[Travelandtourism] Would like your feed back of the Conference Call with Cathy Vazquez on Norwegian Cruise Lines tonight

Tue May 1 17:06:42 UTC 2012

	Thank you for this. 
I heard on an add on the radio that Norweigion is doing some kind of short term deal where kids sail for free. I'll dig itup, I've been meaning to call and ask about this. 
Thank you for the link and the accessability run-down. 
Wonder why the other cruise lines aren't doing the same? Do they have a rationale?

-----Original Message-----
From: travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 12:16 PM
To: travelandtourism
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Would like your feed back of the Conference Call with Cathy Vazquez on Norwegian Cruise Lines tonight

Disabilities in the heart yes, but the whole company is working very hard to make cruising accessible for everyone.
Rebecca I had recorded the conference call with Norwegian Last night, I had posted it, and if you want I can send you it via dropbox or sendspace to anyone who wants to hear the conference call last night.
I have sailed on Norwegian Cruise Lines, actually they are the only ones I sail on, when I go I report back to the cruise lines on the acceptability issues, the rooms have braille on them to find your room, they have braille menus, there website is accessible, they offer you tours of the ship to get your bearings on the ship, they offer personal Muster drill assistance.  They are improving more and more. They are also working with Special needs at sea, Andrew Garnett is the owner of this company, that supplies the menus to Norwegian and other cruise lines, but Norwegian is the only one who is working with them.  Royal Caribbean and Carnival have stopped offering it to there clients, and Mr. Garnett is working with me, to try and get the people I need to reach out to on this.
They are in the process of updating there signage on the ships, like in the elevator areas, and hall ways, so you know where you are on the ship.  They are getting better.  They are also working with me to come to our national convention in Orlando, next year.
It was also mentioned by Margo Downey, who is a member of our Division, as well as a board member of NAGDU and President of NYAGDU.  Who was on the call last night, asked all the questions in reference to guide dogs on the ships. She also mentioned to Ms. Vazquez, that even if they just come to our general sessions and walk through our exhibitors hall during convention to find out more and more about blindness, and they agree to that.
I have also travel with Maxx, they respect the dogs, are not afraid of the dogs, have boxes for potty for the dogs, can go anywhere on the ships. Even have life jackets for the dogs.
David Stayer, President of Greater Long Island Chapter, was also on the call, and Amy Baron, as well as other members of the NFB on the call.  They are doing more for accessibility at sea, then any other cruise lines out there.
As stated before, Rebecca, in other posts!  They are the only ones, I can speak to upper management, CEOs, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, etc.  They are changing every day on there ships, and want more and more people to travel.
Kids do not travel free! the excursions are free!
If you have seen a sail with Norwegian Cruise Lines that kids sail free, if you can send me the information that would be great, but at the present time, Kids Excursions are free!
President, Cheryl Echevarria

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

> From: REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 15:33:32 +0000
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Would like your feed back of the Conference Call with Cathy Vazquez on Norwegian Cruise Lines tonight
> 
>         I don't care if someone has disabilities in their heart, I care what happens, not how a person feels about it.
> In any event, how accessable is Norweigion Cruise lines?
> I ask because they seem to have a deal where kids can travel for free.
> I'm giving this some serious consideration. Anybody know anything about this?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Margo and Arrow
> Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 9:07 PM
> To: cheryl echevarria; travelandtourism
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Would like your feed back of the Conference Call with Cathy Vazquez on Norwegian Cruise Lines tonight
> 
> I enjoyed the call as well as the one with Mark Jones.
> 
> I think Kathy V. does have the interest of people with disabilities deeply in her heart.
> 
> I was surprised that signage hasn't played a more important part in making things accessible but bet it will now.
> 
> thanks, Cheryl, for getting these folks onto the calls.
> 
> Margo and Arrow
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: cheryl echevarria
>   To: travelandtourism
>   Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 9:00 PM
>   Subject: Would like your feed back of the Conference Call with Cathy Vazquez on Norwegian Cruise Lines tonight
> 
> 
>   Tonight's call was very enjoyable, and I was very happy that Cathy Vazquez, Access Department Manager of Norwegian Cruise Lines was able to be on the call with us.
> 
> 
>   As stated in the past, I have been working since 2009 to make things better for people who travel, especially cruising.
> 
> 
>   When I first had did a fundraiser group cruise for NAGDU back in 2009, and posted that I was doing the fundraiser on Norwegian, like Former President, Don Gilmore, said at Convention back in Orlando, it almost shut down the nfbnet, he was almost correct on that.
> 
> 
>   I got everything from what are you crazy, don't you know that we sued them, or don't you know that the Stigel's had there honeymoon on Norwegian, and couldn't go because they didn't have a sighted person going with them.
> 
> 
>   Or the best one, they don't allow guide dogs on there cruises.
> 
> 
>   Well, I have to say that may have happened back then, but today they are the best.  I cannot even get access people from places on land to talk to me, and Norwegian, you can speak to all the way to the CEO Kevin Sheehan, Executive Director of Sales Andy Stuart, Vice President of Sales Camille Olivere, and Access Department Manager Cathy Vazquez.
> 
> 
>   Thank you Norwegian.
> 
> 
>   I want to hear from those of you who were on the conference call tonight, and I hope that more of you will be on the calls in the future, to ask the questions, that you want answered.
> 
> 
>   They are working hard to make sure everyone has a great time when they cruise.
> 
> 
>   I want to also recommend to people that when you are either working directly with a travel agent or a cruise lines, a resort, any place you are going, if you plan on having a good time with no issues, that you let people know that you are blind, what you need, if anything, if you are bringing your dog, or need an accessible stateroom for a wheelchair, or whatever it is that they know, if they don't know how can someone like myself or the cruise lines, make you life better if we don't know.
> 
> 
>   Whether disabled, allergies, special meals, etc.
> 
> 
>   WE need to know this.
> 
> 
>   Have a great night all.
> 
> 
>   Sincerely,
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   Cheryl Echevarria, President
>   Travel and Tourism Division
>   National Federation of the Blind
>   631-236-5138
> 
>   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
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