Royal Caribbean's room rates discriminate wheelchair users

Sometimes they do; often they don’t. Has the OP been specific on this point for their cruises? Was the gty rate available when the OP first booked the cabins? Or did the OP book the accessible cabin at the category rate (removing them from inventory for all others seeking such cabins) then later seek a price drop when a gty rate became available (when non-accessible cabin might only have remained in inventory)? Just curious.

Keep in mind that GTY rate is a discount, because it allows the cruise line to place people in unsold rooms, sometimes upgrades, sometimes the less desirable ones. It is a benefit to the buyer because they get a small discount to normal rate in exchange for absorbing the risk of getting a bad location. It is an advantage to the cruise line because the slight drop in revenue is made up for the ability to fill all rooms and because the buyer is willing to accept any room in that class or higher.

The OP is not willing to accept any open room in that class or higher. The specific rooms he wants, of limited number in each class, are hardly ever unsold when the GTY rooms are filled. As such they do not qualify for the GTY discount.

The cruise line is in compliance with the law, and for that matter, even with the consent decree from 2015 between the DOJ and CCL (even though they are not bound by that case) because they do make accessible rooms available by reservation, at the same fare as other rooms of the same class.

"whose situation needs appropriate attention and adaptation to his particular needs of the service made available to all passengers"

They are required to adapt the service to match my needs. I don't want to pick the room myself, I'm fine with any room anywhere, as long as the room is adapted to my needs so I can get in through the door.

Combining the two sentences:

2. Reservations and tickets shall be offered to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility at no additional cost under the same conditions that apply to all other passengers, and the reservations and tickets need to be adapted to fit the person's disability needs.

Anyway that quote is from the EU law so it doesn't really apply to this cruise.

WRONG. their requirement is to offer you a HA cabin in a variety of categories/price ranges. which they do. you just don't like the prices that are available and are throwing a snit fit because you cannot get a specific cabin but only pay the non specific cabin price.

Of course I can't claim that I want their american T&C - but anti-discrimination is a law, it's not a part of their T&C.

Is it the law, or just your interpretation of the law?

It doesn't look like anyone else shares your interpretation of the law. Have you considered that your conclusion may be colored by the fact that you benefit from this specific view, while others who do no benefit see it differently?

Your opinion is based on this (from your OP)

"passengers requiring an accessible cabin should be provided the same pricing options available to passengers who do not require an accessible cabin"

I'm not a legal specialist, but don't see the clear cut interpretation that you see. Sorry ..

put it this way: mr spook is military. sometimes the cruiseline offer special rates for military, but they tend to be only for certain cabin categories such as OV or balcony as such we cannot demand the same discount to be applied a different category just because it is an option for balconies.

Is it the law, or just your interpretation of the law?

 

It doesn't look like anyone else shares your interpretation of the law. Have you considered that your conclusion may be colored by the fact that you benefit from this specific view, while others who do no benefit see it differently?

 

Your opinion is based on this (from your OP)

Does this mean that every single pricing option must have a corresponding option for cabins with accessibility features? Or does it mean that general public access must include accessible options at the same price, but the vendor is free to extend special offers that do not specifically include accessibility options?

 

I'm not a legal specialist, but don't see the clear cut interpretation that you see. Sorry ..

I don't care about the room. I only sleep in the room. I want to be able to cruise for the same price that everyone else can. It's not about me getting any benefits. I just want to be able to enjoy the ship, despite having a wheelchair.

LUDDE,

People for whom I have great respect because of their knowledge shared on CC over many years have given you clear answers. You have rejected reason over and over.

I agree with their clarity.

My conclusion is: it (and you can define the “it”) is all about you.

You are trying to get special conditions that other passengers do not get, ie, getting to choose your room while booking a guarantee.

When we booked the wheelchair accessible balcony cabin on guarantee (See Post 96), we didn't get to pick which wheelchair accessible balcony cabin we got--it was selected by Royal Caribbean from the pool of wheelchair accessible balcony cabins. This is the same as other passengers.

Ludde, the email address for Royal Caribbean Special Needs is special_needs@rccl.com.

I think I have a right to get the cheapest price cabin like all non-wheelchair people have. It's not about abusing wheelchair privileges or trying to get something I'm not in a need of.

OK, you win. Call Royal and tell them that Cruise Critic has ruled that they need to do what you want.

When we booked the wheelchair accessible balcony cabin on guarantee (See Post 96), we didn't get to pick which wheelchair accessible balcony cabin we got--it was selected by Royal Caribbean from the pool of wheelchair accessible balcony cabins. This is the same as other passengers.

 

 

Ludde, the email address for Royal Caribbean Special Needs is special_needs@rccl.com.

That sounds great. I've emailed them now.

We know you have accessible cabins reserved now. Are other accessible cabins currently available on your b2b cruises? If so, please share the ship and dates for others seeking such cruises. A relative is having trouble finding b2b cabins.

