What is the NCL policy?

[izzycoupon]

OMG you are a kind and very patient person. You were so wise to remain calm and put together your search team. I am so glad you had a good outcome and enjoyed yourself anyway. You and your family are so amazing. I will think of you and draw from your experience in any future stressful situations. The cruiseline's protocol or total lack of emergency assistance was dreadful. We had an experience on RCCL when my daughter was 3yo. She had the flu onboard. I paid for the onboard insurance and received no services what so ever. It was only the 2nd day out and they had no pedialyte, gatoraide etc. Thank God the barfing and temp. dropped. We had some pedi meds of our own (OTC). She had barfed on the bedspread and blankets (clear liquid) and the room steward asked if they really needed to be washed or could they just dry out.... yipes. He was nice and changed them, but I was told the laundry does not like the stewards to send the blankets or spreads to the laundry because they take a long time to wash and dry...oh boy... I now bring every med. I can think of on our trips. I also bring the dry pedialyte you can add to any liquid.. Thanks for sharing your post. It will keep me more intuned to my family at every moment.

[G'ma]

[quote name='CruisnGram']Oh sure, the over 80 blind grandmother is just down at the club having a scotch and water. Sorry, but you are way out of line on this one. I'm sure there are procedures for missing passengers, but this is quite different then someone that just can't find their husband, or their wife. The simple fact of her age, and her blindness should have been enough for them to step in and help quickly. Bottom line is whoever they spoke to at the front desk screwed up big time. The OP should write a letter to the president and inform him exactly what happened.[/quote]

Sorry. The fault is with the family who waited to long to check on this poor woman to see if she found the bathroom OK....after all, being blind and elderly and with some obvious confusion issues, you'd think they'd keep an eye on her.

[G'ma]

[quote name='terri1020']I NEVER BLAMED NCL! I said that more than once. How dare you presume we did not take care of our loved one! I asked if anyone knew the policy. I pray to God that something like this never happens to ANYONE! They send NCL reps to your cabin for EVERYTHING! All I asked was that they send someone to the cabin with the form or whatever else they needed in order to assist us. For any of us to take the time to run down two floors and fill out a form was a crazy request IMHO. Shame on you! I'm sorry you feel the way you do, I really am![/quote]

With 14 people in your party, one could certainly have made their way to reception to start the process while the other 13 looked for her. As for your disdain for filling out the "form".....NCL isn't about to change their way of tracking down missing passengers just to please your party.

With 14 people in your party, someone could have made sure this woman found the bathroom OK without falling over something in the cabin or having a problem getting into the bathroom.

So, I say shame on you - and those in your party who were present in those cabins....who left this woman to her own devices, who didn't bother to check on her until she was gone.

[Cruising89143]

[quote=G'ma;15086164]With 14 people in your party, one could certainly have made their way to reception to start the process while the other 13 looked for her. As for your disdain for filling out the "form".....NCL isn't about to change their way of tracking down missing passengers just to please your party.

With 14 people in your party, someone could have made sure this woman found the bathroom OK without falling over something in the cabin or having a problem getting into the bathroom.

So, I say shame on you - and those in your party who were present in those cabins....who left this woman to her own devices, who didn't bother to check on her until she was gone.[/quote]


It wasn't you there in the situation was it? It's not up to you to tell this person what to do. She simply asked a question.

I have never used my ignore feature but you may be the first in my six years on this board.:rolleyes: To the OP, ignore this person as I guess I should be.

[Bigdog49]

[quote=G'ma;15086164]With 14 people in your party, one could certainly have made their way to reception to start the process while the other 13 looked for her. As for your disdain for filling out the "form".....NCL isn't about to change their way of tracking down missing passengers just to please your party.

With 14 people in your party, someone could have made sure this woman found the bathroom OK without falling over something in the cabin or having a problem getting into the bathroom.

So, I say shame on you - and those in your party who were present in those cabins....who left this woman to her own devices, who didn't bother to check on her until she was gone.[/quote]

G'ma - number one rule when you find yourself in a hole, PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL

[Evilmille]

[quote=G'ma;15086076]Sorry. The fault is with the family who waited to long to check on this poor woman to see if she found the bathroom OK....after all, being blind and elderly and with some obvious confusion issues, you'd think they'd keep an eye on her.[/quote]

Do you think they should follow her into the bathroom? Maybe with your "confusion" issues, you need to be watched more closely. You are confused as to what compassion and caring means.

[LEET44]

[quote name='Bigdog49']G'ma - number one rule when you find yourself in a hole, PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL[/quote]

.....and I am sure someone will be more than happy to help you pick it up.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[LEET44]

[quote name='Evilmille']Do you think they should follow her into the bathroom? Maybe with your "confusion" issues, you need to be watched more closely. You are confused as to what compassion and caring means.[/quote]

I think you figured it out .Something is really wrong here.

