Latest Update from P&O

As you already know I have had a very challenging time of late with P&O.  I have been trying for three months to get some answers to questions that I had put to their customer service after returning from my cruise in May.  After three months and going nowhere and going through two Customer Service Executives, one Head of Marketing, one Disability Adviser and one Customer Services Manager I believe I have answers to most of my queries.

Last week I received a call to discuss for the umpteen time my comments and suggestions that I had sent in May and to say that I was extremely disappointed is an understatement to say the least.

The Retreat on Azura

Information Sheet 
I have been campaigning for an information sheet on each P&O ship to give to passengers that have registered a disability.  Information that I suggested should be included is the location of platform lifts (Azura & Ventura) and lifts on their other ships for use by disabled passengers, facilities and accessibility information could also be included.

I have been informed that P&O have no plans to create an information sheet for passengers now or in the future because they have invested millions into their on line help service and website.  I have voiced my own opinions on this as they have just assumed that all passengers have access to a computer.  I was told that a large number of passengers book their cruises through travel agents.  This being said I cannot understand their reasoning behind their decision.  For those passengers an on line help facility would not be of use so sending a hard copy to those passengers would be helpful.

It was also assumed by the manager that I was talking to that disabled lift location information was included in the ships cabin directory, I informed her that it was not the case.

"Full Time Wheelchair Users"
I had also noticed the wording "full time wheelchair users" being used when using certain facilities on board ships.  I pointed out that this discriminates between passengers who are part time wheelchair users and full time wheelchair users.  I explained that many part time users often have a disability or condition that may vary from day to day and therefore may require the use of a chair at anytime and stating that only "full time" users may use the spaces in the teatre is discriminating.  The Manager tried to tell me that it was done to deter mobility scooter users from using these spaces.  I pointed out that most venues have a policy where disabled spaces are for the use of wheelchair users and walking disabled only and clearly states no scooters.  She had no answer.

Front Line Disability Team
This team was disbanded when the company was restructured.  I was told that the company has invested in customer and online services which they are confident can answer any questions that may arise and have no plans to have a front line team.  Again, I do not know how they can say that when you are put on hold for some considerable time and only be told that they don't know the answer, no surprise there!

Our last cruise was booked through a cruise agent who passed everything on to P&O, which is normal.  A couple of days later I called P&O's customer service to request a disability questionnaire only to be told that I would have to go back to my cruise agent and ask them to request it my behalf and then P&O would sent it to my agent who would eventually pass it onto me.  Tell me how is that more effiicent?

The Cookery Club 
What can I say it took over 9 weeks and several people later who informed that The Cookery Club does have a lowered workspace.  My initial contact and equiry to P&O was based on computer images and information supplied to my cruise agent and myself over the phone and in personal by P&O staff.  At that time I believed it to be true.

During the last 14 weeks I have been in contact with a total of 5 people from P&O and my impression is that none of them had any idea of where to go to answer any questions I had and so when the customer services manager told me that given time they can answer any queries; I laughed.  What has annoyed me most is the promises that were made that I now know were a pack of lies.  Why lie to me?

I find it hard to believe that they feel producing fact sheets to send to passengers time comsuming.  It was made obvious to me that the disability adviser would rather not have direct contact with passengers and it seems to spend their time in the legal side, I doubt they even know what the Equality Act 2010 is about.  But I now have there email so if anyone has any questions or queries I will be more than happy to contact the adviser.

Poor Customer Service P&O!

Following on from my previous post about P&O's customer service I actually had a 4th person call me and I will refer to her as Clare (not her real name) who introduced herself as a disability adviser.  From the off she spoke to me with contempt, launching into the fact that The Cookery Club does have a lowered workstation and not giving me the chance to explain that all I had to go on was a couple of CGI's and incorrect information given to me by P&O which I believed to be correct at the time.  This information was given over the phone and in person.

When Clare had stopped to draw breath I asked her why it had took two months and 4 people, who were two customer services executives, one director and one disability adviser before I was informed that there was a lower counter in The Cookery Club.  I also told her that my letters were about accommodation floors, lack of or incorrect information, gangways and disembarkation.

