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Cellphone
Saves This $14,000 Cruise
Smart cruisers always take
more than one cell-phone. Often, from a painful experience, they learn that the ability
communicate with other family members at distant ports is essential - particularly when family
members separate to enjoy shore excursions.
In July, 2011, Michael and his family of seven arrived in
Barcelona, looking forward eagerly to their 13 night Mediterranean cruise
Excited to get the party going, they arrived early at the
Barcelona Pier,. While boarding, with all their luggage already on board, 17 year old son
Michael Jr. vomited.
Because of regulations about contagious  viruses, Port authorities
prohibited Michael Jr from boarding. Family members insisted ..."If he can't
board, we have to cancel."
Michael Sr., after investigating flights, or a drive
overnight to meet the ship to next Port; ran out of options, except for one. Take Michael Jr. to a
nearby hospital, and hope for a miracle.
It was noon. The remaining family boarded, provisionally.
Michael Sr. and son rushed to the nearby hospital
While virtually all the hospital staff spoke Spanish only; an
English speaking nurse offered to help. With her aid, Michael Jr. was seen by the Staff Physician;
blood tests were taken. The hospital certified, in writing, that Michael Jr. was suffering from
non-communicable tonsillitis, and gave him a prescription medication to alleviate the inflammation.
Time was running out.
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It was now 3:15 - only 45 minutes to  sailing. There was still a slim chance they could re-board before the
ship sailed. But, there was no way to communicate with the remaining family about to disembark
the ship. Michael Sr. had taken the family’s only cellphone.
By shear serendipity, Michael Sr. noted the cellphone number for the cruiseline's pier
staff. A last minute cellphone call from the hospital to the ship narrowly stopped the entire
family as they were getting off the ship. A fast taxi ride, and Michael and Son were able to enjoy
their wonderful, and otherwise uneventful cruise.
If Michael's wife had a cellphone, she and her husband could
have kept each other aware of the fast-changing circumstances, and prevented what could have been a
total economic loss if the family had disembarked. Two cellphones would have prevented this
distressful chaos.
HELEN AND KATHY ALMOST
AWOL
Helen and Kathy shared a cabin with Kathy's five year old son,
Keith. After disembarking for a scheduled shore excursion, Helen and Keith decided to wander off on
their own. Kathy planned to take a nap.
By 4:00 PM, 15 minutes before final "All Passengers On
Board", Helen and Keith had not appeared.
Because the child was only five; and because Mother Kathy was in panic mode, the Captain
sent a golf cart and rescue party, and brought Helen (who had not changed her watch to "Ship's
Time), safely aboard.
This is just another example of when two cellphones would have made a
difference.
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