While on our April 7th sailing on the Edge I had an accident while on a Celebrity Sponsored shore excursion. I am writing this to warn others so all are aware of the lack of empathy we received both from guest relations and the shore excursion teams on the Edge and can take action and not go to this shore excursion site until issues are resolved.
First just giving you who we are , we are Elite and loyalist both to Celebrity and RCCL and I have no health issues and 60 years old.
On our scheduled stop to the Island of St Lucia we had booked Celebrity excursion
“ West Side Treasures by Catamaran “
That sailed to pigeon island and the swim and sail to the Pitons. This was a 6 hr tour
The Catamaran named “the spirit of Carnival“ was an older not well kept (bathroom stoped working and overflowing while on trip as well making the covered area a smelly mess) and this trip way over sold for this event in my opinion.
While at the first stop we unload Pigeon island park dock with the option to hike to the up to the Fort or take Swim at the beach areas. We chose to swim at beach area and had no issues here for this first part of the one hour stop. We were told to watch for the Catamaran to return at dock to reload to continue the sail to next stop. While walking up the dock to get back on boat I stepped on a board on the dock (old dock not well kept) and the board broke and snapped off about a 16 inch section from the last nailed support and my leg fell through this dock down to upper thigh on my left leg. I was so lucky one that I am healthy, and have strong bones.
No major brakes or cuts. I have horrible bruises and contusions both sides of this right leg. I only had one small cut and not much bleeding. Lots of pain and could not put weight on leg for rest of day or night.
I have some pain on left leg due to maybe a shin bone bruising.
The catamaran captain came immediately to help pull me out of the hole, checking on me and took photos of my injuries and the dock. This dock is not safe, do not take excursions to Pigeon island until this dock is torn down and replaced.
The next issue was the catamaran had NO first aid kit aboard!! thank goodness I only had a small cut! It also had nothing to offer me to make an ice pack. I used my celebrity beach bag cloth one given to us in room to make shift ice pack.
When I got back on catamaran I was still I. Shock and was asked to sign off on injury paper work both from the captain and the escort from the tour group both claiming the dock was not their responsibilities.
I was not given the opportunity or option to get off and go back to ship and was left in tears and pain for the next 4 hours as this excursion continued. At end of tour , The ship was notified and was asked to bring a wheelchair to get me back on ship.
The ship porter took me through security and then parked me as my husband came through. No offer was done to ask me if I needed medical or to take me there. My husband got through security check in and said did they just leave you here ? We’re did they go?
I at this point had been on the catamaran for 6 hrs and had a much need for bathroom break as there was one no way I could make it down any stairs to a catamaran bathroom or would I want to use this smelly overflowing one with open leg wounds, so my husband takes me to our cabin.
He then leaves to go to Guest relations, they gave him a response that this is not their responsibility and to go to shore excursion desk? No Empathy or well check asked about me. His Name was Dereck.
At the shore excursion desk my husband told them of the accident and our concerns about the safety of this stop and lack of safety and first aid help on the spirit of carnival catamaran and last ask for refund of this trip and to cancel the next days booked excursion as I can not put weight on my leg at this point. They would not advise the could or would do anything until my husband agreed to take me to medical for evaluation.
Ok this is fine so he rolled me down to medical with no assistance from anyone and in my wheelchair still. Dr looked at my bruises and said keep ice on it no gave me zip bags for ice and asked if I needed any over counter pain medicine. The Dr also heard our concerns of safety of this trip and called down a safety officer to make a report. Panos was the officer had me sign statements and took photos of my leg. we then took ice bags and left and head back to report to shore excursion desk.
Shore excursion offer to do cancellation for next day tour and to give us half credit for todays excursion! My husband is now livid and they said they would call us later or check back with them and the see if more can be given back for refund.
It took us many trips and calls to get the full refund.
Very disappointed with this whole experience.