zanyzd

I just read some posts on cruise critic about bedbugs on the Summit, I'm not sure how long ago this happened. Has anyone recently encountered these critters on any of the Celebrity ships? We're sailing on the Constellation in late March.

gail

There were no bed or other bugs on Celebrity Century last winter.

Debi

There were no bedbugs on the Summit a few months ago.....

doug_stallings

What's with the anxiety everywhere about bed bugs? Seriously, this is a very rare occurrence and not a problem you should be worrying about.

thursdaysd

"this is a very rare occurrence" - well, I've yet to personally encounter them (devout thanks!), but I remember that there was quite an outbreak in New York a year or two back, so I think you're exaggerating a bit.

gail

Doug - if there was great anxiety, this post would have had more than 2 responses prior to your - and wondering why you unearthed it after almost 2 years?

doug_stallings

Actually, this is odd. The post had jumped up near the top of the list of forum topics yesterday, so I responded (there's also another thread on bed bugs in the U.S. travel forum). It struck me as odd that two new posts about bed bugs had just popped up.

But you're right ... had I noticed or checked the date, I would never have responded.

Eschew

It's call paranoia. There is a recent artcle on the cleaniness of rental cars. They cotton swapped and tested 10 rental cars and find all of them have significant amount of germs. What a surprise!

If they would have swapped and tested their own vehicles, I'll bet money that there are significant amount of germs too. Have you ever sneeze in your car while driving? Well, it would be all over the dash borad and steering wheel.

I saw a lady on a recent flight that she took sani-wipes and start wiping down the seat, the arm rest, the tray before sitting down ... I was really tempted to cough uncontrolably and start walking towards her and see what her reaction would be.

For people who are so worry about bed bugs and germs etc, they will go buy Raid or Lysol spray and apply them thoroughly on all surface that they may come into contact with.

Happiest

I just came back from a cruise on Celebrity Summit yesterday where I experienced a severe case of bed bugs. The first bites appeared about 24 hours after we embarked and I soon developed a severe allergic reaction. I went to the clinic onboard on several occasions and they kept telling me that the bites were from island bugs (we did a few rain forest excursions). But it became much worse as the week progressed. I eventually developed over 300 blisters all over my body (hands, arms, legs, back and even on my my face and neck). I became really sick, had to take antibiotics and anthistamine with side effects (it made me totally sleepy, gave me a sore stomach). I ended up having intravenus injections onboard. Not a fun vacation!! It was only at the end of the week that they finally inspected the room and indeed, my bed was infested with bed bugs. These monsters hide during the day and are almost impossible to spot. Celebrity took the matter very seriously, relocated us to another room and desinfected our clothes and luggage. But I bear over 300 blisters and it has ruined our entire family's vacation. Our kids have a few bites but had no allergic reaction. Customer Relations has promised to follow-up on the matter but I fear that I will just become a "file" for them now that we are back home! I am paranoid about bringing these bugs home. We live in cold Canada and have left all of our suitcases outside where they will remain for a while. Now I have to go back to work tomorrow looking like I have chicken pox. I would much prefer to show off a happy sun tan!!

thursdaysd

Very sorry to hear about your bad experience. You might want to contact a consumer advocate like Chris Elliott - http://www.elliott.org/ - if you don't get a satisfactory response from Celebrity. Despite Doug Stallings' skepticism, bed bugs are becoming an increasing problem, and the previous remedies aren't working.

Eschew

Does cold temperature kills bed bugs? What was Celebrity's offer for compensation? The last time we cruiased on Celebrity, DW discovered the bed cover was stored under the bed, without any protection. That turned her off. Since then, we check on evry cruise and see where the staff store our bed cover. So far, with 2 differentr crusie liens, we found the clsoet top shelf, inside a plastic bag under the bed (both acceptable practices)

thursdaysd

No, high temperatures kill bedbugs. See http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=129701363 for a very good interview on bedbugs.