Topic: Ventura For Disabled

It's never the right answer http://bcboating.com/Cruising/50669.php is an article on special deaf cruises or at least some food for thought. It looks similar to the disabled cruises they do for wheelchair people in the States. Just as an after thought at the Naming Ceremony for Celebrity Equinox there was an interpreter present and working very hard.

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It's never the right answer http://bcboating.com/Cruising/50669.php is an article on special deaf cruises or at least some food for thought. It looks similar to the disabled cruises they do for wheelchair people in the States. Just as an after thought at the Naming Ceremony for Celebrity Equinox there was an interpreter present and working very hard.

Thanks Bill you must have really searched for the Cruises for deaf people, this is the 1st time I have heard about them but could be because they are American and not advertised here. Although I think it is very good for deaf people, we ourselves would not really want to be with a whole cruise ship of the deaf as we also have found that on the last cruise we were on Ventura (our 1st cruise ever) we found we met many very nice people who were quite happy to stop and talk to us and ask how we were enjoying ourselves we also came upon some people we sat beside in the Waterside or Beach house for breakfast or lunch who as soon as they notice we used sign language looked the other way or hurried up to eat their meal and moved away. I can speak a bit so always tried to have a blether with them some spoke back when I asked them to speak slowly while others just ignored us so I simply didnt bother but it DID NOT spoil our cruise as the nice people far out weighed the not so nice. But I suppose no matter what diasability people have there will always be some ignorant people about. It is suprising that RCI and now Celebrity both USA ships have Interpreters but not P&O I think I will ask them Why! An Interpreter could always do other jobs on the ship while being able to Interprete when ever a deaf person needs help. The People on this Forum have been astoudingly helpful to me including yourself a BIG THANKS!

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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.

thanks Lizzie, people on this site have been so helpful something which I was not really expecting so it is so nice to hear that others like yourself are trying to help and they also have been opening my eyes to what other Cruiselines have as I have only used Ventura and so have no experience with other cruise lines but the Safety officer on ventura had told me she worked on another of P&O's ships and they didnt have any info for the deaf about the Safety Procedures either. Thanks again

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thanks Lizzie, people on this site have been so helpful something which I was not really expecting so it is so nice to hear that others like yourself are trying to help and they also have been opening my eyes to what other Cruiselines have as I have only used Ventura and so have no experience with other cruise lines but the Safety officer on ventura had told me she worked on another of P&O's ships and they didnt have any info for the deaf about the Safety Procedures either. Thanks again

Hi Carnegie,
I did promise to see what I could find out & have made two interesting discoveries, thanks to one of my 'course members' this week. Firstly there is a 'European Directive' covering this issue. If you have the patience to 'wade through it' type 'Europeandirective2003/24/EC' into the search engine & you will eventually get to the part about cruise ships and the 'sensory impaired' meaning deaf, blind etc.. Why don't they say what they mean?! The legislation, when you cut through all the 'waffle', is clear that cruise ships should provide visual & verbal instructions to the 'sensory impaired'. Though, this only covers European legislation, so Ships registered outside of the UK - who knows!! As I said in an earlier post on the 'minimum wage' "Smokescreen & Mirrors" !!
However, as I have a 'curious mind', I also discovered the 'Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Service' who, it seems, have taken people with varying disabilities on Cruise Ships to 'rate the facilities'. See: http:www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/guideshipfinal/index/htm lots of info on there. Also, see 'what they do' + 5.2.18 on 'Safety Announcements' & also www.dptac.gov.uk/pn/060614.htm which reinforces the message that " Safety announcements should also cater for hearing impaired people by being complemented by video or staff demonstrations"!
Might pay you to contact them and tell them of YOUR experiences, if people do not 'lobby' nothing will happen! Who know you might get a 'free cruise' to 'test the facilities'!! :D Regards, Lizzie.

QUOTE:

Hi Carnegie,
I did promise to see what I could find out & have made two interesting discoveries, thanks to one of my 'course members' this week. Firstly there is a 'European Directive' covering this issue. If you have the patience to 'wade through it' type 'Europeandirective2003/24/EC' into the search engine & you will eventually get to the part about cruise ships and the 'sensory impaired' meaning deaf, blind etc.. Why don't they say what they mean?! The legislation, when you cut through all the 'waffle', is clear that cruise ships should provide visual & verbal instructions to the 'sensory impaired'. Though, this only covers European legislation, so Ships registered outside of the UK - who knows!! As I said in an earlier post on the 'minimum wage' "Smokescreen & Mirrors" !!
However, as I have a 'curious mind', I also discovered the 'Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Service' who, it seems, have taken people with varying disabilities on Cruise Ships to 'rate the facilities'. See: http:www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/guideshipfinal/index/htm lots of info on there. Also, see 'what they do' + 5.2.18 on 'Safety Announcements' & also www.dptac.gov.uk/pn/060614.htm which reinforces the message that " Safety announcements should also cater for hearing impaired people by being complemented by video or staff demonstrations"!
Might pay you to contact them and tell them of YOUR experiences, if people do not 'lobby' nothing will happen! Who know you might get a 'free cruise' to 'test the facilities'!! :D Regards, Lizzie.

Wow! Lizzie, thank goodness for people who have curious minds I certainly would not have found that site myself . I read the information on the dptac site with interest and it certainly shows that there should be visual help for deaf people so I have just sent them off an email and am planning to also send P&O an email with a copy of the site. Yes I will keep lobbying them I am so glad that I have been given some pointers that have been a real help. I also note that other Cruise lines have more help for the deaf than P&O I cant understand why that is so I will keep at them and yes hopefully get a free cruise if I am lucky. thanks again for your help.