No medical waivers honored! Past final payment

[DMH15]

No, that has never happened to me.

 

I didn't said that most hotels have that policy.

 

I should never say that some, or many, hotels has that policy if I didn't knew that as a fact. That doesn't mean that I can provide a link or even name any hotels with that policy.

 

I know that the internet most of the time isn't a reliable source but from what I found with a quick search it seems to be most common in Turkey.

 

Does anyone know how it is in Las Vegas? That's the other place I found where it seems to be rather common with that policy.

 

 

I do not know of any "outside stuff" policy at Red Rock where I like to stay. But I always take some low calorie snacks in my luggage. Red Rock provides bottled water. Never been asked or searched.

[mking8288]

Stay on topic, folks.

 

This is about NCL's no medical waiver policy - not about land-based luxury hotel/resort/casino properties with a written policy against outside food and/or beverage, etc. Would they insist on everyone renting a wheelchair, or scooter or only using their approved CPAP from business rental on-premises and ban "service animal" or charge $250 as a mandatory cleaning fee :D

(Ok, the amount cited above is just a figure thrown out ... you get the concept)

 

In earlier life with meetings & convention planning, those "no outside food/drink" policies are designed for that, partially due to union rules - to use approved catering & food on site, audio-visuals and other rentals, and, "negotiated" as part of a written contract agreement ... practically impossible to enforce with individual guests (hotel security isn't going to inspect that softside jumbo tote bag serving dual purposes as an insulated cooler).

 

Even if they like to and attempt to enforce it, it's rather simple - you go elsewhere, eat outside & drink your preferred beverages, etc. of your choice - not as captive audience beyond cancellation deadline. On-site convenience/gift shop pricing aren't exactly cheap, but nothing like charging 10X or 15X the prevailing retail market pricing.

 

What matters the most is that, to the individuals & their companions/families with a perceived needs or preference for a waiver, for real or not, that NCL is less than responsive nor listening, not caring one bit.

 

You and I feeling lucky and in good health, don't get swollen ankles and not traveling with a walker or needing a CPAP, taking 20 pills a day and/or needing insulin - count your blessings - put yourself in their shoes. Now, have a "drink" out of the bathroom facuet - same tap water out of the plumbing system.

 

Why bother selling bottled water at all - ban it completely. Go ahead, flame it. Membership for joing my "Ignore List" is open, free and completely at my discretion, no appeal, no exception. Have a great day ;)

Edited July 11, 2016 by mking8288

[boatseller]

Did the OP even return to post what she was actually told by NCL, directly?

[NLH Arizona]

You and I feeling lucky and in good health, don't get swollen ankles and not traveling with a walker or needing a CPAP, taking 20 pills a day and/or needing insulin - count your blessings - put yourself in their shoes. Now, have a "drink" out of the bathroom facuet - same tap water out of the plumbing system.

 

Not sure what having a walker or needing a CPAP or taking 20 pills a day or needing insulin has to do with the water issue, but my feeling is if everyone were honest, then I would probably be more sympathetic to those wanting to bring their own water on, but when the issue is the price, then it is not really a medical reason, IMHO, and it hurts those with actual medical reasons from getting waivers. If NCL gives waivers out to everyone that says their feet swells, then I guess everyone that wants to bring water on to save the cost can just say their feet swells when they drink the ships water. Where does NCL drawn the line. The OP has clearly said she wants a medical waiver, because she doesn't want to pay the high price of the water, now is that a medical reason. Edited July 11, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[Jme4166]

Why are we still talking about this?? The person who posted this has not even commented in 3 days!

[swedish weave]

Not sure what having a walker or needing a CPAP or taking 20 pills a day or needing insulin has to do with the water issue, but my feeling is if everyone were honest, then I would probably be more sympathetic to those wanting to bring their own water on, but when the issue is the price, then it is not really a medical reason, IMHO, and it hurts those with actual medical reasons from getting waivers. If NCL gives waivers out to everyone that says their feet swells, then I guess everyone that wants to bring water on to save the cost can just say their feet swells when they drink the ships water. Where does NCL drawn the line. The OP has clearly said she wants a medical waiver, because she doesn't want to pay the high price of the water, now is that a medical reason.

