Kicked Off Ship

[Motorman23]

I'm a little curious about those questions too.

 

Thats makes at least 3 of us.... :D

[PhoenixCruiser]

Thats makes at least 3 of us.... :D

 

Four :D

 

###

[phtktz3]

WOW. I applaud your attitude in not blaming RCI. I'm sure you were mad as hell at the time - at the kid or RCI or both.

 

But now I'm just simply wanting to be nosy!

 

Did you attempt to be reimbursed by parents of friend? And, how did they react when they found out that their son had done something to get the boot for all of you?

 

And this is prob'ly silly, but I'm curious as to whether you were allowed to pack your own luggage? Sillier still, were you reimbursed port fees for any missed ports?

 

I really don't mind sharing the story as I hope it will help someone else be more prepared! As a gift to my 19yr old son I allowed him to bring a freind along on our cruise. This was a kid he knew since the 3rd grade. I had spoke with his grandparents a few times ( he was raised by them) before the trip. At no time did they or anyone else tell me he was on any type of medication. To make a really long story short....on the 4th night of our cruise I received a call in my cabin from my son who was hysterical, his freind had jumped from the 12th deck down to the 11th deck and wanted my son to follow, (my son had been on 4 cruises before this one and knew better!) When he didn't follow his buddy said he was going to jump off the ship, at this point no one could find him. The co-captain met me on the 12th deck and it was reported by a crew member that there were footprints on one of the railings so they put the whole ship on lockdown (no one could leave the area they were currently in) and turned the ship around to look for him in the water. Then a call came to the co-captain to come doen to the crew quarters on deck 2, we were told to follow but to wait outside the door, when they came to get my son and I they directed us over to a huge open port window and standing out on the back of the ship on a 2 inch platform was my sons friend. He said he was going to jump! I tried to talk him in and while I was talking to him he almost fell off the perch he was on so I backed off and pulled my son away as neither of us would have ever gotten that image of him falling out of our heads! The ship was stopped and all rescue boats were sent out. After about 4 hours the captain finally came down and stuck his head out and told the kid if he didn't come in right now he was going out there and personally kick his ass! He finally came in. We were escorted to our cabin and guards were placed outside our door. The next morning I was called to the captains office and they told me that since he was considered a minor and was in my custody we would all 3 have to leave the ship, I totally agreed with this decision as I was afraid to be with him! Turns out he was ADD and was supposed to be taking meds and did not take them. When I returned to our room I made him give me his grandparents phone # and I called them and demanded a credit card # to book flights home.

We did have to book our own flights

We did pack our own luggage and we had until noon to leave the ship.

All the RCI staff was very helpful and understanding and it was obvious they hated having to do this.

His grandparents did pay for the flight from St. Maaten to Miami for all 3 of us, but I had paid for the cruise and the extra $1500.00 to change our flights from Miami to St. Louis and was never re-embursed!

My son has not had contact with this kid since this happened, but heard he was in some trouble with the law.

The lesson here for all is that you never really know a person until you are with them 24/7. If you do take responsibility for another person gather all the facts you can.

I cringe when I read about people letting their kids bring a freind along on a cruise as I know how it feels to be held accountable for another persons actions.

I was not angry at the time....quite honestly I spent a few days in shock and I will never get the image of that kid standing there on that perch about to jump into the ocean out of my head. I had nightmares about it for weeks after it happened.

Hope this helps someone!

[phtktz3]

I'm a little curious about those questions too.

 

I should add that as a result of this I am no longer able to have a minor in my custody aboard RCI. For a week or so after we came back it was still up in the air as to whether or not I would be charged for the price of turning the ship around and having to send out the rescue boats. As it turned out they did not make me pay a fine, but they definately could have! I did not get reimbursed for any missed ports nor do I think I was owed anything. I truly thought I would never cruise again, but this past May I took my honeymoon on the Majesty and all was good....now we are leaving in 41 days on Mariner! So I guess I'm fully recovered:-)

[buggerbean]

