[Travelandtourism] Eliminating braille to your clients.

[cheryl echevarria]

 Good morning Royal Caribbean:

My name is Cheryl Echevarria, and I am a travel partner with 2 Major Host Agencies and that I have booked with you for the last 2 years especially for the braille services that you offer myself, who happens to be blind and my clients who are blind.

I just found out about my client that will be sailing in July from your access department yesterday, after I sent them forms indicating over 2 weeks ago that they will be needing brailed menus and daily itineraries, that Royal Caribbean will not be offering braille any longer, and that each passenger who is requesting such services will be offer a person assigned to them to read all printed information for them.

To me that seems quiet unfair, as well as a step back in the wrong direction. My question is why should the blind community have things read to them while the sighted passengers can have access to documentation any time anywhere?

I would like some kind of written explanation as to why this is happening.

Back on April 6, I had a conversation with Mr. Orlando Soto, Corporate Guest Relations after one of my clients who had issues not only on your ship when they had requested braille for the March sailing and it was approved, that RCCI said that they don't offer it, when the braille printer was broken, as well as not offering tours of the ship, to which was said that RCCI in your own words was violating the "Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities: Passenger Vessels" rule (49 CFR Part 39).

Has something changed since March of this year, if so, I would like in writing as to why.

I appreciate your getting back to me as soon as possible.



Leading the Way in Independent Travel

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.Echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/> 
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com<mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>



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