Carnival Cruise Lines - Medical Care

Consumer Complaints & Reviews

stephen of whiting, NJ on Feb. 7, 2012

Satisfaction Rating: 1/5

We traveled on the Carnival Imagination from Miami to Nassau on 1/20/2012. On the 2nd night of our 3 day cruise, 2 people in our party became violently ill, vomiting and diarrhea, and severe cramping. On the day we returned to the port on 1/24/12, two others in our party including myself got it. Within the week, the rest of our group also came down with this virus. From speaking with other passengers aboard the ship, I know we were not alone. I immediately notified Carnival, and finally after 2 weeks they replied with this message:

"We regret learning that your group became ill during your sailing and want to assure you that our highest priority is the safety and health of our guests. That said, whenever we have reported cases of illness on board, our staff is committed to doing everything possible, to prevent further potential spread. Upon checking with our Medical Department, I was informed that there were no reported cases of water or food poisoning on board the Carnival Imagination sailing. While we regret that you became ill, we find no indication of illness derived from the water or food served on board. Nonetheless, I have forwarded your comments to the appropriate department administrators for their information and files".

"Mr. Di **, we've given careful consideration to the issue you've brought to our attention, however, we must respectfully decline your request for compensation. It is our sincere hope that in time, you will once again consider Carnival when making vacation plans. We would love nothing more than the opportunity to welcome you and your family back".

I feel in light of recent media coverage of other carnival ships having the norovirus, they should accept responsibility, and offer some kind of compensation for making everyone sick. Ruining our vacation, and causing most of us to miss work while we recovered!

Linda of Johnston, RI on Feb. 24, 2004

We just returned from sailing on Carnival's Fantasy 2/19-2/23. My husband & I traveled with our 12 & 14 yr old children, along with another family with children of the same age. As a seasoned traveler & travel agent, I was extremely disappointed with Carnival Cruise Lines. We have sailed with Princess, NCL, & just last yr with Royal Caribbean on the Sovereign of the Seas.

This year we choose the Fantasy over its competition because it had a water slide for the children. On the 4 day trip, the slide is only open for a few hrs in 2 days. The pool, waterslide, and outer decks area had a terrible stench of raw sewerage! Although Carnival claims to have more staff than other cruise lines, they are too busy "hawking" & pushing alcoholic drinks than any other service. The pool area was constantly littered with empty beer cans, and the drink's fruit garnishes (orange slices, cheeries, lemons/limes, paper umbrellas, etc). To avoid slipping, I was constantly kicking them aside. I did bring it to the attention of the purser ... to no avail.

One day at sea, hundreds of children were waiting for the pool to open. Unfortunely, the pool doesn't open until 11:00am. I guess the staff was too busy selling drinks from 9:00am.

The restrooms were soiled with vomit and not cleaned. Ashtrays overflowed. Terrible food. Poor Camp Carnival program. Lots of nothing! My children were looking forward to one activity on Saturday - the basketball shoot-out. We boarded the ship on Thursday and on Sat they asked for a parental consent form for the children to play. Because my son has mild asthma & my daughter has diabetes, they were denied the opportunity to partake in these activities. (Ironically, they're both excellent atheletes & play on their school teams)

After I complained to the purser's office, the youth counselor called our cabin at 10:30pm on the last night of sailing to apologize and invite my children to the Farewell teen party at their Disco. Thanks, but no Thanks.

This ship was more of a Spring Break sailing with lots of drunks. I would highly DISCOURAGE anyone from sailing on this ship, especially with children.

Don of Lexington, KY. on Dec. 7, 2003

On Feb 21 we departed Fort Lauderdale on the cruise ship Legend. The first day my wife and I got sick from the afternoon meal and we had cramps and developed diarrhea and went to the infirmsry and were told it closed at 6 pm. We went to the purser's desk where they gave us some seasick pills and I tried to tell the foreign-speaking agent we were not seasick, but all she could say was take two pills every 6 hours.

After taking 9 previous cruises I brought a large bottle of Pepto Bismol and for three days we had a hard time. I called Carnival and complained and to no avail, all they wanted to do was offer us a 10 percent discount on our next cruise. On ship at the end of voyage we were told that the crew knew the virus was on board when we boarded the ship in Fort Lauderdale.

