I really, really hope that this is all wrong.
Don
"Cindy C" wrote in message
news:5_Odnel80bljwdjYnZ2dnUVZ_tSdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Hello Group,
>
>
>
> I hate to have to bring such bad news home from our 10 day trip but ya
> need to know!!!!
>
> We have cruised every year for the last 12 years. This was our second NCL.
>
>
>
> We booked NCL's Spirit out of NYC to S Caribbean 10/19/06-10/29/06.
> Selected a guaranteed balcony for us and an outside cabin for my parents
> (We were fortunate enough to be able to take them on their first cruise in
> 20 years. We were very excited.) We thought it would be a great idea to
> travel out of NY as we are from MD and my parents from DE (no airline
> hassles).
>
>
>
> After spending one night in our cabin we returned from breakfast to find a
> bug crawling on our curtain. I thought (rather 'afraid') I knew what it
> was but asked my mom for confirmation. Yep, sure enough, bed bugs. They
> were everywhere! Behind the bed, in the sleeper, in the curtains, etc. We
> killed and caught several and proceeded immediately to reception to speak
> with a manager privately. We spoke with the asst front desk manager and
> were told to give them an hour to figure out where they would move us to
> while they exterminated our cabin. After voicing my serious concerns about
> our personal belongings they offered to launder anything we wanted. Later
> that day we were moved (I should say *we* moved our belongings with out
> assistance) from deck 10 aft (balcony) to deck 6 very forward porthole!
> (Well at this point we hope it is far enough away from our original
> stateroom that the new one may be safe.) That took the better part of our
> first day at sea and we were unable to participate in any activities or
> formal night.
>
>
>
> All of our empty luggage remained in the room as it was stored under the
> bed and we could not bring ourselves to go under there again. I'm not
> kidding when I say it was alive! The bedding and sleeper were filthy with
> fecal matter, dried blood and living bugs of all sizes!
>
>
>
> The front desk contacted us to let us know that they would extend an
> onboard credit of $300 pp ($600), a complimentary dinner at a specialty
> restaurant and a bottle of wine. Big deal! The difference between
> staterooms is at least that much! They acted like it was generous! They
> replied that they needed authorization from Miami to do anything further.
>
>
>
> We tried to enjoy the second day at sea but we were now experiencing
> inflammation from the bites we received on the first night and constant
> itching. Later that evening we received a call from the front desk
> management that Miami has extended an additional $200 pp ($400) and no
> other credits would be offered. Meanwhile we still itch and can not sleep!
>
>
>
> Finally we get to the island itinerary (5 days) and can spend some time
> off of the ship and think about something other than bugs. But no, now we
> are overhearing other people talk about rashes, and "something biting"
> them. This how we realized the entire ship is infested! Nope we are not
> sleeping through the night anymore. We keep waking and itching all through
> the nights.
>
>
>
> On the morning of our ninth day I awoke with a rather large bedbug running
> down my arm! After screaming and cursing I captured and took the little
> b*st*rd to the hotel manager. I tried to explain that I feared the entire
> ship has a serious problem. He stated that he had a terrific extermination
> team however, acknowledged that docking in NYC presents a particular
> problem as NYC is known to have a dramatic bed bug problem. He was
> sympathetic as I explained that we are terrified that we are going to
> bring this problem home with us (as these things are efficient
> hitch-hikers) but offered no advice or assistance. I asked that we be
> provided with a letter acknowledging our complaint so I may have some
> instrument to persuade NCL to take some responsibility should we in fact
> bring this home, but that we would never get.
>
>
>
> So we have just spent our evening emptying our suitcases in our driveway
> (outside), sorted our laundry into plastic bags and sealed them. We will
> store our luggage in the shed and hope that mice do not inhabit them until
> a good freeze can kill any potential bugs or eggs. My parents also have
> bites and they are following the same procedures.
>
>
>
> Tomorrow I will consult with an exterminator as to anything else
> preventative we can do, and we will write NCL to pursue additional monies
> refunded.
>
>
>
> This has been a horrible horrible experience! There are so many more
> details that I wish I could convey, but this rant has gone on long enough.
> If anyone has any advice on either the bugs or how to handle NCL, please
> let me know! Thank you.
>
>
>
> FYI-That ship only exterminated our 1st cabin and has sailed again today
> with all of its little extra passengers.
>
>
|