Cruise sets sail without Sandy victims

NEW YORK (WABC) -- This Sandy soaked homeowner lost everything but the clothes on her back, and now she says a cruise company's turned its back on her.

Joanne Keating says she was not allowed to reschedule a trip, which was scheduled to leave days after the Superstorm roared through.

"All we have is our house. And it just got taken from us all in one night," Keating said.

It's been 6 months to the day since Joanne Keating's home was submerged under 4 feet of the surging Superstorm Sandy.

Her home remains gutted. A tub is all that remains of her bathroom.

"Everything I worked for my whole life is gone. Just gone," she said.

Her home can't be rebuilt, and it's on the condemned list.

If there was a lady who could've used a getaway, it's Joanne.

"I had saved for years for this trip and I was taking my grandkids," Keating said.

She paid more than $4,000 to take her grandsons, best friend and her mom on a Caribbean cruise aboard Norwegian Jewel.

They were setting sail November 4th, just days after the storm.

"How can you go on a vacation when you lost every single thing you own?" she wondered aloud.

Joanne appealed to Norwegian Cruise Line and even wrote the CEO, but the cruise line wouldn't make an exception. No refund or rescheduling. No one was going anywhere.

Both mother and daughter make a living driving special needs kids to school. This trip was going to be Joanne's mom first vacation ever, in 70 years!

Norwegian Cruise line never answered our numerous calls or emails, but 7 On Your Side has a surprising ending.

We reached out to Royal Caribbean. Their PR rep in Miami happened to be from Monmouth.

Royal Caribbean is sending all of them on a 7 night cruise to Bermuda and the Bahamas on their Explorer of the Seas!

CONNECT WITH NINA PINEDA AND 7 ON YOUR SIDE

Facebook: facebook.com/wabc.7onyourside
Twitter: twitter.com/wabc7onyourside

---

Get more 7 On Your side »

superstorm sandy, 7 on your side, nina pineda

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•