[Travelandtourism] ref: Removal of Braille Fleet wide from Royal Caribbean

[cheryl echevarria]

Good morning Ms. Taylor:



Today I am writing you about Royal Caribbean's decision to discontinued printing Braille across the entire fleet  The current process is now that someone at Guest Services will assist in reading the daily Compasses to them, and their Waiter in the dining room will assist in reading their menu to them each evening. 




Michael Artz, my BDM with Royal Caribbean was kind enough to verify, since I clients recently as March onboard your ships and had no issues with this, accept the fact the braille printer was broken. 

Information recently sent to me on this matter, doesn't explain why this was done, in fact, January 20-24 of this past year, SATH  (Society for Accessible Transportation and Hospitality), had there annual conference on the Navigator of the Seas, to which I am a member of and could not attend this year.

I am also the Treasurer of the Great Long Island Chapter of the  NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND ; which means I am also blind.

Today I am writing to find out why and whom should I contact at Royal Caribbean to get information not only for myself, but when I originally asked this question when I e-mailed guest services, that Royal had said that there blind clients said they didn't need it any longer.

If the problem is of getting these printed for each cruise, there are plenty of braille printers available, in fact, the National Federation of the Blind, would be able to not only assist you in all technology that is out there to assist Royal Caribbean to make our travel experience more enjoyable for all, but can educate your cruise line on the importance of Equality.

My concern is that Royal Caribbean had braille for clients like myself who have sailed on your cruise lines in the past, and that I can sell my clients on your cruises for the independence, now it is being taken away. 

I hope to hear from you soon, Ms. Taylor. My understanding that you are the new access supervisor with Royal Caribbean.


Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
631-456-5394
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