I really don't mind sharing the story as I hope it will help someone else be more prepared! As a gift to my 19yr old son I allowed him to bring a freind along on our cruise. This was a kid he knew since the 3rd grade. I had spoke with his grandparents a few times ( he was raised by them) before the trip. At no time did they or anyone else tell me he was on any type of medication. To make a really long story short....on the 4th night of our cruise I received a call in my cabin from my son who was hysterical, his freind had jumped from the 12th deck down to the 11th deck and wanted my son to follow, (my son had been on 4 cruises before this one and knew better!) When he didn't follow his buddy said he was going to jump off the ship, at this point no one could find him. The co-captain met me on the 12th deck and it was reported by a crew member that there were footprints on one of the railings so they put the whole ship on lockdown (no one could leave the area they were currently in) and turned the ship around to look for him in the water. Then a call came to the co-captain to come doen to the crew quarters on deck 2, we were told to follow but to wait outside the door, when they came to get my son and I they directed us over to a huge open port window and standing out on the back of the ship on a 2 inch platform was my sons friend. He said he was going to jump! I tried to talk him in and while I was talking to him he almost fell off the perch he was on so I backed off and pulled my son away as neither of us would have ever gotten that image of him falling out of our heads! The ship was stopped and all rescue boats were sent out. After about 4 hours the captain finally came down and stuck his head out and told the kid if he didn't come in right now he was going out there and personally kick his ass! He finally came in. We were escorted to our cabin and guards were placed outside our door. The next morning I was called to the captains office and they told me that since he was considered a minor and was in my custody we would all 3 have to leave the ship, I totally agreed with this decision as I was afraid to be with him! Turns out he was ADD and was supposed to be taking meds and did not take them. When I returned to our room I made him give me his grandparents phone # and I called them and demanded a credit card # to book flights home.

We did have to book our own flights

We did pack our own luggage and we had until noon to leave the ship.

All the RCI staff was very helpful and understanding and it was obvious they hated having to do this.

His grandparents did pay for the flight from St. Maaten to Miami for all 3 of us, but I had paid for the cruise and the extra $1500.00 to change our flights from Miami to St. Louis and was never re-embursed!

My son has not had contact with this kid since this happened, but heard he was in some trouble with the law.

The lesson here for all is that you never really know a person until you are with them 24/7. If you do take responsibility for another person gather all the facts you can.

I cringe when I read about people letting their kids bring a freind along on a cruise as I know how it feels to be held accountable for another persons actions.

I was not angry at the time....quite honestly I spent a few days in shock and I will never get the image of that kid standing there on that perch about to jump into the ocean out of my head. I had nightmares about it for weeks after it happened.

Hope this helps someone!

 

Wow, ADD runs in my family, I think there was a lot more going on with that kid than just ADD. Glad it wasn't any worse for you than it was and that your cruising again. Thanks for the info!

Janet.

[WishIwerethere]

Wow, ADD runs in my family, I think there was a lot more going on with that kid than just ADD. Glad it wasn't any worse for you than it was and that your cruising again. Thanks for the info!

Janet.

 

Scary and sad.

Our first cruise we were taking a nighttime stroll on the heliport (rope deck ?) of the Explorer of the Seas and there were several highly intoxicated youths (approx 16 yrs) wandering (staggering) about. How traumatic it could be emotionaly for other passengers should someone fall or jump.

 

(Yes we did report it) (no I don't know what RCI response was to the issue)

[truffles2]

Thank you for sharing that terrible experience. I hope that it will cause anyone bringing someone else's child to pause and think.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Wow, Lori I can only imagine how many emotions you went through that week. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

 

###

[Thing2]

