Two blind passengers declare they had been faraway from a British cruise ship resulting from alleged well being and security considerations – although the ladies advised the corporate about their lack of sight earlier than the voyage.
“It was humiliating. We truly felt like criminals,” Pam May advised ITV News about her expertise with Jennie Bailie aboard the P&O Cruises’ Ventura in May.
The ladies stated P&O knew they had been blind once they booked the journey and agreed to allow them to board the ship in Southampton, however the crew gave them a letter onboard stating that they needed to disembark resulting from well being and security causes, in line with the outlet.
“We had been standing there and having to argue why we had the best to journey, and go on vacation on our personal, the identical as everyone else,” May stated.
Bailie added: “We had been marched off, and even stated we needed to go to the bathroom, as a result of we had been on the ship for fairly some time by then. We weren’t allowed to make use of the bathroom on the ship and she or he escorted us off the boat like two criminals.
“It was completely and completely embarrassing and really, very upsetting,” she added.
The ladies additionally stated they had been later charged a “cancellation price” equal to the whole quantity of the cruise.
May and Bailie stated they booked the crusing by way of the TUI Holiday Store in Bognor Regis, England, and that the journey company bought in contact with the cruise line, in line with ITV News.
P&O Cruises advised TUI that almost all of its ships characteristic Braille cabin numbers, elevator buttons and menus, the outlet reported.
The girl had been even advised they’d be provided an orientation tour as soon as they boarded the Ventura.
“While we would like all our company to have a beautiful time with us, clearly the security and wellbeing of all onboard is our precedence always,” a P&O Cruises rep advised ITV News.
“We are so sorry that these company had been unable to journey with us and we can be providing them a full refund for his or her vacation together with any journey bills incurred,” the spokesperson added.
An identical incident additionally occurred on a Virgin Voyages ship in November, in line with Canadian information outlet Daily Hive.
A blind passenger stated he was requested to get off the ship as a result of the corporate was unable to supply enough help for him to journey onboard on his personal, in line with the outlet.
Virgin later apologized for the miscommunication and flew him to Honduras to rejoin the cruise.
P&O Cruises and TUI didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark by The Post.
