[nagdu] Princess Cruise Lines Welcomes Guide Dogs for theBlindGroup

Wed Jun 1 16:59:26 UTC 2011

I am working with Norwegian Cruise Lines in hoping that my Greater Long Island Chapter might take advantage of this offer, since in the past NCL has not been a favorite of the blind community, and I am in friendly terms with everyone from the CEO to the Access Director of the cruise lines.

After the Princess article came out, I sent my suggestions to Management and they are willing to not only work with the guide dog schools, but with the NFB, NAGDU, etc. To do Luncheon Tours on the ships in the NY Area, with meetings with the Access Department of the Ship to discuss how we can make cruising better for everyone and not just us with Guide Dogs.

So write now, I am in talks with David Stayer my chapter president of the Greater Long Island Chapter, to see if the NY Affiliate of the NFB would be interested in taking part in this.

Leading the Way in Independent Travel

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/> 
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel, Inc.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Robert Martin<mailto:robert.martin at cfu.net> 
  To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2011 12:31 PM
  Subject: Re: [nagdu] Princess Cruise Lines Welcomes Guide Dogs for theBlindGroup

  Em,

  Here's the other item I thought you might be interested in.  Schools have 
  problems taking service animals but cruise lines have gotten the message.  I 
  don't think I'm particularly interested in taking a cruise with a group of 
  other blind folks (it's not prejudice but I just don't think in those terms) 
  but I do think it good that cruise lines have thought about  this.  I did 
  wonder though how the dogs would like the cruise.

  Bob

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>>
  To: <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>>
  Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 7:08 PM
  Subject: [nagdu] Princess Cruise Lines Welcomes Guide Dogs for the 
  BlindGroup

  > Potential Passengers and Their Canine Companions Tour Sea Princess
  >
  > SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 27, 2011) -- Sea Princess recently hosted a 
  > group of 25 new graduates from Guide Dogs for the Blind and their owners 
  > for the day in San Francisco, to familiarize them with how Princess 
  > Cruises<http://www.princess.com/<http://www.princess.com/>> can accommodate visually impaired 
  > travelers and their canine companions.
  > The group was able to enjoy a tour of the ship and lunch in the dining 
  > room, while learning how Princess can provide for their needs and those of 
  > their dogs. The event was hosted in association with Dimensions in Travel, 
  > a travel agency that regularly organizes travel for Guide Dogs for the 
  > Blind clients, to give new guide dog users a feel for what to expect if 
  > they join one of the agency's group cruises, or travel independently. 
  > Since 2004, Princess has hosted 11 Guide Dogs for the Blind groups on 
  > cruises to destinations such as Mexico and Alaska.
  >
  > "Working with these clients has changed the way we travel," said Diana 
  > Saint James, owner of Dimensions in Travel. "It's not all about what we 
  > see when we travel anymore -- it's all of our senses. That's what our 
  > relationship with our blind travelers has taught us. It's a different way 
  > to see the world."
  >
  > Aboard Sea Princess guests were able to test out many of the special 
  > features offered for visually impaired travelers and their dogs. For the 
  > dogs, the ships provide special life jackets, bowls of water in the dining 
  > room, and relieving boxes with favored cedar chips. Passengers also have 
  > specially translated menus and can enjoy reserved seating in the Princess 
  > Theater with room for their dogs. During a cruise, passengers and crew are 
  > also invited to meet the dogs during a designated play time.
  >
  > "These dogs are canine heroes," said Brian Rademacher, Princess Cruises 
  > district sales manager. "It's truly a labor of love for us to work with 
  > this wonderful organization."
  >
  >
  > http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na1160<http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na1160<http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na1160<http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na1160>>
  >
  >
  > Leading the Way in Independent Travel
  >
  > Cheryl Echevarria
  > http://www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/<http://www.echevarriatravel.com%3chttp//www.echevarriatravel.com/>>
  > 631-456-5394
  > reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com%3Cmailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>>
  >
  >
  >
  > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
  > CST-1018299-10
  > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise and Travel, 
  > Inc.
  > _______________________________________________
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