Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

Reports about cruises on Adonia
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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#51

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Oh wow. Sorry to hear that David. Hope Mrs63 continues to recover and you get home without too much hassle.

Most important though did you manage to spend all your OBC before they chucked you off?

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Kenmo1
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#52

Post by Kenmo1 »

What a worrying experience for you both. I am so glad that Mrs63 is feeling better but I can quite understand all those questions that raced through your mind while it was happening as I can remember my worries and panic when Ken collapsed in the Caribbean.

I have probably been a bit naive thinking that a medical emergency would be easier to deal with nearer 'home' than it happening miles and miles away but I can see it throws up just as many unexpected problems and worries no matter where you are.

Looking forward to your next instalment as I hope that you managed to return to the ship.

Best wishes to Mrs 63.

Maureen

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oldbluefox
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#53

Post by oldbluefox »

So sorry to hear that David. It's a situation we all hope will never happen to us. I hope Mrs63 is much better now and you manage to get everything sorted out.
Thank you for updating us.

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towny44
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Sorrh to hear that Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#54

Post by towny44 »

Sorry to hear that David and I hope your good lady is now fully recovered.
We had a similar experience on a land based holiday to Lanzarote many years ago, I hope your insurance company is as accomodating as ours was, I don't think we were a penny out of pocket.
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Manoverboard
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#55

Post by Manoverboard »

Gosh ... all the best to Mrs 63.

Hopefully all the pieces will fall into place re getting back home and retrieving the car etc.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#56

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Just hope Cubie's trip is less eventful.

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GillD46
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#57

Post by GillD46 »

What a scare. I hope Mrs 63 is ok now and her BP being monitored closely.

At the risk of sounding ghoulish, looking forwrad to reading the rest!
Gill

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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#58

Post by david63 »

Wednesday 12th July – Kinsale

Kinsale was our unexpected destination, but not an unpleasant one.

We both woke early this morning with having not much sleep. We now needed to assess what our options were and how to proceed. My first call, which was at a ridiculously early hour (well I am up and about so should everyone else!) was to the P&O Care Team contact who I thought would be the one to take over the situation – but no, this was now in the hands of the insurance company (yes we did have travel insurance). So ringing the travel insurance company, which had already been instigated by the Doctor on board, did not help very much. The main option, which I had already been told, was for them to contact Mrs63’s GP to assess the situation and decide if they would arrange repatriation – or we could “do it ourselves” and make a claim later.

So in reality the options were:
1. Let the insurance company sort things out (maybe) but wait for them to do it – which could be into days.
2. As above only to find that they would not handle this so we were on our own anyway.
3. Arrange transport back to the UK ourselves and worry about reclaiming the costs later.
4. Try to re-join the ship, if we would be allowed to, in Hornfleur on Thursday.

It soon became clear that the last option was not viable as getting from Cork to Hornfleur took over 24 hours and by the time we would have got there the ship would have gone. Waiting for the insurance company to come to a decision was also soon rules out as we wanted to be back in Southampton to collect our car and luggage on Friday. So I started looking for flights from Cork to Southampton that day. The only flight that I could easily find was via Amsterdam so that was booked and flying at 17:20 that afternoon and arriving in Southampton at 21:15. Next was to book somewhere to stay in Southampton – Holiday Inn had a room available for the two nights. We were now fairly happy that we would be back in the UK that night with a feeling of being more in control of the situation.

Now after having some breakfast, which neither of us were very enthusiastic about, we set off to get some medication that the doctor at the hospital had prescribed. They have a strange system in Ireland – the doctor writes the prescription on a hospital letter headed sheet and you just take it to a pharmacy to get the medication.

For anyone planning a visit to Kinsale I should warn you that most of the shops do not open until 09:30 – silly us for thinking that they would be open at 09:00. So as it was a very pleasant day with the sun “cracking the flags” we wandered around trying each of the pharmacies (there are four in Kinsale – this will be my specialist subject on Mastermind!) until we found one open. To cut another long story short one of the tablets that was on the prescription nobody had – in fact they do not make it in that dosage. The third pharmacy that we visited was very helpful and she offered to ring the hospital to check that the dosage was correct – which it wasn’t and in fact the consultant that she spoke to said that Mrs63 did not need to take it – but the pharmacist did give her the nearest dosage, just in case.

Now this is where I earned a few more Brownie points. Whilst the doctor had given Mrs63 a letter to say that she was “fit to travel” (something that I recall having read is needed for an insurance company) I suggested that it would perhaps be a good idea for Mrs63 to have her blood pressure taken to see how things were today. The very helpful pharmacy could not do it as their machine was away for repair but we were told that the Lloyds pharmacy would do it. It certainly helped pass the time walking around Kinsale looking for pharmacies! Anyway we found the Lloyds Pharmacy and the very helpful Asian pharmacist (who really thought she was a doctor!) did the necessary which proved to be what we both wanted to hear – that Mrs63’s blood pressure was back to normal. OK so we could relax for a while now with a couple of glasses of wine (for medicinal purposes you realise) and some lunch before we set off for the airport.

