exlondoner

7 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

As someone who knows people with service dogs and who worked as an accessibility compliance officer for NCL, I will say that your "definition" of service dog is far too limited.  There are dogs that assist the wheelchair bound, as well as those that assist with other "invisible" disabilities like autism, diabetes, seizure disorders and PTSD.  None of these are "comfort" animals, which I agree have no place on a cruise ship, and which are not, at least in the US granted the same protections as service animals.

The US ADA allows for service animals to be in one of two places, either on the floor, or in the owner's arms, as some service dogs need to be close to the owner's breath to detect the ketones of an imminent diabetic incident.

It is not just bad publicity, but legal action.  In the US, if the cruise line goes beyond the two allowable questions (Is this a service dog?)(What act does the dog provide to you?), and challenges the dog's right to be onboard, then they can be sued under the ADA.  And, as others have stated, in the US there is no legal requirement for documenting, certifying, or training of a service animal, so you can show up with a service animal without any "online certificate", and board the animal.

This is just the kind of discrimination that the ADA seeks to prevent.  A service dog is a medical appliance, just as a wheelchair is.  Do you wish to bar wheelchair users from cruising?  There is also limited space for wheelchairs and scooters onboard.

As above, a service animal is a medical appliance, and just like a wheelchair, it would not be brought into a lifeboat, if the ship had to abandon.

Two different cases.  In the first, regarding passports and visas, as a common carrier, they are responsible for your repatriation cost if they bring you to a country where you are not allowed (no proper documentation), so even if you were taken off the ship by some immigration authorities, the cruise line would still be liable to pay for any detention and housing cost as well as flights back home, so it is in their interest to ensure proper documentation and compliance with the law.

 

As for service animals, as I've noted, there are only two questions the cruise line is legally allowed to ask (in the US), and any questioning beyond that is non-compliance with the law.

 

As I said in an earlier post, the cruise lines have the ability to make rules for the governance of service animals onboard, but choose not to, feeling that the complaints of passengers about possibly fake service, or emotional support, animals is outweighed by the cost of litigation if they push the matter further, even if the litigation ends in the cruise lines' favor  It is a problem, for sure, but it is not the cruise lines' problem, it is society's problem, as this kind of abuse of a law is not only limited to cruise ships, but to businesses in general.

I totally accept what you say about the shipping line’s liability if they carry illegal passengers, but in fact Cunard make up their own rules about passports too. They insist UK passengers have a passport for UK + Ireland cruises, which is like needing a passport to go on a train. They also insist UK passengers have six months validity in their passports, which is an EU requirement, but not relevant in many other jurisdictions.

They do seem to have quite strict rules about dogs, but perhaps don’t always enforce them. Now what does that remind me of?

12 minutes ago, Colin_Cameron said:

I'm sure you have better things to do with your time.

 

This performance shows up some of the limitations of the Queen's Room. It comprises of four people on stage with images projected on the screen above them. Unfortunately if you are downstairs but not at the front you can't see the screen due to the overhang of the balcony; likewise if you're upstairs but not at the front you can't see the performers.

Perhaps something best seen on TV, if shown.

12 minutes ago, Colin_Cameron said:

Too late to edit.

... Cunard Street wasn't performed ...

I think we mainly inferred. 😀It is extraordinary how often I leave out a vital negative. It hasn’t yet got me into bad trouble but could do, I’m sure.

2 minutes ago, Poole Boy said:

Unfortunately, if some one presents a "certificate" for the animal it has to be accepted at face value, it is not for the cruise line or anyone else to question its validity, that is the job of the issueing authority.

That is not quite true. For instance, cruise lines are expected to assess the validity of your passports and visas on check in, even though they are not part of the border force.

16 minutes ago, ace2542 said:

Not any more and no in the afternoon tea where they no longer wear white gloves.

There are several recent photos of tea being served in gloves, for instance on the Alaska thread, so may be that was an aberration.

I would just take the shuttle into the town centre. The old town is very pleasant to wander around with narrow streets, cafés, and interesting food shops. The is some sort of sea museum adjacent to the terminal, which is in the former railway station. And allow plenty of time to admire the Terminal, with its baggage hall with the most wonderful polished wooden floor. Worth going there just to see this.

9 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Sad that the woman felt uncomfortable. I hope you all tried to reassure her. I bet a lot of people saw her and thought "wow! Doesn't she look great!!!" 

 

As for your bargain beach dress, that's the beauty of a black dress. Dress it up with good accessories and nobody pays much attention to the dress because it's just a backdrop for the bling.

Quite honestly, unless you look spectacular enough to attract admiring glances, as, I suspect, the person in the previous post did, or inappropriate enough, say shorts and sweaty T shirt, to attract the opposite, I think people mainly won’t notice or remember what you are wearing. It means you can wear the same dress several times.

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

Dogs trained to assist with autism and hearing often wear "jingles" and can be small breeds.

That is strange. When we had some training on dealing with pupils with (mild) autism, one of the things we were told that upset them was persistent rustling and jingly noises.

