Never Again NCL

[MMW1991]

I sailed aboard the NCL Encore to Alaska last September.  I gifted the cruise to my husband for Christmas the year before.  Alaska had been a bucket list trip for him.  Before this trip i wouldn't have sailed with anyone but NCL.  We had sailed on the Escape in the Caribbean twice which were great!  Our first clue about this cruise was the airfare deal, second person flies free.  The flights from Alabama to Seattle were scheduled same day and were scheduled to arrive 30 minutes prior to the last call for boarding.  There was absolutely no way even with perfectly timed flights we could have made it to the port on time.  NCL refused to reschedule.  So I scheduled my own flights and ate those costs.  Apparently many other passengers had the same issue as they were trying to board the ship as we were getting off the ship in Juneau.  More about our disembarking in Juneau to come.  We had priority boarding and that went smoothly in Seattle.  We had a great time exploring the ship and making plans.  Our cabin was great and our steward was fabulous.  We had our first dinner at Teppanyaki, wonderful.  The second day were rough seas, everyone was walking like drunken sailors.  We enjoyed the indoor observation deck.  The challenge was finding a seat, much like finding a chair at the pool on a Caribbean cruise.  We dined at Savor that evening which was delicious.  Later that evening I began having severe abdominal pain.  My husband pretty much had to carry me to the on-board clinic.  Before they would treat me we had to sign a form agreeing to pay for treatment.  They determined I needed a CT scan but they did not have one so I would have to go to the hospital in Juneau when we arrived (in 12 hours).  They gave me IV Tylenol, IV fluids, an xray, and some lab work and billed me $5000, which, of course, my insurance did not cover.  When we arrived in Juneau, I was wheeled out to the pier and left sitting in the cold rain.  There are only 3 ambulances in the town of Juneau and they were all busy.  After a bit, the port agent loaded me into a minivan and took me to the small hospital.  I was found to have a hole in my colon that was draining feces into my abdomen.  I was admitted and started on IV antibiotics.  Thankfully my husband was able to pack our things and get them sent to the hospital.  I was there for a week and initially was improving but then took a turn for the worse.  I had to be airlifted to Anchorage where I underwent 3 surgeries and was there for 2 weeks.  I was left with a colostomy and an infected open wound.  I had to fly home l, 4200 miles, with an open wound.  I have had to have 3 more surgeries since coming home and now that I am almost at my 1 year anniversary I hope I have just had my last surgery.  None of the medical issues after I disembarked are not NCL's fault, however, I did purchase THEIR travel insurance and I am still waiting on them to pay some of the benefits.  However, now NCL is billing me for an addl $2500 for "disembarkation".  I have not been able to get anyone at NCL to explain this to me.  My advice, purchase your own travel insurance and avoid NCL.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@MMW1991 This is an awful story! I'm so very sorry you had to undergo such a horrifying experience. I can't imagine the amount of pain you have had to endure over the past year. I can't imagine having such an intense cruise where you became so ill. I would imagine NCL will pay out, and the line should reimburse you since you did buy the insurance. Has the line given you the status of the claim? There have to be ways to follow up with such an insurance claim. I'm so happy to hear that you are feeling better now. Please keep us posted on that insurance coverage. By now it should have been taken care of already. 

[3Sisters]

@MMW1991 Thanks for sharing your perspective! I can't imagine al the stress you had to undergo during that "vacation". It didn't end up being a vacation after all. It seems NCL did the best it could while you were onboard the ship, but your purchased  insurance coverage should have kicked in already. It's wild you had to be charged extra for disembarkation. It's typical to have to pay steep fees for medical care on a ship, but the rest should be covered! What other travel insurance would you recommend? I thought booking directly through the cruise line was the best way. How was you medical care in Juneau? It wild you had to endure all of this. I'm so glad you are alright now!