I bet this show will foster awareness and change in the cruise industry. I don’t have a disability but cannot walk without pain. I booked all the easiest excursions on my recent cruise and still had difficulty because the excursions all were more difficult than were reported in the descriptions. I didn’t feel qualified for the excursions for the disabled, wheel chair and partners tours only. It was Regent Seven Seas that had wheelchair only excursions, if you are interested.
I agree totally! On a TUI cruise, In Gibralter my mum was not allowed to take her walker onto the minibus that we had booked to take us around the rock- they were not insured! And in Villafrance we were told the coach tour to Monaco was totally accessible for her... Yes except for the nearly 1 mile walk from the tender up the hill to the coaches!!!They really have no idea of accessible!
@@astidog Azamara specifically asked the tour company if the busses could accommodate my folding electric wheelchair in Gibraltar, they were told yes! I was denied boarding because they didn’t want to take the wheelchair! Azamara offered to help me with a cab to take me to the places that were on the tour that I’d wanted to go. We opted out because we’d been there a few times and didn’t want the hassle of trying to get to get in and out of a cab, with the chair! But it’s not all overseas. We booked a small van tour in Bar Harbor when my mil and I had walkers! They wanted us to leave them behind! They said it was a safety issue. On further discussion it was that they had no way to secure them. Since I’d travelled on a lot of buses overseas we had always carried a strap or two to secure the walker in weird bus configurations, so my hubby said he’d secure them. Exhausted they said they’d allow him to try as that was going to be the only way to shut us up! He did secure them and the driver saw they wouldn’t even slide and so they approved! Don’t mess with people who have asked all of the right questions before booking by telling them no, it simply won’t be pretty. Yes, I carry a strap for the wheelchair too! In Seville as we boarded the buses it had started to drizzle, so one of the crew tried to give me an umbrella at the gate, just before the access to the buss. I had a walker and lifted each hand looking back and forth and asked him how? He was able to laugh and see that I wasn’t offended either. To me an honest mistake!
That last quote was so eye opening I’ve never thought about disability in that formed in terms of the broader environment. Disabilities are often focused on the person but rarely on how the environment affects the person.
I can’t imagine how frustrating all this would be. Im so sorry this happened, and I hope it doesn’t change your zest for travelling or trying new things! On a side note, I have a service dog and want to go on a cruise but I’m afraid of horror stories I’ve heard from other handlers. I used to be a world traveller before I got her, I’m Canadian and still travel my country but international travel is very intimidating. You’re an inspiration for others, and even when things aren’t going well, you don’t respond with anger and try to look at the positives, while being honest. I appreciate that in your content.
big props to andreas, i feel like he's the first person on your trip to understand your needs and that the cruise company didn't do their job properly. i think a lot more of the people you interacted with should have had this level of embarrassment that things weren't right. i hope you manage to find a cruise company that will actually accommodate you, if you try another cruise.
I went on a carnival cruise and it wasn’t too bad but the pool and hot tub were not accessible. I did have an accessible room but the bathroom door didn’t close while my chair was in it. I was with a friend who I’ve known for years so it was “ok” but not ideal. No bus was accessible but I a, able to walk with crutches and a brace, but doing the bus stairs multiple times on a tour was exhausting even though I had fun.
cruises are pretty accessible, providing you make it very clear at the time of booking what it is you require and you book with an agent that knows what they are doing.
@@shannonbannanie4370 They aren't quite this bad regularly but this cruises was booked last minute by a new cruiser. They dropped the ball on the room but a Quick Look at the deck plan would have confirmed the original rooms non accessibility. Usually the wheelchair accessible logistics of excursions/transfers etc have to working out months ahead of time. That being said MSC wouldn't have been my first choice and he definitely encouraged people that just yes him the whole time!
I'm at least suprised that none of those tour buses at least have a lift. All of them could fit a wheelchair lift under the stairs at the backdoor. I drive those kind of buses almost every day, and all of those have a wheelchair lift at the back entrance, and wheelchair mounting points for securing wheelchairs. This problem could be fixed easily. Cost them a few seats to make room for the wheelchair, but would be worth it for ada compliance
The best part of any MSC cruise is getting off the ship and never returning LOL. That bus at 4:21 seems to be an accessbile ramp bus. Mid section access?
I went on a cruise with friends and booked a day trip around Rome. The coach had wheelchair access, yeah great. Unfortunately most of Rome was closed off due to the Rome marathon. I got as far as St Peters Square where I spent 3 hours waiting for the group to return for the coach back to the ship. Bigger Unfortunately they changed the coach, no lift access, they actually wanted to leave me there while they tried to work out what to do. I attached myself to the bus and refused to move. Everyone was very understanding for about an hour then the mood started to change. I continued to smile whilst refusing to move. They eventually managed to get a taxi for me but I overheard a conversation where the ship might actually leave without me if the taxi was delayed. Again I refused to move unless the rep got into the taxi with me. We delayed the departure by over 2 hours, the ship finally left about 4 hours late. I had to argue for a refund for the trip and compensation for the distress I suffered.
That is inexcusable to change the type of coach like that, even if there was some kind of coach mechanical failure there should always be a backup of some kind regardless of the circumstances. And the audacity to leave you there with no way to get back to the ship is appalling, glad you stood up for yourself when every one else failed
Good grief! That’s unconscionable! What Cruiseline was that? It is ridiculous that you had to fight for your basic rights like that. I’m very sorry for your experience.
