|
| |
 Advocate's
Warning
Carnival Cruise Lines
Complaint - Carnival Cruise Lines
Date: 04/06/2004
On Sept. 6, 2003, I went on a cruise with
Carnival. I got sick on the boat. I think it was food poisoning. They
forced me to go to the hospital. Instead of taking me to the nearest
hospital which was 20 minutes away, they took me to a hospital that was
1 1/2 hours away.
Once there, the ambulance driver demanded $500 in U.S.
currency, which I understand is about $4,000 in Jamaican currency. Now,
they were giving me morphine all night long.
Once I got to the hospital, Carnival told me that I could not
return to the ship unless I was seen by a physician at the hospital.
Then, while I was under the influence of morphine, they told me that I
had to sign a promissory note for re-imbursement of medical fees because
the hospital was refusing to treat me without knowing how they were
going to be paid. I do not remember signing the note, but they claim
that I did. I supposedly signed a note for $1200, and guess how much my
supposed medical expenses came to? $1220.
Now, Carnival is sending me harassing letters demanding the
$1220. I have a real problem with this for several reasons. First of
all, I have since been told by several Jamaican nationals that tourists
are not responsible for medical treatment because they are guests of the
country. Second of all, why would you take a sick person to a hospital
that is 90 minutes away when there is one 20 minutes away? Third of all,
why did they ask for their money in U.S. currency?
Additionally, Carnival Cruise Lines extorted more than $600
from my mother by leading her to believe that I was being held on
another ship and unless she paid my medical bill on the ship, I wouldn't
be released. I feel that I have been ripped off by Carnival in more ways
than one. Had they taken me to the nearest hospital instead of across
the island, then I wouldn't have been abandoned in Jamaica. I would have
had time to get back to the ship. Because I was so far from the ship
when I was released, I missed the boat and had to pay an additional $321
to get back to the U.S. I feel that Carnival should have reimbursed me
those funds because it is their fault that I was unable to get back to
the boat before they sailed.
Instead, they send me a bill for $1220!! - WBR
• Home • Up • About the Advocate • Advocate Approved • Comments/Complaints • Consumer Fraud • Newsletter • More Info • Warning Watch-List •
Last Revised:
July 11, 2006 11:25 PM, |