I really don't mind sharing the story as I hope it will help someone else be more prepared! As a gift to my 19yr old son I allowed him to bring a freind along on our cruise. This was a kid he knew since the 3rd grade. I had spoke with his grandparents a few times ( he was raised by them) before the trip. At no time did they or anyone else tell me he was on any type of medication. To make a really long story short....on the 4th night of our cruise I received a call in my cabin from my son who was hysterical, his freind had jumped from the 12th deck down to the 11th deck and wanted my son to follow, (my son had been on 4 cruises before this one and knew better!) When he didn't follow his buddy said he was going to jump off the ship, at this point no one could find him. The co-captain met me on the 12th deck and it was reported by a crew member that there were footprints on one of the railings so they put the whole ship on lockdown (no one could leave the area they were currently in) and turned the ship around to look for him in the water. Then a call came to the co-captain to come doen to the crew quarters on deck 2, we were told to follow but to wait outside the door, when they came to get my son and I they directed us over to a huge open port window and standing out on the back of the ship on a 2 inch platform was my sons friend. He said he was going to jump! I tried to talk him in and while I was talking to him he almost fell off the perch he was on so I backed off and pulled my son away as neither of us would have ever gotten that image of him falling out of our heads! The ship was stopped and all rescue boats were sent out. After about 4 hours the captain finally came down and stuck his head out and told the kid if he didn't come in right now he was going out there and personally kick his ass! He finally came in. We were escorted to our cabin and guards were placed outside our door. The next morning I was called to the captains office and they told me that since he was considered a minor and was in my custody we would all 3 have to leave the ship, I totally agreed with this decision as I was afraid to be with him! Turns out he was ADD and was supposed to be taking meds and did not take them. When I returned to our room I made him give me his grandparents phone # and I called them and demanded a credit card # to book flights home.

We did have to book our own flights

We did pack our own luggage and we had until noon to leave the ship.

All the RCI staff was very helpful and understanding and it was obvious they hated having to do this.

His grandparents did pay for the flight from St. Maaten to Miami for all 3 of us, but I had paid for the cruise and the extra $1500.00 to change our flights from Miami to St. Louis and was never re-embursed!

My son has not had contact with this kid since this happened, but heard he was in some trouble with the law.

The lesson here for all is that you never really know a person until you are with them 24/7. If you do take responsibility for another person gather all the facts you can.

I cringe when I read about people letting their kids bring a freind along on a cruise as I know how it feels to be held accountable for another persons actions.

I was not angry at the time....quite honestly I spent a few days in shock and I will never get the image of that kid standing there on that perch about to jump into the ocean out of my head. I had nightmares about it for weeks after it happened.

Hope this helps someone!

 

I am so so sorry.....what a horrible thing for you to go though especially emotionally. And I give you applause for your courage to share. Thank you.

[dforeigner]

Wow, ADD runs in my family, I think there was a lot more going on with that kid than just ADD. Glad it wasn't any worse for you than it was and that your cruising again. Thanks for the info!

Janet.

I concur.

[demodawn]

All I can say is WOW!

[Rancher Dave]

phtktz3

I am glad everyone made it off the ship safely, as you said it would have been a hard memory if the boy had jumpped.

 

Thanks for the insight on ADD meds while on the ship, guess we will be sure to have them with us for DD if she needs them. It is hit or miss with her as to what day she needs or does not need them.

 

Have a safe and happy Holiday Season!!! Enjoy your upcoming cruise!!!

[sagiv666]

I really don't mind sharing the story as I hope it will help someone else be more prepared! As a gift to my 19yr old son I allowed him to bring a freind along on our cruise. This was a kid he knew since the 3rd grade. I had spoke with his grandparents a few times ( he was raised by them) before the trip. At no time did they or anyone else tell me he was on any type of medication. To make a really long story short....on the 4th night of our cruise I received a call in my cabin from my son who was hysterical, his freind had jumped from the 12th deck down to the 11th deck and wanted my son to follow, (my son had been on 4 cruises before this one and knew better!) When he didn't follow his buddy said he was going to jump off the ship, at this point no one could find him. The co-captain met me on the 12th deck and it was reported by a crew member that there were footprints on one of the railings so they put the whole ship on lockdown (no one could leave the area they were currently in) and turned the ship around to look for him in the water. Then a call came to the co-captain to come doen to the crew quarters on deck 2, we were told to follow but to wait outside the door, when they came to get my son and I they directed us over to a huge open port window and standing out on the back of the ship on a 2 inch platform was my sons friend. He said he was going to jump! I tried to talk him in and while I was talking to him he almost fell off the perch he was on so I backed off and pulled my son away as neither of us would have ever gotten that image of him falling out of our heads! The ship was stopped and all rescue boats were sent out. After about 4 hours the captain finally came down and stuck his head out and told the kid if he didn't come in right now he was going out there and personally kick his ass! He finally came in. We were escorted to our cabin and guards were placed outside our door. The next morning I was called to the captains office and they told me that since he was considered a minor and was in my custody we would all 3 have to leave the ship, I totally agreed with this decision as I was afraid to be with him! Turns out he was ADD and was supposed to be taking meds and did not take them. When I returned to our room I made him give me his grandparents phone # and I called them and demanded a credit card # to book flights home.

