[Travelandtourism] Cruise Questions

Tue Sep 20 13:49:07 UTC 2011

don’t think it went back to the list Bill.

Also, we know about traveling with people with disabilities and what to ask. 
Like Bill said you may get a slightly cheaper rate and dealing with a 
reservationist at the locations themselves, but they have no idea about 
accessibility.

We want everyone to be independent but at the same time if you have not been 
somewhere that big, I always get a little help.

example: I have to travel due to the fact I am a travel agent, and a lot I 
travel on my own, but like when going through an airport or a location like 
a cruise, disney world or an excursion on an island like she is doing I 
would go with someone who specializes in services for us.

You do not have to do the excursions on the cruise lines, most of them are a 
lot more money.

I also find tour guides that know our needs, hands on stuff, accessible 
locations. That is another reason to use a travel agent who can find the 
right information for you.

Get out there and travel, but travel smart you are paying a lot of money to 
do this.

I know someone on this list who has water skied and also someone who likes 
water rafting, or scuba diving. enjoy your life see the world.

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Superior Travel, located in 
Baldwin, NY. www.superiortravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise & Travel, Inc.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Kociaba" <williamkociaba at comcast.net>
To: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Cruise Questions

> Good morning all,
> First, thanks to Cheryl for your very kind comments.  Secondly I would 
> like
> to expand on something Cheryl said.  It is very important to get to know
> your travel agent.  Always use an agent don't deal with the cruise lines 
> and
> stay away from those big online call center type places. Maybe..and I say
> maybe you might get a slightly better price from those big online places
> however you will get NO personal attention.  Only dealing wih an agent 
> like
> Cheryl or Peach Tree or myself or any other agent on this board(sorry 
> can't
> recall names right now) will you be able to develop any kind of
> relationship.  Only dealing with someone like any of us will you have
> someone who will be there when you pick up the phone with a question or a
> concern. If you contact those others you get a different person every time
> and they can't know you and your needs.
>  So please go out and see the world and enjoy it and call a professional 
> to
> help you do it in the easiest and most enjoyable way.
> Bill Kociaba
> CRUISEONE
> Bill at Ycruise.com
> 954 227 7772 or Toll Free 877 227 7775
> 7600 Wiles Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33067
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> To: "Bill Kociaba" <williamkociaba at comcast.net>; "NFB Travel and Tourism
> Division List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 7:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Cruise Questions
>
>
> > good morning all
> >
> > Hey Bill and Stacy!!
> >
> > Before you both run off into the sunset and help her Bill.
> >
> > I want to welcome Stacy to the talk list.
> >
> > Let me introduce myself. I am Cheryl Echevarria, President of the Travel
> > and Tourism Division.
> >
> > And I can be reached at President at nfb-travel.org
> >
> > Bill I have been trying to reach you! It was nice seeing you at
> > convention.
> >
> > Also want to remind readers out there, that this is just not for travel
> > agents and people who want to travel and ask questions about like what
> > stacy is doing, which is awesome and Bill you did a great job in it.
> >
> > We are an active division, and with the help of the officers of this
> > division and myself we are  making this a stronger one in the way of
> > accessibility for us all.
> >
> > The talk list is free to all on the NFBNET.org
> >
> > To join our Division it is $10.00, we have started having board meetings
> > and the last one the minutes were taken by Secretary Mary Donahue.
> >
> > Our board meetings are open to all, but paying members have voting
> > privileges.
> >
> > Our next board meeting is next week and it the information will be 
> > posted
> > here in my next e-mail.
> >
> > Stacy, please stay with the list you will learn a lot from us.
> >
> > Now to answer some of your questions that Bill has indicated.
> >
> > You may be the best person with mobility but each cruise ship is
> > different, I would take advantage of the tour of the ship, all of them
> > offer it, get acquainted with your travel agent are you using one or 
> > just
> > the cruise lines.
> >
> > Just advice for all, we are out here, 4 of us on this list are travel
> > agents, 3 of the board members including myself are.
> >
> > Talk to Bill, Stacy, he is excellent. He has given me advice on issues
> > when I didn't know the answers.
> >
> > With the workforce issues we are fighting, and other issues with blind
> > people being employed let us support one another. I also mentor people 
> > to
> > become travel agents.
> >
> > Take care and enjoy your cruise, we want to hear from you when you come
> > back about how it was.
> >
> > If any of you have been anywhere, on a cruise, land travel, anywhere in
> > the world we want to hear it also.
> >
> > We are going to be working on the accessibility of the airline industry
> > and other issues hopefully with the NFB has a whole, I want us to get
> > involved with any issue that affects us with travel and accessibility.
> >
> > Have a great day
> >
> > Cheryl Echevarria
> > President at nfb-travel.org
> >
> >
> >
> > Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
> >
> > Cheryl Echevarria
> > http://www.echevarriatravel.com
> > 631-456-5394
> > reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> >
> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Superior Travel, located in
> > Baldwin, NY. www.superiortravel.com
> >
> > Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise & Travel,
> > Inc.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Bill Kociaba" <williamkociaba at comcast.net>
