Topic: Ventura For Disabled

QUOTE:

Mr/Mrs Carnegie, I think YOU are the ideal person to spearhead a 'campaign' to make cruise lines aware of the problems deaf passengers face. You state you were novice cruisers on the p&o cruise and were not totally aware of procedures. If I were a H&S officer of a cruise line, I would pick up on this thread and invite you to go through a ship and it's day to day running with a fine toothcomb so strategies could be put in place for their deaf passengers.

Hello Morton, After reading your message I decided to try again and firstly contacted the RNID to ask them if they could bring the problem of deaf passengers up with the cruise lines but after 2 emails in 6 weeks were ignored I gave up and tried P&O again and this time RESULT. The took note of my idea of making a Video in British Sign Language and said it could be shown on the Cabin TV for anyone who was deaf but that would of course take time so at least they have listened to the problem and hopefully it wont be too long before it is solved. Thanks for the PUSH

QUOTE:

Hello Morton, After reading your message I decided to try again and firstly contacted the RNID to ask them if they could bring the problem of deaf passengers up with the cruise lines but after 2 emails in 6 weeks were ignored I gave up and tried P&O again and this time RESULT. The took note of my idea of making a Video in British Sign Language and said it could be shown on the Cabin TV for anyone who was deaf but that would of course take time so at least they have listened to the problem and hopefully it wont be too long before it is solved. Thanks for the PUSH

Hey, no problem.I'm so glad you kept at them. Now don't let up.'Remind' them every now and then and do let us all know if your idea comes to fruition. Cheers J x

QUOTE:

Hello Morton, After reading your message I decided to try again and firstly contacted the RNID to ask them if they could bring the problem of deaf passengers up with the cruise lines but after 2 emails in 6 weeks were ignored I gave up and tried P&O again and this time RESULT. The took note of my idea of making a Video in British Sign Language and said it could be shown on the Cabin TV for anyone who was deaf but that would of course take time so at least they have listened to the problem and hopefully it wont be too long before it is solved. Thanks for the PUSH

Great idea lets hope they do it

QUOTE:

Hello Morton, After reading your message I decided to try again and firstly contacted the RNID to ask them if they could bring the problem of deaf passengers up with the cruise lines but after 2 emails in 6 weeks were ignored I gave up and tried P&O again and this time RESULT. The took note of my idea of making a Video in British Sign Language and said it could be shown on the Cabin TV for anyone who was deaf but that would of course take time so at least they have listened to the problem and hopefully it wont be too long before it is solved. Thanks for the PUSH

Hi Carnegie,

It should NOT be difficult for P&O or any other ship to make a video very quickly. 'Signers' that I have worked with are very professional and 'quick on the uptake'. So would not need much briefing to make a 'Safety Video'.

If they say "It takes a lot of work etc.. to produce a 'Training Film - step by step' refer them to this post, I will give my time to help them do this - for nothing.

My Mother-in-Law was deaf in later life and I know some of the problems this can cause, my Husband is now loosing his hearing too & it is largely an ignored problem.

If you don't hear from them - get in touch with me!
Lizzie

QUOTE:

Hello Morton, After reading your message I decided to try again and firstly contacted the RNID to ask them if they could bring the problem of deaf passengers up with the cruise lines but after 2 emails in 6 weeks were ignored I gave up and tried P&O again and this time RESULT. The took note of my idea of making a Video in British Sign Language and said it could be shown on the Cabin TV for anyone who was deaf but that would of course take time so at least they have listened to the problem and hopefully it wont be too long before it is solved. Thanks for the PUSH

I have dug out a brochure from Royal Caribbean “Accessible Seas” it has a section on hearing impairments so I looked it up on their site and found this:-

There have been many technological advances developed to assist guests who are deaf and hard of hearing, and at Royal Caribbean International we've made every attempt to employ them wherever and whenever possible. We can also provide sign language interpreting services upon request.*
There's no reason everyone can't enjoy the Royal Caribbean cruise holiday to the fullest.

For additional information, call 01932 834325 in the UK or 1800 555 604 in the Republic of Ireland, fax +44 (0) 1932 820 603, send an e-mail to specialservices.uk@rccl.com (specialservices.uk@rccl.com), or ask your local travel agent to contact us.

