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Lola

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About Lola

Cruising

  • Last Cruise Date
    0000-00-00
  1. First, we love cruising and have no intention of stopping. We realize there are certain risks one takes when traveling at all... and we love to travel. Anyway, we went on a great cruise jan 2 - 12 (caribbean) that was just a fun getaway. We were so glad to be able to cruise again (hub was in car accident 5 years ago and that was our first attempt since then). Anyway, we booked another for 2/26...a 7 day relaxing caribbean, different ship, same line. That week immediately followed my MIL visiting and we thought we could use the R&R. While on the cruise I was getting my hair washed in salon. The back of the chair I was in FELL flat out to the floor and the (apparent) sprain to my back was excruciating and progressively got worse. I just didn't move after getting into another chair, then (since I have double fusion in neck) put on neck brace hub brought me and I went to purser to see what I should do. he said doctor and directed us there. Safety Officer met me there.... took report, said he'd do full report 'for me' etc. Doc gave me muscle relaxants, oxycodone and tramadol along with advil 800mg. They continued to provide me with meds for the remaining 3 days of cruise. I wasn't able to do much more than start a meal though....rest of the time in cabin. Ok, fine. Here's the part that's mildly distressing....I say mildly because I KNOW cruise ships are not well prepared for medical emergencies. I know that, and I understand (like...where do you draw the line?). But there wasn't a single brace of any kind on that ship. The doc wrote down the type brace I should wear to immobilize my back for safety until getting home (flying home was a bad idea he said because Cozumel has zilch for medical assist and transport would be more dangerous than staying on the ship taking it slow and easy). Made sense to me. So...for our cozumel stay we canceled excursions and instead went in a taxi from pharmacy to pharmacy until we found one with braces, then bought one.... it did help immediately, by the way so that was nice. The rest of the trip I got tramadol injections regularly and took all these meds and it was tolerable. Once home, x-rays showed no broken bones. Yay! I canceled trip planned for trip to help friend with alzheimers mom and am now (after 2 weeks of painkillers and muscle relaxants) doing PT which is an 1/8 inch at a time getting me more mobile. Pain still overwhelming but meds do help. I asked the cruise line if there's any chance of refund or something. I mean, I did have plans for this cruise and I didn't intend to spend my spring in a back brace getting PT instead of living my life...and even that still doesn't even answer if there's damage...we wont pursue that till I can move close to normal again. They said ...um,nope. But...please send letter with your request to risk management. Now, I also need a copy of the accident report for insurance but of course they now say I have to sue to get that. I don't get it? they don't want to just simply help me through this rough patch? We have 32 days of cruising planned with this cruise line for in the fall...I'm not pissed. They are responsible though. I guess I'm mostly confused. I guess I'll just send them a letter explaining the inconvenience and ask for.... well,how do they fix a few months of my life? Another cruise would be nice I guess. It just feels like they want me to get an attorney to handle all of this and that rubs me wrong. An attorney? I just want a refund for a cruise that got screwed up to their nonfatal negligence. Big deal. All I know is.....when on board ship do not expect any kind of medical support no matter who the doc is (he was a good guy). They have very little in the way of supplies/equipment ....definitely less stocked than a typical ambulance. No way to immobilize? great. if there had been a break, i'd be paralyzed. As it is, there appear to be 2 or more blown out discs that we dont know what will have what longterm effect. So enjoy your next cruise but DO NOT FALL. I guess I just write the letter? Lola
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