Thank you again for sharing your experience, both the bad and the good. It’s very eye opening for me and I have started noticing what places are accessible and aren’t. The amusing part is every door that’s made for “accessible” everyone can use, strollers, walkers, couches, dogs, delivery people, etc so why not just make everything accessible since it benefits everyone?
That's the million dollar question. There's a movement called universal planning which is exactly that but there are plenty of people/organisations that just don't care enough to plan better.
There is actually nothing wrong with that question. Every disability is different, and there are wheelchair users who could manage it. They are not 100% users, but need it for longer distances, or even only at certain times. Out of everything that happened, that was not inappropriate. You can't know what someone can do unless you ask.
she asked because there are ambulatory wheelchair users. some folks can walk/stand for short periods or on good days but for longer trips need the chair. not everyone in a wheel chair is fully paralyzed or paralyzed at all, so asking was better than assuming!
@@sdilluminatigrandfounder1813 That question is normally printed with tours marked accessible, or when you book the tour, not at the bus itself! I can climb front stairs, but have been told something is inaccessible when the only barrier is the stairs on the bus! Some are just more aware than others! MSC has a language problem with distilled water, the average guest relation responds trying to get you to go to the bar to ask for it. Of course, they’ve heard STILL water, not DIStilled water!
I had this problem when I booked a hotel in Auckland where I'm embarking on my first ever cruise in February. I had to go through a booking agency who neglected to inform my hotel that I'm in a wheelchair, and I only found out today, 3 months after making the booking, that the room was not suitable plus it had a shared bathroom... .and it's a long way from the cruise port and would have cost me a fortune for a taxi. So I canceled that one and found another really nice hotel with a balcony in downtown Auckland, just 400 yards from the cruise port.
You need to send them all these videos and message them. They need educating. So awful for anyone . I know the Disney cruises have good accessibility. Check out squirmy and grubs and roll with cole and charisma. They have been on a few and have videos on their channels. I use a wheelchair or walker so I can do a few steps but there should always be accessible options!!
@@albeefinejr518 all the videos I posted for the cruise together have a run time of over an hour. I will post soon as a full length episode to make it easier to watch. Thanks so much for following.
It's great that he helped out, but everybody just sounds as if this is your problem instead of a major fault by MSC. Maybe it's the snippets, I hope people were kinder. It's good that you are staying positive but I'm still 100% convinced this has to be (partially) refunded.
Thanks for opening my eyes. I want to book my first cruise (travelling alone as a wheelchair user). After watching your videos, I will definitely NOT be using MSC (I’d been looking at cruises with the ‘nicest’ 5, wrongly assuming that all of the big companies were accessible).
It's infuriating how they can ask 'can you walk stairs' - stairs are known everywhere as the first thing that is not accessible! They definitely need training, and to make some major changes. I hope you can go on other cruises and see the differences, this awareness is so important for people who are thinking of booking with a disability. These travel videos are fantastic!
You are entitled to assistance, free of charge, getting on or off a ship, changing ships, on-board and at the port. To make sure you get the best assistance, you must tell the carrier, ticket seller or tour operator at least 48 hours before your trip and explain what kinds of assistance you require. Even if you have not done this, the carrier and terminal operator still has to make all reasonable efforts to help you. If you have special needs in terms of accommodation, seating, assistance, or if you need to bring medical equipment, tell the ticket seller when you make the reservation. Carriers can refuse to transport you for safety reasons stipulated in national, international or EU rules, or because of the way the ship or the port infrastructure is designed. However, as an alternative and to allow you to travel, the carrier may require you to be accompanied by a person who can provide the assistance required by the applicable safety rules. In this case, the carrier has to transport this person free of charge.
This is crazy! My sister injured her knee right before we went on a cruise and ended up n a wheelchair. One of our stops needed a tender and with no notice, at all Carnival arranged an accessible tender boat. There should be no reason at all that MSC shouldn’t have met your needs in transportation especially having been given notice. The original cabin you were assigned I don’t blame them for. Whoever you booked your cruise with should have informed you that you have to specifically book an accessible cabin. But the bus situation is appalling.
Thank you for this video journalism series! I wish you didnt have to deal with the string of issues youve suffered, and at the same time, i am grateful to you documenting this experience! I know 100% never to book with MSC *unless they make some serious changes*. I would never want a cruise that treats disabled passengers as second class citizens, with the full price tag!