 

NCL has not to my knowledge given anyone ANY reasons for not honoring medical waivers. Do you have information from them that says people cheating is the reason ???

[Annmeat]

Did the OP even return to post what she was actually told by NCL, directly?

 

No. Perhaps she received one and was asked not to publicize? Who knows.

After doing due diligence and research and speaking with physicians I have learned there is really no reason that her husband cannot use a pitcher of water to fill a sport bottle. I do sympathize with those who have chronic medical conditions, but there are answers to her predicament. Powdered Gatorade, a water filter( which isn't actually needed) and a pitcher of water.

 

Everyone can agree that NCL should have handled this differently re: announcement, timing, etc. But the title of the thread isn't necessarily true. Multiple Twitter posts encourage patrons to contact NCL for accommodation.

 

I hope that the OP has found a solution and resolution that will let her relax and enjoy her cruise vacation with her family.

 

 

And to the posters who claim"you don't know what these people go through..yadayada". Umm- how the heck do you know what anyone else on this board deals with daily? Too many assumptions. You don't know if I have diabetes , am a cancer survivor or only have half an arm.

 

Happy sailing, all. May you have good health and enjoy whichever choose to cruise.

[NLH Arizona]

No. Perhaps she received one and was asked not to publicize? Who knows.

After doing due diligence and research and speaking with physicians I have learned there is really no reason that her husband cannot use a pitcher of water to fill a sport bottle. I do sympathize with those who have chronic medical conditions, but there are answers to her predicament. Powdered Gatorade, a water filter( which isn't actually needed) and a pitcher of water.

 

Everyone can agree that NCL should have handled this differently re: announcement, timing, etc. But the title of the thread isn't necessarily true. Multiple Twitter posts encourage patrons to contact NCL for accommodation.

 

I hope that the OP has found a solution and resolution that will let her relax and enjoy her cruise vacation with her family.

 

 

And to the posters who claim"you don't know what these people go through..yadayada". Umm- how the heck do you know what anyone else on this board deals with daily? Too many assumptions. You don't know if I have diabetes , am a cancer survivor or only have half an arm.

 

Happy sailing, all. May you have good health and enjoy whichever choose to cruise.

Very well said!

 

I think NCL is dealing with each request individually. In the OP's case, they were told that they couldn't have a medical waiver, because there was both water and gatorade on board the ships. The OP continues to request a medical waiver, so we will see if NCL reverses their decision, because she doesn't want to spend the money for the items sold on board the ship.

Edited July 11, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[jm485]

Why are we still talking about this?? The person who posted this has not even commented in 3 days!

 

I thought OP had been back several times, including late last week, to provide updates. Last was that she was waiting for more information from a supervisor -- late last Thursday or Friday, so not surprising that there's nothing new reportedly the weekend. Also, didn't she say she was replying to and dealing with the situation at lunch time? If she works a regular M-F, 9-5 schedule, she hasn't hit "lunchtime" in the US yet.

[purpletequila]

Sorry, I thought it might be something like ensure. If it is water that they carry, then I don't understand why a medical waiver would work, since it would just be a way for the passenger to save money. If it is something that NCL doesn't carry, then I think a medical waiver would be in order.

 

There was a poster on Facebook that said she had to have water and juice for her young child that had type 1 diabetes. I suggested that she order extra juice from room service (during continental breakfast hours that would be free) and put it in a water bottles, place it in the fridge and it could be used on the ship and when they went ashore. Even though it was a logical solution to her issue, she didn't seem to want a solution.

 

Not entirely accurate. I was following that thread. Her child's doctors at Joslin told her it has to be 100% pure juice, which, as far as anyone knew, was not the kind onboard. The kid is 10 with a condition that can send her into a coma in the middle of the ocean. NCL is beyond ridiculous.

[blackwing]

I don't know if it was the OP, but somewhere on this forum there is the reported response from "Beverly" at NCL that they will not allow water filtering bottles to be brought on board either, and will confiscate them prior to boarding. According to this second level supervisor you will not be able to bring your own sport bottle back on board in any port.

 

Carnival now has large bins and all bottles have to be deposited in the bins when re-boarding in port.

Not even sure if this "Beverly" is accurate or not, but perhaps she is confused. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to bring back your empty reuseable container back on board. TSA allows empty bottles to go through security.

