Not sure what the status of your question or reservation is, but I do have some information for you... I am an RID certified sign language interpreter who is also an avid cruiser. I used to interpret on cruise ships (Royal Caribbean, but haven't done it in a few years. My understanding is that RCCL has one of the best interpreting policies. When I was interpreting for them, they transported me and a team interpreter to wherever the embarkation port was, and as long as the excursion was a ship sponsored one, paid for the interpreters to accompany the passenger(s) and interpret. Recently, my adult Deaf son and I booked HAL for a November 2017 cruise. I would have preferred RCCL, but they no longer sail out of San Diego and into Mexico. We are in the midst of the interpreter request process. What a pain! Would love to have a conversation about how it is going, and share information (providing ASL interpreters has been litigated all the way to the Supreme Court). My email address is taposthuma@aol.com, if you would like to continue the conversation...
Cheers,
Theresa
I'm in the midst of booking a cruise with Holland America, and have been stuck in limbo for 3 weeks. Yet the booking itself is still incomplete as the agent and I are still *talking* with the Access Department and still getting no answers. Very disappointed.
Which cruise line has the most favorable access policy? Especially for Deaf cruises requiring ASL interpreters?
For the interpreters themselves - seems all cover a room, taxes and fees, and gratuities. Some cover travel expenses, others (like HAL) don't. Some offer some kind of compensation pay, others a voucher towards future cruises. What others are out there that I'm missing?
I do have an interpreter on hold, but HAL is asking that the terp pay for travel expenses and NO comp pay NOR vouchers to make up for the lost wages (we are talking a 16 day cruise here). The interpreter most likely will pull out if they don't budge from their initial offer of just the basics.
(I agree with the 75 interpreters that I asked that they shouldn't have to "pay to work" - pay for their airfare while it's me who's requesting the service. Plus HAL said that either the terp or I would have to pay for the terp's shore excursions should I take up any. )
How can I convince the agent and the Access office to speed up so I can *finally* complete the booking? (One good thing - they did put a price freeze on it so it doesn't go up while the public prices does). Or if not, at what point should I pull out and inform them that I'm going with a competing line with a better access reputation?
As it's bound to come up, the reason why I went with HAL was the incentive of a teak wraparound promenade deck with old school deck chairs. That's my number 1 priority on any ship - and Cunard is slightly too expensive for me at this moment.
ASL Interpreters on Cruises? (I.e. Disappointed with Holland America)
in Disabled Cruise Travel
Posted
Hello,
Not sure what the status of your question or reservation is, but I do have some information for you... I am an RID certified sign language interpreter who is also an avid cruiser. I used to interpret on cruise ships (Royal Caribbean, but haven't done it in a few years. My understanding is that RCCL has one of the best interpreting policies. When I was interpreting for them, they transported me and a team interpreter to wherever the embarkation port was, and as long as the excursion was a ship sponsored one, paid for the interpreters to accompany the passenger(s) and interpret. Recently, my adult Deaf son and I booked HAL for a November 2017 cruise. I would have preferred RCCL, but they no longer sail out of San Diego and into Mexico. We are in the midst of the interpreter request process. What a pain! Would love to have a conversation about how it is going, and share information (providing ASL interpreters has been litigated all the way to the Supreme Court). My email address is taposthuma@aol.com, if you would like to continue the conversation...
Cheers,
Theresa