I'm right with you Brother ! We are Diamond + on Royal Caribbean - spent about 100 days onboard just in 2024. I'm a T-9 Paraplegic, and like you 'No' I can not stand, 'No' I can not climb stairs. We've signed up for about 10 different 'Wheelchair accessible' excursions this year. Do you have any idea, how many 'Accessible Vehicles' "Just broke down on the way to the pier" or "Just got into an accident on the way to the pier" I swear we must be bad luck for these companies (Sarcasm) We were on the Wonder earlier this year - 7,000 guest capacity. There was ONE single Wheelchair excursion. The Vehicle could hold 2 wheelchairs *ONLY* out of 7000 passengers you know that there are a couple of hundred mobility impaired passengers - and there was at least 50-75 of us in wheelchairs (Not all Fulltime chair users like us though) - Heres another fact, ICON of the SEAS, one of the newest, greatest, and latest ships - 2805 Total Cabins. There are ONLY 50 Accessible Cabins - that is .017% of the total cabins. And these are 1st come 1st served, and I havent ever heard of an Abled Body being removed from an accessible cabin for passengers like us. Anyway, back to the excursions. I've been put into the back of an old Ambulance (St. Johns I THINK it was) and I wasnt even tied down. I spend the 4 hour tour, just trying to stay up right by holding on for my dear life. If you call some of the 'Outside' Excursions (Other than the ship) hell they dont even reply to your emails about accessible excursions. I've been to almost every port of call in the Caribbean and eastern Mexico - Nice Ports ! because that is ALL I get to see. Folks mistakenly assume, that the world must follow the United States 'ADA' Laws - they have no idea what 'ADA' even means - AMERICANS DISABILITY ACT - Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas etc do NOT follow the ADA (They of course do not need to) Lastly *ANY* cruise ship, that sails into the US Ports *MUST* Follow ADA Laws. Yeah right, we know how many violations we see daily. Nope, I cant go that way, chairs are in the way, nope I cant go this way either, maybe if I go up a deck I can get to the other side of the ship. But hey, a day on the water is a better day than on land ! Drop me a PM if you want to compare notes sometime :)
I'm a full time wheelchair user , been on MSC, Royal Caribbean and Virgin. I had a better experience on MSC i had an accessible cabin with wet room, but yes the rest of the facilities not that good. Bus i did get onto a wheelchair accessible but at a stop in Spain . Royal Caribbean are better and Virgin are really really good i would higly recommend booking a virgin cruise they put a hoist to get you into the pool.
I feel for you. I was threatened to be kicked off a Celebrity Cruise because I complained about their disregard for basic human courtesy towards mobility challenged people. I use a mobility scooter and I am fortunate enough to be able to walk very short distances and do a few steps. Unfortunately, I think what you and I have experienced will always be an issue. If they can keep the masses happy they will remain profitable. I do hope I am wrong and travel gets better for PRMs (People of Reduced Mobility) and anyone who needs help in traveling. Until that happens I will make sure Royal Caribbean and all of their subsidiaries such as Celebrity do not see another dime from me.
Please please please MSC take a note out of celebrity's book. Make it more accessible for everyone! No matter the disability... if you sell a ticket.. follow thru.. it's like saying heres an airline ticket then being put in cargo. *facepalm*
You're cruising with the wrong cruise line. I won't plug which line I am "LOYAL" to... but I have taken multiple cruises with another line, that supports manual and power wheelchairs as well as scooters, specifically lists accessible excursions, AND has a department with dedicated phone and email support to help with accessibility concerns on the ship, and at the various destinations. If you haven't already figured it out, message me or just read other comments. I'm sure others are very aware "of the Seas" many fine offerings !!!
Even in 2024, I live in a bldg that when renovated was done with little regard to accessibility to the building, it’s common areas, nor modifications granted to their design for the renovated units. I’m sorry you are experiencing this. Let’s hope our advocacy forces change.
Maybe it's the market. We just got off an MSC ship in the US (Seashore) and we noticed a lot of signage for wheelchair accessible processes. We only looked because of your series so we were curious otherwise honestly it would have passed us by. There were quite a lot of handicap rooms (the one next to us happened to be) and getting on and off was always marked for where wheelchairs needed to go. Also in the app all of the excursions clearly stated which were appropriate for wheelchairs. Maybe give it another try in a different market. Don't give up on cruising, it really is a good time.
At that moment they can just call you a cab right? It shouldn't be a situation that is hard to resolve? Or am I missing something? (Ofcourse structural accessibility is still needed.)
Carnival accommodates wheelchair users, including ports of call. You don’t get a handicap cabin if you’re not handicap, they make sure. Don’t let this one bad seed keep you from cruising.
While it's not always possible or practical to offer accommodations for travelers that are disabled, they should be clearly and accurately identified, and agents making reservations or selling tickets should be appropriately informed. In a situation like a group of shuttle buses going into a city, one of them should have been equipped with a lift as standard procedure.
The problem is that it entirely IS possible and practical, but able bodied people and companies simply don't see inclusion as reasonable. They ignore simple changes that don't hinder anyone but make it possible for everyone to participate.
95% of this drama is self created. Was there a meetup for the accessible bus? He just showed up and expected everything to magically work out. Did he ask about lifts for the pool? There are mobile ones. And MSC has zero control of accessibility in the ports.
Funny they reach out to you at the end you been posting and bringing up these issues from the start i bet you anything someone the viewers also called them out i bet they didnt offer any part of a refund
If you want some additional information from my MSC cruise please let me know, I still have all my paperwork from them from my cruise 5 years ago. It’s a shipping container company not a cruise ship. Pathetic.
They don't care is part of it. They don't understand the need is the other part. ADA is not in Europe. American Disabilities Act does not cover Europe.
The American's with Disabilities Act isn't the only legislation that exists for people with disabilities in the world... Also, OP is from Australia and was cruising in Europe so the ADA is completely irrelevant.
“Looking into it”… doesn’t fill me with confidence. I’m sure this isn’t the first time a wheelchair user was stranded because of inaccessible buses. So disappointing!
Ok you aren't a newbie any more. It's a ship, not a boat. ;-) Now you need to plan ahead and book a cruise with one of the major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, NCL or even Carnival. Think you will find it to be a totally different experience.
Did you really just tag someone due to SEMANTICS? Yes, yes you did. Actually it IS a boat, and a ship. Plus, with the way he was treated, he would have been in his rights to call it a mangy tub.