 

The big issue for cruiselines seems to be alcohol smuggling. If the bottle is empty, then there's really no concern about alcohol smuggling, is there?

 

On Carnival, are people actually being forced to throw away their Hydro Flasks or Contigos even if they are empty? That's ridiculous.

[purpletequila]

Sorry, but it discriminatory & price gouging for a medical reason.

 

I totally agree with you.

[NLH Arizona]

Not entirely accurate. I was following that thread. Her child's doctors at Joslin told her it has to be 100% pure juice, which, as far as anyone knew, was not the kind onboard. The kid is 10 with a condition that can send her into a coma in the middle of the ocean. NCL is beyond ridiculous.

When I made the suggestion, her comment was that doesn't help me while on shore or around the boat, no mention that it has to be 100% juice.

[NLH Arizona]

I totally agree with you.

I agree that the prices are too high and have sent an email to NCL, but could you please explain how this policy is discriminatory? They are offering the same thing to each and every passenger, if they left some passengers out and didn't allow them to purchase water on the ship, then it would be discriminatory. Or if they let the OP carry on water without a doctor's note, but then didn't allow someone else to do the same...that would be discriminatory.

[JVilleGal]

Not entirely accurate. I was following that thread. Her child's doctors at Joslin told her it has to be 100% pure juice, which, as far as anyone knew, was not the kind onboard. The kid is 10 with a condition that can send her into a coma in the middle of the ocean. NCL is beyond ridiculous.

 

 

A coma in the middle of the ocean? This is a child who is too ill to risk being at sea and with a statement like that NCL would be within their rights to refuse boarding her. JMHO

 

 

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[tel2]

I have never encountered such a policy in any hotel that I've stayed in. Nor have I ever had a hotel ask to search my bags (and if they did I'd tell them where to go).

 

I travel frequently for business, as well are pretty often for pleasure. There are two situations in which I have seen a no liquids policy reiterated and agressively enforced: 1) in casino and other entertainment style hotels that seem to attract alot of 20 somethings, sometimes walking in with ice chests. One AC casino hotel we frequent has security posted at elevator banks on weekends to prevent the transport of ice chests to rooms. I actually get that -- I dont think they are doing it primarily to increase alcohol sales; I think they are doing it to prevent drunken loud parties that disrupt their other guests. I dont think most hotels care much about what responsible mature adults bring in, and in any event, unless you are at a secluded resort, you can pretty much go out and get what you want elsewhere; and 2) in high end spa resorts that prohibit alcohol. But in both cases, you know, or should know, the policy when you book.

 

Terry

[blackwing]

A coma in the middle of the ocean? This is a child who is too ill to risk being at sea and with a statement like that NCL would be within their rights to refuse boarding her. JMHO

 

Agreed. If someone has a kid who will go into a coma if she can't get her fruit juice (and apparently it must be 100% fruit juice), then I would advise avoiding all cruises in the future and stick to land based vacations where they know they can get something if needed. Apparently it sounds like they are carting on a case of juice for the child. What happens if something happens to the case? What if they run out? What if the juice was spoiled?

 

Seems kind of risky. It'd be like a nut allergy kid travelling with only one Epipen.

[lanceholt]

Time to give this whole thread a rest....the policy has changed, you are outraged, yada yada yada. Pay for the water if you want bottled water, yes the ships have 100% juice onboard but not in cans, yes the ship water is perfectly pure, enough already of this level of outrage. Things change, prices change, everywhere all the time. That is the way it goes.

[fshagan]

One poster on one of the threads said he/she was told that by NCL. Not sure I believe that the information is correct, since many others have talked with NCL and no one was told that except for the one poster.

 

I searched and now can't find it; but others have said that thread was removed. I'm concerned because the poster in that thread specifically asked about bringing their own sport bottles, and I'm not sure anyone else has asked that question.

 

The cabin steward can bring filtered water to the cabin for you, and I'll bet you can get two pitchers if you ask. That will solve the problem for us if we can take our own water bottles and leave and return to the ship without tossing the bottle into a big bin at the gangplank. I guess Carnival is doing that ... I don't know if they allow you to bring an empty bottle back on board for refilling or not.

