We have sailed four times on theCelebrity Eclipse from Southampton, and have always enjoyed theexperience.
However, we decided that we would try afly-cruise for the first time. This is a quantum leap for us, since Ihave MS and am reliant on an electric scooter to get around; I canwalk only a few yards with assistance, and can't navigate stairs.
So we booked a cruise on the CelebritySilhoutte from Cittivecchia to the Western Mediterranean., departingon October 11.
The flight both ways was faultless, anda disabled taxi was laid on to take us and another couple to and fromthe ship.
However, any illusions we had that ourneeds would be catered for were quickly shattered. On past cruisesthe dock has generally been close enough to the destination to enableus to get ashore with no problems.
On this trip, however, many of thedocks were a long way from the towns, and getting there by scooterwas not a practical proposition. Ibiza, for example was a 45 minutewalk away.
There were 'courtesy buses' forpassengers, but none that were disabled friendly -and there were alot of disabled passengers on the ship. What made matters worse wasthat guest relations couldn't provide any information on alternativetransport – seemingly ignorant of the fact that in many ports therewere public transport buses with disabled ramps.
Since the company was selling cruisesto disabled passengers, it was surely fair to expect that they wouldat least ensure their holiday was adequately catered for – and manyof the problems that we experienced could have been easily resolvedhad Celebrity done its research on what was available in the ports itwas to visit.
The final straw was Marseilles, whereable-bodied passengers could get to the city by coach if they partedwith $20. This opportunity wasn't available to disabled passengers,and in the absence of an alternative, we were stuck on board
The Eclipse and the Silhouette aresister ships, identical in most respects – except one. The formerhad a kettle and tea and coffee in the cabins, the latter did not. Idon't sleep well, and at home my husband often gets up during thenight to make me a cuppa. To do this on the Silhouette meant he hadto go from our cabin on Deck 3 to the coffee station on Deck 14 –there's one on Deck 7 but it's closed at night.
When we asked about the reason for thelack of facilities in the cabin, we were told it was for health andsafety reasons. Apparently the humble kettle is now a danger to lifeand limb.....
My husband was sufficiently incensed towrite to the company's CEO in Florida on our return to England. A fewweeks later we got a telephone call from the company's 'executiveconcierge'. My wife asked her to send us an email outlining thecontent of her call, which she duly did.
What is says in essence is that, unlessa passenger books a shore excursion from the ship then he/she has tomake his or her own arrangements via taxi or port bus. Bu shoreexcursion buses are – to my knowledge - not adapted to transportwheelchair or scooters. She also told us that should we wish to sailwith the company in future we should email them clarifying ourrequirements.
Since we've always booked a disabledcabin, our requirements should have been self-evident.
There were numerous disabled people onboard, and we certainly weren't the only people who complained.
Previously we have enjoyed sailing withCelebrity; the ships themselves are easy to get around and the crewsare unfailingly polite and cheerful. Our most recent experience,however, has led us to conclude that the company's approach todisabled passengers is to take their money then wash their hands ofthem.
I'd caution anyone in my positioncontemplating a trip with Celebrity to do their homework in terms ofport access, distances to town centres and alternative means oftransport, otherwise the holiday will fall far short of expectations.
cruising with celebrity? think twice if you're disabled
in Celebrity Cruises
Posted
We have sailed four times on theCelebrity Eclipse from Southampton, and have always enjoyed theexperience.
However, we decided that we would try afly-cruise for the first time. This is a quantum leap for us, since Ihave MS and am reliant on an electric scooter to get around; I canwalk only a few yards with assistance, and can't navigate stairs.
So we booked a cruise on the CelebritySilhoutte from Cittivecchia to the Western Mediterranean., departingon October 11.
The flight both ways was faultless, anda disabled taxi was laid on to take us and another couple to and fromthe ship.
However, any illusions we had that ourneeds would be catered for were quickly shattered. On past cruisesthe dock has generally been close enough to the destination to enableus to get ashore with no problems.
On this trip, however, many of thedocks were a long way from the towns, and getting there by scooterwas not a practical proposition. Ibiza, for example was a 45 minutewalk away.
There were 'courtesy buses' forpassengers, but none that were disabled friendly -and there were alot of disabled passengers on the ship. What made matters worse wasthat guest relations couldn't provide any information on alternativetransport – seemingly ignorant of the fact that in many ports therewere public transport buses with disabled ramps.
Since the company was selling cruisesto disabled passengers, it was surely fair to expect that they wouldat least ensure their holiday was adequately catered for – and manyof the problems that we experienced could have been easily resolvedhad Celebrity done its research on what was available in the ports itwas to visit.
The final straw was Marseilles, whereable-bodied passengers could get to the city by coach if they partedwith $20. This opportunity wasn't available to disabled passengers,and in the absence of an alternative, we were stuck on board
The Eclipse and the Silhouette aresister ships, identical in most respects – except one. The formerhad a kettle and tea and coffee in the cabins, the latter did not. Idon't sleep well, and at home my husband often gets up during thenight to make me a cuppa. To do this on the Silhouette meant he hadto go from our cabin on Deck 3 to the coffee station on Deck 14 –there's one on Deck 7 but it's closed at night.
When we asked about the reason for thelack of facilities in the cabin, we were told it was for health andsafety reasons. Apparently the humble kettle is now a danger to lifeand limb.....
My husband was sufficiently incensed towrite to the company's CEO in Florida on our return to England. A fewweeks later we got a telephone call from the company's 'executiveconcierge'. My wife asked her to send us an email outlining thecontent of her call, which she duly did.
What is says in essence is that, unlessa passenger books a shore excursion from the ship then he/she has tomake his or her own arrangements via taxi or port bus. Bu shoreexcursion buses are – to my knowledge - not adapted to transportwheelchair or scooters. She also told us that should we wish to sailwith the company in future we should email them clarifying ourrequirements.
Since we've always booked a disabledcabin, our requirements should have been self-evident.
There were numerous disabled people onboard, and we certainly weren't the only people who complained.
Previously we have enjoyed sailing withCelebrity; the ships themselves are easy to get around and the crewsare unfailingly polite and cheerful. Our most recent experience,however, has led us to conclude that the company's approach todisabled passengers is to take their money then wash their hands ofthem.
I'd caution anyone in my positioncontemplating a trip with Celebrity to do their homework in terms ofport access, distances to town centres and alternative means oftransport, otherwise the holiday will fall far short of expectations.
Ours certainly did.