In February 2006, we had some poor experiences on a cruise to Panama aboard the Coral Princess out of Fort Lauderdale., FL. My husband, who was in a wheelchair due to mobility problems, had a difficult time with some of the arrangements for getting OFF the ship and back ON, due to the type of ramps used. They were not the most compatible for a wheelchair and he had to gingerly walk his way off the vessel!
Since I am profoundly deaf, with both a Cochlear Implant and a Hearing Aid, I found it most difficult to use the telephone. In fact, they were not hearing aid compatible with no provision to use a telecoil with their device. Consequently, I had to rely on my husband to make and take all phone calls. The crisis hit when on the last night of the cruise, my husband was stricken with pneumonia and I had to physically go down to the purser's office to request the nurse to come to the stateroom! He was taken off the ship via ambulance and spent a few days in the hospital in Fort Lauderdale! My ability to communicate via telephone was thus severely limited, depending on the charity of other persons to make my calls for me! NOT a good thing for anyone.
I think the cruise lines and others should be more cognizant of the plight of those persons who wish to use their services but who have needs of their own that need to be addressed! We look forward to a change of focus for this travel industry or we cannot use these services in the future, as our needs demand!
Sincerely,
Margaret Bayone
Jackson, NJ