DeafOnBoard

Thank you! Added that to my list :)

Thank you all for your comments!

Indeed there are a few reasons: to use for planning as correctly guessed, to give a copy to my parents who are not going with so they may see where on the ship I am, and lastly to use as a point of reference when sketching out fictional deck plans for a writing project I plan to peruse while onboard (glare from ipad renders it useless for me outside where I plan to spend quite a bit of my time on the promeande deck.

As for which ones, I am open to all though I have a special interest in ships that still look and feel like ships - Cunard, Holland-America, Disney etc - and any ship that still has the wraparound promenade deck.

In short, to feed my nerd 10-years old self who never outgrew the ocean liner research phase...

Edit: I have ordered catalogs - some came with deck plans, others didnt.

Has anyone had luck finding printable deck plans? The ones I'm finding makes it so small that it's useless, or won't print in landscape (meaning it's extra small). Also almost all are interactive meaning they can be viewed one deck at a time which won't work for me.

Miss the old days where they had catalogs that included the deck plans!

Thanks!

HAL is graciously allowing the ASL interpreter(s) to accompany me on shore excursions IF they are through HAL. (Makes sense as if we did independent tours the terps would have to pay their way).

Now, the question is, which excurisons would be ideal? I enjoy arts, history, culture, and nature. Not crazy about water sports and extreme stuff.

Looking at ports (which ones are skippable? Don't need to do every single one - flexible and easy pleaser here.) Not in order but they are on the Panama Canal transit trip.

Cartagena

Puerto Quetzal

Puerto Chiapas

Corinto

Puerto Vallarta

Puntarentas

Huatulco

Many thanks!

With the interpreter situation settled, I am booked for a 16 days Panama Canal transit on the Nieuw Amsterdam.

I would love to continue the adventures of Bear (who has his own Instagram account and more followers than I do on my own account).Not sure if I can share the link here...

What are spots or things aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam that we should discover?

So far I have the Stephen Card painting, the huge apple, the model of the 1937 version of the NA, a life ring with the name on it, deck chair on the Promenade Deck, the sculpture in the Atrium, etc.

Foodstuff are appreciated too! Really, anything goes here. :D

Hello all -

Thank you for all of your supportive responses and feedback!

I am very glad to announce that the issue has been resolved - we now have a solution and I am BOOKED for my cruise!

(HAL doesn't always provide interpreters, and when they do, it is usually a "free cruise" which might be OK for short cruises but we are talking 2.5 weeks and those poor interpreters work ALL day as opposed to she speakers and lecturers, so they are considered contract workers on other lines. It took some research and calllng to see what the "industry standard" was and HAL decided to honor that. SO HAPPY!)

Hello all -

Thank you for all of your supportive responses and feedback!

I am very glad to announce that the issue has been resolved - we now have a solution and I am BOOKED for my cruise!

(HAL doesn't always provide interpreters, and when they do, it is usually a "free cruise" which might be OK for short cruises but we are talking 2.5 weeks and those poor interpreters work ALL day as opposed to she speakers and lecturers, so they are considered contract workers on other lines. It took some research and callng to see what the "industry standard" was and HAL decided to honor that. SO HAPPY!)

A poster on the HAL boards kindly shared the following link with me regarding a lawsuit settlement with Carnival Corp's lines including HAL: http://www.adatitleiii.com/2015/08/justice-department-applies-ada-title-iii-to-carnivals-cruise-ships-website-and-mobile-app-in-a-landmark-settlement/

Short question: Anyone have the direct e-mail address for the CEO, Orlando Ashford? I have the contact phone numbers, supplied by a fellow poster but would prefer to email as I am Deaf myself.

Long Explanation: I posted over at the Disabled Cruisers forum (and a poster kindly suggested that I ask here in the HAL forum as well). The discussion can be found here; http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=52417328&posted=1#post52417328 under the heading of "ASL Interpreters on Cruise: (Ie Disappointed with Holland America)".

Short Explanation: HAL is being stingy with accessibility for Deaf passengers, and been told by past cruisers who are Deaf or worked as interpreters, to steer clear of HAL and their outdated policy. Didn't find out until after trying to finish booking for 3 weeks. (Record for longest booking? :) ).

