Understanding and Knowledge Has To Be Improved (Part One)

I have been a disability campaigner for many years and most of the time it has been both frustrating and rewarding.  But I often feel like I'm in a hamster's wheel going around in circles going nowhere fast.  The one thing that keeps me going is knowing that I have made change that has benefited hundreds of people and that is what fuels the fire in my belly to keep trying.

It is mainly the bigger companies and corporations that are severely lacking in their disability knowledge.  P&O is a prime example of this in their understanding and knowledge of some disabilities, where a person who uses an aid such as a rollator or walker to move around seems to be almost invisible to them.  Let's face it these aids aren't the height of fashion and some one wouldn't use one unless they had to.

For many years when getting back onboard ship after a day in port I have been asked by the security officers if I can walk without my rollator, to which I answer 'no'.  There is always a few seconds of uncomfortable silence from them before letting me proceed onto the ship.  On my last cruise (October 2018) I told the security officer when asked that I could not walk without my rollator and after a minute or so she offered me her arm for balance, but followed it by saying she could not offer me anymore support than that.  I replied that I needed more support, to which she let me through.  It was embarrassing for the both of us.  Since returning home I have discovered I am not alone and many other disabled people who use these aids are treated exactly the same way, it is simply not good enough.

P&O's lack of knowledge and understanding is also evident in their medical questionnaire, which is sent to passengers upon request prior to their cruise.  Several areas show that their is no understanding, for instance when asking if someone can climb coach steps, the only options are 'yes' and 'no' with no follow up question.  Another question is regarding emergency evacuation, for those passengers who are full-time wheelchair or scooters users there is full assistance offered. For those passengers who use rollators, walkers, sticks and crutches only guidance down the stairs is offered.  I contacted P&O to ask what I should do as in an evacuation situation I have always used a evac chair and as a user of a rollator I would not be offered help because it is assumed I can still walk without my rollator.  The same goes for the coach steps, I was advised to free type my needs onto the questionnaire and return.  I have done this but for all I know it is floating around in space, with no contact from the cruise line regarding the additional information I supplied.  It is a worry as I am not sure what would happen in a real emergency, my friend jokes she would drag me down the stairs on a sheet, but it is no joke.

Both their website and disability factsheet sent with the questionnaire assume that part-time wheelchair and scooter users can collapse them and store them inside the coaches hold before climbing the coach.  Accessible shuttle buses it seems are meant for full-time manual wheelchair users, leaving the rest of us to sort our own transport.  But what P&O don't let disabled passengers know that if they cannot use the transport provided, they can use a taxi and claim the fare back from the ships reception as long as they paid select fare.  I only discovered this after doing some research for my group.  Prior to this I have contacted P&O regarding refusal to use accessible shuttle bus while in Tenerife and La Gomera, the complaint is being investigated, but in the meantime P&O are sending me a gift bouquet, yet to be received.

I have CP (Cerebral Palsy) a disability which is often associated with brain damage and so you often get spoken to slowly, thank god P&O didn't do this but after telling an advisor I have CP I got a patronizing 'bless you'.  This cruise line like so many other companies and corporations need to up their game.  It was recently send to me by someone that they believed P&O don't want disabled passengers, I personally don't believe that and I feel that they have got left behind somewhere.  Whether they are not employing the right people to advise them on disability I don't know, I hope that is not the case but fear it might be.  I always say and believe that you can't know what it is like until you have walked in my shoes for a day.

A Bit of a Taboo Subject

I have decided to write a piece on scattering ashes at sea after seeing a elderly passenger on ITV's 'The Cruise' being allowed to do it.  I can't comment on the procedures leading up to it, but I can comment on scattering ashes at sea and I have to say I felt sorry for the lady it certainly wasn't like that for me.
My mother Muriel had fallen in love with the Canary Islands and had asked to have some of her ashes scattered somewhere warm and sunny.  It was something that I thought was impossible, but by pure chance I saw a post one day about someone on a recent cruise that had scattered ashes.  I immediately contacted my cruise agent to see if it would be possible on my upcoming cruise.  Initially the information I received was a bit confusing until someone explained the process.  There are four things that have to be put in place before you sail and they are:

1.  The Captain must agree to it.
2.  The port authority of the country has to give permission.
3. You need a cremation certificate which you can get from the crematorium to show what type of ashes you are taking on board.
4.  The ashes must be in a bio-degradable box.

I was sent a letter which I had to present at the information desk in the terminal and my party was taken on board.  We was told that a officer also called Karen would contact me on the first sea day to discuss arrangements.  It felt right to keep mum's ashes close by us for a few days in our cabin.  On meeting Karen I was told there would be a short service taken by Captain Pembridge and I was offered a choice of two, I chose the non-religious one.  I was able to have a wreath made by the ships florist; it was beautiful sunshine colours, mum would have loved it.  I was told a couple of days before the scattering I had to hand over the ashes for an officer to check.

The ceremony was to take place after we left Lanzarote at sunset.  At this point I wasn't sure what to expect but my expectations were surpassed.  We were taken to a private area where Captain Pembridge and another officer were waiting with everything ready.  A side door was opened and the ceremony went ahead to commit the ashes to the sea.  I was asked if I wanted to say something about my mum and then the officer held onto be as I threw the wreath into the ocean, we stood and watched it disappear into the distance.  Captain logged it in the ships log and several days later I received a certificate which stated that my mums ashes were committed to the sea giving the exact position, date and time.

For me it gave closure knowing my mum would approve.  P&O on this occasion could not have done better, the support I had from the crew was wonderful throughout my cruise.  Thank you to everyone who made it possible.