I had said that customer service was poor at the best of times and very frustrating if you have a disability question as you are often put on hold for a period of time and when the person does eventually come back they often don't have an answer.  When I first cruised with P&O in 2008 there was a dedicated team that you could speak to.  This was when Clare told me that when P&O restructured they decided that they did not want a disability team that the passengers could speak to, but she could not expand on their reasoning behind this ridiculous decision. Although she is supposed to be a disability adviser she does not deal with a lot of queries but the admin side of things.
 
Our conversation eventually got back to Britannia and The Cookery Club and she offered to send me some photographs she had taken to show this workstation and I immediately said that I would like to see them and she also said she would email them to me along with her contact details so that I could contact if I had anymore questions and we left it there. 

You could guess what happened next, nothing! So once again I found myself chasing her up by having to email one of my other contacts.  Clare eventually emailed me back in what I consider a rude manner saying that because I am not sailing on Britannia again she assumed I didn't need to see these photographs.  She just doesn't understand what disability awareness is.  I did reply but by this time I was starting to loose the will to live and with the reply I sent I didn't expect to hear from her again.

It was on 31st July and Clare called me I didn't really want to talk to Clare as we would only go over old ground and speaking to her wasn't going to achieve anything but the polite person I am I agreed to speak with her.  The conversation was just a carbon copy of our previous conversation.  I know I probably won't get anything improved but I think I am entitled to a letter of apology.

Two Months, 4 people and I am still getting fobbed off by P&O

CGI of The Cookery Club

Over two months ago I wrote to P&O's Customer Service with several comments and issues that I experienced whilst on board Britannia.  One of items I mentioned was The Cookery Club which I believed was not accessible according to this image which was released by P&O.  My agent had been invited to spend two nights on board prior to the maiden voyage and whilst on board made a point to find out if the club was accessible and on her return she reported that all the workstations were the same height.  Based on the images available and information at hand I decided not to book a class.  Other items that I mentioned included accommodation floors, gangways, lack of and incorrect information.

Once P&O's Customer Service has received a letter or email a case is raised and is given to a Customer Service Executive.  They have 28 days to reply to your communication and in my case the first person contacted me on day 27.  The person who I spoke to was very polite and during our call offered a lot which I had asked to be confirmed in writing.  An email did arrive all be it after several days but did not confirm everything we discussed but did include things that we didn't discuss.  So I sent an email back asking for certain things to be confirm; and I waited and waited!  A week passed and I heard nothing from this chap and found it hard to know where to go to next and decided to follow my own advice, which is to go to the top of the tree.

After a bit of a search I was given the email of Christopher Edgington, Director P&O Cruises.  I sent a rather lengthy letter to him explaining my issues and concerns and that I felt as if I was being fobbed off.  He took the time and read my letter and emailed me to say that he had asked his team to look at my letter urgently.  Great, Fantastic News!

Enter person no.3 who called me and we discussed the issues that I had raised and once again I was promised a email confirmation of our conversation and again I was let down.  I was slowly losing patience and I had to contact Christopher Edgington again, I say I was frustrated would be an understatement.  I was once again told that he would get his team to look at my letter urgently.  I was contacted again by person no.3 that day to see how I would like to proceed and replied to his email and ending it by saying I deserve a letter of apology at the very least.

We have booked our next cruise, favourite cabin and OBC of £520!

While on Britannia we heard many passengers talk about their cruises to the Baltic and as we both wanted at some point to visit Scandinavia and Russian and both are on the Baltic so that made it obvious what we should look for.  
There aren't many cruises to the Baltic so we decided to book sooner than later if we wanted a specific cabin.   We found a 14 night cruise to the Baltic on board P&O's Azura in June departing on a Sunday.  The itinerary is departing from Southampton, Belgium, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Southampton.
We never book direct with P&O but through a cruise broker.  We got an additional 2% off the P&O price.  Best of all is that we were able to book our favourite cabin E225 and when we received confirmation we have been given an on board credit of £520.  I knkow it is 11 months away but I can't help being a tiny bit excited!
 

