An Australian family’s vacation turned into a nightmare when they discovered bedbugs in their hotel room. Monica Robertson, her husband, and their two children travelled aboard P&O’s Pacific Encounter to celebrate her mother’s 70th birthday. They were looking forward to spending time together as a family but ended up spending the three-day holiday with some unpleasant guests.
“I could feel things crawling on me in the bed. (I) peeled back the sheets and that’s where we saw quite several bugs in the bed with us,” Monica Robertson said as quoted by The Daily Mail. She claims she first noticed one of the creepy crawlies in the restroom, and the four travellers were immediately covered in searing red welts.
“(It was) A very, very intense itching, an almost burning-like sensation. Very hot, then blistered. They eventually were the size of a 50-cent piece,” Monica Robertson told A Current Affair. The onboard staff allegedly found a dead bug on the Robertson family’s bed and took it away for testing.
As the cruise progressed, the situation became increasingly bad. Monica Robertson also found about six or seven small bugs on her long black dress in the walk-in closet.
The family was told that they may see the onboard doctor to get their bites treated at their own cost. After this, a complaint was filed with P&O, which said there was no proof of bed bugs during room searches and cleanings.
Despite giving staff with live evidence, the family alleges they were never provided another accommodation, but instead received a $377 (about Rs 31,000) refund or $750 (approximately Rs 62,000) in future cruise credit.
Monica Robertson stated that they have lost thousands of dollars, as well as many goods that had to be disposed of upon their return to Brisbane to prevent the bugs from spreading to their home. “The majority of things that couldn’t be washed I had to throw away,” she added, as per the publication.
Meanwhile, a pest report revealed that no infestation was discovered in the family’s house. Additionally, P&O Cruises Australia stated that its ships follow ‘strict and comprehensive health regulations’.
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