Conference abbott::cruise_travel

331.0. "Compensation for Fire" by WOTVAX::BATTY (Well, I wouldn't start from here!) Thu Nov 07 1991 12:33

    I'm a UK Noter, more usually found in the Disney conference. My 
    family and and another family of 'Brits' went on the Premier 
    Abacodabra Cruise around the Abacos Out Islands on the SS Majestic 
    in July this year.
    
    This was the ill-fated cruise where the engine room caught fire! 
    It happened on the return leg of the cruise as we were heading 
    back to Port Canaveral. We went first to muster stations, and then 
    actually into the lifeboats, and sat there for several hours while 
    the crew got the blaze under control.
    
    We were allowed back on board at 04:00, but had to sleep on deck 
    because of smoke. The engines were out, as were the generators, 
    which meant no light, no A/C and NO running water. It was a 
    further 24 hrs before we were towed back into port, tired, 
    irritable and dirty after a day and a night with no adequate 
    sanitation, no hot drinks or food, and a night sleeping on 
    sun-loungers.
    
    Premier reps met us at the dock and gave everyone a check as 
    compensation, but although they said it was a full refund, when we 
    calculated it out, it only represented 2/3 of the cost of the 
    cruise.
    
    On our arrival home we sent off an additional claim for other 
    expenses, loss of vacation time and compensation for 'distress, 
    trauma and whatever'.
    
    We've seen nothing more from Premier, and despite even talking to 
    our 'personal claims assessor' at their head office we are getting 
    the run-around -  lost or misfiled communications, people on 
    vacation, even maternity leave!
    
    I wasn't too bothered about pushing it - We'd had a GREAT cruise 
    up 'til then, and we did get a good sum back - until I heard a 
    story from another Brit who did the cruise in August. He asked the 
    Cruise Directors about the fire, and was told that everyone had a 
    full refund and a generous payment on top.
    
    Can anyone add any information? Have there been generous 
    settlements? What was the outcome of the investigation - what 
    caused the fire, was anyone to blame? Do you know anyone who was 
    also on this cruise, that I might be able to contact?
    
    Thanks in Advance,
    
    Mike Batty in Warrington, UK