24 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

I know people must think we're missing out on all the things going on and staying on the ship in Barcelona and Civitavecchia but honestly I've had such a nightmare year that reading a book and watching the waves is enough. 

I can imagine you have. But even without that, reading a book and watching the waves are what I mainly do. I look at the offerings, think ‘That's nice’, and then think, ‘but not as nice as watching the sea’.

31 minutes ago, King Amo said:

On QV they said it was likely to be 3.5 - 4 hours long, so they didn't sound like they were going to be whizzing people through. 

 

I luckily got to see the galleys on the QE2 for free, being a Hotel and Catering student at the time (the assistant Maitre d' took me in for a nosey around mid morning). I'd like to see things again, so will probably sign up to it one of these days. 

Very interesting and well worth it.

42 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

$120 is very steep for a no-cost-to-Cunard excursion. I guess it's what they can get away with!

 

As a Carnival shareholder I approve, but...

It’s been that price for ages. And you get a lot for your money. It does cost Cunard in terms of the time of the person who shows you round, the many officers, head chef, ent director, doctor, etc, etc that you meet and the various freebies you are given. Well worthwhile.

4 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

And still no fan in the room. I am beyond pissed at the lack of customer service. I have done everything I am supposed to do. The cheerleaders from any cruise line will say when you post a negative review "why didn't you try to resolve on the ship." I have. I've gotten nowhere. I am going down again, this time I am past cool, calm, and collected. I want what was promised now. No more brush offs. Fix this NOW. I am not sober enough to be dealing with a problem, but here is where I am at. Modern luxery my foot. I can't even have a simple pleasure that is not prohibited by their own FAQ or any follow up that I don't initiate. I have NEVER been denied my fan in all my cruises. I have had exactly two instances prior to this that required a follow up on the ship, and both were resolved immediately and with grace. This is utter bull spit at this point and customer service is on par with nothing I have ever experienced.

They will fake something in the FAQ document.

2 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

Some late night snacks to drown my blues.

 

 

I had my heart set on a nice glass of milk to wash it down with but it was empty. 

And a pepper cruet that looks like a lighthouse. Or put a spinner on the top, insert a battery, and there’s a little fan. NB Remember for take the pepper out first.

Lunch in the Grills doesn’t usually start until 1pm on embarkation day.

41 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

I picked a machine with a bad touch screen so no games to distract me but glad it's open Carnival runs you out on boarding day...says it interrupts the gym tours 🙄

Why on earth would anyone want to tour a gym? It would be like touring a dentist’s. 😀

12 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Dj in the lobby spinning tunes at boarding.

 

 

Talking bodies 🎶 

I think a harp would be more soothing.

6 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Cheese but it is very odd looking. Tastes ok though. 

I would never have guessed. I won’t tell you what I thought it looked like, not while you are eating.

1 minute ago, buchanan101 said:

You can't please some people... but the reviews of QA on this site are awful, so it's not just her

 

It’s that old thing again. There are two versions of all the ships, a wonderful and an awful. Luckily so far I’ve always been on the good one. To be fair to the person in question, as it was her first cruise, it might not have been the ship, or Cunard, she might just not have liked being at sea.

What is that unpleasant looking yellow stuff on/in your salad?

40 minutes ago, GloriaF said:

We are considering a British Isles cruise in mid to late April and are wondering what to expect weatherize?  My first thought was cold and rainy but with global warming changes, I'd like to hear first hand experiences.  Thank you!

It is unlikely to be cold during the daytime, at worst cool. But definitely bring a Mac and lots of layers. Sometimes we can sit outside for lunch, sometimes we are turning the heating up indoors. Late April is a complete lottery. We are in Southern England, North of Scotland will probably be quite a lot cooler. So lots of layers, as I say.

2 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

They are going to supply a fan. I still consider that an acceptable solution. 

Let’s hope the keep their word.

4 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Boarding has begun at 1101. I'm among the first in line so shouldn't be too long. First stop to guest relations to plead my case.

All digits crossed.

10 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Just heading back after our wine tasting excursion, very generous with the wine so I predict lots of snoring on the return trip !

 

If you don’t already, you may be pleased to know that otium is the Latin for leisure. A perfect name really.

9 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

And some complain about portion size in the restaurants. I'm glad the portion sizes are quite small - it means I can have most courses at most meals, and still have room for the odd scone. I'm sure you can ask for seconds... or go to the buffet to "top up". Reduces food waste as well

I think the portion size is more than adequate. In real life, I don’t eat several things for breakfast, followed by two or three lunch courses, followed sometimes by tea, followed by canapés, followed by three courses for dinner, plus the grapes that somehow keep appearing in our cabin. So small portions are definitely necessary.

7 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

People who are uninformed consider it a safety hazard. It poses no risk to the electrical system onboard.

 

It's their ship and their rules, if they want to ban it they need to put it in writing not leave it to the discretion of the security staff screening bags any given day.

It’s their ship and their rules, absolutely, but what you are getting is the intervention of an improperly trained jobsworth, like security people in foreign ports  who occasionally try and intervene to stop people taking booze onto Cunard.