Why This Family Was Turned Away at the Cruise Port (Warning for Disabled Cruisers)

A primary-time cruise expertise all went horribly incorrect for a mom/daughter duo, and it was all earlier than the ship ever left the port.  One essential element was lacking, and it was really 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 Occasions, they had been denied boarding their P&O Britannia cruise on the final minute because of an vital reserving error. Their story is a reminder of why double-checking each element, particularly for disabled cruisers, is so vital.

The Missed Element

Ruby, who makes use of a wheelchair, had been eager 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 way of a journey agent and particularly requested an accessible cabin and assisted boarding.

They thought—as most would—that the whole lot was taken care of.

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

The rationale? 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 had been praised for his or her dealing with of a troublesome scenario, Ruby and Wendy had been left and not using a long-awaited cruise trip.

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

Vital Steps

When reserving a cruise, particularly when you’ve got particular wants, consideration to element is your greatest buddy.

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

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

When you obtain your reserving affirmation, evaluate each single element totally. 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 appears 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 will be useful, reserving immediately with the cruise line does provide you with extra management and direct communication concerning particular wants.   It only a greater trouble than simply taking pictures over a message to your journey agent.

In case you do use an agent, take into account cross-referencing your reserving particulars with the cruise line’s web site to verify the whole lot appears proper.  

Hopefully, Ruby and Wendy will be capable to ebook one other cruise within the close to future, however their story may simply save another person from dealing with the identical disappointment.