Two blind passengers on a recent cruise ship say they were ordered to leave the vessel due to their disabilities. The incident, which occurred on a Princess Cruises ship, has sparked outrage among disability advocates and raised questions about the cruise line’s policies and practices.
According to a report from NBC News, the two passengers, who are both legally blind, were approached by a security officer on the ship and told that they had to leave the vessel immediately. The officer reportedly told the passengers that they were “not safe” on the ship due to their disabilities.
The incident occurred during the second day of the cruise, which was sailing in the Caribbean. The passengers had reportedly booked the cruise through a travel agency that specializes in vacations for people with disabilities. They were traveling with a group of other disabled passengers, many of whom also expressed concerns about their treatment on the ship.
After being ordered to leave the ship, the two passengers were taken to a nearby hotel and left stranded without their medications or other essential items. They ultimately had to pay for their own travel back home, according to the report.
In response to the incident, Princess Cruises issued a statement expressing regret for what happened and vowing to investigate the matter further. “We are very sorry for the experience these guests had while on our ship,” the statement read. “We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and we take these types of complaints very seriously.”
The company also said that it was “reviewing its policies and training procedures” to ensure that incidents like this do not happen in the future.
The incident has drawn attention to the issue of disability rights in the travel industry, and disability advocates are calling for greater accountability from cruise lines and other travel companies. They argue that people with disabilities should be treated with the same level of respect and dignity as any other traveler, and that companies must do more to ensure that their policies and practices are inclusive and accessible.
Overall, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by people with disabilities when traveling, and highlights the need for greater awareness and sensitivity among those in the travel industry.