Taxi duly arrives to take us to the airport which was about 25 minutes away from the hotel. We check in with our paperwork (which the very helpful receptionist at the hotel had printed off for us) and our one case that we had hurriedly packed on the ship. The case was checked to go straight through to Southampton but she could not print off boarding cards for the second leg and we would have to get them from the Transfer desk in Amsterdam, We knew that we would have quite a long wait but we were prepared for that as we had to wait somewhere. About half an hour before we were due to start boarding there was an announcement that the flight was going to be delayed by 15 minutes – stress factor kicking in as we only has 50 minutes between flights!

Anyway the flight took off 10 minutes late and made the time up and we landed on time – good news. Now why is that when you are in a rush to get off a plane everyone else is faffing around with their 33 pieces of hand luggage? Right we are now off the plane and the clock is ticking as we follow the signs for the Transfer desk(s). All is going well until we reach a sign where some transfer desks are to the left and some to right – which way do we go? Luckily there is a helpful member of the airport staff at that point so we ask her – “no you do not go to the transfer desk, you just go straight to the gate where they will issue your boarding pass”. OK so which gate? “Gate 18” Oh goody that is where we have just more or less come from!

Now I have to admit that running backwards and forwards through airports is not one of my favourite pastimes. We eventually reach the gate to be greeted with “I have just closed the gate” – anyway a bit of pleading and she relented especially when we said that we had a bag being checked though. So on the Flybe “wind up elastic band” plane – I am sure I could have walked quicker than that plane! – But I admit that it was very comfortable with plenty of room in the seats.

The relief on landing in Southampton and being back in the UK was immense, but short lived. Why is it that if you are first off the plane you end up being last to go through immigration? OK all that done out to the baggage hall and guess what? No case – I mean after all we have gone through NO CASE! So off we go to report our missing case to basically be told that Amsterdam is notorious for loosing baggage when there is a transfer involved.

Cannot do any more so off we go to the Holiday Inn – at least our room was still there but all we had was what we stood up in – no change of clothes, not toiletries, no charger for the laptop (which is why my reports have only just appeared) – but at least we could have a good night’s sleep afer another bottle of “medicine” (they do a very nice Chardonnay at the Holiday Inn in Southampton!)

More to come …

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Kenmo1
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#59

Post by Kenmo1 »

Oh my goodness - it just gets worse. My blood pressure would be off the scale by now if it was me.

Maureen.

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david63
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#60

Post by david63 »

Thursday 13th July – Southampton

A good night’s sleep was had – see I told you the medicine was good!

Down to reception “Has our case arrived?” – “Sorry no” we are now getting desperate as all our valuables were in the case – yes I know you should not put them in hold luggage but when you only have 15 minutes to “get your act together” logic goes out of the window.

Anyway after breakfast we can go shopping on the insurance company with their delayed baggage clause and also while we are out Mrs63 can get her blood pressure checked again. Fortunately the shopping centre is not too far from the hotel and it is a nice day for a walk. Right them shopping done let’s get the blood pressure done (have to get the priorities right!) Ah this should be easy there is Boots Pharmacy next door – “Can you take my blood pressure please?” Mumble, mumble, look of why are you asking me such a question. Pharmacist comes looking as miserable as they come “No but we can sell you a machine to take your own blood pressure” – great!!

Now one thing that I will say about the P&O Care Team is that they have been in touch every day and if we needed them they were only a call away so let’s ask. I was told that there is another Boots other than the one we had just visited but apart from that they could only suggest the Walk-in-Centre at the hospital.

OK so back to the hotel to get changed and freshened up and check if any luggage had arrived - none. Now for some inexplicable reason I had kept the charger for my phone in my hand luggage so after some more medicine I had a search on the Internet (Holiday Inn now has free Internet) for a Lloyds Pharmacy as they all do blood pressure testing (today’s useful information tip) and found that there was one about 20 minutes walk from the hotel. As it was a pleasant afternoon off we set and without too much difficulty find said Lloyds Pharmacy (when did a chemist become a pharmacy?). Blood pressure still good so we are “happy bunnies” and can relax a bit. Had a meal in the hotel with another bottle of medicine and had a fairly good night’s sleep.

Friday 14th July – Southampton

Up quite early as we wanted to get to the docks for just after 08:00 this morning. Ask silly question at reception with usual answer of “sorry but no”.

Taxi arrived at 08:00 to take us to QEll Terminal where the Care Team had arranged for us to collect our cases off the ship. Everyone helpful and about 10 minutes later they brought us our cases and we collected our car keys and were on our way home at 08:40.

Mrs63 has been to see her GP this afternoon and he has started her back on blood pressure medication.