Prescription medication to be stamped "Funded by UK taxpayer"

I'm starting not to want to turn on the breakfast TV as it seems there is aways something our government is trying to take, bring in or change and Thursday was no different.  Today it was the turn of the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who has proposed that a price tag is to be put on prescription medicines in the UK under a plan to cut waste in the NHS and reduce the £300 million bill for "wasted" prescription medication that is not used.  All medicines over £20 will have an "Indicative cost" and  "Funded by UK taxpayer" stamped on the packaging.  This proposal is being rolled out in 2016.  
In a speech to a local government association in Harrogate, Yorkshire Jeremy Hunt said that "This will not just be reduce by reminding people of the cost of medicine, but also improve patient care by boosting adherence to drug regimes" and also added "Everything we are proud of in the NHS is funded by taxpayers and every penny we waste cost patients more through higher taxes or reduced services"  He also stated that "initiatives such as these aim to increase transparency, and fit into government to put increase awareness of cost and choices involved in public spending".  Mr Hunt also stated that while integration of health and social care was vital to delivering high standard of health care.  Personal responsibility needs to sit alongside system accountability.  
I don't know about anyone else but I feel as if Jeremy Hunt is making a dig again at the most venerable people in society with this words "funded by taxpayers".  I am currently taking 23 tablets a day, I have CP, chronic pain from spinal stenosis and a permanently damaged rotator cuff and Diabetes.  It was a long process to find a pain medication regime that worked for me and this was done with my pain management clinic.  The medication I am currently using has enabled me to take back a small part of my life.  It means I am not bent over but can stand upright.  I am still in pain daily but it is more manageable and I can enjoy life and smile. So how dare he try and make people like myself feel guilty.  
I know there is a lot of concerns over the elderly and the fear is that they will worry about the cost they are causing the government and stop taking their medication.  
Waste is something that will always happen because of things like allergic reaction and unused and unopened boxes that are destroyed, why not put them back into system or back to the companies of manufacture.  Changes in dosage can create waste if you are part way through your prescription.  These things cannot be helped.  Am I going to think twice about asking for my repeat prescription when I see the price tag on my medication no and I don't see it will making a blind bit of difference to others.

Great Cruise P&O - But improvements need to be made!!

After we returned from our recent P&O cruise I felt that somethings on board could be improved so I wrote a quite lengthy email to their customer service.  The main issues were:  

•  Not enough room in the accommodation corridors to manoeuvre a wheelchair or walker around housekeeping trolleys without scrapping wheels along walls or damaging your knuckles.  To ask a cabin steward to move his trolley into an alcove was like talking to a brick wall, apart from one or two that were extremely helpful. 
• Lack of information for passengers who had registered a disability with regard to gangways at ports, emergency procedures and access to the sports deck via a lift on deck 17.  
• The Cookery Club is not accessible to anyone who is disabled as they do not have an adapted workspace.     

When you contact P&O customer service you have to give them up to 28 days to reply and I just knew that they would take that time to get back to me especially as I had requested that I spoke with someone.  As I foretold their customer service contacted me on 27th day.  The chap that I spoke with was very polite and we discussed my issues to which he has given me proposals of how the issues will be tackled.  
The issue of cabin stewards not manoeuvring their housekeeping trolleys so that people can pass is going to be addressed by giving the stewards some awareness training.  I was a bit astounded to be told they are the only crew members who do not receive this.  Being as they are the ones who have day to day contact with passengers I found this a bit odd? 
Lack of information for passengers who have registered a disability will be looked into and the proposal is that P&O will produce a pre-cruise information pack for passengers.  
The issues with The Cookery Club were still being looked into so this was not really discussed but was happy to leave that there for the moment.  
The main surprise was that as the call was ending the chap said that he would like to give me some on board credit which would be added to my next cruise and I accepted the £100 credit.  I was promised that a confirmation email would be sent detailing our conversation and I was more than happy to leave it there. That was on 16th June and by the 20th June I had still not received a confirmation email and so I sent an email asking in a polite but firm manner for confirmation of the OBC offer and details of what we had discussed.  I did receive an email on the 26th June as promised and some more information regarding TheT

The Cookery Club

Cookery Club, my comments and concerns have been passed onto the Disability and Mobility Management Team for further investigation as P&O who are fully committed to providing all their passengers with equal facilities and opportunities.  The email states that they will be able to take action with regard to this.  
On so many occasions I am told something will change and it never does, but with this I am determined to get it changed.  I have the chaps direct email and will be contacting him again shortly if I don't receive an undate.  For far too long disabled people have been happy with their lot but I am not and I will continue to fight for equality.

It Seems like a lifetime Away!

