[Travelandtourism] Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again

Fri Jun 18 04:35:05 UTC 2010

Peter,
I've experienced 9 cruises now and twice on NCL. I think I have enough 
first-hand experience to make an informed decision. Like I said, I hope your 
experience is better but I've traveled enough with my dog guide to know that 
as a consumer, I can now make better choices.
Wendy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 8:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again

> Good evening everyone,
>
>    If a nation-wide group of guide dog users chose NCL as its cruise line
> of choice perhaps you would do well to learn to start trusting others in 
> the
> blind community and believing that like other travel entities cruise lines
> can change their ways and become more accommodating. If I would you I 
> would
> stop recycling messages from years ago, and reserve my spot on this cruise
> assuming that is still possible. You will be better informed from 
> first-hand
> experience.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Wendy David" <wendydav at mindspring.com>
> To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>;
> <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> Cc: "Wendy David Work" <Wendy.David at med.va.gov>
> Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 9:03 PM
> Subject: [Travelandtourism] Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again
>
>
> Cheryl et al,
>
> I am resending this post from September of 2008. I have since been on 4
> other cruise lines and would still decline to travel on NCL.   I don't 
> trust
> they have changed that much since I traveled with them and I personally
> wouldn't trust the word of some one sitting in an office and not on the
> actual boat with you/.  I hope your experience is better, but I would
> definitely not risk the sort of treatment and attitude I've experienced 
> with
> them twice now.
>
> Wendy David
>
> Norwegian Cruise Lines is Guide Dog Unfriendly
> I wanted to alert any visually impaired traveler who plans to cruise with 
> a
> dog guide to think twice before embarking upon a cruise with Norwegian
> Cruise Lines (NCL).  I just returned from a cruise on the Norwegian Pearl 
> to
> Alaska and was dismayed to find that the cruise line's "company policy" 
> was
> to ensure that the dog guide relieves itself out of sight of all other
> passengers.  In other words, my dog was expected to relieve in a 4 by 4 
> foot
> box in a stairwell, which back up to a flight of stairs leading downward,
> and smelled terribly after the 1st day.  As there were 4 dog guides on 
> this
> trip and we were provided with scarcely enough sod to cover the floor of 
> the
> box, the box, stairwell, and entire area became disgustingly reeking and
> uninviting within 2 days. Though we had been promised cedar mulch that 
> would
> be replenished throughout the trip, we were forced to demand the box be
> changed and moved, which was finally accomplished after day 5.  It was to
> the testimony of the dogs that none had an accident and all continued to
> work impeccably, but the 2nd-class treatment and begrudging attitude of 
> the
> staff and company was discouraging.  In addition, the refused to provide 
> any
> Braille materials prior to the cruise and we had to arrange for any and 
> all
> alternative formats.  I have been on 3 other cruise lines and have never
> received this form of treatment or glaring lack of accommodation on
> Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Holland America.  Additionally, these other
> lines provide outside relief areas for the dogs, provide Braille 
> materials,
> and do not feel they have to "apologize" to the other guests for the
> unobtrusive presence of the dogs. Needless to say, I will not patronize 
> NCL
> again and encourage those of you who wish to travel with your dog guides 
> to
> do the same.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> To: <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 8:43 AM
> Subject: [Travelandtourism] o/t reasons why I choose Norwegian Cruise
> Linesfor my Group Cruises questions from the blind and especiallyguide dog
> users
>
>
>>I realize this may be off topic, but I am sending this to a couple of
>>lists. So hope you will be patient and learn something for the future.
>>
>> The 2 groups that I have one was for the National Association of Guide 
>> Dog
>> Users, and one is for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.  so if
>> you are a graduate and want to know more about either cruise or other
>> cruises NCL has please let me know.
>>
>> A number of you have e-mailed me that I have chosen Norwegian Cruise 
>> Lines
>> over some of the others, to the point I was told I must have been crazy,
>> don't you know a number of us have been on them in the past and were
>> treated terribly and also with our dogs.
>>
>> Again, I am sure it did happen.  But I am also sure as myself who is 
>> blind
>> and has a guide dog that:
>>
>> 1. I have been on the cruise lines and had no issues at all.
>>
>> 2. A person who I know and contacted me recently, had issues with
>> reservations and access desk were told information that was totally 
>> wrong,
>> and I just got off the phone with Ms. Cathy Vasquez, the head of the
>> Accessibility Department with Norwegian Cruise Lines, after tweeting Mr.
>> Andy Stuart who is the Executive Vice President and Chief Product 
>> Officer,
>> he does answer all tweets and if you are on twitter his twitter name is
>> nclandy, he takes all complaints and concerns very seriously, the he gave
>> Ms. Vasquez, my phone no and got off the phone with her just now so that 
>> I
>> can let you all know what transpired.
>>
>> 3.  IF you are blind, no you do not need a sighted person with you to
>> travel.  You are given tours of the ship so that you are familiar with
>> your surroundings of the vessel since each vessel is different.  For 
>> guide
>> dogs who are welcome on board all NCL Ships, a designated area of the 
>> ship
>> is dedicated to you dog, whether one dog on board or 100, plus the staff
>> is responsible for clean up after your dog, you also have a choice of
>> material in the box for your dog.  The elevators and each level have in
>> Braille where you are and on the stateroom doors.
>>
>> 4. They are also dedicated to all needs of all people with disabilities
>> whether you need a wheelchair accessible stateroom which should be
>> indicated at time of booking because not only on NCL but all cruise lines
>> they are limited.  To the type of foods or dietary needs that you may
>> have, etc.
>>
>> I am sending this out because I do not want to offer fundraising to 
>> groups
>> or to the individual that doesn't meet all standards to everyone and not
>> just us the blind.
>>
>> For shame on me if I do that, I specialize in educating the blind and
>> disabled, since I myself am Blind, Kidney Transplant recipient who was on
>> dialysis and that others may need to have dialysis on any kind of
>> vacation. To being an amputee on some of my toes.
>>
>> Once I get the e-mail from Ms. Vasquez and all updates need I will post 
>> to
>> all of you.
>>
>> Thank you.  Even if I am not your travel agent, and you need help with
>> these issues, let me know, the expedia and the Orbitz or travelocities
>> wont does this for you since they work for the next sale, I work to make
>> sure you are all enjoying and being safe and secure on your trip, if not
>> then I should not be in this business.
>>
>> Take care.
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> Independent Travel Consultant
>> C10-10646
>>
>> http://Echevarriatravel.com
>> 1-866-580-5574
>>
>> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
>> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> CST-1018299-10
>>
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>
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