No, no, your not covered by insurance in his private car. He does not have taxi insurance. I get why he offered you should have said no. Disgrace. Absolute disgrace! 🤬 they would have got you a accessible taxi. It’s Europe, cite insurance, shit happens! ❤
What do you mean "covered"? If you get injured, insurance doesn't care if you were on a tour bus, uber, taxi, or private car(which is what an Uber is). You are talking nonsense.
This is what happens when you don’t specifically book an ACCESSIBLE cabin and just book a GUARANTEED (cheaper) cabin. You also need to make sure it says IN WRITING that it is accessible not just ask some random person. I agree we need accessible options but you can’t blame the cruise line when you make bad choices.
4:54 No, ALL cruise companies have wheelchair cabins. YOU are the one who booked 2 weeks before your cruise. YOU need to book a year or more. Cruise ships don't have a lot of wheelchair cabins unless you book a year or more! The TA who helped you book is also at fault for lying to you, saying the cabin was wheelchair friendly when it wasn't.
It doesn’t matter whether you book a week or a year in advance if you’re told you will be in an accessible cabin and you are put in an inaccessible cabin.
No, I completely disagree with your comments. It’s absolutely possible for a billion dollar company like MSC to solve this issue. Step one: build more accessible rooms. Cruise ships, especially new ones like this, do not have enough accessible cabins to meet the growing demand from the disability community. Step two: ensure these rooms are only booked by those who genuinely need them. It’s been made abundantly clear through conversations onboard and even in comments on my videos that non-disabled people are booking accessible rooms, leaving those of us who need them without options. If an able-bodied person can book a cabin two weeks before departure, then a person with a disability should be able to do the same. That’s the essence of inclusion, equal access without unreasonable barriers. The idea that two weeks before a cruise, the company is promoting availability for able-bodied people but essentially telling disabled people to plan a year or more ahead is absurd. This is not a small industry; it’s a billion dollar powerhouse where many are profiting immensely. Companies like MSC have the resources to do better, and if no one speaks up, nothing will change. You might be comfortable planning one or two years in advance, but I’m not, and I’ll continue to advocate for change so that others won’t have to either. Thank you for your perspective, but this needs to improve.
@@WHEEL_AROUND_THE_WORLD your advocacy is needed! I also think the way you handle difficult conversations, and remain calm and collected is something to be greatly respected.
It is 99% your own fault, you are expecting things to be accessible but from your own videos you did no research into what these places have for accessibility laws. My wife is a 3-5 Quad, we always check what services are accessible when traveling. Just because my home country is dose not mean where I am going will be.
Wow, you are really ableist. I am so sorry for your wife. If you ASK a travel agent or official on that tub if something is accessible, your responsibility ends there. They lied to him. They gave him false information. You should not have to be a lawyer to enjoy a vacation. YOU should know better. Shame on you.
The guy literally wasn’t “expecting things to be accessible“. His whole video series shows cases where he was told stuff was accessible only to find that they weren’t. Didn’t you watch the videos? It documents literally the opposite of “expecting things to be accessible”.
Thanks for your thoughts, but I have to completely disagree. A major cruise line like MSC, which markets itself as being accessible for all, has a responsibility to provide inclusive experiences. No one should have to question or research whether they’ll be excluded-because true inclusion means being considered and accommodated without barriers. Cruise lines have the power to choose which ports they visit and the tourism operators they work with. Implementing a clear policy that prioritises inclusivity, like ensuring at least one wheelchair-accessible bus or tour at each stop, is not an unreasonable ask. We’re talking about a billion-dollar industry with the resources to lead the way in improving accessibility. Without holding these companies accountable, they’re unlikely to invest in real change. You might be okay with navigating discrimination, but I’m not. And by speaking up, I hope to push for better experiences for everyone. Thanks for sharing your perspective, though!
Another perspective, they're offering you a product, I don't know what country you're from but for most countries the person selling the product has the burden to ensure the product meets the standard they claim that it is when they sell it. If any cruise line calls themselves accessible and any part of a cruise isn't accessible to a disabled person then they are in fact falsely advertising their product.
I bet this show will foster awareness and change in the cruise industry. I don’t have a disability but cannot walk without pain. I booked all the easiest excursions on my recent cruise and still had difficulty because the excursions all were more difficult than were reported in the descriptions. I didn’t feel qualified for the excursions for the disabled, wheel chair and partners tours only. It was Regent Seven Seas that had wheelchair only excursions, if you are interested.
I agree totally! On a TUI cruise, In Gibralter my mum was not allowed to take her walker onto the minibus that we had booked to take us around the rock- they were not insured! And in Villafrance we were told the coach tour to Monaco was totally accessible for her... Yes except for the nearly 1 mile walk from the tender up the hill to the coaches!!!They really have no idea of accessible!
Bestie, if you can’t walk without pain you are disabled and are entitled to whatever accommodation you need to make your life easier
@@astidog Azamara specifically asked the tour company if the busses could accommodate my folding electric wheelchair in Gibraltar, they were told yes! I was denied boarding because they didn’t want to take the wheelchair! Azamara offered to help me with a cab to take me to the places that were on the tour that I’d wanted to go. We opted out because we’d been there a few times and didn’t want the hassle of trying to get to get in and out of a cab, with the chair!