We have only been home 18 days from our last cruise but it seems such a long time ago now.  In that time we have been very busy and not with the usual post-cruise activities such as clothes washing.  
We had a friend come and stay with us for 9 days during half-term.  I also found our new

addition to our family, a British Short Haired x Ragdoll kitten who we are calling Abby Luna.  We are nervous-excited as we are picking her up Saturday afternoon.  Since my last post we have been busy buying for Abby and we are just about there.  She has her playpen, basket with heat pad,a large cuddly bunny, blankets, bowls, toys and and endless amount of love waiting for her when she comes home on Saturday.  
Having Abby means that we won't be going far these next few months but that is a sacrifice we are willing to make for this georgeous bundle of fluff.  It just gives me more time to look and plan.  In any case we live near a coastal resort so we can go and see the sea anytime we wish. 

Becoming A Pet Parents Again!

It is nearly a year since we lost our beautiful boy Byron and it was not ruled out that we would not have another furby but it never seemed the time was right.  I am a big believer in fate and that things happen for a reason.  Last Friday I was surfing the Internet and came across a advertisement for a British Short haired x Ragdoll kittens and the location was right so  I contacted the seller and reserved a kitten and arranging a time for viewing her.
On Wednesday (27th May) with my friend Paula I travelled to the view to our new kitten.

Abby Luna

The seller is a lovely lady and I was passed our kitten straight away and boy is she gorgeous!  She truly has that wow factor.  We have chosen her name and she is now Abby Luna.  She is one of a twin and her twin sister is called Sparkle.  Her mum Luna (Ragdoll) also had another set of twins Bill and Teddy and a single girl called Luna.  Her Dad is called Max (British Short haired) and is a very handsome cat.  
It is nearly twelve years since we last had a kitten and believe me preparing for Abby's arrival on 6th June is like preparing for a new baby and the list is never ending.  We have made several visits to pet shops and pet superstores and so far we have a playpen, pet carrier, litter tray, bowls, play tunnel, tiny toys and kitten food.  We still need a cave, blankets, brush and many many more things.  
Next thing on the agenda is to start making the bungalow kitten friendly.  We are so excited but nervous at the same time even though we have done this three times before.  Its a new chapter in our lives that I can honestly say we are looking forward.

Accessibility Information on Cruising Page Updated

I have now returned from my cruise on Britannia (B506) and have now updated "The Muster Drill" with the correct information.

New Page Added

I have added a new page to this blog "Accessibility Information on Cruising" I want to give people as much information as possible about accessibility on cruise ships.  The questions and queries that I have are nothing out the norm and I cannot understand why cruise lines do not give this information out freely to disabled customers before their cruise. 
I am not criticising any one website but I have found much information on facilities to be generalised, I want to give specific information on cruise ships.

Cases Are All Packed!!

Cruise day is almost here! We have 4 days until we leave our home for an overnight hotel stay in Kent before heading down to Southampton's Ocean Cruise Terminal to join Britannia on Saturday (May 2nd).

This is a "G" grade cabin type

Today (Sunday) we have just about finished packing.  We said that on this cruise we would cut back on the clothes that we would take but It doesn't seem to have happened.  We have 1 large case, 1 medium case, 1 small case and one large holdall plus a back pack, 1 wheelchair back pack and a vanity case.  The hardest part is that each piece has to weigh no more than 20kg and because of this restriction we had to do a bit of Juggling with the clothes but we finally got there and then next Saturday we have to unpack the lot; are we mad or what!!  Apart from a few bits and bobs we are ready to go.  I have created a reminder door with lots of post it notes stuck to it to remind me of things we have to do before Friday.  I am very organised when it comes to preparation and information, you can never do enough in my mind.
Both of us are now considered seasoned cruisers and know exactly what we want from this ship and have done extensive research of what facilities she has on offer.  I have my blue cruise folder ready to go with everything we need from E-Tickets to Passports and information about every port we are visiting.  
Tomorrow we are going into town to run a last few errands at the post office, bank and chemist.  Even though we are both good travellers we still like to have motion sickness tablets as a just in case thing.
 To be continued....
 

