Why This Family Was Turned Away at the Cruise Port...

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 crucial 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 Times, they have been denied boarding their P&O Britannia cruise on the final minute resulting from 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 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 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 have been praised for his or her dealing with of a tough scenario, Ruby and Wendy have been left with out a long-awaited cruise trip.

The £2,400 value 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 vital lesson for disabled cruisers.

Essential Steps

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

First, be very particular about your wants. For those who use a wheelchair, require an accessible cabin, or have dietary restrictions, ensure that these are explicitly famous throughout the reserving course of.

Don’t assume something can 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 appears to be like unclear or a element you requested isn’t current, contact your journey agent or the cruise line instantly to make clear.

Whereas cruise travel agents could 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 capturing over a message to your journey agent.

For those who do use an agent, take into account cross-referencing your reserving particulars with the cruise line’s web site to ensure every little thing appears to be like proper.  

Hopefully, Ruby and Wendy will have the ability to guide one other cruise within the close to future, however their story would possibly simply save another person from going through the identical disappointment.