But it’s not all overseas. We booked a small van tour in Bar Harbor when my mil and I had walkers! They wanted us to leave them behind! They said it was a safety issue. On further discussion it was that they had no way to secure them. Since I’d travelled on a lot of buses overseas we had always carried a strap or two to secure the walker in weird bus configurations, so my hubby said he’d secure them. Exhausted they said they’d allow him to try as that was going to be the only way to shut us up! He did secure them and the driver saw they wouldn’t even slide and so they approved! Don’t mess with people who have asked all of the right questions before booking by telling them no, it simply won’t be pretty. Yes, I carry a strap for the wheelchair too!
In Seville as we boarded the buses it had started to drizzle, so one of the crew tried to give me an umbrella at the gate, just before the access to the buss. I had a walker and lifted each hand looking back and forth and asked him how? He was able to laugh and see that I wasn’t offended either. To me an honest mistake!
That last quote was so eye opening I’ve never thought about disability in that formed in terms of the broader environment. Disabilities are often focused on the person but rarely on how the environment affects the person.
@@nicogs97 Stella was amazing.
I can’t imagine how frustrating all this would be. Im so sorry this happened, and I hope it doesn’t change your zest for travelling or trying new things!
On a side note, I have a service dog and want to go on a cruise but I’m afraid of horror stories I’ve heard from other handlers. I used to be a world traveller before I got her, I’m Canadian and still travel my country but international travel is very intimidating. You’re an inspiration for others, and even when things aren’t going well, you don’t respond with anger and try to look at the positives, while being honest. I appreciate that in your content.
big props to andreas, i feel like he's the first person on your trip to understand your needs and that the cruise company didn't do their job properly. i think a lot more of the people you interacted with should have had this level of embarrassment that things weren't right. i hope you manage to find a cruise company that will actually accommodate you, if you try another cruise.
@@demoncorejunior I completely agree with you. And you, looking to book another cruise in 2025
Thanks for doing this. I totally would have thought cruises were super accessible. It's all good to know
I don't think I realized how inaccessible they were.
I went on a carnival cruise and it wasn’t too bad but the pool and hot tub were not accessible. I did have an accessible room but the bathroom door didn’t close while my chair was in it. I was with a friend who I’ve known for years so it was “ok” but not ideal. No bus was accessible but I a, able to walk with crutches and a brace, but doing the bus stairs multiple times on a tour was exhausting even though I had fun.
cruises are pretty accessible, providing you make it very clear at the time of booking what it is you require and you book with an agent that knows what they are doing.
@@shannonbannanie4370 They aren't quite this bad regularly but this cruises was booked last minute by a new cruiser. They dropped the ball on the room but a Quick Look at the deck plan would have confirmed the original rooms non accessibility. Usually the wheelchair accessible logistics of excursions/transfers etc have to working out months ahead of time. That being said MSC wouldn't have been my first choice and he definitely encouraged people that just yes him the whole time!
The world doesn't want to be accessible, despite how convenient it would be for the abled. Apparently it would be like using cheat codes or something.
I'm at least suprised that none of those tour buses at least have a lift. All of them could fit a wheelchair lift under the stairs at the backdoor. I drive those kind of buses almost every day, and all of those have a wheelchair lift at the back entrance, and wheelchair mounting points for securing wheelchairs. This problem could be fixed easily. Cost them a few seats to make room for the wheelchair, but would be worth it for ada compliance
That parting shot from MSC on the way out. Damn. I'm so sorry that happened to you.
Yup. When you roll off and think that the challenges have ended! I was so soooo wrong!
The best part of any MSC cruise is getting off the ship and never returning LOL. That bus at 4:21 seems to be an accessbile ramp bus. Mid section access?
I'm so glad you made this series. Thanks.
I went on a cruise with friends and booked a day trip around Rome. The coach had wheelchair access, yeah great. Unfortunately most of Rome was closed off due to the Rome marathon. I got as far as St Peters Square where I spent 3 hours waiting for the group to return for the coach back to the ship. Bigger Unfortunately they changed the coach, no lift access, they actually wanted to leave me there while they tried to work out what to do. I attached myself to the bus and refused to move. Everyone was very understanding for about an hour then the mood started to change. I continued to smile whilst refusing to move. They eventually managed to get a taxi for me but I overheard a conversation where the ship might actually leave without me if the taxi was delayed. Again I refused to move unless the rep got into the taxi with me. We delayed the departure by over 2 hours, the ship finally left about 4 hours late. I had to argue for a refund for the trip and compensation for the distress I suffered.
That is inexcusable to change the type of coach like that, even if there was some kind of coach mechanical failure there should always be a backup of some kind regardless of the circumstances. And the audacity to leave you there with no way to get back to the ship is appalling, glad you stood up for yourself when every one else failed
Good grief! That’s unconscionable! What Cruiseline was that? It is ridiculous that you had to fight for your basic rights like that. I’m very sorry for your experience.
Please share which cruise line?
Edited reply I can't remember the line but the ship was van gogh. This was years ago and not my worst experience.
Thank you again for sharing your experience, both the bad and the good. It’s very eye opening for me and I have started noticing what places are accessible and aren’t. The amusing part is every door that’s made for “accessible” everyone can use, strollers, walkers, couches, dogs, delivery people, etc so why not just make everything accessible since it benefits everyone?
That's the million dollar question. There's a movement called universal planning which is exactly that but there are plenty of people/organisations that just don't care enough to plan better.
I'm not a wheelchair user but I felt soooo offended when she asked if you could climb.
There is actually nothing wrong with that question. Every disability is different, and there are wheelchair users who could manage it. They are not 100% users, but need it for longer distances, or even only at certain times. Out of everything that happened, that was not inappropriate. You can't know what someone can do unless you ask.
she asked because there are ambulatory wheelchair users. some folks can walk/stand for short periods or on good days but for longer trips need the chair. not everyone in a wheel chair is fully paralyzed or paralyzed at all, so asking was better than assuming!
Thats disgusting..... germs are real- viruses & bacteria are real 😮Thats demeaning
@@sdilluminatigrandfounder1813 That question is normally printed with tours marked accessible, or when you book the tour, not at the bus itself!
I can climb front stairs, but have been told something is inaccessible when the only barrier is the stairs on the bus! Some are just more aware than others!
MSC has a language problem with distilled water, the average guest relation responds trying to get you to go to the bar to ask for it. Of course, they’ve heard STILL water, not DIStilled water!
@@Reed-2big You still have to ask the question in person, regardless of it being printed elsewhere.
Keep on fighting a fight that you will win.
@@lightningsrt4707 🥰🥰🥰
I had this problem when I booked a hotel in Auckland where I'm embarking on my first ever cruise in February. I had to go through a booking agency who neglected to inform my hotel that I'm in a wheelchair, and I only found out today, 3 months after making the booking, that the room was not suitable plus it had a shared bathroom... .and it's a long way from the cruise port and would have cost me a fortune for a taxi. So I canceled that one and found another really nice hotel with a balcony in downtown Auckland, just 400 yards from the cruise port.
Ugh, sounds like the booking agents need a shake up too! I'm glad you were able to find a suitable alternative.
"Currently being addressed," which is code for we don't care. To actually make changes, they would have to put that new boat back under construction.
Ty for this important video! and for your channel. the industry needs to be exposed and forced to do better!
You need to send them all these videos and message them. They need educating. So awful for anyone . I know the Disney cruises have good accessibility. Check out squirmy and grubs and roll with cole and charisma. They have been on a few and have videos on their channels. I use a wheelchair or walker so I can do a few steps but there should always be accessible options!!
I feel like your videos need to be at least 10 minutes. There is so much you can share with us, and so much you can teach us.
@@albeefinejr518 all the videos I posted for the cruise together have a run time of over an hour. I will post soon as a full length episode to make it easier to watch. Thanks so much for following.
It's great that he helped out, but everybody just sounds as if this is your problem instead of a major fault by MSC. Maybe it's the snippets, I hope people were kinder. It's good that you are staying positive but I'm still 100% convinced this has to be (partially) refunded.
Thanks for opening my eyes. I want to book my first cruise (travelling alone as a wheelchair user). After watching your videos, I will definitely NOT be using MSC (I’d been looking at cruises with the ‘nicest’ 5, wrongly assuming that all of the big companies were accessible).
Try Disney Cruise next. I think they’re MUCH better. At least I hope??! We saw accessible pools on our ship.
It's infuriating how they can ask 'can you walk stairs' - stairs are known everywhere as the first thing that is not accessible! They definitely need training, and to make some major changes. I hope you can go on other cruises and see the differences, this awareness is so important for people who are thinking of booking with a disability. These travel videos are fantastic!
You are entitled to assistance, free of charge, getting on or off a ship, changing ships, on-board and at the port. To make sure you get the best assistance, you must tell the carrier, ticket seller or tour operator at least 48 hours before your trip and explain what kinds of assistance you require. Even if you have not done this, the carrier and terminal operator still has to make all reasonable efforts to help you.
If you have special needs in terms of accommodation, seating, assistance, or if you need to bring medical equipment, tell the ticket seller when you make the reservation.
Carriers can refuse to transport you for safety reasons stipulated in national, international or EU rules, or because of the way the ship or the port infrastructure is designed. However, as an alternative and to allow you to travel, the carrier may require you to be accompanied by a person who can provide the assistance required by the applicable safety rules. In this case, the carrier has to transport this person free of charge.
This is crazy! My sister injured her knee right before we went on a cruise and ended up n a wheelchair. One of our stops needed a tender and with no notice, at all Carnival arranged an accessible tender boat. There should be no reason at all that MSC shouldn’t have met your needs in transportation especially having been given notice. The original cabin you were assigned I don’t blame them for. Whoever you booked your cruise with should have informed you that you have to specifically book an accessible cabin. But the bus situation is appalling.
Thank you for this video journalism series! I wish you didnt have to deal with the string of issues youve suffered, and at the same time, i am grateful to you documenting this experience! I know 100% never to book with MSC *unless they make some serious changes*. I would never want a cruise that treats disabled passengers as second class citizens, with the full price tag!
Fully agree with all these points, great video chap 👍
I'm right with you Brother ! We are Diamond + on Royal Caribbean - spent about 100 days onboard just in 2024. I'm a T-9 Paraplegic, and like you 'No' I can not stand, 'No' I can not climb stairs. We've signed up for about 10 different 'Wheelchair accessible' excursions this year. Do you have any idea, how many 'Accessible Vehicles' "Just broke down on the way to the pier" or "Just got into an accident on the way to the pier" I swear we must be bad luck for these companies (Sarcasm) We were on the Wonder earlier this year - 7,000 guest capacity. There was ONE single Wheelchair excursion. The Vehicle could hold 2 wheelchairs *ONLY* out of 7000 passengers you know that there are a couple of hundred mobility impaired passengers - and there was at least 50-75 of us in wheelchairs (Not all Fulltime chair users like us though) - Heres another fact, ICON of the SEAS, one of the newest, greatest, and latest ships - 2805 Total Cabins. There are ONLY 50 Accessible Cabins - that is .017% of the total cabins. And these are 1st come 1st served, and I havent ever heard of an Abled Body being removed from an accessible cabin for passengers like us.
Anyway, back to the excursions. I've been put into the back of an old Ambulance (St. Johns I THINK it was) and I wasnt even tied down. I spend the 4 hour tour, just trying to stay up right by holding on for my dear life.
If you call some of the 'Outside' Excursions (Other than the ship) hell they dont even reply to your emails about accessible excursions. I've been to almost every port of call in the Caribbean and eastern Mexico - Nice Ports ! because that is ALL I get to see.
Folks mistakenly assume, that the world must follow the United States 'ADA' Laws - they have no idea what 'ADA' even means - AMERICANS DISABILITY ACT - Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas etc do NOT follow the ADA (They of course do not need to)
Lastly *ANY* cruise ship, that sails into the US Ports *MUST* Follow ADA Laws. Yeah right, we know how many violations we see daily. Nope, I cant go that way, chairs are in the way, nope I cant go this way either, maybe if I go up a deck I can get to the other side of the ship. But hey, a day on the water is a better day than on land ! Drop me a PM if you want to compare notes sometime :)
I'm a full time wheelchair user , been on MSC, Royal Caribbean and Virgin. I had a better experience on MSC i had an accessible cabin with wet room, but yes the rest of the facilities not that good. Bus i did get onto a wheelchair accessible but at a stop in Spain . Royal Caribbean are better and Virgin are really really good i would higly recommend booking a virgin cruise they put a hoist to get you into the pool.
I feel for you. I was threatened to be kicked off a Celebrity Cruise because I complained about their disregard for basic human courtesy towards mobility challenged people. I use a mobility scooter and I am fortunate enough to be able to walk very short distances and do a few steps. Unfortunately, I think what you and I have experienced will always be an issue. If they can keep the masses happy they will remain profitable. I do hope I am wrong and travel gets better for PRMs (People of Reduced Mobility) and anyone who needs help in traveling. Until that happens I will make sure Royal Caribbean and all of their subsidiaries such as Celebrity do not see another dime from me.
Please please please MSC take a note out of celebrity's book. Make it more accessible for everyone! No matter the disability... if you sell a ticket.. follow thru.. it's like saying heres an airline ticket then being put in cargo. *facepalm*
You're cruising with the wrong cruise line. I won't plug which line I am "LOYAL" to... but I have taken multiple cruises with another line, that supports manual and power wheelchairs as well as scooters, specifically lists accessible excursions, AND has a department with dedicated phone and email support to help with accessibility concerns on the ship, and at the various destinations. If you haven't already figured it out, message me or just read other comments. I'm sure others are very aware "of the Seas" many fine offerings !!!
Even in 2024, I live in a bldg that when renovated was done with little regard to accessibility to the building, it’s common areas, nor modifications granted to their design for the renovated units. I’m sorry you are experiencing this. Let’s hope our advocacy forces change.
@@pbryant1360 I hear you. Access is often an afterthought
Maybe it's the market. We just got off an MSC ship in the US (Seashore) and we noticed a lot of signage for wheelchair accessible processes. We only looked because of your series so we were curious otherwise honestly it would have passed us by. There were quite a lot of handicap rooms (the one next to us happened to be) and getting on and off was always marked for where wheelchairs needed to go. Also in the app all of the excursions clearly stated which were appropriate for wheelchairs. Maybe give it another try in a different market. Don't give up on cruising, it really is a good time.
At that moment they can just call you a cab right? It shouldn't be a situation that is hard to resolve? Or am I missing something? (Ofcourse structural accessibility is still needed.)
Carnival accommodates wheelchair users, including ports of call. You don’t get a handicap cabin if you’re not handicap, they make sure. Don’t let this one bad seed keep you from cruising.
@@CindyGerend this is awesome. I will check them out.
While it's not always possible or practical to offer accommodations for travelers that are disabled, they should be clearly and accurately identified, and agents making reservations or selling tickets should be appropriately informed. In a situation like a group of shuttle buses going into a city, one of them should have been equipped with a lift as standard procedure.
The problem is that it entirely IS possible and practical, but able bodied people and companies simply don't see inclusion as reasonable. They ignore simple changes that don't hinder anyone but make it possible for everyone to participate.
95% of this drama is self created. Was there a meetup for the accessible bus? He just showed up and expected everything to magically work out.
Did he ask about lifts for the pool? There are mobile ones.
And MSC has zero control of accessibility in the ports.
Funny they reach out to you at the end you been posting and bringing up these issues from the start i bet you anything someone the viewers also called them out i bet they didnt offer any part of a refund
@@crystalcatt2018 no refund offer. But I’m here to see change not get a refund. Do you think they will change?
@@WHEEL_AROUND_THE_WORLD I wouldn't bet money on it.
@@WHEEL_AROUND_THE_WORLD I'm not sure Maybe we all need to get together and call them out
Das ist aber nicht nur bei MSC so und ganz ehrlich natürlich ist Virgin besser als MSC aber man zahlt auch mehr als das dreifache‼️
I would keep following up till you see some actionable changes and responses!
If you want some additional information from my MSC cruise please let me know, I still have all my paperwork from them from my cruise 5 years ago. It’s a shipping container company not a cruise ship. Pathetic.
