Amazingly horrible incident on Celebrity Solstice

[Cruising5650]

We were disembarking in FLL last year when the dreadful alarm sounded. We were escorted past the LONG line to go thru customs and then taken to security, we were not sure what was going on...we thought maybe the coffee we bought in Columbia wasn't actually coffee :o. Once in the security room we were asked to identify our bags, we did and we were told "Thank You" and dismissed. In hindsight my guess it had something to do with a random check since we used the luggage valet service. This was actually a huge benefit for us as DH had broken his rib 2 days earlier and waiting in that line would have been "amazingly horrible" for him. ;)

 

This is the "funny" version of the story - love the part about Columbian Coffee possibly not being coffee. The OP told the miserable version and made himself unhappy for no real reason.

 

Great post!

[baggal]

If the OP was disembarking on the west coast (Seattle), wouldn't it have been later than 5:30 am in Washington where the lawyer was? just sayin"

 

And me too, what happended in the Martini Bar

 

But I will say, if I had a plane to catch and was being held there for 25 minutes, I would have been on the verge of a snit fit too. I agree, that was bad form on Celebrity's part. Missing a flight can be a gi-normous pain these days. But I do think I would save the phrase "amazingly horrible" for an incident that at least involved bodily harm.

 

Yes, the last time I checked if its 7:30 a.m. in Seattle its 10:30 a.m. in D.C.

[lovecruzin]

The OP should be glad the lawyer didn't answer, that call surely would have cost at least $40 in billable hours!

[Orator]

Yes, the last time I checked if its 7:30 a.m. in Seattle its 10:30 a.m. in D.C.

 

The time is critical to his case. Perhaps he spent just too much time at the Martini Bar enjoying the drink package to the fullest.

[CruisingChick]

I got buzzed on our May Summit cruise. They took my iron and put a message on my card to remind me to pick it up once I disembarked.

 

I am so sorry the OP was so upset. Still would love to know what happened at the Martini Bar.

 

Orator, I am in disbelief that there have been high tier cruisers banned from all RCCL lines. WOW.

[woldridge]

On one cruise,I went through security on disembarkation without incident, but when my husband started through, the machine alarmed and he was detained. They would not let me back on (understandably). My husband was directed to guest relations who said there must have been an issue with his card and proceeded to issue him a new card. He made his way through the long line (again), only to have it alarm (again) as he tried to leave. He was (again) sent to guest relations where they finally solved the issue...we had put a cash deposit on embarkation, and had paid off the on-board bill the night before, leaving a bit extra to cover drinks for the last evening. He was denied getting off the ship because they owed us under $5. All this took over an hour, while I was standing on the other side of the exit with no knowledge of what was going on.

 

It never even crossed my mind to write a letter.

 

Since Seattle is 3 hours behind Washington DC, I agree with the other poster that commented that the lawyer call is a bit confusing...just saying.:D

[warmwinds]

Maybe, since everyone has caller ID on their phones, the lawyer just did not want to pick up when he knew who it was.

[A Sixth?]

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :confused:

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :confused:

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :confused:

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :p

 

We all want to know:

What happened at the Martini Bar?!

[steveweese]

If I was you I wouldn't come back

[chamima]

On one cruise,I went through security on disembarkation without incident, but when my husband started through, the machine alarmed and he was detained. They would not let me back on (understandably). My husband was directed to guest relations who said there must have been an issue with his card and proceeded to issue him a new card. He made his way through the long line (again), only to have it alarm (again) as he tried to leave. He was (again) sent to guest relations where they finally solved the issue...we had put a cash deposit on embarkation, and had paid off the on-board bill the night before, leaving a bit extra to cover drinks for the last evening. He was denied getting off the ship because they owed us under $5. All this took over an hour, while I was standing on the other side of the exit with no knowledge of what was going on.

 

It never even crossed my mind to write a letter.

 

Since Seattle is 3 hours behind Washington DC, I agree with the other poster that commented that the lawyer call is a bit confusing...just saying.:D

 

This happened to us once also.

My first thought when reading was that how this story was going to end also.

[TailSpin1]

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :confused:

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :confused:

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :confused:

What happened at the Martini Bar?! :p

 

I think it was stirred not shaken Miss Moneypenny!

 

 

 

 

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[gimletgal]

I'm sorry, but if this "Amazingly horrible incident on Celebrity Solstice" is the worst thing that has ever happened to the OP, then he has indeed led a charmed life.

[jelayne]

I doubt that many, if any, passengers while disembarking pay any attention to someone standing off to the side with security.

 

I surely don't. I'm too busy watching where I'm walking, watching for flying backpacks, and trying to keep track of DH;). The only reason I would notice someone off to the side with security is if they were calling attention to themselves.

[Lsimon]

I see nothing wrong, and completely understand, OP's frustration with the delay on embarkation day morning. It is just poor service that they'd detain her there days after the event for no specific purpose and without explaining why. From what I recall of the OP's explanation no one ever told her why she was being delayed and she only "assumed" it was to discuss the incident.

 

While I can truly understand the OP's feelings about this, the end result is that it was just a delay of under 30 minutes. While frustrating and upsetting it isn't quite a major catastrophe. I can also understand why the OP would like Celebrity to reimburse her for the excess cost. But I can also understand why Celebrity would not do so for a 30 minute disembarkation delay - especially based on an email request. If the OP wanted to give it another try I'd recommend she take her time to write a nice request letter explaining how the cost was due to the unexplained delay while she was forced to wait against her will, that it was apparently for nothing as it was never explained nor did she ever meet the person who had requested the delay. She should also include proof of the expenditure such as a receipt from the driver which includes an itemized charge for the 30 minutes waiting time. This might work and it might not as I can understand where Celebrity might feel that a 30 minute delay early on embarkation day is still within the time frame one might expect for leaving the ship.

