Holland America Line review: Koningsdam dust in cabin which made my brother and I sick cabin #1040!!!

To Whom This May Concern:

My name is Andrew Kelly, and I have a complaint regarding my cabin. On April 5th, 2024, I was on the Koingsdam voyage departing from San Diego to Mexico, the solar eclipse, and Hawaii. One of your epic cruises, as it had the solar eclipse which took place on April 8th, 2024. However, I have a concern which came up during the cruise. I was travelling with my youngest brother as well on this cruise.

During the cruise I started vomiting which I thought it was to over eating as I have COPD/Asthma. During the next few days, I started coughing even more than usual. It was not until April 11th, at night I started wheezing, coughing, uncontrollably. I take puffers for my asthma and was taking them when my coughing fit happened. at first I thought this might be the onset of COVD 19, however, there were things missing such as a sore throat and diarrhea. I had the other symptoms such as a fever, coughing and eventually loss of voice. I lost my voice during the next few days. I investigated why I was coughing and losing my voice and checked out the areas I frequented the most, such as the theater and the Lido deck on deck 12. I noticed it got worse in my cabin, so I shut off the fan above my bed to see if that was the matter. I was still coughing and wheezing. My brother Gordon Kelly is a witness to these events. I had travel insurance and decided not to use it as there was a clause. I was unsure about the clause that stated "Preexisting condition." Such as being airlifted and being sent to Canada, doctor's costs etc. (We had already somebody airlifted during our cruise in the last days on April 25th, 2024.) I was kind of nervous about seeing the medical doctor.

On April 17th, I tasted a dust odor in my mouth to which a couple of days later I completely lost my voice because of dust inhaled into my lungs and windpipe. On April 19th, on our last night in Honolulu, Hawaii, a deduced the dust taste must be coming from the vents. I called customer service up on a separate matter stating about our safe was acting up, which it was as I must have hit the wrong button and they sent somebody down. I also stated about the vents and said they would change the vent filters as well, which did not happen until I made another phone call up later that day, as I still tasted dust. The next day when we were in Hilo, Hawaii, I called customer service again who said they had the vents changes as I could still taste dust. Customer service asked me about closing the maintenance report, which I said to give me a couple of days as I still tasted dust and for the dust to leave my system.

On April 21st, 2024, my brother Gordon Kelly got sick as well. He had the same symptoms and was reporting a dust taste in his mouth. At approx. At approximately 02:15 in the morning, on April 22nd, I called customer service to report that my brother, Gordon Kelly, was also feeling sick from dust. They promptly sent a representative who checked the overhead vent. I had shut off the vent, thinking it was the source of the problem and it was burning my eyes as well the strength of the air flow going down above my bed, and believed that by doing so, we could solve the issue as no dust could come through. The representative checked the vent with a want and said it was normal and to turn it on but do not leave it on a warm setting. I told the rep. that I have COPD and the warm air makes it easier for me to breathe at night. I turned down the temperature after, as he recommended having it in the middle. This did not help as the air was causing my eyes to burn as well. I also ask the repr if there was any other spare cabins of which he said there was none. The next day On April 23rd, I talked to Betty Ann, the cruise director who said to customer service as she was sorry my brother and I were having a tough time breathing because of dust. At Approx. 10:00 AM I talked to Pam in customer service who made me wait for a few moments while she got forms for me to sign for an emergency state room. After signing the papers, they transferred me to cabin #7057. The next day we launched a complaint and asked if we can talk to Ron, the hotel manager, if he was aware of not of cabin #1040 having dust and other health and safety issues. We filed a report with Yogi instead in Customer Service. He wanted to know if I needed medical; I said no and cited my accident I had 2 years previous with my car crash about them taking a long time to pay sometimes and my preexisting condition. Etc.

When we got into the new cabin, we felt better a couple of days later. When we reached Vancouver, BC on April 27th, 2024, we went directly to the hospital of which they put me on strong medication perdizone and amoxicillin after blood work and x-rays done and a swab to see if it was influenza or COVID-19 and Gordon was on amoxycillin and later on Venetian as the doctor thought Gordon might have a lump in his lungs which turned out to be overexposure on the x-ray picture as he had to take another x-ray a week later just to make sure it was nothing serious. The swab was negative for the both of us for COVID or influenza. We felt better after a week and regained my voice, and so did Gordon.

My complaint is, was the crew aware of the dust or health issues in that cabin 1040 and if so why id we get stuck with this cabin instead of repairing the vents or shutting down the cabin completely and assigning us to a different cabin in the first place? Could you tell me why were we told by the customer service rep who came at 02:15 in the morning or so approx and stated there were no other cabins left when there was room #7057? This could have been a lot worse had things progressed for another few days. According to the doctor, my phlegm and horse's voice was part of my body's defence to dust as I was ingesting my body was fighting against it. I am not happy with this experience in Holland America and will not sail with you guys again.

Sincerely,

Andrew Kelly BA, OCD