I posted a blog following a cruise to Alaska on board the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Star in July in which I complained about NCL’s shabby and inconsiderate treatment of passengers who required a wheelchair.
Yesterday I felt vindicated and I admired our legal system for pressuring NCL to improve its service to its physically challenged passengers. As a result of a lawsuit brought by the US Justice Department on behalf of 9 handicapped passengers on an NCL ship on a cruise in Hawaii, NCL will have to compensate them a total of $100,000 and pay an additional $40,000 to the government as well as agree to making a number of improvements in the way it deals with handicapped passengers.
This is an excerpt from the report in USA Today:
Norwegian Cruise Line to pay $100,000 to nine disabled passengers who alleged discrimination
By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY
Courtesy Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line has agreed to pay $100,000 to nine cruisers with disabilities who allegedly were discriminated against on one of its ships.
The U.S. Justice Department, which announced the settlement on Monday, had sued the line on behalf of the cruisers, five of whom are deaf and four of whom use wheelchairs.
The Justice Department says in a statement that the five deaf cruisers did not receive interpreters and other auxiliary aids, or a closed caption TV, while on voyages around Hawaii on a Norwegian ship, and "thus were unable to enjoy the activities on board the ship or the shore excursions because they could not understand what was going on and communicate effectively."
The agency says the four cruisers who use wheelchairs did not get accessible buses between the airport, ship and hotel, and on shore excursions; had to wait hours for an accessible bus at times; were unable to go on shore excursions because of the lack of an accessible bus; were charged extra for accessible transportation; and/or were not allowed to get on and off the bus during a shore excursion even though the bus was accessible.
The Justice Department sued Norwegian under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
And from AOL news:
Norwegian Cruise Line Ordered to Improve Services for Disabled Travelers
Posted Oct 26th 2010 10:47 AM
Norwegian Cruise Line has agreed to pay nine passengers $100,000 and a civil fine of $40,000 to resolve a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The consent decree, filed by the Justice Department in federal court in Miami, settles complaints that NCL did not provide adequate services for five deaf or hard of hearing passengers and four passengers in wheelchairs who took cruises in the Hawaiian islands.
NCL also agreed to "ensure that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing get the auxiliary aids and services they need..
9 comments:
$140,000 doesn't seem to be a very huge sum considering that the passengers were discriminated against and humiliated the way they were for being disabled, but it's a good start and it will hopefully make up for the fact that the passengers' supposedly enjoyable and relaxing vacations were ruined by the poor treatment and lack of consideration for their needs.
Agreed, CO'78 that that sum is just a slap on the wrist financially for NCL, but more significant are the mandated changes that will benefit most disabled passengers in the future.
Also this action on the part of the Justice Department is a marked departure from the previous Administration which saw government almost exclusively as a tool of business and rejected any role in protecting the consumer and ordinary taxpayer. Individuals could file such suits as individuals or class actions but costs and bother would make it impractical to do so and that Administration would not take it upon itself to file on their behalf.
You make two good points here, Louis. First, that although it is just a 'slap on the wrist' for them, it mandates changes that will benefit future passengers. That's good.
And, the second being that this was initiated by the Justice Department. I have read and heard about how individual and class action suits stay tied up in legal musical chairs for ages, and some never even see their day in court. So, yes, this speaks volumes for the 'change' that was voted in, eh?
I hope this serves to make other cruise operators make similar changes - so that they're not sued as well. A bad reason for the change, but at least, it will mean change for the better.
p.s.
Is this a pix of you etched in stone, Louis? I prefer the smiley faced one! :(
From my standpoint, I will always associate this victory with your blog post, punto final! You observed the discrimination and spoke up on behalf of others even though you were not to be the beneficiary of fees for legal services rendered or the compensation awarded to the victims. Congratulations, Louis!
Blessings
Pat,
You have a better perception of our political change than many over here, who miss anything that is subtle or nuanced and just expect radical change overnight.
I agree with you that the mandated changes are more significant than the monetary awards because they will benefit more travellers over a longer time.
Guanaguanare,
I cannot take any credit since I had no role in this action. But I regret that the lady I mentioned in my blog won't be compensated for her gross humiliation, although how can one be ever compensated for that?
I am glad though that NCL will have to improve its treatment of passengers with disabilities.
Pat, again,
P.S. that picture is just the result of my fooling around with Photoshop :)
You completely missed my point, Louis. I didn't say that you can take credit for this particular victory. I said that I, yo, eu, je, ich, io will continue to associate this victory with your blog post. In my book, every time anyone speaks up on behalf of another without the expectation of reward, that is already a victory. The success of this case is just another kind of victory but I choose to recognise yours, as I said, because lawyers' fees or victims' compensation were not your incentives for making your contribution to the battle. It was truly pro bono.
Blessings
Guanaguanare,
Muchas gracias. Ahora yo entiendo.
Post a Comment