 

As for apologies, I can understand Celebrity not wanting to go through the hoops that would be required to obtain a written, or verbal, apology from on board personnel in addition to the nicely worded apology she received from the corporate representative. The point is that they did apologize.

 

As for what happened at the martini bar: Well, we all love a good story but I'm not sure it is totally relevant to the OP's complaint. But if the OP would share the story then I'm sure we'd all like to read about it.

[1cruiselvr]

This is an excellent example of how people expect the world to be perfect, nothing should go wrong, no matter how small, and if not, then call a lawyer who will certainly make it perfect for them. ;)

[julia]

Larry:

 

HER??? :eek::p There's no "HER" in this story! (laughing here!)

 

 

On another note..... apparently, ASixth is off his meds again... :p:D

[CruisingChick]

On another note..... apparently, ASixth is off his meds again... :p:D

 

Maybe he just needs to go on a cruise.

[Shake]

All that after just being asked a few question by security??

 

Talk about huge overblown drama? :o :o :o

 

Please Jim do us all a favor and stay with Royal Caribbean.

[MizDemeanor]

I don't know what happened at the Martini Bar that may or may not have contributed to the events at disembarkation, but I think you have the right and freedom to call it as you see it, partilcuary becasue you have sailed so frequently with these lines.

 

I have no desire to investigate you have you cow tow to an inquisition. I don't really care to know what happened. You feel strongly about impact the event had on you and that is good enough for me. Clearly it is not for the loyalists becasue you have failed to meet their expectations, ( apparently ther is a 'need' for them to have you achieve this level of accomodation, but more importantly, the cruiseline failed to meet yours.

 

These days when so many are failing to meet guests expectations and are patently rude to them, its a buyers market. Its a big world, and there are other lines with perhaps a bit more to offer when a high level of guest dissatisfacton occurs.

[broberts]

Wow, the OP has certainly been told off. Not a single erg of sympathy.

 

I'm not at all surprised by the response from Celebrity.

 

I can understand the OP's frustration having his debarkation suspended and then having to wait for the appearance of security while worrying about making a flight.

 

Not sure I'd be calling my lawyer so early in the morning when apparently all I'd been asked to do was make a witness statement. But to each their own. Given such a low threshold for invoking lawyers, it really should not surprise the OP that Celebrity while sympathetic, is not willing to do anything that might be wrongly construed an admission of wrong doing.

[stereo]

Hi--All--you are missing the point --The OP was detained against his will--assume that you are at your favorite store at the mall---after buying clothing and paying for it you try to leave-(a buzzer sounds)-and as you do so you are stopped by security and told to stand still untill the head of securiy is notified--you are fuming (your child is waiting to be picked up and you are now late) and you say what is wrong etc. --30 minutes later the head of security arrives---you show him your receipt--paid--of course the cashier forgot to remove the little tag that turns the buzzer on --The store manager would after calling his attorney apologize profusely and maybe even offer compensation----

[Mark_K]

Hi--All--you are missing the point --The OP was detained against his will--assume that you are at your favorite store at the mall---after buying clothing and paying for it you try to leave-(a buzzer sounds)-and as you do so you are stopped by security and told to stand still untill the head of securiy is notified--you are fuming (your child is waiting to be picked up and you are now late) and you say what is wrong etc. --30 minutes later the head of security arrives---you show him your receipt--paid--of course the cashier forgot to remove the little tag that turns the buzzer on --The store manager would after calling his attorney apologize profusely and maybe even offer compensation----

Isn't that pretty much what Celebrity did in their response to the email, the compensation excepting?

 

 

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[Jimx2inDC]

While I am sure some of you think I am crazy or unreasonable - I really am not. After 25 cruises I have never sent in or reported a complaint. I am *NOT* one of those people.

 

Just to get a few facts correct:

 

- I was only a witness in a drunken passenger "assaulting" someone I know.

- I never called my attorney - how ever after being threatened with "stopped and detained" by border police - I was considering it.

- I asked for an apology from 1 crew member and $40. After spending tens of thousands of dollars with a company - this response was an insult. It so was not about $40 - but admitting they could have done things a whole lot better.

 

Lastly; while I do appreciate everyones comments - please ask yourself:

 

how would YOU feel if security held you against your will for 30 minutes on deck over an incident which you were only a witness to - which happened 5 days prior?

[tserface]

I would have been ticked off. They could have, at least, told you what was up. They may still refund your $40. The original note didn't sound final... just that they were checking into it.

 

Tom

 

While I am sure some of you think I am crazy or unreasonable - I really am not. After 25 cruises I have never sent in or reported a complaint. I am *NOT* one of those people.

 

Just to get a few facts correct:

 

- I was only a witness in a drunken passenger "assaulting" someone I know.

- I never called my attorney - how ever after being threatened with "stopped and detained" by border police - I was considering it.

- I asked for an apology from 1 crew member and $40. After spending tens of thousands of dollars with a company - this response was an insult. It so was not about $40 - but admitting they could have done things a whole lot better.

 

Lastly; while I do appreciate everyones comments - please ask yourself:

 

how would YOU feel if security held you against your will for 30 minutes on deck over an incident which you were only a witness to - which happened 5 days prior?

[deise17311]

Jim, I hear you ...lots of people on here go nuts if you have any complaint...after our 8/23 cruise was canceled, I was called everything from greedy to a spammer for posting about my anger, disappointment, and call for Celebrity to do the right thing with compensation...we still have NOT received a refund...however, I see the ones who flame others consistently...their time will come when they have a problem and boy am I waiting for that day to post, post, post!