Sick kid 3 days before cruise -- HELP

[monikyn]

We have one of the kids sick in our travel party. We did -- NOT -- take insurance (I know - it was a gamble)
Is there anything that Disney Cruise Lines will do for us? Can we get the reservation moved for later? or anything else at all?

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Is it an illness that can run it's course in the next day?

 

[monikyn]

we sure hope so! His mom is at the doctor's office with him as we chat... I just wanted some Veteran's POV, in case his mom comes back with the sad news....

 

[lbgraves]

Sorry but DCL is firm about its cancellation policy and has been since last summer. They used to move the money paid to another cruise but you are less than a week from the cruise date and the penalty would be 100% of monies paid. Unfortunately you lost the gamble with insurance. I hope that the child gets better in time to take the cruise.

 

[kcashner]

Recently DCL has been very strict about the cancellation policy....you can always call them. How about a trip to the pediatrician and hope for a very quick recovery? Or is there any way this child can stay with grandma? Of course if you do that, the rest of the group might get sick while sailing.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Well, let's see what the doctor comes back with. If it is a virus that will run it's road in 24 hours then you are okay; because you still are within the 24 hr no fever no GI distress. So let's hope it is a quick virus or an ear infection. At this point, I think you will be cruising without part of your party if it is something more. At this point in the game, it would mean a lost of your monies. The best I have heard at this point is getting to the ship and the cruiseline deny boarding for the sick family. SOMETIMES then they will give you a compensation of alternative tickets to the parks. The problem is this is not always the case and I would not want to travel anywhere with a sick child. Not to mention if by chance you have to fly, you can be denied your flight as well.... I sure hope all is well; but insurance is for situations just like this...... Those little kiddos; you never know. Here is some for you guys.

 

[wcw57]

As an ooooold father and now grandpa, whatever it is (short of some flus) will run its course in 3-5 days

that is why doctors will always give you a prescription for your cold/virus/flu and tell you you should feel better in 3-5...you would be the same w/o medicine.

Anyhow, while I wouldn't want to torture the child (don't know how old or how fragile) dose up the child with whatever medication he/she needs...hide him/her in port as best as possible....and get on the ship.

PLEASE don't tell me the risks of spreading stuff...the doctor will diagnose the contagious factor. After 3 days (or will it be four at boarding?) child will be much better and will not ruin their or your vacation.

Don't let them cough on people and all that jazz....we are not as sickly a society as television would have you believe and even survived by keeping meat cool with chunks of ice and no sani-wipes on the counters.

hope child is feeling better soon!

 

[djd7292]

There are soo many viruses already on board that unless the child is vomiting, has a high fever, or diarrhea ~ I wouldn't worry about it.

On our thread that came off the Magic (6/20) & there was a group of us that got some sort of virus ranging from either a stomach bug, sore throat & fever, cough, & a couple of us even got pink eye. I am still battling a cough. Some that got ill never even met each other.

Have a great trip!!

 

[sleigh]

We may be in the same boat, we are leaving on Saturday and while my DS is not sick, I am worried because 9 kids from his camp group were out sick today and he has been on steroids since late last week which make him more susceptible to getting sick.

If I were to buy insurance today and he ends of getting sick later in the week, would we be covered since he is not currently sick?

 

[Cruise]

We may be in the same boat, we are leaving on Saturday and while my DS is not sick, I am worried because 9 kids from his camp group were out sick today and he has been on steroids since late last week which make him more susceptible to getting sick.

If I were to buy insurance today and he ends of getting sick later in the week, would we be covered since he is not currently sick?

I believe most travel insurance requires that you purchase it within a few days of making your final payment on the actual vacation.... so I'm guessing no. If you look at it from the insurance company's point of view, it doesn't make sense to sell a policy to someone who could be buying it just in order to cash it in within a few days.

 

[MinnieGi]

Hope he feels better soon enough to go! With three days till you go, there is a very good chance he will be well for the cruise!

 

[lbgraves]

I believe most travel insurance requires that you purchase it within a few days of making your final payment on the actual vacation.... so I'm guessing no. If you look at it from the insurance company's point of view, it doesn't make sense to sell a policy to someone who could be buying it just in order to cash it in within a few days.

You can purchase insurance just about up to the date of the cruise BUT it will cost you more money. I am guessing/hoping that since you posted for advice on what to do here you will not follow the horrible suggestion to try to hide your child at the port. That is not fair to the child not to mention the other passengers.

 

[sleigh]

I have no intentions of bringing him if he is sick. Not only would it not be enjoyable for him to be sick, but he has severe asthma where a cold could easily turn into pneumonia. We are heading to the doctor tomorrow so I will get their opinion.

 

[Narnia_girl]

we sure hope so! His mom is at the doctor's office with him as we chat... I just wanted some Veteran's POV, in case his mom comes back with the sad news....

What did the doctor say?

I have no intentions of bringing him if he is sick. Not only would it not be enjoyable for him to be sick, but he has severe asthma where a cold could easily turn into pneumonia. We are heading to the doctor tomorrow so I will get their opinion.

I'm sorry for him and for you. I sure hope he can get well quickly. Didn't you say he's already on steroids? That usually whips my son's asthma into shape in a day or two. We deal with the same situation you mentioned....cold turns into pneumonia so quickly.

 

[ma2jr]

Geez.. crossing my fingers poor thing gets better quick

 

[sleigh]

What did the doctor say?




I'm sorry for him and for you. I sure hope he can get well quickly. Didn't you say he's already on steroids? That usually whips my son's asthma into shape in a day or two. We deal with the same situation you mentioned....cold turns into pneumonia so quickly.[/QUOTET

Thanks, he is not currently sick. He had a horrible allergic reaction to red ant bites last week, that ended him in the hospital. His entire body swelled and his throat started closing. His foot, where he was bit was so swollen that he didn't have any blood flowing to it. He has been wheezing and coughing since then even on the steroids, so we are heading back tomorrow. But I am nervous with so many of the kids sick at camp that he will pick something up being on the steroids.

 

[lbgraves]

Poor thing!!! Were they fire ants? Those things are vicious! I really hope he feels better soon.

 

[sleigh]

Poor thing!!! Were they fire ants? Those things are vicious! I really hope he feels better soon.

Thanks, he is doing much better. Yes, they were and yes they are!! He got bit over 20 times on one foot, five or so on the other and then on his hands when he wiped them off. He was at camp when it happened and I was not at all prepared for what he looked like when I got to him.

 

[lbgraves]

I had never heard of them until we moved to NC and have had what I thought were a couple of back run-ins with them but nothing compared to what your DS went through.

 

[NancyIL]

We may be in the same boat, we are leaving on Saturday and while my DS is not sick, I am worried because 9 kids from his camp group were out sick today and he has been on steroids since late last week which make him more susceptible to getting sick.

If I were to buy insurance today and he ends of getting sick later in the week, would we be covered since he is not currently sick?

That's like buying insurance after a hurricane has been named, but hasn't hit yet! I think you'd be SOL.

Just wanted to add that your son now has a pre-existing condition, and insurance would not pay a claim if you cancelled due to any further medical problems related to it.