Dianne Smyth
Visitor Submission: April 16, 2006
Cruise Bruise Date: March 31, 2006
Cruise Bruise: Death
Bruise Location: Argentina
Age: 74
Home Town: Oceanside, California
Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruise Lines
Ship: Millennium
Details:
On March 13th my mother suffered a stroke in Ushusia, Argentina at the dock.
My Father who suffers from diabetes heart disease and dementia was in shock. They were left there by the cruise ship who notified NO ONE. Three days into the ordeal the doctor contacted the cruise ship for contact names and numbers.
Finally, my Spanish speaking cousin was notifed. Her family and myself spent the next frantic week trying to arrange a stretcher flight or any other alternative to repatriate them to the US.
On March 20 my mom came out of her coma and we relayed to her that arrangments were being made to come home.
Then, after the arrangements were made she suffered a set back with an infection in her lung which ultimately turned out to be a blood clot that traveled up her leg to her lung. She died on March 31.
The doctor advised us that my Dad would be unable to negotiate the trip alone. He had also been in the ICU for several days suffering my severe dehydration. We had to send a cousin there on short notice and he finally arrived home in terrible condition on April 10.
They had purchased Access America insurance including $500,000 in coverage for emergency evacuation. Access America had told my cousin and myself that they did not have the coverage. I received the policy yesterday and learned that was not true. My Mother could have lived. My Father has lost his caregiver and life companion.
Royal Caribbean never so much as checked on their condition.
Also another woman was stranded there from the same ship after she suffered a heart attack. I know this is their policy. Where are their ethics and decency?
Dianne Smyth
Cruise Ship Passenger Dies Under Chaotic Conditions
March 31, 2006
