Bernard1

Apologies for radio silence on my part. I was hoping to report back by now a conclusion one way or the other but not quite able to yet. The one other (DA) cabin left on the ship which pot was available has now gone as suspected. However on calling P &O did mention time enough to repair/replace and I did ask why the sofa bed from the cabin we are now located in can't be moved to D732 - but apparently H&S - these are really heavy duty things (although I have moved sofa beds on ships around in the past to find things caught behind the back etc, but there you go) wonder if decision has just been made and done the underlying programming for future cruises - if so- then fait accompli.

Anyway P&O chap showed a great deal of empathy which helped not to rub up wrong way. Offered some OBC as goodwill in recognition that customer service (notifying change) fell below usual standards, but obviously hands tied to degree.

But I was really pleased to receive a voicemail message from the nice chap and a follow up call to advise this - now I am just waiting on audit trail re this, which was promised would be forthcoming. (I have noted on boards that there have been disputes re extra OBC on ship that have only been settled from showing the audit trail.)

I must be honest and perhaps I am being rather delicate, but all of this extra hassle is just leaving a distinct down to the upcoming holiday - the unexpected issue and lack of promised resolution - even if falling far short of initial expectations - but we have had quite a year and as said this really is a first world issue and determined to do what I can to not feel let down. However I always wonder if the P &O behemoth reads these boards and realises that much angst is really really easily cured?

Hey ho and apologies to all as this is not meant to be any kind of vent. This is is a first for me - but perhaps I have been lucky up til now? (Although the first post did help [emoji6]) I want to have a big shout out to Nigel at P &O and hoping he'll come through with what has been mentioned to date) and OK..... still rooting that they'll come through with D732 for 'the little guy' but it doesn't hurt does it? We can all dream!

Lessons learnt

Notwithstanding issues that crop up during cruise......

- a select numbered cabin is never guaranteed so don't see yourself in that cabin until you are there (obvs if serious issue - serious issue but then expect fix in realistic times regardless)

- don't expect to be to be told about any changes to your select numbered cabin - follow through regularly your travel info up until check in (at least I found out by myself 4 days before the cruise - would not have been happy to be in this position in the cruise terminal)

Good cruising all!

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Sorry wasn't clear - booked select - D732 specifically - now moved along the corridor quite a bit but still nominally DD grade. The only thing missing is the long end balcony (2.5 times wider than the norm albeit curving inwards at the end - just provided that bit more space for 3. Now we are several doors down the corridor. As mentioned - coming to terms with this - just a change to what was expected and up until last month all was OK. Not the best result but - hey - still going on a cruise!

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So leaving this Sunday on Ventura and picked and booked guaranteed numbered cabin superior deluxe balcony with the nice end balcony for 3 - from the off (special birthday/ anniversary). Considered suite but ultimately thought we could get best of both worlds, on balance, with this one.

So paper booklet arrives - looks all OK. Had been checking throughout period in any case (dummy bookings) that our cabin remained unavailable to book to others. Now getting to point of printing out tickets to find that we have been moved. On phoning P and O advised that sofa bed not working since end July and now a two berth - hence move. Same facilities (er...... no....... get to see wake and have extra balcony space otherwise would not be quite so upset....) Ship now full perhaps one other option available out of whole ship left, but even then can't guarantee that until the morning. While this DA grade not an upgrade to us and is actually a downgrade in terms of the overall, they are magnanimous in offering it to us free of charge - only if it is still there...? Suggested swapping around sofa beds with another three berth with a working sofa bed to no avail. Feel that that would be more saleable for P and O because of the extra balcony space and let the other 3 berth become a 2 berth.

They said they called us late July early August but I do not have any voicemail messages, nor e-mail messages - albeit I do have more than a few unknown numbers on my records, but as I have a lot of nuisance calls I wouldn't pro-actively follow these up. I do feel that they could have done more to flag this up - a voicemail message or email 'contact us' even the post could have alerted us to this before all the cabins were sold out.