We did have to book our own flights

We did pack our own luggage and we had until noon to leave the ship.

All the RCI staff was very helpful and understanding and it was obvious they hated having to do this.

His grandparents did pay for the flight from St. Maaten to Miami for all 3 of us, but I had paid for the cruise and the extra $1500.00 to change our flights from Miami to St. Louis and was never re-embursed!

My son has not had contact with this kid since this happened, but heard he was in some trouble with the law.

The lesson here for all is that you never really know a person until you are with them 24/7. If you do take responsibility for another person gather all the facts you can.

I cringe when I read about people letting their kids bring a freind along on a cruise as I know how it feels to be held accountable for another persons actions.

I was not angry at the time....quite honestly I spent a few days in shock and I will never get the image of that kid standing there on that perch about to jump into the ocean out of my head. I had nightmares about it for weeks after it happened.

Hope this helps someone!

 

We glad you all reached shore and home safely. Unfortunately, all too often young people need to be on medication or at least medically supervised and their parents, grandparents, guardians, etc. ignore the danger signs. Other young people who are on prescribed medication often fail to take regular doses and this occurs.

I want to share a similar occurrence that happened to me, and while this was on shore this has a warning for those bringing children on cruises.

My daughter has emotional problems and takes a number of medications for her condition. She understands what is prescribed and we are relieved that she can be depended upon to take her medication as directed.

We live in New York City (Queens), and presently she is at a residence and goes to a day program in Brooklyn. One day, my wife and her arranged to meet near our home after her program to do some shopping. A few hours later, my wife called me at home and my daughter suggested that she come back to our home, sleep over, then go to her day program the next day. My daughter received the medication she takes each day at her residence, and she did have those medications she was to take that evening. I had no reserves, and I was hesitating agreeing to her suggestion; in fact, someone at the residence agreed this would be a bad idea. When I called my wife back and told my daughter how I felt and that my concerns were shared at her residence, she called again indicating she had talked to someone in Brooklyn at the residence who believed that one night without certain medications would not hurt her. Although I still had my dsoubts, at my daughter's urging, and both my wife and i ready to believe them this other person that being overnight without the medications would not hurt her, my daughter in fact came to our home home to spend the night.

Unfortunately, she did have some bad experiences when she returned to Brooklyn which have been related to her not taking her prescribed medication that evening. One might have believed that after taking medications so long, enough may have built up in her blood stream so that one night would not be a problem. Either this was a newer prescription which she had not been taking long or she needed to take it regularly for the medication to be effective. We all learned a good lesson, and she wiull never be anywhere without the medication she needs whatever time of day -- in fact, next week her uncle is taking her and a friend (who also has emotional problems and needs medication) to Florida for four days, and we agreed that they both take extra medication in case flights are delayed, etc. Let me repeat that these are two responsible young women who casn be depended upon to always take their medications, whiule at the same time we keep aware of her needs whenever she comes back home.

I hope this incident will help others who bring young people (or adults as well) who may need medication and/or special medical supervision.

Happy holidays and the best of the new year to all!

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Lori, thank you for sharing your story. I applaud you for telling us details that are private and something you'd rather not talk about, that takes a lot of class. Thank you!

 

***

[sagiv666]

I should add that as a result of this I am no longer able to have a minor in my custody aboard RCI. For a week or so after we came back it was still up in the air as to whether or not I would be charged for the price of turning the ship around and having to send out the rescue boats. As it turned out they did not make me pay a fine, but they definately could have! I did not get reimbursed for any missed ports nor do I think I was owed anything. I truly thought I would never cruise again, but this past May I took my honeymoon on the Majesty and all was good....now we are leaving in 41 days on Mariner! So I guess I'm fully recovered:-)

 

Of course, Royal Caribbean holds you to blame for this incident, as you are an adult, and were responsible for your son and his friend during the cruise.

