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Cruise Nightmare: Mumps Scare Ends Dream Vacation Early
19 Mar
Summary
- A child was diagnosed with mumps, leading to a forced quarantine.
- The family faced nearly $10,000 in unexpected travel costs.
- Mumps tests later came back negative, sparking outrage and demands for answers.
A family's highly anticipated Disney cruise became a distressing experience when their young daughter was diagnosed with mumps. The incident occurred four days into a ten-day Hawaiian itinerary. The child, who had a minor fall earlier, woke up in pain, prompting a visit from the on-call doctor.
The doctor quickly diagnosed the child with mumps, prescribing medication and antibiotics. This diagnosis led to a startling demand for the family to leave the ship immediately and fly home, an option estimated to cost nearly $10,000.
Alternatively, the family was informed they could remain on board but would be confined to their room for the remaining five days. They chose to stay, enduring the quarantine.
Upon disembarking, the child underwent mumps testing, which returned negative results. This outcome fueled the family's frustration, as they questioned the initial diagnosis and the subsequent costly quarantine. They also sought clarification regarding the reported fall at the kids' club, which security footage reportedly did not confirm.
The mother expressed dissatisfaction with the medical protocol, believing the on-board medical staff, hired by an independent company, mishandled the unconfirmed diagnosis. She emphasized that the situation was not a reflection of Disney as a company but called for a review of infectious disease protocols.
