An outraged cruise passenger has told how her bag was “dropped in the ocean” by the company she was travelling with and was only recovered by the efforts of a stranger.
Lindsey Hargesheimer, from Denver, Colorado, voiced her grievances on TikTok, where she made a statement almost 10 minute long video detailing the chain of events.
In the clip, the wedding photographer explains that she noticed her bag was missing when she boarded a Celebrity Cruises ship in Amsterdam with her family, and was the only one who didn’t receive her luggage.
When she called the cruise line for an update, they confirmed that they couldn’t find her bag and that the AirTag she had placed inside wasn’t working.
However, later, when he turned on his phone, he immediately received a call telling him that someone from the port of Amsterdam had taken his suitcase “out of the ocean… out of the canal.”
Lindsey Hargesheimer of Denver, Colorado, aired her grievances on TikTok, where she made a nearly 10-minute-long video detailing the chain of events.
Lindsey said she was “angry and upset” about the mishap, as all of her belongings for a two-week trip were inside the bag. Pictured: a Celebrity Cruises ship
While there were no official tags on the bag indicating where it was going, the stranger was able to contact Lindsey as he had her phone number and contact information written on a tag.
Lindsey said she was “angry, upset and distraught” about the mishap as all of her belongings for a two-week trip were inside the bag.
The contents included clothing, medications, supplements, makeup, toiletries, photography equipment and even family jewelry.
To make matters worse, Lindsey says she was initially given no compensation for the incident or vouchers to buy new items from the onboard shops.
The only items he was given in the meantime included a T-shirt, stick deodorant, a toothbrush and toothpaste.
She told viewers, while filming from the floor of her cabin: “This is absolutely unacceptable…”
‘The whole staff realizes how ridiculous it is because they don’t believe me when I tell them.’
The content creator continued: “Personally, I feel like Celebrity Cruise Line has not handled this situation well. I don’t feel protected for a mistake they made.
The wedding photographer said she also had camera equipment in her bag.
“For example, you dropped your bag in the sea! It’s one thing if they left it in the port, but if you dropped your bag in the sea you didn’t report it.”
Lindsey notes that while she was glad her bag was found, she has no idea how much water damage it sustained.
“I have no idea what’s in store for me. I have no idea if I’ll be able to use anything in my bag… I have nothing,” she says, trying to hold back tears.
In a follow-up TikTok, Lindsey gives viewers an update and reveals that she won’t be getting her bag back for the duration of her cruise.
Instead, you will need to inspect the bag once you return to the Netherlands in a week, with a port worker and a Celebrity Cruises staff member on hand to see what damage has occurred.
She says: ‘At this point, I have honestly accepted that everything in that bag cannot be saved in any way.
‘(Plus) it will stay in port for another 10 days and it will get even more disgusting.’
In an attempt to get some more clothes to wear, Lindsey went shopping at one of the ports and was able to purchase two outfits, a pair of walking shoes, and some toiletries.
She says Celebrity Cruises has also given her $400 in credit, along with two laundry vouchers.
At a meeting he was also informed that he would be reimbursed for the cost of replacing all damaged items.
She said: “I don’t have it in writing, but that’s what I’ve been told.”
To date, Lindsey’s TikToks have racked up nearly 100,000 views and many are rooting for her.
One viewer wrote: “I’m so sorry this happened. It’s crazy that you haven’t been compensated for anything. I’m worried about your meds!”
Another commenter, who claimed to have previously worked on a Celebrity Cruises ship, also offered some advice: “Former Celebrity crew member. Next time you go to guest services, ask to set up a meeting with the HOTEL MANAGER. Not the ship’s GM, but the hotel’s. The highest ranking brass on board to help with this situation!”
Responding to commenters who claimed she was irresponsible for losing sight of her bag, the photographer explained that she was travelling with her grandmother, who is in a wheelchair, so she handed her bag to a staff member so they could push the chair onto the boat.
“That was the last I saw of them. Someone at the port took my bags,” Lindsey revealed.
DailyMail.com has contacted Celebrity Cruises for comment.