How in the world did you come up with your screen name :confused:
Nothing evil about you just the opposite;) :)

[soccermommy]

I think NCL would change their way of tracking passengers (Which is???) if they had a big fat lawsuit.
Would you feel the same about this if it was a member of your party?

[LEET44]

[quote name='soccermommy']I think NCL would change their way of tracking passengers (Which is???) if they had a big fat lawsuit.
Would you feel the same about this if it was a member of your party?[/quote]

It could never happen to her because she is just perfect and would do exactly the right thing .

[Cosmopolitan]

[quote=G'ma;15086164]With 14 people in your party, one could certainly have made their way to reception to start the process while the other 13 looked for her. As for your disdain for filling out the "form".....NCL isn't about to change their way of tracking down missing passengers just to please your party.

With 14 people in your party, someone could have made sure this woman found the bathroom OK without falling over something in the cabin or having a problem getting into the bathroom.

So, I say shame on you - and those in your party who were present in those cabins....who left this woman to her own devices, who didn't bother to check on her until she was gone.[/quote]

[B]I agree[/B]...a woman who is blind can [B]easily [/B]chose the wrong door (especially in a new environment) for the restroom..a blind woman should be escorted to wherever she is headed to...restroom or not...common sense.

My mom was confused before she passed (not blind)...we escorted her to wherever she wanted go go...common sense!

I'm sure the ship needs a form completed for every missing person....how many calls per day do they receive for missing persons who are out taking a stroll, exercising, swimming, etc., who did not leave a note in the cabin regarding where they going!

A blind and/or confused passenger should be rooming with a passenger who will attend to them at [B]ALL[/B] times:eek:

[Cosmopolitan]

[quote name='Evilmille']Do you think they should follow her into the bathroom? Maybe with your "confusion" issues, you need to be watched more closely. You are confused as to what compassion and caring means.[/quote]

Duh...YES!
A blind or confused person NEEDS to be followed to the bathroom..and, they may also forget to wash their hands after they use the restroom...[B]you [/B]have alot to learn!

Seems to me...you are confused about compassion and caring and taking care of the elderly:eek:

[iheartbda]

[quote name='Cosmopolitan']
I'm sure the ship needs a form completed for every missing person....how many calls per day do they receive for missing persons who are out taking a stroll, exercising, swimming, etc., who did not leave a note in the cabin regarding where they going!
[/quote]

I agree except this was not an able bodied person who forgot to leave a note. [B]Elderly [/B]and [B]blind [/B]are the operative words here which should have gotten the immediate attention of the person at the desk.

[Cosmopolitan]

[quote name='iheartbda-']I agree except this was not an able bodied person who forgot to leave a note. [B]Elderly [/B]and [B]blind [/B]are the operative words here which should have gotten the immediate attention of the person at the desk.[/quote]

[B]OR[/B]...the person/persons traveling with her should not have left her alone to go to the restroom on her own.
[B]Elderly [/B]and[B] Blind[/B] are the operative words here..I agree..who leaves an elderly/blind person to find the restroom on their own in a completley[B] NEW[/B] environment:confused:
[B]Immediate attention[/B] should have been known to those traveling with her.

Common sense is the issue...those traveling with this poor woman should have had some [B]common [/B]sense as to how to deal with the elderly/blind in a new environment or should they/she should have stayed home;)

People are so quick to blame others when they, in fact, failed!

[iheartbda]

[quote=Cosmopolitan;15087187

People are so quick to blame others when they, in fact, failed![/quote]

You're being quick to blame the OP with all your advice as to how to handle the mother. Did you read post #33 by the OP?

[AuntieBarb]

[quote name='NEW 2 CRUISIN']
I was suggesting that keeping the doors locked - even while IN the cabin - always seemed like a good idea to us.

We do it all the time, and it may have helped in this (and future) situations.[/quote]

The lock is supposed to keep someone from entering your stateroom while it is engaged. It hasn't ever stopped me from opening the door to leave my stateroom.

[quote name='terri1020']I told them that my blind 80 year old mother was gone from the cabin, missing. They told me to come by the desk and fill out a form. COME TO THE DESK? I asked if they could send someone to our cabin (they send someone to the cabin for every little thing, why not now?) I was told that nothing could be done unless I went to the reception desk and completed a form. [/quote]

Terri, I'm sorry to hear your situation wasn't handled more appropriately, but thank goodness she was alright! I do suggest writing a letter. NCL always says if they don't know, they can't fix it!

[Cosmopolitan]

[quote name='iheartbda-']You're being quick to blame the OP with all your advice as to how to handle the mother. Did you read post #33 by the OP?[/quote]

Yes..I read the post...I am not so [B]QUICK[/B] to blame the OP...you should know me better than that.

Did you ever deal with a parent with alzheimers or blind?...lucky you if you have not!

