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Sick cruiser: No option not to go on ship
(CNN) -- Holland America Cruise Lines has cancelled the next voyage of the Amsterdam so the vessel can be sanitized following a viral outbreak. The gastrointestinal virus can be spread from person to person and has infected hundreds of passengers on the ship's past four cruises. Steve Graf was one of the passengers who became infected during a cruise that ended November 1. He spoke with CNN's Daryn Kagan Thursday about his experience. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Steve, good morning. You're looking healthy and recovered. STEVE GRAF, AMSTERDAM PASSENGER: Yes, good morning, feel better today. KAGAN: My notes tell me you and your wife were on your 20th anniversary trip? GRAF: Yes, we were. KAGAN: Well, see, that's a problem there, because you look entirely too young to be going on a 20th anniversary trip, but I imagine this was a dream trip to celebrate a special occasion. GRAF: It was. We were really looking forward to it. KAGAN: And when did things start to go not so great? GRAF: Basically when we got to the cruise terminal, we were handed a sheet of paper that told us (they) were disinfecting the ship, and we would have to wait to board the ship, so we were a little taken aback, and didn't really know what to do. They told us there was a common gastrointestinal virus running around the ship. KAGAN: At that point, did you and your wife think maybe this isn't the trip we should take, or did you figure, what the heck, let's go for it? GRAF: Absolutely, we were like 'I don't think we want to be sick on a 10-day cruise,' because this was our 10th cruise, and we have quite a bit of experience being on a ship. KAGAN: But you decided to go anyway? GRAF: We decided to go anyway. We really weren't given an option not to go. KAGAN: So on the fourth day, they came to you -- this is long before you started not feeling well -- and what did they say? GRAF: We heard our name called over the loud speaker, and we were asked for an in-room visit from the hotel manager, and he came to our room and basically told us that one of the passengers that was at our dining room table had the virus. He would be disembarked the next day, and we'd be required to be quarantined in our room for the next 24 hours. And if we chose not to cooperate, that they could put a guard outside our room to make sure that we did. KAGAN: Not exactly the kind of hospitality you look for on a cruise ship. GRAF: Absolutely not, and that's when we knew things were not going to be fun. KAGAN: Did you think it was in your best interest to stay in your room anyway? GRAF: Absolutely. We weren't sure if maritime law was taking effect. So we just decided to go ahead and do the best we could with it. KAGAN: And eventually, I understand, you did get sick? GRAF: Yes. About four days later, I went up to the dining room, and then it hit me, and it hit me very hard. I ran back to the room, and I was confined to my quarters, again, and for the next nine hours, I vomited. KAGAN: And it was not your typical virus, 24-hour flu. GRAF: It basically stayed with me for five days. KAGAN: Even once you got off the ship? . GRAF: Once I got off the ship, yes. KAGAN: Now since then, you've recovered, but how -- what kind of compensation have you gotten from Holland America? GRAF: Holland America basically gave us a one-day credit for each day that I was quarantined, so I got a total of two days, but they did keep the port charges and taxes to themselves. So we have not received anything else from them, other than the fact that, you know, this is a common thing that can happen on a cruise ship and, you know, other than 'we're sorry, that's about all we can do for you.' KAGAN: We invited Holland America to come on as well. They declined that invitation, but they did give us a statement which in part, reads: "The company has taken extraordinary measures to minimize the effect of the virus on our guests, which was limited the number of affected guests and crew on the current sailing. Our commitment is to ensuring the comfort and safety of Amsterdam guests." What would you reply to that? GRAF: They weren't too concerned about our safety when we were on the ship, and did not give us an option to go. They let the next cruise ship go out, and then the next cruise ship to go out after that. So it seems like a little backtracking right now. KAGAN: So you're not satisfied with how the company's handled this? GRAF: Absolutely not. KAGAN: What do you think would be fair compensation to you at this point? GRAF: At this point, I really don't want to go into that. KAGAN: You don't, like you might be filing a lawsuit, but you don't want it talk about it? GRAF: Yes. KAGAN: Oh, got it. I have heard at least one passenger has filed a lawsuit. But that's not you yet? You have not filed yet? GRAF: That is correct. KAGAN: But you are looking at your legal options? GRAF: That is correct. KAGAN: All right. We'll leave it at that. Steve Graf, glad to see you're feeling better. GRAF: Thank you. KAGAN: Would you go on a cruise again? GRAF: I would think about it and do a little bit of research. KAGAN: All right. We wish you a happy anniversary, by the way. GRAF: Thank you very much.
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