> > To: <stacy.cervenka at att.blackberry.net>; "NFB Travel and Tourism 
> > Division
> > List" <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 6:48 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Cruise Questions
> >
> >
> > Hi Stacy,
> > First let me say Celebrity and Carnival are worlds apart in every way 
> > from
> > their food quality to their ships to their staff.  I am speaking both as
> > someone who has traveled a great deal and also as a professional in the
> > cruise /travel industry.   The ship you have chosen is laid out in a 
> > very
> > logical and simple manner.  More so than any other ship I have ever been
> > on!
> > I have been cruising since I was a small child and believe I have been 
> > on
> > some where around 40-45 cruises(starting in the early 60s)   I have 
> > sevral
> > suggestions that will enhance the trip for you.  First get abord as 
> > early
> > as
> > you can.  They tell you something like 2:00 I believe. Ignore that be
> > ready
> > to embark at 11:30-12:00  Secondly I would take advantage of the tour 
> > that
> > is offered. Yes you will have plenty of time to learn the ship but the 
> > day
> > of embarkation things are always crazy. Lots of people all trying to 
> > find
> > their way around..  Letting the cruise line know in advance will only be
> > to
> > your bennifet.  As I said this is not Carnival.   You might find that 
> > the
> > staff will try to be almost too helpful.  There are far more staff 
> > members
> > on this ship than on most of the other lines.  You will likely be 
> > offered
> > help to find your way any time you are walking around.  Its their job to
> > help the guests sighted blind or otherwise.  This line focuses on guest
> > services a great deal.  In truth I have gotten annoyed while wandering 
> > the
> > ship to learn my way as I couldn't go twenty feet without someone
> > offereing
> > help.  I usually cruise with my wife who is sighted but normally go
> > wandering by myself a great deal. Its my job to learn where everything 
> > is
> > as
> > my wife has a really lousy sense of direction.
> > Regarding the tours,  they are provided by local vendors that the cruise
> > line contracts with and some of the vendors are just more accessable 
> > than
> > others.  I can give you a great deal more info if you would contact me
> > directly off group at williamkociaba at comcast.net or phone me on my cel 
> > at
> > 954-801-6322  I do have access to some accessable tours in the various
> > ports
> > as well as having a very close relationship with the head of the access
> > dept
> > at Royal/Celebrity.
> > One thing I have done for blind clients of mine was to create an audio
> > deck
> > plan or ship tour for them explaining in detail where various venues are
> > both in relation to the clients stateroom as well as to each other.  If
> > there is anything I can do to help make sure you have a fantastic first
> > cruising expeirience, it would be my pleasure.
> > Hope to hear from you soon.
> > Bill
> > 954-801-6322 cel
> > williamkociaba at comcast.net
> >
> >
> > Bill Kociaba
> > CRUISEONE
> > Bill at Ycruise.com
> > 954 227 7772 or Toll Free 877 227 7775
> > 7600 Wiles Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33067
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: <stacy.cervenka at att.blackberry.net>
> > To: <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 1:30 AM
> > Subject: [Travelandtourism] Cruise Questions
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > My fiance and I will be taking our first cruise in December. Both of
> > us are blind and we are interested in hearing the experiences of other
> > blind
> > cruise travelers, particularly those who have cruised without a sighted
> > spouse, friend, or family member.
> >
> > We booked an 11-night cruise on the Celebrity Equinox in an Aqua Class
> > balcony stateroom. The cruise goes to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica,
> > Panama, Colombia, and Grand Cayman. Has anyone on this list had any
> > experience with this cruise line, this ship, or these particular
> > destinations? We'd love to hear any good, bad, and ugly stories about
> > anything you've encountered and also any tips you might have.
> >
> > We’re not sure whether we should let the cruise line know in advance
> > that we’re blind. On the one hand, because we’ve never been on a large
> > cruise ship before, we think it would be helpful to get a tour of the
> > cruise ship before the ship departs. We understand that Celebrity offers
> > this service to blind
> > passengers. On the other hand, because we’re in Aqua Class, we already
> > get priority embarkation anyway, so we'll have plenty of time to explore
> > the
> > ship ourselves. Also, it's not like we get any kind
> > of special tour when we stay at large hotels on land and finding our
> > way around them has never been a real problem. Do many of you find it
> > helpful to have someone orient you to the ship beforehand or is it not
> > that complicated?
> >
> > My other big concern is, how will Greg and I find our shore excursion
> > groups? Are they pretty easy to locate once you get off the ship? In a
> > way, I have no problem letting them know we’re blind, since this is
> > our first cruise and we might not mind a little assistance. On the
> > other hand, I’ve heard one blind cruiser say that when the ship on her
> > first
> > cruise (run
> > by Carnival) learned she was blind, they cancelled many of her shore
> > excursions, claiming the tour providers weren’t equipped to deal with
> > blind people. Since then, she has taken many cruises and never lets them
> > know about her blindness in advance. She has never encountered another
> > problem. Greg and I both have excellent travel skills and don't
> > feel we'll need much extra assistance. We just don't want them to
> > freak out and cancel our shore excursions or take other unneeded
> > precautions.
> >
> > Any advice you all might have for us would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Thank you!
> > Stacy
> >
> > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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