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

Fri Jun 18 17:50:23 UTC 2010

did you maybe think of all the bad rep like you said they have received by 
some over 30 plus years that they would want to make a better presence with 
us.

Or the fact that I am trying to make things better.

I am putting my name and business on the line, not NAGDU or GDF, infact, I 
am trying to do the opposite and raise money for our organizations.

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: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 1:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again

> Impartial, I have been saying if these things don't come to fruition then 
> I will never sell this cruise line again, for 2008 know 30 years.  If you 
> do not want to go then don't go, I offered the cruise on this list to see 
> if anyone wants to go, you don't that is fine.
>
>
> 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: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
> To: "NFB Travel and Tourism Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 12:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Reasons Why I Will Never Sail on NCL Again
>
>
> > Peter, I'm wondering if it was the nationwide group of dog guide users 
> > who
> > chose NCL or if it was the travel agent.  Unfortunately, Cheryl doesn't 
> > seem
> > exactly impartial, despite concerns of people who have actually cruised 
> > with
> > NCL, or tried to.  It would be nice to believe that they've completely
> > changed their attitude.  But, after a pattern of discrimination and poor
> > treatment over nearly 30 years, I really doubt that they've all of a 
> > sudden
> > become completely dog guide and blind person friendly.
> >
> > Cindy
> > ----- 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 11:44 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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