10 Days and Counting!!

I can't believe that our cruise is almost upon us and suddenly I feel panic as I wonder if we have enough time to pack everything we need.  At this point (10 days to go) we have packed 1 case and partially packed 2 more cases.  We leave our very large one until last as this holds all our evening gowns and formal wear and this will be packed over this weekend.  
Around

A must take item on any cruise!

our bungalow there are carrier bags with things that we wish take such as chargers and a 4 way electric socket, this is a must on any cruise as there is never enough sockets.  We also take with us a supply of our favourite welsh tea which is not available on board ship.  I do not bother with taking coffee as there good quality coffee served on the ship.  We are also taking a bottle of two of Prosecco to have on our balcony.
The other item you will probably need to take are extra clothes hangers as there are never enough.  We like to take our own which include padded hangers for the evening wear but if you ask your cabin attendant they will arrange for extra wire hangers for you to use.  Like a lot of people I prefer to use my own hairdryer but one is supplied.  I alway have in my handbag a hand sanatiser, they are everywhere on the ship but I like to have one at hand.  
Today my new wheelchair backpack was delivered.  It is much bigger than my current one and has proper carry handles.  I like to do a dry run about a week before just to make sure that everything fits in that I want to take as there is no point in leaving it until the last moment and then PANIC!!! I can report that everything does fit and I breathed a sigh of relief!  

Britannia - Access to Sports Deck for Disabled Passengers

I may be wrong but studying the deck plans for P&O's Britannia indicates that the Sports Deck has the promenade running around the edge and it appears not to be accessible for disabled or mobility challenged cruisers.  I hope I am wrong but I fear I may be right.  For a few weeks now I have done my usual research that I do before every cruise, some people say that I am a bit OTT but I have found you need to do a hell of a lot of research if you are disabled because the information is simply not there.  
I emailed my cruise agent to see if she knew if there was a "platform lift" from the sun deck up to the sports deck but from what she can remember from her visit to Britannia there isn't.  If this is the case I am disappointed with P&O,  after all they have a "platform lift" on the Azura from the aqua deck to the sun deck and on Ventura from the sun deck to the sports deck.  The other thing I have noticed that neither of the lifts are shown on the deck plans.  I remember finding out about these "secret" lifts from a forum and again it might be nice to have been told of there existence by P&O.  
As disabled cruisers we are expected to comply with certain rules and restrictions set out by cruise lines.  For me it was completing a questionnaire and giving detailed measurements of my wheelchair and any aids that I will be bringing.  Once complete I emailed it to P&O and I received a reply saying that if I didn't hear from them within two weeks everything was OK and that was it.  That was 4 months ago.  I had the disabled excursions come through in February and that is another topic to tackle at another time.  It would be nice to have more information from P&O as I feel I have been forgotten.  I am a partial wheelchair user but can manage a shower in a non-accessible cabin leaving accessible cabins for my fellow travellers who need the space.  Once you have registered your disability, condition or illness with P&O I think they should keep in contact with you for updates etc.  I am on Britannia at the beginning of May for a fortnight and I have list of things that I will be checking out. So please keep checking back.

An upgrade, a new evening bag and 23 days to go!!

On previous cruises we have pre chosen our cabin but on this cruise we decided to book a guaranteed cabin which meant we saved around £700.  The cabin was GE grade (Deluxe Balcony Cabin)  and as no one had cruised on Britannia we thought we would take the chance.  
On 2nd April I went into my details at the website and to my surprise we have been allocated our cabin and we have been given an upgrade to a GD grade cabin.  The cabin is E618 it is the same type cabin that we had paid for but in a better position on the ship. 
I always say things happen for a reason.  This cabin is on E Deck and this is our 4th cruise with P&O and we always have cabins on this deck. Six is Karen's birthday and considered a lucky number by us.  Eighteen is our bungalow number.  So I am very pleased with the cabin

My new bag

number.  
A couple of weeks ago we got our cases out in preparation for starting to pack.  We started to pack swimwear and accessories such as handbags.  It was only then that I realised that an evening bag that Mum had bought me a few years ago has some sequins missing, I was devaastated to find it this way as I am always very careful when putting it away.  I fear it cannot be mended but I cannot throw it away.  I have just bought another bag for the cruise.  It won't replace the bag that Mum bought but I am sure she would like it.  I am now done buying for this cruise.  We only have the odd toiletries to buy.  I cannot believe it is only 23 days away.  Mum always said done wish your life away but I just can't wait!

