[Travelandtourism] FW: Dolphin Encounters- Service Animals
cheryl echevarria
cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Mon Jan 23 19:11:28 UTC 2012
Here is an update sent recently to me, she never sent it until now, must had been stuck in her out box or something.
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com
For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
CC: mwilliamson at bahamas.com
Subject: Fw: Dolphin Encounters- Service Animals
From: EbSmith at bahamas.com
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:47:12 -0500
Good Morning Mrs. Echevarria,
I have forwarded the response from Dolphin
Encounters.
Dr, Springer Chief Vet. from the Ministry
of Agriculture is in the process of writing various government agencies
to find out what the Bahamas legal polices are,in this matter.
I will let you know what his findings
are.
Regards,
Ebiana Smith
Visitor Relations
Ministry of Tourism
Nassau Bahamas
phone: 242-3287810 fax: 242-326-0166
ebsmith at bahamas.com
www.bahamas.com/The
Bahamas
----- Forwarded by Ebiana
Smith/Miami/MOT on 12/28/2011 08:21 AM -----
From:
"Latoya Rolle"
<Latoya.Rolle at dolphinencounters.com>
To:
<EbSmith at bahamas.com>
Date:
12/20/2011 01:56 PM
Subject:
Dolphin Encounters-
Service Animals
Good afternoon Ebian,
My apologies for the
very delayed response.
Dolphin Encounters
Ltd. wanted to ensure that we adhered to all rules and regulations stipulated
by the Government of the Bahamas as it relates to Service Animals.
Though Ms. Echevarria
was originally denied access to our beach side with her service animal
we have revisited our policy to ensure that we accommodate all guests travelling
with service animals to our beach, as long as we are given advanced notice.
However, these animals will not be allowed to enter the waters on Blue
Lagoon Island as it’s shared with all of our animals including the Sea
Lions.
With regards to dolphin
and sea lion encounters please see the below from our Director of Marine
Mammals:
Dolphin Encounters is a world class
animal facility that provides interactive programs for guests to meet dolphins
or sea lions in an incredible in-water experience. Our number one
priority is to ensure the utmost safety for both guests and animals in
all interactions. We are accredited by both the Alliance of Marine
Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the International Marine Animal Trainers
Association. We strive to accommodate any guest that wishes to meet
one of our marine mammals. We are one of few facilities that provides water
wheelchairs for guests that are challenged, and all dolphins are trained
to interact with all behaviors for the guest in the wheelchair.
Our animals receive the best of veterinary care with 4 physicals per year
to ensure excellent health (more than most humans!). We have accommodated
guests with service dogs for many years, as long as prior notification
is given when reservations are made, as we do boat transfers and we must
inform the boat department that the dog is approved to board. In
2006, the sea lions joined our animal family. Over the course of
the last 5 years, we have had 4 sea lions born at our facility. At
any given time, we have very young sea lions or pregnant females. Because
dogs and sea lions are susceptible to some of the same diseases, we as
a facility, in discussion with our veterinary team, made the decision that
dogs are not allowed around our sea lion habitat. I realize that
service dogs are traveling with health certificates, but we are in a different
country and with all the new viruses, bacteria’s and fungi that develop
yearly, we cannot be certain that something brought to the facility could
possibly be something our animals have never been exposed to before. Our
animal health will always be our priority. We will continue to allow
service dogs for those participating in the dolphin program as long as
there is someone to supervise the animal while the guest is in the water
(a paying guest). Dogs will not be allowed in the water or on the
platforms. We reserve the right to ask that the dogs will not be
allowed near the sea lions.
Please let us know if we can be
of further assistance.
Kind regards,
Latoya Rolle
Sales &
Marketing Supervisor
Dolphin Encounters
Ltd.
Tele: 242-363-7167
Fax: 242-363-4437
www.dolphinencounters.com
www.bahamasbluelagoon.com
From: EbSmith at bahamas.com [mailto:EbSmith at bahamas.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 10:11 AM
To: Latoya Rolle
Subject: RE: 2nd E-mail Travel agent who had issues with a location
in the Bahamas in reference to an Excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines
Good Morning,
Hope all is well.
I am still waiting on a response in this matter.
I got another email from Mrs. Cheryl Echevarria this morning.
Ebiana Smith
Visitor Relations
Ministry of Tourism
Nassau Bahamas
phone: 242-3287810 fax: 242-326-0166
ebsmith at bahamas.com
www.bahamas.com/The
Bahamas
From: "Latoya
Rolle" <Latoya.Rolle at dolphinencounters.com>
To: <EbSmith at bahamas.com>
Date: 11/29/2011
01:37 PM
Subject: RE:
2nd E-mail Travel agent who had issues with a location in the Bahamas in
reference to an Excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines
….received thank you
Kind regards,
Latoya Rolle
Sales & Marketing Supervisor
Dolphin Encounters Ltd.
