Elfmama

Oh, a doctor is a doctor here too - but an onboard clinic isn't anywhere close to an ER - I think that's the big difference. The ER doc had a whole lot more resources available to him/her than the ship doc. Its also possible that since the ER has a much larger staff that the ER doc who saw her was a specialist, likely a neurologist - rather than the general practitioner who would be onboard the ship.

Perhaps the OP didn't realize that in many public places a strobe light is activated along with the audio alarm to alert those with haring difficulties.

Had I known, I would have asked DH to check the corridor to make sure that they had stopped, or covered my eyes and had him lead me out.

100% correct. The OPs first effects were also the same my dad had, as the tumour which we did know about started to apply pressure to his brain. It was all the hospital test similar to the OP that revealed our dad's life changing prognosis.

 

For the OP this sucks but what if your slurred speech was brought about for some other reason? If you were 100% certain it was from your migraine why wouldn't you "lay low" and retreat to your cabin after the muster drill? Hindsight is 20/20 so now It time to use your travel insurance.

 

Welcome to cruise critic.

The cruise line or doctor can not force you to go to a hospital nor force you to use an ambulance to go anywhere.

 

If there was really nothing out of the ordinary occurring, I find it odd that the OP would take an ambulance to a hospital. It makes me think that the OP thought that it could be something out of the ordinary and perhaps more serious.

 

From the story, it doesn't appear that the OP was promised to be allowed back on the ship if they were cleared by the hospital. So why go to the hospital if its nothing unusual for the OP?

 

In my opinion, RCL did the right thing to protect the corporation, but more importantly protect the OP.

Sorry you missed your cruise but did RCI do something wrong? :confused:

So there is one of two actionable possibilities here:

1.) The doctor recognized Imitrex as a migraine medication, and by dispensing it acknowledged that I WAS having a migraine and so did not warrant forcible disembarkation

OR

2.) Gave an UNKNOWN medication to a person suspected of having a stroke, when a quick consult with a Physician's Desk Reference or a call to a local ER would have revealed that this was a specifically contraindicated medication.

On January 11th, we were supposed to sail on Grandeur of the Seas out of Baltimore to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Instead, we got kicked off the ship at dockside because I came down with a migraine. I started having migraines at age 6, so I've had over 50 years of experience with them. By now, I know when I'm having a migraine and when I'm not. One of my major triggers is flashing lights, particularly bright, intense lights like strobe lights.

We got there in plenty of time, there about 10:30 when last check-in time was 3:00. Got into the stateroom, unpacked, had lunch, arranged for a shore excursion to replace one that was cancelled, etc.

Then they had the lifeboat drill. I didn't know that when they blow the ship's horn for the signal, they also have strobe lights going off in the corridor. Had there been notice either on the TV or in print, I would have had my husband check to see if it had stopped flashing, or had him lead me out while I covered my eyes. But since they didn't, I came out of my cabin and got one right in the face, no more than 10 feet away. IMMEDIATE migraine onset. And as bad luck would have it, there was a medic (? She never said one way or the other.) right there at the muster station. When I'm coming down with a migraine, I slur and stammer. This is a common-enough symptom that it has a name, dysphasic aura.

The medic insisted that I might be having a stroke, and wouldn't listen to me or DH telling them that this was the same set of symptoms that I have with EVERY migraine, and have had for at least the last 20 years. She insisted that I had to go to the infirmary. I finally allowed them to take me there, figuring that I'd tell the doctor I was in migraine prodrome, show him my migraine meds, and he'd know that there was nothing to worry about.

It didn't work that way. They gave me my Imitrex, but wouldn't listen when we told them that all I needed to do was lie down in a dark room for a couple of hours. They kicked BOTH of us off the ship and confiscated our shipcards so that we couldn't get back on.

They sent me in an ambulance to the ER, where the doctor took one look at me, had me do the very basic neuro test (squeeze hands, smile, check eyes), gave me an EKG, agreed that with my history of migraines, I knew what I was talking about, and discharged me. In and out in half an hour. (When was the last time you got through the ER like THAT on a Saturday afternoon?)

Meanwhile the cruise people packed up our stuff and called a taxi for DH. SonIL#2 got there first and took him to the hospital. When DH walked into the room, I was ready to leave. So we came home. Nothing else to do. The ship had sailed as soon as they got DH off of it.

We did get a refund of our shore excursions and wine package and stuff like that, but not the cost of the cruise itself. Our only recourse is to file with the travel insurance people.

For the last month, our travel agent has been fighting for us to get some sort of recompense from Royal Caribbean, but this afternoon we got a forward from her:

Dear Ms. [Agent]: Thank you for your e-mail. Please accept my apology for not responding sooner. We appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to further address any concerns. The well-being of our guests is our highest priority. However, there may be times when things do not go the way we had intended. We understand your disappointment regarding the medical evacuation of your client. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate the request for compensation. I apologize for any disappointment with our final decision. Ms. [Agent], thank you for the time you have taken to write to us. We truly look forward to the opportunity to welcome your clients back again and demonstrate our commitment to service on a future sailing. Sincerely, Najwa Pagon Corporate Guest Relations Advocate

It will be a cold day in Hawaii before we step foot on a Royal Caribbean ship again. In the morning, I'm calling my local TV stations' Investigative Teams. We will also be consulting legal advice. You know that old saying, a satisfied customer tells one person, an unsatisfied customer tells 10? Royal Caribbean has not considered that in these days of widespread internet access, that number might be closer to 10,000.

And whatever you do on your next cruise, DO NOT admit to having a minor ailment. Or you might be the one dumped off in a strange city, unable to rejoin your ship, for no reason other than a headache or touch of indigestion.