Jodi Farnsworth
Infant Not Covered By Passenger Contract
Carnival Cruise Lines Victory - October 11, 2007
This is the second case we have on file of an infant passenger being treated as if they were dolls and not human beings. In the first case, the ship crew said it was not their responsibility to make available the correct size life jacket for an infant, and in fact did not stock them. In rough seas that female infant died as a result of drowning because the launch she was on capsized during a rough seas disembarking.
We now have received a second case of denial of service to an American infant onboard a foreign flagged ship, that embarked from a U.S. port. In this case the family paid $348.95 to take this infant onboard. Since dolls are not charged a fee to cruise, it is clear that this line and ship were treating the infant as a human being. Yet, during an emergency situation, they too refused to provide services to the infant.
Jodi Farnsworth was shocked to say the least, when a terrible accident resulted in a two-day supply of infant formula she had brought onboard was lost in an accident. But, she was enraged that the ship's crew refused to help her find some nourishment for the baby after the accident on their seven-day cruise.
She explains the problem to Cruise Bruise, "On October 11, 2007, after leaving Freeport, I had an unfortunate accident in my cabin and spilled approximately two days supply of infant formula, which my baby is reliant upon to stay properly nourished. On October 12, 2007, I spent almost the entire day at sea trying to find some infant formula.
Infant formula was not available at the ship's store, Camp Carnival, nor the ship's infirmary. I repeatedly attempted to get the Purser's desk to seek assistance from any other passengers with an infant on board who might have some spare formula, but they refused to help (which we have on video).
I am appalled that a cruise ship which allegedly accommodates infants, does not have infant formula available on the ship for emergency situations such as this one. I am also extremely angry that I had to pay $348.95 to bring my infant with me on this cruise, and then not be accommodated in this emergency situation. I was also not accommodated by the waiters when I very politely asked them if they could puree some fruit for the baby at breakfast."
Farnsworth thinks the Carnival website language makes them responsible for helping her during an emergency. She says, Carnival's corporate responsibility as stated on the company website is clear.
"Protecting the health, safety, and security of our passengers, guests, employees and all others working on behalf of the Company".
"Where does refusing to help me find infant formula fit into this statement", she says.
Cruise Bruise agrees with Farnsworth. If a cruise line accepts a fare from any person, of any age, nationality or race, they have an obligation to provide services to maintain the health and well-being of those passengers from the time the passenger embarks to the time they disembark at their final destination.
In the U.S. if any one of us did not attempt to find food for an infant, and in fact did not feed the infant during those two days there would be an investigation by child services, and likely the child would be removed from the home while the investigation took place. Yet, this cruise line refused to help this family, with even so little effort as to puree some fruit, crossing the south side of the line between morally right and negligently endangering.
In this case, the child was isolated from the world, on the high seas, leaving the child and the parents with nobody to turn to but the cruise ship staff. Carnival failed the family, miserably. They accepted a fare of $348.95 for this infant, and did not provide any service with out of pocket costs. It was 100% profit for Carnival Cruise Lines.
This is our second warning to all parents sailing with infants. Your child is going to be left to fend for themselves if you are unable to act on their behalf in an emergency, be it onboard in calm seas, or during disembarking in one of the many disasters that have left passengers alone to their own devices during a life threatening event.
It is one thing when the passenger is an adult, but when it is an child, it is heart-breaking. The crew will NOT help you. This is something you need to know, before you select a cruise as a family vacation.
There is a third case that is very telling about the industry attitude towards children. That case involved a Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines incident that involved female children trapped in a cabin an entire day with human feces on the floor from an overflowing toilet. They too refused to provide immediate emergency assistance to protect the welfare of the children. Read that case here.
It is interesting to note, however, that in all these cases the children were girls. We have further reading on why girls may be treated different than boys on cruise ships. It has to do with the crew member country of origin and the value those citizens place on girls. In many far east nations and African nations girls and women have nearly no rights at all. The U.S. has history of this as well.
Cruise Bruise is sorting these children's cases by gender now as part of our ongoing research. We will keep you updated on any trends we see.
Further Reading:
Jodi Farnsworth
Date: October 11, 2007
Cruise Bruise: Denial Of Service
Bruise Location: Bahamas
Age: Female Under 1 year
Home Town: Vermont
Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Lines
Ship: Victory
Details:
