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!