We know you have accessible cabins reserved now. Are other accessible cabins currently available on your b2b cruises? If so, please share the ship and dates for others seeking such cruises. A relative is having trouble finding b2b cabins.

Harmony August 18 and August 25. One Balcony room and one Inside. I don't know what room numbers we have but I assume we have to switch rooms.

I find it humorous the OP continues to argue this. Even if everyone on this thread totally agreed, what would it matter? I think the OP just likes to argue.

OP,

If you think you have a cause. Use some of the previous information, to reach out to the powers that be. Gov't entities (since you like to quote DoT rules) I am sure you can delve into various links that will allow you to make a complaint. I think someone provided such a gov't link. As others have said you can also reach out to lawyers.

While I understand, your initial question/concern. Not sure why you are continueing debating with members of Cruise Critics about their thoughts. Most have expressed them, and you are wasting time debating with them about the "wrong". At this point the most productive use of your time is to persue some of the options that have been proposed. Cruise Critic members are not a judge/jury that can utlimately decide on the validitaly of your complaint.

I find it humorous the OP continues to argue this. Even if everyone on this thread totally agreed, what would it matter? I think the OP just likes to argue.

Yes I'm very engaged in disability rights.

Harmony August 18 and August 25. One Balcony room and one Inside. I don't know what room numbers we have but I assume we have to switch rooms.

SO, this all boils down to you wanting a GTY rate for a cruise that is on the Going, Going, Gone sale? Those rates are for new bookings only, they wouldn't allow any other booking to get the rate, why would an accessible cabin get the lower rate and refund after final payment?

Harmony August 18 and August 25. One Balcony room and one Inside. I don't know what room numbers we have but I assume we have to switch rooms.

Next month?!? I checked the US site for both cruises; when I click on categories, it shows no available accessible staterooms in any category on either cruise.

Did you make these reservation a long time ago? And are you now trying to get a price adjustment, even though there are no accessible cabins are left? Or are you certain there are plenty of accessible cabins remaining (ie, my failed search was another website flaw)?

I don't care about the room. I only sleep in the room. I want to be able to cruise for the same price that everyone else can. It's not about me getting any benefits. I just want to be able to enjoy the ship, despite having a wheelchair.

You can do exactly that. Book a GTY and take whatever room RCI assigns you or book the specific room you want. In either case you will be able to cruise for the same price as everyone else making the same choice that you make. You want to book a specific room for the same price as a GTY and then state that you don't want any special benefits when, apparently, you do.

You can do exactly that. Book a GTY and take whatever room RCI assigns you or book the specific room you want. In either case you will be able to cruise for the same price as everyone else making the same choice that you make. You want to book a specific room for the same price as a GTY and then state that you don't want any special benefits when, apparently, you do.

Sigh. I cannot book a non-accessible room because it's not accessible. I do not like this attitude that has no understanding whatsoever that the choices for wheelchair bound people are extremely limited.

Next month?!? I checked the US site for both cruises; when I click on categories, it shows no available accessible staterooms in any category on either cruise.

Did you make these reservation a long time ago? And are you now trying to get a price adjustment, even though there are no accessible cabins are left? Or are you certain there are plenty of accessible cabins remaining (ie, my failed search was another website flaw)?

I booked the cruise in May, and it took 2 months for them to reply that they will not honor the GTY price (which existed back then)

Sigh.

I suspect that you are not the first person on this thread to let out one of those.

SO, this all boils down to you wanting a GTY rate for a cruise that is on the Going, Going, Gone sale? Those rates are for new bookings only, they wouldn't allow any other booking to get the rate, why would an accessible cabin get the lower rate and refund after final payment?

No, this is not about Going Going Sale. This is a regular booking. Any person can buy the room cheaper than I can at the GTY rate, because they decided not to make all rooms wheelchair accessible. A reasonable compromise is that they sell the wheelchair accessible rooms at the same price they offer regular people.

No, this is not about Going Going Sale. This is a regular booking. Any person can buy the room cheaper than I can at the GTY rate, because they decided not to make all rooms wheelchair accessible. A reasonable compromise is that they sell the wheelchair accessible rooms at the same price they offer regular people.

You have no idea what cabins they are offering as part of the guarantee. Many times it is the lower categories that aren’t selling and there may not be any accessible cabins in those categories.

I suspect that you are not the first person on this thread to let out one of those.

And not the last either.

Following

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No, this is not about Going Going Sale. This is a regular booking. Any person can buy the room cheaper than I can at the GTY rate, because they decided not to make all rooms wheelchair accessible. A reasonable compromise is that they sell the wheelchair accessible rooms at the same price they offer regular people.

You realize that what you are saying is totally illogical don't you? You complain that you can not book the GTY rate and get an accessible cabin and blame it on the cruise line??? That would require the cruise line to make ALL cabins accessible which would place an undue hardship on the cruise line. I am sure in all your wonderful quoting of the Disability Laws the word "Reasonable" came up, did it not?

Personally I think you are lucky to get accessible cabins with only 6 months booking.