Sarah W.

Thanks for your kind thoughts. By the way, I didn't receive anything like what you received in regards to your staterooms. The big problem that I have had was NOT on my previous 3 cruises, but a few weeks after I booked what was to be my next cruise, after I had booked and sent in the completed disability form. The email just added confusion since it wasn't clear, so I responded asking for clarification. My agent has also been trying to obtain clarification, without much luck. Then today I received another email from Carnival/Cunard that just adds more confusion: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Subject: Completed mobility questionnaire Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:06:12 +0000 From: Accessibility <Accessibility@carnivalukgroup.com> To: Sarah W. Good Morning, Booking reference: Example Booking Ref Dear Example Title Example Lastname, We are delighted you have chosen to sail with us. We can see that you have requested a medical or mobility on-board needs questionnaire to ensure your holiday is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. We have recently updated how you can let us know about your on board needs. It's vital to inform us if, for example, in the unlikely event of an emergency, you would need: a. An evacuation chair – this is a mandatory requirement for anyone who is unable to use the stairs due to mobility or other circumstances, or for anyone bringing a wheelchair or mobility scooter. or b. One-to-one assistance – this is a mandatory requirement for anyone who requires someone to guide and steady them on the stairs, due to mobility or other circumstances. For anyone who uses a mobility aid, such as a walking stick or walker, this is the recommended level of assistance. Please visit My Cunard for more information and, if necessary, to complete the questionnaire. Please consider the following information about our standard staterooms and contact your booking agent if you have any concerns regarding the suitability of your chosen stateroom: · The average doorway width for standard staterooms is 50 cm · There is a step up to access the bathroom, in the case of a bathroom with a bath, the shower is over the bath (please see details of individual ships and staterooms as this may differ) · There is a step up to access the balcony (where applicable) For further information, please visit our website. We look forward to welcoming you on board. Kind regards (I have deleted the name of representative for privacy reasons) Guest Support Representative　 Accessibility　 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Anyway, even though I have been booked for around a month, along with the lack of any clear answers from the cruise line, it looks as if I will have to cancel this cruise, along with not having any ideas of any future cruises with Cunard. From my Internet and YouTube searches, It sure looks as if there is a good deal of antipathy towards mobility scooter users, especially in the UK. I have been able bodied for nearly all of my life, but now have an appreciation of what disabled people go through on a continual basis. I had hoped that this blog would be informative and helpful, but the inverse has happened in just about all ways. So I am not planning on responding further, but have one final thought: I truly hope that the people who have responded to my comments negatively and have fully supported how Cunard has dealt with this issue, don't find themselves having to deal with your own disability issues in the future, and not just in regards to scooter use. Bye for now.

You have made it abundantly clear what your position is, and your biases, no matter how much it hurts people who (for no clear reason), have previously and successfully gone on cruises without issues and with their scooters, including after filling in each line's "On-board needs’ questionnaire." And given the huge corporations such as the one under which Cunard is, this movement is likely to spread to other cruise lines. As I mentioned to one individual, it is only when you lose rights yourself that you realize what you have lost, and those rights are not likely to be reclaimed. By the way, on the QE, I was in Cabin 7053 (Deck 7) on cruise Q320 that left Vancouver on June 8th, 2023, and it was NOT a disabled cabin. I could easily be insulted by your inference that I didn't really go on any of the 3 cruises I went on this year in regular inside cabins (1 with Cunard, 1 with Princess, and 1 with Holland America), without any issues with any of the 3 cruise lines. But that is not a reflection on me. All 3 by the way, are members of the same owners group as far as I am aware. As one other commenter stated who is currently booked on 3 upcoming Cunard cruises, he also saw the prominent virtual sticker about this changed policy that is there any time you open up your Cunard Booking Confirmation. But you know what, there is NO mention that you must be in a Disabled Cabin if you bring a scooter, or plan to use one. I have already paid a 74% Single Supplement as a single cruiser, but the now required Disability cabin would tack on an additional almost $500 additional to the cruise that I didn't have to pay when in cabin 7053. I had zero issues when initially boarding all 3 ships since I had done what was required. And that was the feeble excuse Cunard used for making this change! I was not denied boarding on any 2023 cruise. One paragraph that I find quite laughable is the following, given that it is doublespeak while actually doing the absolute opposite: We take pride in being inclusive and we want to make sure we get it right. That’s why we’re working with Shaw Trust, a leading UK charity dedicated to challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility, to continue to improve the on-board experience for guests with accessibility requirements.