Features/accommodation available:

A portable room kit in your stateroom is available upon request. It includes a visual-tactile alert system that provides alerts for door knocking, telephone ringing, alarm clock and smoke detector.

A TTY (teletypewriter) in your stateroom is available upon request. The TTY in your stateroom interfaces with the TTY at the Guest Relations Desk to meet all your in-stateroom needs.

Amplified telephones are available in the staterooms and public areas.

Assisted listening systems are located in the main theatre on all ships.

Sign language interpreting services will be provided upon request for guests who use American Sign Language as their primary means of communication.*

Closed-captioned televisions are available in all staterooms across the fleet (if you are sailing on Monarch of the Seas or Sovereign of the Seas, please request one prior to sailing).


*A request should be made at time of booking but no later than 60 days prior to sailing in order to ensure sign language interpreting services.

Hope it helps:D

(A portable room kit in your stateroom is available upon request. It includes a visual-tactile alert system that provides alerts for door knocking, telephone ringing, alarm clock and smoke detector)
My goodness Spartan I am really suprised to read what you found out as my 2 Deaf friends have just come off Independence of the Sea and I had read your message the same morning and so asked them if they got all the help that was on the ship for deaf people but they did not, and they did not even tell reception they were deaf if they had text phone, flashing door bell etc or safety procedure help because they did not know there was any help for the deaf. So they have just missed thier chance of enjoying all the help they needed. We have never been on a RCI Cruise only on Ventura and have 2 more P&O cruises lined up so hopefully they will keep their word and have a DVD in BSL (British Sign Language ) on the cabin tv for us to follow but we will certainly try a RCI Cruise sometime as they seem to be VG and have the right info on how to help the deaf Passengers. One problem is the American Sign Language is different from the BSL as ASL uses 1 hand to sign while the BSL uses 2 hands to sign but there is nothing to stop us learning the ASL through a book before we go so we can enjoy our time on the ship even more. I would just like to say a big thank you for finding that web site for us it was really good of you. One last thing is after 6 weeks and no answer to our emails about the Safety Procedures I sent to the RNID I finally used my text phone to get hold of the under manager and was told by him that is was not the RNID (Royal institute for the DEAF) s job to get on to cruise lines to help the deaf ??? but I was sent a list of places I should try instead, I was gobsmacked as all deaf people think that the RNID is there to help the deaf. Sounds as if I will be better just trying myself.

I think everyone will be "gobsmacked" also. I am interested enough to investigate the RNIB's declaration as a Charity. Will do it now !!!!!!!!!!!!

[QUOTE=Carnegie, Glenrothes;4892]
My goodness Spartan I am really suprised to read what you found out QUOTE]

I would recommend you go to the motability road show as they have a lot of holiday stands and it's a good day out even if you are not a wheelchair user:D

QUOTE:

I think everyone will be "gobsmacked" also. I am interested enough to investigate the RNIB's declaration as a Charity. Will do it now !!!!!!!!!!!!

I am beginning to think the RNID dont help deaf at all so I now wonder why on earth they are a Charity for the deaf . They did say they campaign for deaf People's Rights well is it not our Right to be told the Safety Procedures on a ship. Surely it is not difficult to inform all cruise lines that Deaf People need to be able to understand the Safety procedures. It could be put on a DVD in BSL and shown on the Cabin TV. It would not cost much and be a real help in helping Deaf People to understand.

QUOTE:

I am beginning to think the RNID dont help deaf at all so I now wonder why on earth they are a Charity for the deaf . They did say they campaign for deaf People's Rights well is it not our Right to be told the Safety Procedures on a ship. Surely it is not difficult to inform all cruise lines that Deaf People need to be able to understand the Safety procedures. It could be put on a DVD in BSL and shown on the Cabin TV. It would not cost much and be a real help in helping Deaf People to understand.

Hi Carnegie,

We have spoken 'off-line' about this.

However, I remain amazed at the RNID site, there is nothing of help, regarding Cruise Ships! Which is amazing!

A DVD in sign language on all ships is so fundamental,and easy to make - it really does 'beggar belief'.

Deafness is a growing and common problem, so I am hopeful there must be something 'useful' under the 'Disability Discrimination Act' albeit, coverage for 'Customers' is fairly recent - and 'scant!'.

I am working away next week, running a training course but, will see what I can find out. In the meanwhile, I am sure others will be contributing helpful info. Any H& S experts out there??

Lizzie.