So I guess we are stuck where we are, but I do feel bitterly disappointed and slightly cynical about this - is the change actually for someone who has greater pull with P and O? Breakages happen all the time and they do have people on board to attend to these etc... and besides things could be moved around. As relatively new cruisers to P and O it has left us with not a good impression, but one hopes that late unexpected moves are a relative rarity in occurrence for customers and we are just unlucky.

So apologies all - but I am here to see if anyone has any useful tips or indications whether there are other avenues to pursue or any other form of recompense is likely - I gather from the Boards that the complaints dept is probably an avenue of little action. And at the end of the day I do know this is a first world issue - I am just a little disappointed - as I have been looking forward to the expected canine for so long - but that should subside!

Thanks

Bernie

 

Have you ever contacted Celebrity's special needs department about this? The higher-end suites we have cruised in [RS & PH on M-class ships plus PH on S-class ships] go a long way towards being accessible - wide doors, walk in showers. Some of the accessibility facilities lacking could probably be added with temporary equipment. I have never seen this discussed on Cruise Critic and, clearly, have no understand of your mother's needs but it may be that ships carry the equipment that would make a higher-end suite accessible for her. Just a thought.

 

If they do not carry such equipment or that the suites would still not be suitable for your mother, Celebrity are unlikely to consider making higher-end suites accessible unless they understand that there is a demand for them.

Thanks Project_gal, We have looked at the higher end suites and we are always in touch with the special needs dept. Trouble is, mother always travels with us and so it is difficult to take a punt as we don't have a chance to do a physical reccie. But I totally get where you are coming from. I also know that often the accessible S2s end up as the guarantee's worst hope!

Trouble is they (as in accessible rooms), always look and feel so clinical and often, I suspect, you will have a wheelchair partner there, with a non wheelchair partner or companion that has 'to suffer' low basins, storage etc for example. My question is, should you not be able to cater for all, without what may be seem to some as a demonstrably detracting environment and yet to others as the only way they can go on a cruise?

I think this is coming from a sense of frustration that no one seems to want to grasp the nettle. This issue of accessible cabins, won't appeal to those that think that there is no problem and for those that it is, well, they are in the minority, so, no problem. But we can have design solutions that are silent for the majority, they won't notice, yet provide for the minority a win-win from Insides to Suite.

I ask that Celebrity think about this for the new builds - Think out of the Box - Innovate. You might find what works for the minority, the majority might like! Modern Luxury = Inclusive Luxury.

Bernie

PS I am fortunate to be on S2s next cruise and I know this is a minority whinge, probably more directed at the full suites issue, but the bathrooms in particular, of acessibles, across the cruise lines, leave much to be desired in terms of design and general aesthetics.

ditto

We'll ditto again, except when travelling with my mother. We have no choice except sky suite next to her. Top Whack. Surely it is not beyond the ken of man to design a full suite that can be accessible. Hubby has a good recognition as a designer - If celebrity is remotely watching. You can hide a lot from normal. And as I said, if you are making such differential between mini suite and full, well, I am surprised that they are not making the most. But then again the accessible cabins have lacked any imagination to be able to play all ways....!!!!!???????

Another post on multi-generational groups and suite issues. Family of 4, son 19, daughter 18, along with disabled mother in late 70s. We are locked out from senior suites, as mother needs wheelchair accessible cabins. She stays with daughter and we have adjoining cabin. So for us, sky suites S2 are our only suite option. (I realise that my mother's S2 is CS size though). Which means that while we would love CS/RS/PHS we can't. That concierge service would be an absolute help for us arranging things which tend to be less than straightforward. A little discriminatory, but we should be grateful, I suppose, to be able to go on a cruise holiday.

So quick question here. With the roll out of suite benefits making suites more desirable and a greater demarcation between junior and senior suites, are there any plans to make at least one senior suite wheelchair accessible?

Thanks....