before sailing? They also should be in contact with the insurance company before they dock so the medical company and the insurance company can get this all taken care of ahead of time.
In the end the only thing that matters is the health and safety of the little boy.

I think they have paid up what they can which is about $8k or so? (going by memory) and as of now have $2800 more but another full day of medical expenses to tack on. They were advised by the finance officer to apply for more credit cards to pay for the rest.