[Travelandtourism] Fw: Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again
cheryl echevarria
cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Fri Jun 18 13:29:43 UTC 2010
> Well yes, I am trying to do this, that is why I have gone into the field,
> there are not a lot of travel agency that specialize in our needs, whether
> or not we are experienced in traveling or not, I do again apologize for
> being quite rude to you in my earlier responses. That was very
> unprofessional of me, but like Maurice and myself who are blind, that have
> the connections to get these things taken care of to help us as well as
> you, shouldn't we all work together, the only way things are going to work
> out is to try and see again, I spoke to the person yesterday that I was
> helping with this situation that said, she has taken many many cruises,
> but even on the ones that she has taken before and were wonderful, the
> second time it was awful, so you know as well as I do unless we speak to
> them and not to the crew onboard, to the company in general then they will
> not know what is going on. She also appreciated, even though she is not
> my client, that I went out of my way to help her. In hopes possibly, she
> will be a client in the future or recommend all my hard work in helping
> her rectify this.
>
> I just hear to many of us say, well if you sell that and I have heard it
> off list and not just in the way wendy said it or others. well if you sell
> that then I am telling everyone not to go or to use you because you sell
> that product. How is that helping anyone. If you don't like spinach
> don't eat it, but don't tell my daughter that she wont like it either.
>
> It is like me joining the local gym here, they said I couldn't join or
> bring my dog, I contacted the corporate office and that person was
> reprimanded.
>
> Remember if we don't speak up they will not change at all.
>
> Maurice's wife also has a guide dog, so you don't think that if either one
> of us were on a cruise that did something like this, that one we would be
> on top of it and call our host agency and let them know on the spot what
> was going on. You have a right to call the cruise lines and make
> complaints, they don't want to lose customers, they don't want to get sued
> either.
>
> Yes, Wendy I am trying to make a difference. People can say well I am
> going to book with the cruise lines, and get stuck with a untrained,
> possibly new person, or a person who doesn't understand the way ADA works
> or what are the needs of a guide or with one of the cheaper people to get
> a better rate again like travelocity, orbitz, expedia, they wont know or
> don't care (meaning the travelocities and the orbitz), I have a
> responsibility to make sure my clients are happy and come back or I am out
> of business for not doing my job properly.
>
>
> 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: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 8:57 AM
> Subject: Re: Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again
>
>
> > Cheryl, I do think it's important that blind consumers, as a group,
> > question
> > the way we are treated and the accommodations that are and are not
> > delivered. This is how we get change. I would love to see NCL improve
> > and
> > it would be great if your deliberations with them can impact their
> > policies.
> > Best of luck.
> > Wendy
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> > To: "Wendy David" <wendydav at mindspring.com>
> > Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 5:42 AM
> > Subject: Re: Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again
> >
> >
> > > to the fact that you posted this that someone on this list is who I
> > > have
> > > been helping is now questioning me again and the cruise lines after
> > > all
> > > the help we both have given this person good going.
> > >
> > > 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: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>; "NFB Travel and
> > > Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
> > > Cc: "Wendy David Work" <Wendy.David at med.va.gov>
> > > Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 8:36 AM
> > > Subject: Re: Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again
> > >
> > >
> > >> 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
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > _______________________________________________
> > >> >> > Travelandtourism mailing list
> > >> >> > Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> > >> >> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
> > >> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> > >> >> > info
> > >> >> > for
> > >> >> > Travelandtourism:
> > >> >> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org/wendydav%40mindspring.com
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> >
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