Tele: 242-363-7167
Fax: 242-363-4437
www.dolphinencounters.com
www.bahamasbluelagoon.com
From: EbSmith at bahamas.com [mailto:EbSmith at bahamas.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 1:34 PM
To: Latoya Rolle
Subject: Fw: 2nd E-mail Travel agent who had issues with a location
in the Bahamas in reference to an Excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines
FYI
Ebiana Smith
Visitor Relations
Ministry of Tourism
Nassau Bahamas
phone: 242-3287810 fax: 242-326-0166
ebsmith at bahamas.com
www.bahamas.com/The
Bahamas
----- Forwarded by Ebiana Smith/Miami/MOT on 11/29/2011 01:34 PM -----
From: Maxine
Williamson/Nassau/MOT
To: Ebiana
Smith/Miami/MOT at MOT
Date: 11/27/2011
02:40 PM
Subject: Fw:
2nd E-mail Travel agent who had issues with a location in the Bahamas in
reference to an Excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines
Ebbie, please follow up.
Maxine B. Williamson
General Manager, Visitor Relations
& Reception Services
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
Rawson Sq.,
P.O. Box N-3701 Nassau, Bahamas
Phone: 242-326-9772, 328-7810 Fax: 242-32-60166
www.bahamas.com
----- Forwarded by Maxine Williamson/Nassau/MOT on 11/27/2011 02:39 PM
-----
From: "cheryl
echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: <tourism at bahamas.com>,
<Mwilliamson at bahamas.com>
Date: 11/27/2011
01:20 PM
Subject: 2nd
E-mail Travel agent who had issues with a location in the Bahamas in reference
to an Excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines
This is the send e-mail I am sending to Ms. Williamson, I got your contact
e-mail from the Bahamas Tourism Board back on the 22nd of November. I do
hope that I have the correct information, and that I will hear something
soon.
I appreciate it very much.
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Owner
Echevarria Travel
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com
For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: <Mwilliamson at bahamas.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:18 AM
Subject: Travel agent who had issues with a location in the Bahamas in
reference to an Excursion with Norwegian Cruise Lines
> Good Morning:
>
> My name is Cheryl Echevarria, I own and operate Echevarria Travel,
also a
> member of SATH.org, NFB.org, ASTA/NACTA and OSSN.
>
> I need to know the access laws in the Bahamas in reference to using
> especially a Guide Dog. Since I was denied access to an excursion
that I
> wanted to go with my family while we are in NASSAU.
>
> FYI, I had also contact the Excursion Department prior to us going
on the
> cruise, to see if there are any issues in the past with traveling
with a
> guide dog on any of the excursions in NASSAU with Norwegian, I was
told
> there weren't any.
>
> I know that the Bahamas has been an independent country since July
10,
> 1973
>
> I was on a graduation cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines - GEM - sailing
> from NY City to Orlando and the Bahamas. This was my first time
in the
> Bahamas, and I also have my family sailing with me as well.
>
> I am blind and had all the proper paperwork and permits to bring my
guide
> dog into the Bahamas; I am also writing for future access, since like
I
> stated above I am with the NFB - National Federation of the Blind,
> currently
> I am the Treasurer of the Greater Long Island Chapter and the President
of
> our Travel and Tourism Division, as well as member of NAGDU - National
> Association of Guide Dog Users. Also, I have a fundraiser planned
for
> 2013,
> so we need to have this in our files.
>
> Now my situation had happened like this.
>
> Since I was on a PhD at sea Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines, I had
to make
> my excursions reservations while on ship, and my made reservations
to go
> to
> the Company is called the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounters, this is
not the
> one at the Atlantis Resorts.
>
> FYI, no I wasn't going to bring my dog in the water, my husband was
going
> to
> be an observer and hold my dog while I did this, with my family.
>
> I have an e-mail dated November 9, 2011, between the Excursion Manager
of
> the Norwegian Gem Mihaela Ungurianu and Latoya Rolle of the Dolphin
> Encounters, Ltd.
>
> FYI, if this is a private location, then they shouldn't be offering
their
> services to the public.
>
> I didn't go there, in fact, being a travel agent, who in fact loved
the
> Atlantis Resort, but would love to see the rest of the Bahamas, needs
to
> know your laws and if this company is just making there own up as
they go
> along.
>
> Many of your residents of the Bahamas, have been to our National
> Conventions
> over the years.
>
> Please, let me know asap.
>
> Sincerely,
> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>
> Mrs. Cheryl Echevarria
> http://www.echevarriatravel.com
> 10 Aljan Drive
> Brentwood, NY 11717
> 631-456-5394
> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>
> For daily updates read our blog at
> http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
>
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