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

Fri Jun 18 12:36:37 UTC 2010

Cheryl, I'm expressing why I would not, as a blind consumer, choose to go on 
NCL again. I am not telling anyone else what to do or who to travel with. 
But I feel as a seasoned traveler who did everything in my power to change 
things for the better while on the cruise and afterward with the NCL 
administration, it's responsible as a fellow blind person to let others know 
of my experience.  I do, however, wish you much success and as you will see, 
your agency has been listed in my reference section of the 
soon-to-be-released "Sites Unseen: Traveling the World without Sight." My 
comments are informational only, I trust others will decide for themselves.
Wendy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>; 
"Wendy David" <wendydav at mindspring.com>
Cc: "Wendy David" <wendydav at mindspring.com>; "Wendy David Work" 
<Wendy.David at med.va.gov>
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 4:40 AM
Subject: Re: Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again

>I am leaving this talk list how dare you. I am trying my best to own my own 
>travel agency, and you are saying that you will tell everyone not to go on 
>my cruises.
>
> 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>; 
> <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> Cc: "Wendy David" <wendydav at mindspring.com>; "Wendy David Work" 
> <Wendy.David at med.va.gov>
> Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:03 PM
> Subject: 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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>> 