New details about the gastro-intestinal (GI) virus outbreak at the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort in Nassau, Bahamas, has shown that the “diversion” protocol amid the outbreak that incapacitated over 100 guests and staff at the property comes with additional charges levied by Sandals and a no-refund policy.
A prospective guest at the resort told Caribbean News Now that, following the viral outbreak and a lack of clarity as to whether it had been contained, she wanted to err on the side of caution and be diverted to another Sandals property of equal standing and amenities.
However, Sandals insisted that she would be charged at least of US$800 for such rebooking and neither would she receive any assistance with airfare penalties that would cost an additional US$400.
Last week it was reported by local media that Sandals was already relocating guests from the Royal Bahamian to other properties in The Bahamas.
However, contrary to these reports, Sandals has been telling prospective guests that the Royal Bahamian is open for business, the seafood and water is fine and that it is ready to continue operations.
A transcript provided to Caribbean News Now of an online conversation between a prospective guest and a Sandals representative was itself self-contradictory.
Seconds after telling the guest that the issue was “still being investigated so we have no new updates,” the representative said, “Upon a thorough on-property review from Bahamas ministry of health, officials have determined that Sandals Royal Bahamian has met all health and safety protocols and standards and therefore will remain open to guests.”
Sandals was less than forthcoming when guests began to get sick in greater numbers from the end of July and did not report the outbreak to the ministry of health in The Bahamas until the second week in August, when the number of infected guests and staff was already in triple digits.
