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

Fri Jun 18 12:19:21 UTC 2010

You said the last one was in 2008 it is now 2010. I have posted the 
information from the cruise lines contact person here, you do not have to go 
on NCL again Wendy, again like Maurice has said that is your right to do so. 
But again, I have a right as a blind person and a guide dog user, to make up 
my own mind as well. I am not talking as a travel agent now. If someone came 
up to me and offered me a cruise to help raise money for my guide dog 
school. I would do my very best to get the word out. I am hoping that others 
like the supporters of GDF, like Lions and other organizations and people 
will take the cruise, as well as guide dog users.

As with the NAGDU cruise, or with anything NFB does, and I am doing the 
NAGDU cruise as a member of NAGDU and not a travel agent difference here, to 
sell to others to help support our organization, the same with GDF.

Like with the Coin we sold last year, if we sold to ourselves what would be 
the point, yes it is nice to have one to keep but if we sold to only 
ourselves, we are not getting the word out there about NFB, NAGDU, GDF. 
What's the point.

Norwegian Cruise Lines is doing there very best to work with me and answer 
all my questions and speak to me on the phone.  Believe me they do not want 
to lose customers, no one does in this economy.  You wont get the same 
customer service that I give with the Expedia and Orbitz, they don't care we 
are only a number to then and then they move on.

myself on the other hand, have everything riding when I sell travel to 
someone, I don't want them telling everyone to stay away from me because I 
sell a certain product, I sell where every anyone wants to go, if they have 
issues with the supplier in this case NCL, then I am on top of it, I don't 
want to give someone something that they will not like.

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

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wendy David" <wendydav at mindspring.com>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 12:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again

> 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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