Be prepared and read up on it and know how to handle it and how to travel with people who have these conditions...under any circumstances.

It is, in the end, YOUR responsibility...not the airline carrier or cruise ship or any hotel;)

[Cosmopolitan]

[quote name='AuntieBarb']
Terri, I'm sorry to hear your situation wasn't handled more appropriately, but thank goodness she was alright! I do suggest writing a letter. NCL always says if they don't know, they can't fix it![/quote]

14 family members on the cruise...sorry...paperwork is mandatory in any situation due to "frivolous" law suits. One person out of 14 could have gone down to reception and completed the paperwork!

[iheartbda]

[quote name='Cosmopolitan']Yes..I read the post...I am not so [B]QUICK[/B] to blame the OP...you should know me better than that.

Did you ever deal with a parent with alzheimers or blind?...lucky you if you have not!

Be prepared and read up on it and know how to handle it and how to travel with people who have these conditions...under any circumstances.

It is, in the end, YOUR responsibility...not the airline carrier or cruise ship or any hotel;)[/quote]

My mother was legally blind and you have no idea about the depth of responsibility I bore...and handled. I never expected it but I was fortunate to have kind souls who offered a bit of understanding and compassion at times for our situation.

[Cosmopolitan]

[quote name='iheartbda-']My mother was legally blind and you have no idea about the depth of responsibility I bore...and handled. I never expected it but I was fortunate to have kind souls who offered a bit of understanding and compassion at times for our situation.[/quote]

And I (we) handled more than that. We did not blame anyone else when we/she faltered. Understanding and compassion are one thing...legal documents are another.
I assume, you knew how to handle it in any situation and did not blame anyone else when you/she faltered!

[AuntieBarb]

[quote name='Cosmopolitan']14 family members on the cruise...sorry...paperwork is mandatory in any situation due to "frivolous" law suits. One person out of 14 could have gone down to reception and completed the paperwork![/quote]

Cos, I don't refute the need to complete paperwork, but in the interim they could have sent someone up to the vicinity. I think the fact that her grandmother was blind was sufficient enough reason to "bend the rules" a bit. There's no reason BOTH couldn't have been underway.

[AuntieBarb]

[quote=G'ma;15086076]Sorry. The fault is with the family who waited to long to check on this poor woman to see if she found the bathroom OK....after all, being blind and elderly and with some obvious confusion issues, you'd think they'd keep an eye on her.[/quote]

Why has this turned into fault? The OP isn't denying they had any responsibility in the fact that grandmother "got away". It's about how it was handled after-the-fact, when they needed assistance.

[Cosmopolitan]

[quote name='AuntieBarb']Cos, I don't refute the need to complete paperwork, but in the interim they could have sent someone up to the vicinity. I think the fact that her grandmother was blind was sufficient enough reason to "bend the rules" a bit. There's no reason BOTH couldn't have been underway.[/quote]

While I may agree..the rules are the rules..just like in any establishment..hospitals, etc. Paperwork in place before any lawsuit.

I can only assume rules are in place for a number of reasons. We may not like/agree with them but they are the rules.
Having said that...if I were traveling with a legally blind person - I would ensure her roommate was more on top of the situation and would guide her to wherever she was heading off to on the ship or in the cabin.

[AuntieBarb]

[quote name='Cosmopolitan']While I may agree..the rules are the rules..just like in any establishment..hospitals, etc. Paperwork in place before any lawsuit.

I can only assume rules are in place for a number of reasons. We may not like/agree with them but they are the rules.
Having said that...if I were traveling with a legally blind person - I would ensure her roommate was more on top of the situation and would guide her to wherever she was heading off to on the ship or in the cabin.[/quote]

Even our local police would come to our house for a missing person report of this nature; albeit a blind person, someone with Alzheimer's Disease or mentally handicapped. I believe that's all the OP was looking for and I don't find it wrong of her to feel that way.

Besides, why should NCL have to position themselves for a lawsuit over this? There's no doubt in my mind they should not be held liable. Her travel companions were responsible for her supervision.

[terri1020]

I will be writing a letter to NCL today. Not to complain, blame them or any other negative suggestion, simply to inform them. The people who tell me we should have followed her to the bathroom actually make me laugh. Obviously you have never lived with a person who has a handicap and wants to remain as independant as possible. We are talking about walking ten steps to the bathroom she had gone to dozens of times before. And, who said she was confused mentally? She is NOT confused mentally, she got turned around and THAT made her confused. Please don't post your negative thoughts here on this thread. I NEVER blamed NCL, nor do I blame myself or my family. I also never asked for your opinion as to how we care for Mom. It happened and I wanted to know the policy, period.

Terri

PS Perhaps some of you could use some sensitivity training...how about volunteering at a nursing home or an assisted living facility? Might just do you some good!