 

Partially Adapted Cabins

I have CP with a left side hemiplegia and I am a partial wheelchair user. When I have stayed in hotels or when I did a cruise on Independence of the Seas I have had a fully accessible

Wet room on cruise ship

accommodation because I require the use of a wet room.  Because of the nature of my disability I cannot use a bath.  
I have often wondered why I have rarely found accommodation that is partially adapted for people like myself who do not require the extra room needed to manouvre a wheelchair but need the facilities of a wet room.  
I believe that if cruise lines put a few of these cabins on each of their ships it would be a welcomed addition.  It was by pure chance that I have discovered that P&O's Arcadia has 12 partially adapted cabins and they are:  

C1, C2, C194, C203, E95, E96, G11, G12, G74, G81, G82 & G100.  

Again I have to wonder why someone like P&O did not consider putting a few partially adapted cabins on Britannia.  I have to ask the question again who do companies like P&O consult when it come to deciding what is required when it comes to adaptions for passengers with disabilities.  I assume that they may ask OT's (Occupational Therapists).  
I have had dealings with OT's over many years and have found some to be excellent while others are complete rubbish.  I believe the best people that they could consult would be disabled people because we can often find something that an able bodied person may miss.  


 

Cremation Certificate!

Last Friday I received a letter from P&O saying that I could scatter Mum's ashes at sea and for a while I was overjoyed and then I read the letter again.  The letter said I needed the cremation certificate to be able to take the ashes.  Suddenly I felt that everything was going wrong; this couldn't be happening. I contacted the funeral director immediately to see if he had the certificate but unfortunately he told me that Mum's vicar had it.
My problems just got a whole lot worse.  My Mum's vicar believes that he buried all of Mum's ashes and not just some.  He refused to bury some as he said her spirit would not be whole.  What utter nonsense they are ashes and are symbolic.  So my brother and I decided to get them seperated with the help of the funeral director.  After speaking with Simon (funeral director) again he said there was a slim chance that the crematorium may give a duplicate certificate but we would have to give a bit of a sob story.  If that was our only way go for it.
All day I have been preparing myself that I may not be able to scatter her ashes at sea and was thinking about where I could scatter them here.  I checked my email inbox tonight and I had an email from Simon saying that he has got me a duplicate copy of the cremation certficate I am so happy I can now take her ashes with me.

Just 2% (37) of Cabins on Britannia are Accessible

In 2008 cruising became a lifeline for me to have a holiday in the sun when I could no longer fly and cruising has been my chosen holiday of choice since.  All my P&O cruises have been in standard cabins as I can manage with a shower and my wheelchair (folded) fits inside my cabin.
A couple of years ago for reasons of health and safety P&O changed their policy regarding which cabins could be booked if you are an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter user.  Cabins that can be booked are accessible cabins and selected mini suites and suites.

Disabled cabin on Britannia

On Britannia there are 1,837 cabins of which 37 are accessible cabins that is just 2%.  If someone uses a folding manual or electric wheelchair and it fits their weight and size restrictions then they can book a standard cabin.
I am not a fan of mobility scooters because of the beeping, honking and the swearing I have suffered while being followed along a pavement and witnessed at other times.  Some of these scooters can do up to 8mph.  I have witnessed a lady in 3 inch heels get off her scooter and dance the night away but used her mobility scooter when it suited her.  I do have friends who genuinely have a need to use one and that is fine with me but the misuse by people who are just too lazy to walk and see a scooter as an alternative form of transport need shooting. 

The policy that was introduced by P&O and I believe it is not a blanket policy that covers other cruise lines.  Last October I was on RCI's Independence of the Seas and it was obvious that there were scooter users booked into standard cabins.  At times it was very difficult to walk down a corridor with my walker because of scooters left outside cabins which meant it was difficult to pass without closing my walker.  I was also aware that house keeping also found it difficult to manoeuvre around the scooters.
I can understand why P&O do not want scooters parked in corridors because they are a hazard to other people.  However, my opinion is that if a scooter fits the height and weight restrictions that have been set my P&O for electric and manual folding wheelchairs then I can't see why they cannot be included enabling users to book a standard cabin.
The other solution is that P&O should have more accessible cabins on their ships.  I do not know the percentage of people with mobility problems or disabilities that cruise but I would imagine it is fairly high.  I would have hoped that P&O would have considered this when building Britannia.