And yes, the ADA applies to all ships regardless of registration, that have at least 1 US port. My "potential" journey has two - one in Florida and one in California. So thus, ASL interpreters are required. Yet none of the professional terps I know is willing to "work for free" and pay for their own airfare whereas other cruise lines cover travel and offer comp pay and/or vouchers.

Any info would be appreciated!

Thanks for the friendly reminder - heading over to the HAL forum to post that now! :)

And yes, fluent is the correct term - and I quite agree that it should be offered at more schools!

Thank you all for the responses!

Some corrections: - the ADA does apply for all cruises (regardless of home registration) with at least ONE US port. Therefore they are required to provide terps.

It was HAL's policy that the individual pick the terp. I didn't make that choice - they did. Some like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do have contracts with select interpreter agencies and/or Deaf travel agencies but it's mostly for group cruises. (When polling Deaf and terps, I'm finding that RC has the best policy -comping the cabin, et al plus pay. Norwegian also paid their terps too. Got word from Princess (who shares an access office with Cunard) that they do provide a full terp team of two terps.

As for the other questions:

For land-based requests - ie the doctor's office, it is the office who pays for the interpreter. Same with classes at the university - the university is responsible for paying the terp. Only maybe for a family funeral would I as the consumer, pay for the interpreter - or a wedding. (But then, those two are usually pro bono by close friends who happen to be terps).

There is indeed a Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) - like a union who also provides certification testing for terps. Each state has an affliate chapter as well.

One of the issues of finding a terp is that HAL prefers local terps (to avoid paying for travel) - but the hurdle is that the cruise starts in Florida and ends in California - unless there is a bicoastal terp out there, unlikely. Thus, airfare is required anyways.

I asked 75 terps who have terped a cruise, and only 1 has done it for "free". All others were compensated with some kind of payment system and/or a voucher towards a future cruise. Those who take on the "free" ones are usually non certified and/or not professional terps. The professional ones don't take the "free" ones as it makes it harder for the next person to get work and lets the cruise line get off scot free using "free labor" and spreads the wrong message.

Plus they all always worked in a team of at least 2. HAL is only offering 1 terp for 16 days. Hello, burnout?

The alternative was to go without terps and I brought up the pending lawsuit with Royal Caribbean over the Anthem of the Seas hurricane sailing where the passengers were confined to the cabins for 18 hours. Hearing pax got announcements on the hour from the captain with reassuring words. Deaf pax (at least 50) were not informed at all and were in the dark regarding announcements (crew didn't let the terps go check on the Deaf pax and to relay info). So I cited the option of not having terps was a safety concern as well.

(On my last cruise, I asked for one of the bracelets that kids wear that show their muster station - i figured in case of emergency, it would be easier to show than try to communicate with the crew - and expedite the evacuation process.)

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.

Thanks!

Hello,

I am an avid ocean liner aficionado, despite my nontraditional background. (Most of those ocean liner gurus seem to be older men, while I am a young 20 something woman who is Deaf).

My question to fellow cruisers, which ships would you suggest that I sail on - they must meet the following criteria:

Wraparound promenade deck with a view of the sea

High tea

Traditional dining room with the same tablemates each night

Shuffleboard

Rooms without a balcony but a window instead

Classic ship look (ie a dark hull, light superstructure)

Less "foo-foo" stuff (Not interested in "Most Hairy Chest" contests or endless games and mingling)

Wooden deck chairs

At this time I am thinking of a ship from each of the following: Cunard, Holland-America and Disney as well as the Carnival Paradise (which has a throwback nostalgia theme on board).

Are there specific ships I should keep in mind when making my choices?

Thanks!

My question is, are there any ships (including cruise ships) that have an enclosed promenade deck with windows that can be opened to let a breeze through?

Many have open promenade decks where the lifeboats are, complete with deck chairs - but I have yet to see an enclosed promenade deck sheltering passengers from the 'elements' while still enjoying a breeze on a nice day.

Or if there aren't any - which ships were among the last to have an enclosed promenade deck?