Damage Resulting: Spent $1,800 for cruise and my wife had to take an extra week off from her go0vernment job.

Jacob of Terawa Terrace, NC on Dec. 1, 2003

We sailed on the Sensation out of Tampa on Nov. 10th. On the morning of the 12th, my wife started having bad trouble breathing, chest pains, and was vomiting really bad. The ship infirmary said they had nothing they could take care of it with, and that going to the hospital on Grand Cayman was the best bet. So the people on the ship took care of getting us to the hospital, and told them what time to get us back to the ship, with the help of the Citrus Grove Shipping Co. there.
My wife got good care at the hospital, for what the doctor said was probably food poisoning. We got out of the hospital as fast as we could, keeping in mind when the last boat went to the ship, but found out we had just missed the ship. The Citrus Grove people said they tried to stop the ship for us, but they wouldn't stop. As we were doing this we realized there was another Carnival Cruise ship (Imagination, I think) sitting right there off the beack, and was even currently loading. We talked to them about trying to get onto that ship, but they said no, because it was going to Jamaica next, and not Cozumel, and was ending up in Miami, and not Tampa.
We even tried explaining that Miami was fine, because we are from Florida, but had no luck, we were stranded. We ended up having to stay the night in a hotel, then having to pay to fly out the next day. Once in Tampa we had to stay another 2 nights in a hotel, waiting for our luggage and car keys, which were on board. To top all of this off, this cruise was our honeymoon. It was a total nightmare.

We ended up losing our honeymoon cruise, paying nearly $700 in medical bills, paying another $700 for plane tickets back, and paying approximately another $200 in 3 nights of hotel stay. For a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps, and for being newly married, that has all been really hard on me and my wife.

Alice of Chula Vista, CA on June 27, 2002

Went to doctor while on board the Fantasy, would not bill my HMO. We paid cash. When consulted with HMO needed report from Doctor. Contacted several times. Still no follow-through. I don't want much, just a report not money. We also never saw our cabin steward unless we were sleeping then she would knock. I have asthma; when the boat drill was held I was not told what to do and by the time I got up all those stairs I felt like I was going to die.

Jose of Quebradillas, PUERTO RICO on June 1, 2002

We were passengers for the May 19 7-day cruise to St Thomas, Martinique, Barbados and Aruba and two days at sea. The cruise on May 23, 2002 on its way to Aruba had a major power failure in the middle of the ocean. We were stuck there for 8 hours. At 7:30 am the motors of the ship, lights and airconditioning on the whole ship went off.
No one gave us information and we were in the dark; we had a cabin w/o windows. My children and I panicked. My husband got out to see if anything can be seen. It was total chaos. The room stewart did not come till about 9:00 am with a borrowed flashlight to help some people go up to the 9th floor. We found that large magnetic doors were closed and we were not advised how to open them. Children were seperated from their parents due to these doors and caused us more anguish.
When we reached the top floor about 10:00 am on our own the ship by that time had emergency lights up in the stairs by the elevators not in the hallways. I am hypoglycemic diabetic and had to get breakfast and my children also. The four lines were all full and no organization done to separate sandwich lines from buffet. After 8 hours of hell and finally turning on the motors they detour the cruise to St Lucia to fly in a technician to fix the cruise ship and decide to give 1 hour of complimentary drinks and 50.00 credit to each in the sail and sign card and not taking the cruise to Aruba.
We paid $2,596.00 and we are a family of 4 of which 2 are children a 7 yr and 9 yr. We were exposed to danger this ship was stuck in the ocean. We docked at St Lucia May 23, 2002 7:30 p.m. and left St Lucia May 24, 2002 at 11:30 pm. We were very upset and dissapointed we feel that the rest of the 4 days on this cruise was ruined. We felt unsafe and insecure and afraid for our safeway home. We had nightmares and we think we consider that the cruise ship was unfair and the compensation was inadequate and below the amount we spent per night.

By the way Camp Carnival for children exposed my son to danger having him go through scavenger hunts throughout the ship unsupervised. We dont know if there sick people on the ship and unsafe places my 9 yr old could have gone into. They were very rude and I requested formal apology which they did but actually caused fright to my 9 yr old.