I just wanted to warn everyone about the Excelsior. I just returned from Princess 8/22-29 Classic Caribbean - ask me any questions -- it was fabulous. The only really bad part was the Excelsior Hote, in San Juan PR.
While we were checking out, a luggage cart was pushed into the elevator and the doors continued to close (there was something obviously wrong with the mechanism as that should have reopened the doors). The car was going down and it dragged the cart down with it half in and half out of the elevator car. The mirrors in the car shattered on the people inside the elevator car, cutting at least one of them. The car was stuck between floors, and we were able to peer in and see the people trapped. The screams were horrible. I ran around the lobby looking for my family, as were the rest of us. The people trapped were to go on the Destiny. We had to leave, so I would love to hear how it all turned out for them - if they got out on time to make the cruise. It didn't look good when we left. The worst part of all was it took the police 1/2 hr to get there, and they had to emergency vehicles with them. The poor people could have suffocated or gone into shock, or who knows what by then. When we left a fire truck was pulling up, 45 minutes after it happened. I think the hotel thought they could fix it themselves, and delayed calling the police. Finally one of the relatives started to screaming at the desk and they called the police. It was a horrible experience, and I never hope to hear screaming like that again.
That is awful! I bet it was horriffying to hear the screaming. However, unless there were other problems during your stay, I dont think it warrants a stay-away-from-this- place kind of thinking based on this alone. You dont know all of the circumstances. Perhaps this was the first time the elevator malfunctioned. If it wasnt and they knew about it, then thats another story and the hotel should be at fault. As for the police and rescue, same thing. If the hotel didnt alert them, then they are at fault. They may have called them as soon as it happened, and when you saw the relative complaining, the hotel may have called again. However, you dont know if the police were already involved in a more serious situation or were held up in traffic, accident, etc. There may not have been a station near by either. Same with the fire department. Yes it did take a while for them to show up, but Ive seen the same thing here in the States where they dont show up right away. Its sad that this probably ruined a nice trip for the people in the elevator and frazzled witnesses, but I think youre going a bit overboard. Accidents can happen at any moment. I really dont think the people in the elevator wouldve suffocated.
All I can say is you weren't there. The elevator had been making clanging sounds during our whole stay, and was obviously defective since the opening mechanism didn't work to open the doors back up, when the cart was pushed in. The people in the elevator car were leaving on the Destiny for their cruise, and their relatives were in a state of panic. I am only writing this for what it's worth to others, they can judge if they want to stay in a hotel with a dubious elevator.
Youre right I wasnt there, but you didnt say that the elevator was making noise the first time. Now that youve clarified it, then the hotel shouldve been responsible and locked it down until it could be fixed.
Excelsior Hotel - The hotel from hell
Linear Mode
