[Nfb-lions] OT Cruise Focus Group

Sun Jan 24 22:26:09 UTC 2016

Thank you Mary. Will let the team know of your interest. -----Original Message-----
From: Dr.Mary Chappell [mailto:mtc5 at cox.net] 
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 5:18 PM
To: 'NFB and Lions' <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Albert Rizzi <Albert at Myblindspot.org>
Subject: RE: [Nfb-lions] OT Cruise Focus Group

Albert,
I am  interested in this forum
	I  travel regularly as the Program Coordinator of Psychotherapeutic Services for Behavioral Health at a  Private training hospital,have had my share of challenges.
Mary Tatum Chappell
-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-lions [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Albert Rizzi via Nfb-lions
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 12:26 PM
To: NFB and Lionsm. 
Cc: Albert Rizzi
Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] OT Cruise Focus Group

Thanks for your feedback Cheryl.

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-lions [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cheryl Echevarria via Nfb-lions
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 11:51 AM
To: nfb-lions at nfbnet.org; 'NFB Travel and Tourism Division List'
<travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>; 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Cheryl Echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
Subject: [Nfb-lions] OT Cruise Focus Group

Oops sorry, you may get this more than once, because I had sent this from my business email and not my registered email with nfbnet.org

I had accidentally deleted this email when it was first posted. Sometimes this happens.

I wanted to reply to this email that Albert Rizzi has posted about the cruise focus group. This is a great idea, Albert!

We also need your help meaning clients.

As you may or may not know, not only am I the President of the NFB's Travel & Tourism Division, but I own my own travel agency. I ask this all the time when my clients return from their trips: How was your trip? Did it meet your expectations? Did you have any access issues? Some may say, it was great, I was able to play my bingo cards (no offense really) no I don't say that to my clients, but they think if  they can play bingo that is a great cruise.
Many will be honest and tell me no, there was no one to answer our questions on the ships, no one understood what I meant when I wanted someone to show me how to prepare for the muster drills (lifeboat drills); or  I couldn't get anyone to read to me the activities on the ship because they were too busy, or I couldn't go on any excursions because they wouldn't take a blind person (this part has to do with work with someone who can book you with activities of the ship, who can help you then the cruise lines). Some don't say anything, and wait until I read it on Facebook that it was a terrible trip. Then I call them, and ask them, why didn't they let me know. The answer is always, well you cannot fix it, I said, yes we can if we know about it. 

I do a lot of advocating as well, with the cruise lines, with the help of people like Andrew Stuarts - President and COO and Cathy Vazquez - Access Manager of Norwegian Cruise Lines; Vicki Freed - Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service

Royal Caribbean International; and more recently Ken Muscat - Executive Vice President at MSC Cruises USA Inc.; these cruise lines have come to the table with myself and other travel professionals who are disabled and service the disabled community. If you do not see any other names here out of the other 100s of cruise lines, many do not want to come to the table and talk about it.

Recently, I had a face-to-face conversation with Ms. Cathy Vazquez and Mr.
Andrew Garnett (who attended the Travel & Tourism Division meeting back in
2014) on the Inaugural Sailing of Norwegian's Newest Ship "Escape" out of Miami, back in early November 2015. That information will be published in the Braille Monitor, February Edition, Monitor Miniatures area.

We had discussion on braille, on them bringing back the braille printers on all of the ships, I had showed them that their app  that is available to the customers were not fully accessible to the blind, I showed them the issues with signage and that their wall monitors for events and dining were not accessible on the ship, and that I also showed them the KNFB Reader, since I do use this as well. 

Also with the help of CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association, description of  this organization is below, which I have been a member of since 2009 and earn my Accredited Cruise Counsellor certification back in 2011. CLIA is working with us (meaning travel professionals on a forum for these issues. This is the organization not only for the travel professionals but they are their for the consumers, but the louder noise does come from us, because we service you every day.

Why do I mention this, is because, not only am I disabled, but I am also a traveler, and I have to know this information for you my customers. 

We also need more and more travel professionals who are blind, the other disabled communities are not always on the up and up for all access, they mostly worry about wheelchair accessibility in this industry as well. If you were at last year's National Convention, I was part of the Jobs Seeker Seminar that Dick Davis and others arranged, to let you all know that this industry whether you are a travel professional or a Maintenance Professional is a Trillion Dollar industry.

I am getting too long winded now, but I am working hard, and there are others working hard out there to change these situations. You may not see it, right now, but at least with the cruise lines above that I mentioned they are getting better. 

Thank you.

Cheryl Echevarria - National Federation of the Blind - Member since 2006

President, NFB Travel & Tourism Division

Vice President, NFB of NY - Greater Long Island Chapter

631-236-5138

cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com

Friends and Colleagues,

Have you ever taken a cruise before? Did you ever want to share your personal stories about your experiences with the right people? Would you like to be part of a focus group with the leading cruise line in the world to discuss all the wonderful things that made your experiences memorable, as well as offer experiential suggestions on how to improve things going forward?

If you are interested in offering constructive insights into the needs of the blind and visually impaired community, then please reach out to My Blind Spot at albert at MyBlindSpot.org<mailto:albert at MyBlindSpot.org> with your contact information, and include the number of cruises you have taken.
It does not matter what cruise line you prefer, what matters is you're firsthand experience traveling on cruises that will make the difference in the selection criteria for this group. This initial group will most likely be comprised of no more than 10 to 15 qualified travelers. All interested participants should express their interests in participating no later than Friday, January

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