It is hard not to blame yourself for what happened, or might have happened, but realistically shouldn't the bulk of the blame be placed on your son's friend's grandparents? If you argue they are too old and for this reason may often forget the needs of their grandson, then perhaps someone younger and/or more able should be in charge of the boy. Next time a similar incident may have a more tragic ending.:eek:

[phtktz3]

Of course, Royal Caribbean holds you to blame for this incident, as you are an adult, and were responsible for your son and his friend during the cruise.

It is hard not to blame yourself for what happened, or might have happened, but realistically shouldn't the bulk of the blame be placed on your son's friend's grandparents? If you argue they are too old and for this reason may often forget the needs of their grandson, then perhaps someone younger and/or more able should be in charge of the boy. Next time a similar incident may have a more tragic ending.:eek:

 

I totally understand that I was the responsible adult, but in all honesty I should have taken more of an interest into who my son was bringing and asked some other parents of my sons friends their opinions about this kid. I don't mean that I didn't care at all who he brought only that I never took the time to ask the RIGHT questions....is he on any medications/ does he have any behavior problems/any food allergies/ ect.... Honestly we were so caught up in the planning and excitement of cruising again it never even occured to me to ask these questions which is why I shared this story so maybe other parents who think they are doing a wonderful thing for their child and his/her friend can be prepared. Anyone under the age of 25 is considered a minor on RCI and the adult they are traveling with must sign a document stating that they are responsible for said person, I just want parents to research ll the facts first as I never want anyone to go thru what we did.

Also, his grandparents are in denial about him and his condition. The Saturday after we came back ( while we should have still been on the cruise) his grandpa called and asked me when I would be sending the money for the airfare they put on their credit card:eek: after I first apologized for the colorful language I was about to use....I asked the man if he was out of his #@%!* mind! If it hadn't been for his grandson hanging his tooty off the back of the ship I would be sitting on a deck still soaking up the sun. They did tell me they would reimburse me for the cruise and the $700.00 I spent getting the kid from Miami back to St. Louis ( incidently, my dad told me to leave him in Miami.....once I got him to the states he was no longer my problem!) and I never , ever heard from them again!

Thanks to everyone for the support. It has been almost 2 years since this happened and it was not easy to admit that I made such an error in judgement. Again, I can't stress enough how supportive and helpful the staff at RCI were thru all of this, I could see in their eyes that they felt really bad for me in this situation...afterall...this "kid" wasn't really a child he was 20 yrs old and fully capable for taking responsibility for his actions....I was just an inocent bystander trying to do something nice for my son. I knew what the rules were when I signed for him so I'm not trying to shift blame...believe me after 2 yrs I still blame myself for not doing my homework!

[sagiv666]

I totally understand that I was the responsible adult, but in all honesty I should have taken more of an interest into who my son was bringing and asked some other parents of my sons friends their opinions about this kid. I don't mean that I didn't care at all who he brought only that I never took the time to ask the RIGHT questions....is he on any medications/ does he have any behavior problems/any food allergies/ ect.... Honestly we were so caught up in the planning and excitement of cruising again it never even occured to me to ask these questions which is why I shared this story so maybe other parents who think they are doing a wonderful thing for their child and his/her friend can be prepared. Anyone under the age of 25 is considered a minor on RCI and the adult they are traveling with must sign a document stating that they are responsible for said person, I just want parents to research ll the facts first as I never want anyone to go thru what we did.

Also, his grandparents are in denial about him and his condition. The Saturday after we came back ( while we should have still been on the cruise) his grandpa called and asked me when I would be sending the money for the airfare they put on their credit card:eek: after I first apologized for the colorful language I was about to use....I asked the man if he was out of his #@%!* mind! If it hadn't been for his grandson hanging his tooty off the back of the ship I would be sitting on a deck still soaking up the sun. They did tell me they would reimburse me for the cruise and the $700.00 I spent getting the kid from Miami back to St. Louis ( incidently, my dad told me to leave him in Miami.....once I got him to the states he was no longer my problem!) and I never , ever heard from them again!