Accessible cabins on Britannia:
Suites:
B626 & B627

Superior Deluxe Balcony:
B426 & B427

Balcony Cabins (without sofa):
B429, B430, C440, C441, C446 & C447 (HA grade)
C301, C302, C303, C304, D301, D302, D303, D304 (HB grade)
B709, B719, C720, C726, D732, D733, F724, F725 (HD grade)
A110 (HF grade)

Inside Cabins:
C514, C515, D314, D315, D320, D321 (PB grade)
C723, C729, D730, D731 (PD grade)

The Cookery Club Update for Disabled Passengers

How disappointed I am with P&O is an understatement.  I really thought they tried hard to make all activities onboard their ships available to all passengers whether abled or disabled but apparently not.  In my earlier post "Britannia's Cookery Club"  I had said that I believed after studying photographs of the work stations that none had been adapted for use for disabled people.  
My cruise agent has reported back to me after spending a couple of days onboard Britannia and has confirmed that The Cookery Club does not have an adapted work station.  
I am lost for words.  My agent did say that they would probably try to help people with mobility problems but that is unrealistic. 

Anyone who lives with someone who is in a wheelchair or who uses a perching stool will know that you need a rise and fall unit or a work surface with space underneath so that you can wheel under or sit up close if using a stool. If I were to contact them about attending a class I wouldn't be suprised if they quoted health and safety at me for not allowing me to attend or as a resaon for not having an adapted station. 
I often wonder who P&O engage to come onto their ships and advise them on equipment and adaptions that are currently available for people with disabilities or mobility issues.  I have heard that often it is advisors that are able bodied and have never spent one day in a wheelchair, on crutches or used a scooter and so actually do not know the challenges we face on a day to day basis.  
My friends often joke that I would make a great mystery shopper, Someone needs to do it.  

Mum's Final Journey

As you may know my mum Muriel passed away in September 2014 after a short illness.  It was decided after the funeral to divide her ashes so that some were buried with my Dads ashes in her local

Mum at The Connaught Hotel 2013

churchyard and the rest I have taken back with me to Norfolk.  
Mum was born and raised near the coast and my family has a strong connection with the RNLI.  When Mum stayed with me she was at her happiest sitting watching the sea.  Then from nowhere it came to me to see if it was possible to have ashes scattered at sea while on the cruise ship.  Mum loved travel, she loved the sea and she loved to hear about our cruises so it seemed perfect.  I had read that it was possible to scatter ashes with P&O but it was at the discretion of the captain.  I thought the best person to ask to contact P&O was our cruise agent Susan and got onto it straight away.  At first they were very positive about helping me and after a week or so later they didn't seem so keen giving the excuse the Captain Brown was too busy with Britannia to give an answer.  At this point I was feeling very down as it felt it was the right thing to do with her ashes.  My agent said she would tackle someone while

Captain Pembridge

visiting the ship this week.  That raised my hopes.  This morning I received a letter from P&O to say that the alternate captain on Britannia Captain David Pembridge had confirmed that he is willing to assist me onboard during the scattering of the ashes and that I will receive a copy of the details of the service shortly.  They have also said that a member of the team will be available at the cruise terminal to assist us through the embarkation procedures.   Suddenly I feel a whole weight has lifted off my shoulders.  I just need to get a copy of the cremation certificate to show the ship.  They have even asked what date I want to do the scattering and I have said while the ship is in the Canary Islands.
I feel at last her journey is finally coming to an end and she would be more than happy with my choices.

Britannia's Cookery Club

I have often found myself to be the person that seems to ask the awkward questions that no one else wants to ask.  One of the reasons for booking this cruise was The Cookery Club.  Cooking is my blood my Dad was a chef in the navy and I had been cooking with him since the age around 4.  
The Cookery Club is

