Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises Discontinue Interpreter Service
\n– Need Your Support!<\/p>\n
Dear Cruise Travelers,<\/p>\n
Many of you have enjoyed the marvelous interpreter service that Royal
\nCaribbean and Celebrity Cruises provided in the past. Thus, you were
\nable to discover remote destinations, learn about the history and
\nculture, and enjoy the onboard entertainment. Although the ADA does
\nnot apply to regions like Europe, Asia, Australia, or South America,
\nthe two cruise lines went above and beyond for many years and provided
\ninterpreters for all destinations that their ships were sailing to. No
\nother cruise line provided this service to so many destinations so
\nconsistently for individuals and groups as Royal Caribbean and
\nCelebrity Cruises did. They deserve a lot of praise for doing so.<\/p>\n
Recently, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises decided to
\ndiscontinue interpreter service for cruises that do not start or end
\nor do not have at least one port of call in the U.S. or Canada in the
\nitinerary. That means that there will be no interpreter service for
\ncruises at destinations like Europe, Asia, Australia, or South America
\nin the future unless the cruise starts or ends in the U.S. or Canada
\nlike transatlantic sailings.<\/p>\n
Frustrated about this decision, I talked to Royal Caribbean\u2019s
\nPresident & CEO, Adam Goldstein, and went to Royal Caribbean\u2019s
\noffice for a meeting to discuss the issue. I was told that the
\ncompanies have to pay several thousand dollars for each interpreter
\nwho will work on a cruise overseas (air, hotel, incidentals,
\ntransportation, tips, compensation, interpreter agency fee etc.). The
\ncruise lines feel that they provided a service way above and beyond
\nand did not receive enough recognition for doing so. Therefore, they
\ndecided to provide the service only in a scale that is requested by
\nthe ADA including Canada and transatlantic sailings if the sailing
\nstarts or terminates in the U.S.<\/p>\n
After my meeting at Royal Caribbean\u2019s office with no positive
\noutcome regarding the interpreter policy, I sent letters to Adam
\nGoldstein and Dan Hanrahan, President & CEO of Celebrity Cruises. I
\nasked them to reverse their decision and continue to provide
\ninterpreters for all their cruises if requested. However, I am only
\none voice. Since the deaf community is a lot more powerful with
\nseveral million people in the U.S., I would like to ask you, the deaf
\ntravelers, to send a letter to the cruise lines\u2019 CEOs, Adam
\nGoldstein and Dan Hanrahan, to express your dissatisfaction about the
\npolicy change. Write a personal letter to the addresses listed below
\nand let them know how important it is for you to have interpreters on
\nall cruises, not only at the destinations that are covered by the ADA.
\nIf you do not feel comfortable writing a letter, you can use the two
\nsample letters shown below. Feel free, to change the letters if
\ndesired. I hope that you will join and help to make the life for the
\ndeaf traveler easier.<\/p>\n
If you have a professional travel agent, ask the agent to contact the
\nCEOs and ask for a policy change. Your travel agent should be an
\nadvocate for you.<\/p>\n
April 30, 2009<\/p>\n
Mr. Adam Goldstein<\/p>\n
President & CEO<\/p>\n
Royal Caribbean International<\/p>\n
1050 Caribbean Way<\/p>\n
Miami FL 33132-2096<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. Goldstein,<\/p>\n
In the past, thousands of deaf people enjoyed the excellent
\ninterpreter service provided world wide by Royal Caribbean and
\nCelebrity Cruises. Having interpreters on a cruise makes it possible
\nto be treated equally with hearing passengers. Interpreters are for us
\nthe key to the hearing world and allow us to enjoy the cruises and the
\nshore excursions as much as the hearing people do. Finally, we had the
\nprivilege to understand the tour guides, to learn about the history
\nand culture of foreign countries, to understand the onboard work
\nshops, and to enjoy the nightly entertainment. We were part of a world
\nthat respected us despite the fact that our ears are filled with
\nsilence. How much we appreciated this outstanding and comprehensive
\nservice is reflected in the number of deaf cruise passengers who went
\non a vacation with your cruise lines year after year. Even an entire
\nship, the Freedom of the Seas, was chartered for a deaf only cruise.<\/p>\n
We, the deaf community, understand that this service has a hefty
\nprice tag especially for cruises outside of the U.S. It was so great
\nto know that there are two companies who opened up our silent world to
\nall the fun and excitement of cruising and went above and beyond the
\nADA by providing interpreter service for all destinations. You did not
\ndeprive us from learning what the world has to offer and you helped us
\nto broaden our knowledge. How disappointed were we when we recently
\nlearned that this service will no longer be offered by your companies
\nfor sailings that do not start or terminate or have at least one port
\nin the U.S. or Canada . Our daily life is full of struggle for our
\nrights anchored in the U.S. legal system such as the ADA . It was so
\nnice that your companies understood our needs and provided the
\ninterpreters without having to fight for it every time. With your
\nrecent policy change, the world has changed for us again in a negative
\nway. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a deaf person to see what it
\nis like to be left out if you live in a world of silence. It is like
\nsitting in the back of a tour bus while the tour guide is talking in
\nthe front of the bus without a microphone. How much will you enjoy the
\ntour if you do not understand anything? Or it is like watching TV
\nwithout sound. What can you understand? That is exactly what the deaf
\ncommunity is experiencing in daily life.<\/p>\n
We, the deaf community, are a group of several million people in the
\nU.S. We would like to ask Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises to
\ncontinue their marvelous interpreter service for all cruises within
\nand beyond the ADA requirements. We understand that maybe some
\nadjustments have to be done because of the present economical problems
\nin our country. Your companies have always been the leaders in
\ninnovation. Royal Caribbean proclaims itself as the Nation of Why Not?