Thanks to everyone for the support. It has been almost 2 years since this happened and it was not easy to admit that I made such an error in judgement. Again, I can't stress enough how supportive and helpful the staff at RCI were thru all of this, I could see in their eyes that they felt really bad for me in this situation...afterall...this "kid" wasn't really a child he was 20 yrs old and fully capable for taking responsibility for his actions....I was just an inocent bystander trying to do something nice for my son. I knew what the rules were when I signed for him so I'm not trying to shift blame...believe me after 2 yrs I still blame myself for not doing my homework!

 

Research is one thing, and had you known about your son's friends's condition in the beginning you may have hesitatedtaking him on the cruise. You sound like someone who would have sat down with your son and told him your hesitations about bringing him on the cruise and your son would have probably understoood( didn't this other boy want your son to do things which your son knew were harmful, and did your son not come to you when he saw the actions of his friend that led to all which happened -- there are those who would have gone along with the jumping between decks or al least keeping his actions secret from you) -- you may have done other things with them other than a cruise that would have been in the best interest of all conerned.

So many people are in denial about the conditions and actions of loved ones (read some of the replies to this thread), but that is not excuse for them to have kept so important a fact from you, and ina day where doctors hesitate to devulge information about their patients to others because of fear of violating the doctor-patient relationship (with all the legal actions that often occur), you infact depend on those who give care to another to make youaware of existing conditions which were so important in situations such as an extended vacation -- in this case, the cruise.

Instead of blaming yourself, you learned a lesson important to all of us and you brought the story forth hoping it will help other fellow cruisers. Two years have gone by, and perhaps the best is to try to forgetwhat happened -- but not what it has taught you.

[phtktz3]

Scary and sad.

Our first cruise we were taking a nighttime stroll on the heliport (rope deck ?) of the Explorer of the Seas and there were several highly intoxicated youths (approx 16 yrs) wandering (staggering) about. How traumatic it could be emotionaly for other passengers should someone fall or jump.

 

(Yes we did report it) (no I don't know what RCI response was to the issue)

 

There were a couple of people on the deck above where he was who were talking to him and trying to get him to come in, after a few moments tho a security guard ushered them away ( which I was grateful for I didn't need anyone making him more freaked out than he already was). In my case alcohol was not a factor for this incident, just a lack of him taking his meds. I am sure that there is much more to his emotional problems than ADD and I do not know enough about ADD to speak intelligently on the subject. I also do not want to offend anyone who has ADD or a child with ADD, I was told that he was on medication for ADD after the incident, I too believe he had more serious issues than ADD.

Also, I did not mention before....there was a psycologist of some sort on staff on this ship and she was there from the time we got to the crew quarters, after I had walked away from the port window I sat quietly on the floor and was crying, she came over and told me not to worry that if he did jump there were rescue boats out and they would find him and everything would be fine....all I could think of was WHAT? Everything will never be fine again if this kid jumps or falls, my son will have to live with that memory for the rest of his life. This Dr. also came to our cabin as did many ship officials after we got back from the incident, she sat and talked with Krammer ( that is the kids real first name<<probably shoulda been a clue, huh?) for quite a while, however, it kind of felt like this situation was way over her head,to be fair tho this situation was just so bizzare that I don;t think anyone realy knew what to say or how to feel.

[davidw9110]

:cool: Just off Grandeur today and heard that some partys were kicked off the ship in several ports due to children being bad.One for sure in labadee.Anyone have any details?Stories about past passengers being landed as captain Rob called it.Great cruise,ship,captain funny and personable,Simion great.Any questions?

 

I was on this cruise also. 2 families were kicked off when we arrived in San Juan, something general about the kids acting up. The one in Labadee was a teenage boy who was, as the captain said, "beligerant". The parents apparently would not handle it so they all had to leave in Labadee on Thanksgiving Day.

[ruskatab]

There were a couple of people on the deck above where he was who were talking to him and trying to get him to come in, after a few moments tho a security guard ushered them away ( which I was grateful for I didn't need anyone making him more freaked out than he already was). In my case alcohol was not a factor for this incident, just a lack of him taking his meds. I am sure that there is much more to his emotional problems than ADD and I do not know enough about ADD to speak intelligently on the subject. I also do not want to offend anyone who has ADD or a child with ADD, I was told that he was on medication for ADD after the incident, I too believe he had more serious issues than ADD.