P&O's Cookery Club

led by TV chef James Martin with classes taught by the Cookery Club team who have been hand selected and trained by James himself.   Classes start from £45pp to £100pp
There are 19 classes being held while we are on the cruise and taught by the team.  The classes include perfect pasta, James Martins desserts, Portuguese street food, Atul Kochhar's sindhu favourites, Spanish tapas and modern gastropub.  There will also be family classes on offer.
On special cruises there will be classes led by James Martin, Atul Kochhar, master patissier Eric Lanlard and Marco Pierre White and many other well known chefs.  
I know I shouldn't but the first thing that often comes to mind is "is it available to disabled  people?"  So often activities are not available to us with a disabilities and often their excuse is health and safety.  It is starting to get boring and it can make you feel like a second rate citizen.
I have gone back to P&O's website to look at the information for the Cookery Club although it says everyone is welcome I have not found anything to say that there is adapted stations or that people with disabilities are welcome.  I have also looked at the few photographs that are around and there dosen't appear to be any adapted stations in the Cookery Club.
This totally saddens and angers me as I am a bit of a foodie and am a pretty damn good cook/baker if I say so myself and would have loved the chance to have a class with a

My kitchen

professional chef, but I fear that won't happen.  
I have an adapted kitchen with a rise and fall unit which is L-shape and houses a sink and hob.  It allows me to cook and be independent but also means that other members of my family can use it.  They are either electric or manual and cost £3,000-£6,ooo this is pocket money to a cruise line like P&O who have just spent £473 million on building Britannia.  My cruise agent has the opportunity to stay on Britannia for a couple of nights and I have asked her to find out if the Cookery Club has facilities for disabled cruisers or not.  If they do then I will amend my post.  I will update when I hear back from my agent.

A Couple of New Additions

Picture made of cotton reels

Over the last few days I have been updating my page "Cruising-A Alternative Way To Travel".  It is based on my personal experiences and knowledge that I have gained since I started cruising in 2008.  I have stayed in both adapted and non-adapted cabins and I hope that my ramblings maybe of some use to someone.
I have also added a new page "Accessibility Around Cruise Ships" this based on my personal experiences I have had.  The page also contains facts about different cruise ships that I feel maybe of use.  These facts are the sort of things I like to know before I book my cruises.  If there is something that you think maybe of interest to other disabled cruisers please contact me.

Please Visit My Sister Blog "Teapots and Pearls"

If you have 5 minutes please visit my sister blog "Teapots and Pearls".  This is a blog that shows the more airy faerie side of my personality.  It is about the things that I enjoy doing in my spare time and they are cruising (when funds allow) and finding the ultimate afternoon tea and much much more.....

Teapot and Pearls

In the blink of an eye

It has been along time since my last blog.  My whole life has been completely turned upside down and it is only now that I am doing things just for me.  That may sound selfish but after the last year I am allowed some me time to breathe.  

Mum and me at Claridges Hotel

On January 21st last year my mum suffered a stroke in the night and was found by the police the following day after I had called and asked them to do a check.  She was taken into hospital and because the stroke had paralysed her right side it was evident early on that she would not be returning to her home.  The stroke had also affected her speech and that did frustrate her very much.  

Mum moved into a Bupa owned care home called Gallions View which she had chosen herself.  She had a lovely room with a door that opened out onto her own patio area.  We made her room a home from home with lots of things brought from her own home.  The heart of Duncan House was the large lounge/dining room which was where most things happened.  Mum made friends very quickly with other residents and staff.  As well as settling mum into her new home I had to sort and dispose of her home which I could not have done with out the help of my best friend.  For nearly seven months we travelled down to London every weekend and looking back I don't know how we managed, we were just running on adrenaline.

Mum settled in well and made a lasting impression on everyone she met.  In September she went into hospital and passed away after a short illness.  I am mum's executor and after her funeral I am now shorting her estate.  I have what is called an executors year and I intend to take my time doing it right.

If someone had told me at the end of 2013 that this was going to happen I would never have believed them.  There were no indications and mum was a strong independent lady. 

I miss mum everyday and I miss her daily phone calls.  I have so many memories of things

Christmas Day 2013

that we had done together in 2013.  To celebrate mum's 90th birthday I took her and my best friend to Claridges for a festive afternoon tea.  I also organised a party to celebrate her birthday with friends and family.  But by far the best memory I have with mum was our last Christmas together.  As a treat mum took me to The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair for Christmas, it was a very surreal experience but a wonderful one to have.  I remember her smile and laughter on that Christmas morning and fun we had on the horse drawn carriage ride.

I promised her that when she was not around anymore that I would continue to live life to the full and I intend to keep that promise to her.  I know she is with me always.