\nSo, let the deaf passengers be an equal and respected member of your
\nNation and reverse the recent decision regarding the interpreter
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
April 30, 2009<\/p>\n
Mr. Dan Hanrahan<\/p>\n
President & CEO<\/p>\n
Celebrity Cruises<\/p>\n
1050 Caribbean Way<\/p>\n
Miami FL 33132-2096<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. Hanrahan,<\/p>\n
In the past, thousands of deaf people enjoyed the excellent
\ninterpreter service provided world wide by Royal Caribbean and
\nCelebrity Cruises. Having interpreters on a cruise makes it possible
\nto be treated equally with hearing passengers. Interpreters are for us
\nthe key to the hearing world and allow us to enjoy the cruises and the
\nshore excursions as much as the hearing people do. Finally, we had the
\nprivilege to understand the tour guides, to learn about the history
\nand culture of foreign countries, to understand the onboard work
\nshops, and to enjoy the nightly entertainment. We were part of a world
\nthat respected us despite the fact that our ears are filled with
\nsilence. How much we appreciated this outstanding and comprehensive
\nservice is reflected in the number of deaf cruise passengers who went
\non a vacation with your cruise lines year after year. Even an entire
\nship, the Freedom of the Seas, was chartered for a deaf only cruise.<\/p>\n
We, the deaf community, understand that this service has a hefty
\nprice tag especially for cruises outside of the U.S. It was so great
\nto know that there are two companies who opened up our silent world to
\nall the fun and excitement of cruising and went above and beyond the
\nADA by providing interpreter service for all destinations. You did not
\ndeprive us from learning what the world has to offer and you helped us
\nto broaden our knowledge. How disappointed were we when we recently
\nlearned that this service will no longer be offered by your companies
\nfor sailings that do not start or terminate or have at least one port
\nin the U.S. or Canada . Our daily life is full of struggle for our
\nrights anchored in the U.S. legal system such as the ADA . It was so
\nnice that your companies understood our needs and provided the
\ninterpreters without having to fight for it every time. With your
\nrecent policy change, the world has changed for us again in a negative
\nway. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a deaf person to see what it
\nis like to be left out if you live in a world of silence. It is like
\nsitting in the back of a tour bus while the tour guide is talking in
\nthe front of the bus without a microphone. How much will you enjoy the
\ntour if you do not understand anything? Or it is like watching TV
\nwithout sound. What can you understand? That is exactly what the deaf
\ncommunity is experiencing in daily life.<\/p>\n
We, the deaf community, are a group of several million people in the
\nU.S. We would like to ask Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises to
\ncontinue their marvelous interpreter service for all cruises within
\nand beyond the ADA requirements. We understand that maybe some
\nadjustments have to be done because of the present economical problems
\nin our country. Your companies have always been the leaders in
\ninnovation. Royal Caribbean proclaims itself as the Nation of Why Not?
\nSo, let the deaf passengers be an equal and respected member of your
\nNation and reverse the recent decision regarding the interpreter
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n
Respectfully,
\nKerstin Fox
\nHibiscus Hibiscus Travel
\nwww.kerstinstravel.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises Discontinue Interpreter Service – Need Your Support! Dear Cruise Travelers, Many of you have enjoyed the marvelous interpreter service that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises provided in the past. Thus, you were able to discover…<\/p>\n