Also, I did not mention before....there was a psycologist of some sort on staff on this ship and she was there from the time we got to the crew quarters, after I had walked away from the port window I sat quietly on the floor and was crying, she came over and told me not to worry that if he did jump there were rescue boats out and they would find him and everything would be fine....all I could think of was WHAT? Everything will never be fine again if this kid jumps or falls, my son will have to live with that memory for the rest of his life. This Dr. also came to our cabin as did many ship officials after we got back from the incident, she sat and talked with Krammer ( that is the kids real first name<<probably shoulda been a clue, huh?) for quite a while, however, it kind of felt like this situation was way over her head,to be fair tho this situation was just so bizzare that I don;t think anyone realy knew what to say or how to feel.

 

 

All I can say WOW! You sound very responsible and I can see how this can happen. All the kids these days want to bring a friend. We took our son to Mexico for his graduation and he wanted several friends to go with us. Because the drinking age is 18 in mexico I said no way! We traveled with several other families and the kids made friends with some other teens at the resort. We met these parents who happened to bring a group of graduates. They were having major problems with one of the girls they had brought and were ready to drive her to the Cancun airport and ship her home. She kept running off and was falling down drunk the whole time.The final straw was when they found her in bed in a hotel room with another teen she had met. They had known the girl and her parents since she was in kindergarten. Thank you for your honesty about this event. I am sure it will help other parents whose child wants to bring a friend.

[RevSmith]

I am wondering if any of you have ever been in Haiti beside labadee????? We have been the second largest city is just 15 miles from the beach, with a major airport which we went back and forth to the US many times! It would be VERY easy for the company to have someone taken to the airport and flown home. I lived in cape haitian ( the nearest city) with our 3 small kids for 8 years, never had a problem. Dont believe all you read and we went to labadee every sat and we also were there on the days the ship was there so people do go in and out.

I don't understand why anyone would for one minute think this was not true. It states very clearly in the agreement that you sign when you print out your sea pas, in the cruise book that you may have gotten from you travel agent or in your documents that they have the right to not allow you to continue to sail with them and that you have no recourse. We all know the cruise ships are not under US law and that we the passengers have very few rights.

I personally am glad that they were kicked off and that the captain made the announcement.

Out of control drinkers, obnoxious behaving screamers and cruisers and children who are out of control and some of the things cruise passengers and crew should not have to tolerate.

[ruskatab]

phtktz3

I am glad everyone made it off the ship safely, as you said it would have been a hard memory if the boy had jumpped.

 

Thanks for the insight on ADD meds while on the ship, guess we will be sure to have them with us for DD if she needs them. It is hit or miss with her as to what day she needs or does not need them.

 

Have a safe and happy Holiday Season!!! Enjoy your upcoming cruise!!!

 

Rancher Dave...I love the picture!! My son goes to UT in Austin...go Longhorns! I hope you dont mind but I sent my son the link to your page.

[SaratogaTrunk]

 

WOW!

 

Over the years' date=' we've allowed our children to bring friends along on our trips-- within the state, that is-- about 2.5 hours north-- where we vacation in the summer.

 

This is definitely food for thought in considering more distant adventures.

 

Thanks to all who have shared![/color']

[Motorman23]

Dear PHTKTZ3,

 

Wow, I am really sorry about your experience. I cannot imagine how terrifying the whole thing must have been. I work Part Time in the EMS business and have had to face these situations in my work but not as an affected family member or friend. Based on the way you explained the situation and your tone I can tell you are a caring and forgiving person. I am truely sorry for this unfortunate situation you were faced with.

 

Take care,

 

Mike

[shirleygr]

As the parent of a child who has to take daily meds in order to function, I am shocked by the behavior of your son's friend's grandparents. My son is very active in boy scouts, so his father became a troop leader to ensure he would always be there to keep tabs on my son and help him when he becomes stressed out. I would never let my son travel without his father or myself because of his issues. I am so sorry this happened to you. Parents/guardians need to take responsibility for their children and the grandparents' denial created an unfair situation for everyone involved. Thank you for posting your story. You raised some very important issues for everyone who is considering taking a child who is not their own.