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towny44
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#61

Post by towny44 »

David, after all this running around and the worry, did you think to have your blood pressure tested at the same time?
John

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GillD46
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#62

Post by GillD46 »

I am relieved to see Mrs63 is being treated for hypertension, hopefully she will now be much safer. Any sign of the elusive luggage?
Gill

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Stephen
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#63

Post by Stephen »

Wow David that is one hell of a story and adventure, even if it was not wanted. And although very disappointing for you both on missing the remainder of your cruise at least your home safe and sound and Mrs63 is ok.

Did your other case turn up?

A great read and well presented. You now just have to prize some money out of your insurance company. Hopefully they pay up without too much fuss. Let us know how it goes.

I must see my doctor for a regular prescription of your daily medicine ;) :thumbup:
Last edited by Stephen on 15 Jul 2017, 08:24, edited 1 time in total.

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Stephen
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#64

Post by Stephen »

I naturally assume the large compo claim is in David for the under-cooked chicken Mrs63 ate while onboard.

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Manoverboard
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#65

Post by Manoverboard »

I was expecting to read that the car had been pinched :lol:

What a tale of woe albeit with a happy ending.

ps .... Welcome home :wave:
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being


colin parry
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#66

Post by colin parry »

David, you have my utmost admiration for your stoicism in what must have been a horrendous situation. It just makes me wonder how some of the aged passengers you see would manage in a similar situation. Anyway, I'm glad that you are now safely home and lost luggage and insurance come up trumps.

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JillD66
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#67

Post by JillD66 »

So glad you're home safe and sound!

Perhaps you could do with a holiday - in England!

Its reassuring to know that P & O Care Team were so helpful.

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Meg 50
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#68

Post by Meg 50 »

what a nightmare - I would have thought your BP would have gone through the roof too - and surprised Mrs 63's continued to reduce
Last edited by Meg 50 on 15 Jul 2017, 11:16, edited 1 time in total.
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Gill W
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#69

Post by Gill W »

Oh God, what an absolute nightmare.

I have never needed to see a doctor on board. and after hearing this, I really don't want to unless its a dire emergency.

I have 'white coat syndrome', and if i get anywhere near a doctor, my blood pressure goes through the roof. They'd off load me, without a doubt.

Because of this, I have one of those DIY blood pressure machines, and periodically take a reading, and my blood pressure is normal.

I'm glad you are both home safely, after an experience which would increase most people's blood pressure!
Gill

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Stephen
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#70

Post by Stephen »

Gill W wrote: 15 Jul 2017, 11:22
Oh God, what an absolute nightmare.

I have never needed to see a doctor on board. and after hearing this, I really don't want to unless its a dire emergency.

I have 'white coat syndrome', and if i get anywhere near a doctor, my blood pressure goes through the roof. They'd off load me, without a doubt.

Because of this, I have one of those DIY blood pressure machines, and periodically take a reading, and my blood pressure is normal.

I'm glad you are both home safely, after an experience which would increase most people's blood pressure!
Yep, I have one of those as well Gill. A Omron Healthcare M3 Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. Great bit of kit for the money.

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Stephen
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#71

Post by Stephen »

It's times like this when you find out how good your insurance company is from all the web site blurb.

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#72

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Gill W wrote: 15 Jul 2017, 11:22
I have 'white coat syndrome', and if i get anywhere near a doctor, my blood pressure goes through the roof. They'd off load me, without a doubt.
Yes I've had episodes of 'white coat syndrome' too. It's very common and I'm surprised the P&O doc didn't consider it. Playing safe I guess given the consequences of getting it wrong.

In my case my doctor sent me home with a blood pressure monitor to wear for a week, which recorded readings every hour at night and every half-hour in the day.

Results came back normal.
Last edited by Mervyn and Trish on 15 Jul 2017, 12:22, edited 1 time in total.

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Meg 50
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#73

Post by Meg 50 »

Stephen wrote: 15 Jul 2017, 12:00
Gill W wrote: 15 Jul 2017, 11:22
Oh God, what an absolute nightmare.

I have never needed to see a doctor on board. and after hearing this, I really don't want to unless its a dire emergency.

I have 'white coat syndrome', and if i get anywhere near a doctor, my blood pressure goes through the roof. They'd off load me, without a doubt.

Because of this, I have one of those DIY blood pressure machines, and periodically take a reading, and my blood pressure is normal.

I'm glad you are both home safely, after an experience which would increase most people's blood pressure!
Yep, I have one of those as well Gill. A Omron Healthcare M3 Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. Great bit of kit for the money.
OMRON pro logic PL100 here!

when I go to the Dr I take the previous week's readings with me, and generally they are happy to accept them
Meg
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david63
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#74

Post by david63 »

Just checked on the missing baggage checker and it looks as if our case could be on its way to Southampton later today - not 100% sure yet, but it is looking good :D :D

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Stephen
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Re: Smurfy’s Short Adonia Jaunt

#75

Post by Stephen »

Do they deliver David.

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