Why This Household Was Turned Away on the Cruise Port (Warning for Disabled Cruisers)

A primary-time cruise expertise all went horribly fallacious for a mom/daughter duo, and it was all earlier than the ship ever left the port.  One crucial element was lacking, and it was truly the journey agent that missed it.

An thrilling cruise to the Norwegian Fjords turned to disappointment for 87-year-old Ruby Poole and her daughter Wendy Tucker.

As reported by the Hereford Instances, they have been denied boarding their P&O Britannia cruise on the final minute as a result of an necessary reserving error. Their story is a reminder of why double-checking each element, particularly for disabled cruisers, is so necessary.

The Missed Element

Ruby, who makes use of a wheelchair, had been desirous to take a cruise for a very long time.  Her husband, who handed away 4 years in the past, was afraid of the water. 

This cruise, her very first, was meant to be a particular mother-daughter expertise. They booked by means of a journey agent and particularly requested an accessible cabin and assisted boarding.

They thought—as most would—that every little thing was taken care of.

Nonetheless, once they arrived in Southampton, England, regardless of their baggage already being on the ship, they have been turned away.

The explanation? The journey agent had failed to pick the assisted boarding possibility when reserving. P&O employees defined they didn’t have sufficient security chairs for passengers needing help who weren’t correctly famous on the manifest.

Whereas P&O employees have been praised for his or her dealing with of a tough scenario, Ruby and Wendy have been left and not using a long-awaited cruise trip.

The £2,400 price of the journey, roughly $3,000 USD, was refunded.  Hays Journey has since apologized and supplied compensation, however the expertise actually places the highlight on an necessary lesson for disabled cruisers.

Necessary Steps

When reserving a cruise, particularly you probably have particular wants, consideration to element is your finest buddy.

First, be very particular about your wants. In case you use a wheelchair, require an accessible cabin, or have dietary restrictions, be certain these are explicitly famous throughout the reserving course of.

Don’t assume something shall be remembered if it’s not written down.

When you obtain your reserving affirmation, overview each single element completely. This isn’t nearly checking names and dates. Search for affirmation of any particular requests or lodging you made, particularly any codes or indicators for assisted boarding or accessibility.

This was the precise element that went lacking for Ruby and Wendy.

If one thing seems unclear or a element you requested isn’t current, contact your journey agent or the cruise line instantly to make clear.

Whereas cruise journey brokers might be useful, reserving immediately with the cruise line does provide you with extra management and direct communication concerning particular wants.   It only a greater problem than simply capturing over a message to your journey agent.

In case you do use an agent, contemplate cross-referencing your reserving particulars with the cruise line’s web site to ensure every little thing seems proper.  

Hopefully, Ruby and Wendy will be capable to e-book one other cruise within the close to future, however their story may simply save another person from going through the identical disappointment.