@@jamesfrommanitoba.1992 probably explains why they treat people with disabilities like cargo. 😜
They don't care is part of it. They don't understand the need is the other part. ADA is not in Europe. American Disabilities Act does not cover Europe.
The American's with Disabilities Act isn't the only legislation that exists for people with disabilities in the world... Also, OP is from Australia and was cruising in Europe so the ADA is completely irrelevant.
“Looking into it”… doesn’t fill me with confidence. I’m sure this isn’t the first time a wheelchair user was stranded because of inaccessible buses.
So disappointing!
@@BetterNeurodivergentTravel I fear it won’t be the last either.
Ok you aren't a newbie any more. It's a ship, not a boat. ;-) Now you need to plan ahead and book a cruise with one of the major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, NCL or even Carnival. Think you will find it to be a totally different experience.
Did you really just tag someone due to SEMANTICS? Yes, yes you did. Actually it IS a boat, and a ship. Plus, with the way he was treated, he would have been in his rights to call it a mangy tub.
This is chronic; they don't care at all, do they.
No, no, your not covered by insurance in his private car. He does not have taxi insurance. I get why he offered you should have said no. Disgrace. Absolute disgrace! 🤬 they would have got you a accessible taxi. It’s Europe, cite insurance, shit happens! ❤
Travel insurance might cover it. The one I buys covers any accidents outside of the country, not just commercial ones.
What do you mean "covered"? If you get injured, insurance doesn't care if you were on a tour bus, uber, taxi, or private car(which is what an Uber is). You are talking nonsense.
This is what happens when you don’t specifically book an ACCESSIBLE cabin and just book a GUARANTEED (cheaper) cabin. You also need to make sure it says IN WRITING that it is accessible not just ask some random person. I agree we need accessible options but you can’t blame the cruise line when you make bad choices.
This person did book an accessible cabin. Can I guess you just watched this video and made an assumption?
4:54 No, ALL cruise companies have wheelchair cabins. YOU are the one who booked 2 weeks before your cruise. YOU need to book a year or more. Cruise ships don't have a lot of wheelchair cabins unless you book a year or more! The TA who helped you book is also at fault for lying to you, saying the cabin was wheelchair friendly when it wasn't.
It doesn’t matter whether you book a week or a year in advance if you’re told you will be in an accessible cabin and you are put in an inaccessible cabin.
No, I completely disagree with your comments. It’s absolutely possible for a billion dollar company like MSC to solve this issue. Step one: build more accessible rooms. Cruise ships, especially new ones like this, do not have enough accessible cabins to meet the growing demand from the disability community. Step two: ensure these rooms are only booked by those who genuinely need them. It’s been made abundantly clear through conversations onboard and even in comments on my videos that non-disabled people are booking accessible rooms, leaving those of us who need them without options.
If an able-bodied person can book a cabin two weeks before departure, then a person with a disability should be able to do the same. That’s the essence of inclusion, equal access without unreasonable barriers.
The idea that two weeks before a cruise, the company is promoting availability for able-bodied people but essentially telling disabled people to plan a year or more ahead is absurd. This is not a small industry; it’s a billion dollar powerhouse where many are profiting immensely. Companies like MSC have the resources to do better, and if no one speaks up, nothing will change.
You might be comfortable planning one or two years in advance, but I’m not, and I’ll continue to advocate for change so that others won’t have to either. Thank you for your perspective, but this needs to improve.
@@redlopa1agreed. :)
@@WHEEL_AROUND_THE_WORLD your advocacy is needed! I also think the way you handle difficult conversations, and remain calm and collected is something to be greatly respected.
@ thanks so much
It is 99% your own fault, you are expecting things to be accessible but from your own videos you did no research into what these places have for accessibility laws. My wife is a 3-5 Quad, we always check what services are accessible when traveling. Just because my home country is dose not mean where I am going will be.
Wow, you are really ableist. I am so sorry for your wife. If you ASK a travel agent or official on that tub if something is accessible, your responsibility ends there. They lied to him. They gave him false information. You should not have to be a lawyer to enjoy a vacation. YOU should know better. Shame on you.
The guy literally wasn’t “expecting things to be accessible“. His whole video series shows cases where he was told stuff was accessible only to find that they weren’t. Didn’t you watch the videos? It documents literally the opposite of “expecting things to be accessible”.
Thanks for your thoughts, but I have to completely disagree. A major cruise line like MSC, which markets itself as being accessible for all, has a responsibility to provide inclusive experiences. No one should have to question or research whether they’ll be excluded-because true inclusion means being considered and accommodated without barriers.
Cruise lines have the power to choose which ports they visit and the tourism operators they work with. Implementing a clear policy that prioritises inclusivity, like ensuring at least one wheelchair-accessible bus or tour at each stop, is not an unreasonable ask. We’re talking about a billion-dollar industry with the resources to lead the way in improving accessibility. Without holding these companies accountable, they’re unlikely to invest in real change.
You might be okay with navigating discrimination, but I’m not. And by speaking up, I hope to push for better experiences for everyone. Thanks for sharing your perspective, though!
Another perspective, they're offering you a product, I don't know what country you're from but for most countries the person selling the product has the burden to ensure the product meets the standard they claim that it is when they sell it. If any cruise line calls themselves accessible and any part of a cruise isn't accessible to a disabled person then they are in fact falsely advertising their product.