[swedish weave]

Agreed. If someone has a kid who will go into a coma if she can't get her fruit juice (and apparently it must be 100% fruit juice), then I would advise avoiding all cruises in the future and stick to land based vacations where they know they can get something if needed. Apparently it sounds like they are carting on a case of juice for the child. What happens if something happens to the case? What if they run out? What if the juice was spoiled?

 

Seems kind of risky. It'd be like a nut allergy kid travelling with only one Epipen.

 

Ridiculous assumptions !!!! Some people are more concerned about their family's health than you seem to realize.

[elruth]

I think the OP said they are paying $ 10,000.00 for their cruise. I say just buy the water package and not spend so much time trying to get NCL to give them a medical waiver.

[fragilek]

Agreed. If someone has a kid who will go into a coma if she can't get her fruit juice (and apparently it must be 100% fruit juice), then I would advise avoiding all cruises in the future and stick to land based vacations where they know they can get something if needed. Apparently it sounds like they are carting on a case of juice for the child. What happens if something happens to the case? What if they run out? What if the juice was spoiled?

 

Seems kind of risky. It'd be like a nut allergy kid travelling with only one Epipen.

 

I can perhaps clarify this a little. There are many drinks/glucose tablets that will help prevent the child going into a coma, however, as the child's sugars starts to fall they can become very hard to deal with my dd used to bite and spit anything we tried to give her, and she is normally the most placid person you could meet. When younger we used to use apple juice as she would take that without spitting it out (never found anything else she would take). However, failing that we would have to force (would take 2-3 of us) other stuff down her. There is a gel that you can force into their mouths (works but she would often vomit after we used it). Last resort is Glucogen injections which I assume the family being discussed would be carrying in a plentiful supply, but it is a deep muscle injection and is painful and leaves them quite sick for about a day. When my dd was younger I would have wanted clarification that apple juice was definitely going to available to buy on board (pre purchased would be best) or I would have either needed to bring our own or I would not have sailed. It would have been way way to much hassle to go on the ship knowing that we would have to fight her to get sugar in her in every hypo and she hypoed a lot until she was put on a pump at 14.

 

As for not traveling - we were due to go to disney world 6 weeks after she was diagnosed - it was all so new and a transatlantic crossing (time differences/ heat) filled me with dread- however, our consultant insisted we go - saying

"she has to live with this forever- don't make her hate it already by canceling the trip. Her life will have some limits do not add to them, go everywhere you want"

 

We did just that and traveled as many places as our budget allowed even took her on a husky dog safari in the arctic- Lapland at xmas- amazing!!

Edited July 12, 2016 by fragilek

[sverigecruiser]

In earlier life with meetings & convention planning, those "no outside food/drink" policies are designed for that, partially due to union rules - to use approved catering & food on site, audio-visuals and other rentals, and, "negotiated" as part of a written contract agreement ... practically impossible to enforce with individual guests (hotel security isn't going to inspect that softside jumbo tote bag serving dual purposes as an insulated cooler).

 

 

Maybe that's what the policies are designed for in the US but the places I'm thinking about, except for Las Vegas are hotels mostly used by tourists. They have the policies because they want to sell more.

 

I agree that it's not easy to enforce with individual guests but it's not impossible and they can do it.

 

Who knows where we are going? Maybe they will have scanners in every hotel entrance in the future, who knows? (I mean for security reasons but if they check everything, why not enforce a beverage policy?)

[sverigecruiser]

Even if they like to and attempt to enforce it, it's rather simple - you go elsewhere, eat outside & drink your preferred beverages, etc. of your choice - not as captive audience beyond cancellation deadline. On-site convenience/gift shop pricing aren't exactly cheap, but nothing like charging 10X or 15X the prevailing retail market pricing.

 

 

 

I agree with that, go somewhere else.

 

It's the same with cruises, go somewhere else if you don't like the policy.

 

I understand the OP's problem, that they are beyond the final cancellation date. I think that it's very wrong to change the policy on excisting booking, it should be for new booking only.

[sverigecruiser]

What matters the most is that, to the individuals & their companions/families with a perceived needs or preference for a waiver, for real or not, that NCL is less than responsive nor listening, not caring one bit.

 

 

I agree with this too.

 

It seems like the OP don't really need to bring anything since what they need is available on board but as I understand it NCL said NO before they knew what they needed to bring and that's wrong, I think.