Given that I was not told anything about this issues prior to ANY of my 3 previous cruises, or for the upcoming one until weeks after I was booked; and the disability sheets for each cruise line; and had 3 successful cruises without issues, makes me wonder why you would seem to be critical of me for "thinking" that I had met the terms! It is Cunard who has changed the rules, and they admit that. Their decision is hopefully going to backfire on the company, since they have very definitely dropped the ball as far as how they have dealt with me, previously a loyal Cunard passenger (going back to 1966 when I was a child).

In answer to a couple of questions, all 3 cruises earlier this year left from Vancouver, close to where I live so that it only takes a taxi to get to the port. Yes, I travelled in regular inside cabins this year, one on Cunard's QE, another with the Grand Princess and the last one to Hawaii and back on the HAL Koningsdam. I did everything they asked and there were no issues in regards to my Travelscoot scooter and the cruise lines. I jumped through all of the hoops that were presented to me for all 3 cruises, declaring my scooter's specs. Only after a 2 to 3 weeks delay after booking this proposed cruise did I receive a rather confusing email from somebody in Cunard's Disability department, that I had never received previously. Yes, I too just received a new notice 5 days ago from my travel company talking about updates to their mobility scooters policy, so even they are admitting that these restrictions are new. As far as Cunard goes, I travelled on a Cunard ship back in February of 1966, so had a soft spot for this cruise line especially. The comment that I would make reading the comments, is that there seems to be a easy willingness to make excuses for cruise lines, while not really being concerned about Human Rights issues and the denial of what was previously allowed (in my case at least). I spent a good deal of my life doing my bit for our society, didn't have any issues with using my scooter on those cruises, and now I find myself being denied access to this cruise unless I pay way more, while already paying for near double occupancy for a single person. It is easy to accept the loss of rights, but trying to gain them back, not so. One comment that was made by someone who has since deleted it, was made by someone who obviously hadn't considered what it would be like to have disabilities himself, so seemed dismissive. When you can't do what you used to be able to do, then a "slightly" different perspective usually occurs!

Thanks for the input already. Amazing! What astounds me is that I was on these 3 very enjoyable cruises this year while staying in regular inside cabins, and it was only after a few weeks of being booked on a July 2024 cruise including filling in the Disability sheet, as I did on all 3 previous cruises, that I received this ominous email. If Cunard or any under that ownership umbrella has a policy of denying disabled people access to a cruise if they bring their mobility scooter (authorized by my doctor and mostly paid for by my medical insurance company), then why were there no issues previously? As I have now realized from my interaction with the company, their excuses are very feeble IMHO.

As a retired teacher who now finds it difficult to walk long distances as is needed in order to get around a ship or go on excursions, I was able to go on 3 cruises this year by taking my lightweight and foldable mobility scooter (that the need was verified by my doctor and mostly paid for by Green Shield Insurance). My scooter is a Travelscoot and as far as I am aware should be allowed on all airline flights and cruise ship sailings. It is small in size and foldable, having no difficulty going through regular cabin doors and stored in my cabin, and only weighs 33 lbs. I was on ships owned by Cunard, Princess and Holland America (all leaving from Vancouver Canada).. In each case, I was booked into regular cabins and had zero issues using these cabins, since my scooter is small and lightweight. I even went on excursions, whether at a dock or by shuttle. I booked another cruise, this time to Alaska on the Queen Elizabeth ship for July 11th, 2024. I booked my cruise on November 26th and have my confirmation information. I also at that time send in the disability information, as I did on the 3 previous cruises as far as my scooter information and details. No problems previously. NOW, they are stating that I MUST be in a Disabled cabin and the 3 cabins remaining on the ship for that cruise START at an additional price of $489 US more. As a single traveler, I am already paying an additional 74% single occupancy amount. As far as I would assume, this should be illegal as far as Human Rights protection in the UK, USA and Canada, or I sure would hope so. I am being discriminated due to my need for a mobility scooter, when on 3 earlier cruises this year, there was NO issue. I would be interested in getting feedback as a fellow mobility scooter user.