Two blind passengers claim they were removed from a British cruise ship due to alleged health and safety concerns – even though the women told the company about their lack of sight before the voyage.
“It was humiliating. We actually felt like criminals,” Pam May told ITV News about her experience with Jennie Bailie aboard the P&O Cruises’ Ventura in May.
The women said P&O knew they were blind when they booked the trip and agreed to let them board the ship in Southampton, but the crew gave them a letter onboard stating that they had to disembark due to health and safety reasons, according to the outlet.
“We were standing there and having to argue why we had the right to travel, and go on holiday on our own, the same as everybody else,” May said.
Bailie added: “We were marched off, and even said we wanted to go to the toilet, because we had been on the ship for quite a while by then. We weren’t allowed to use the toilet on the ship and she escorted us off the boat like two criminals.
“It was totally and utterly embarrassing and very, very upsetting,” she added.
The women also said they were later charged a “cancellation fee” equivalent to the total amount of the cruise.
May and Bailie said they booked the sailing through the TUI Holiday Store in Bognor Regis, England, and that the travel agency got in touch with the cruise line, according to ITV News.
P&O Cruises told TUI that most of its ships feature Braille cabin numbers, elevator buttons and menus, the outlet reported.
The woman were even told they’d be offered an orientation tour once they boarded the Ventura.
“While we want all our guests to have a wonderful time with us, clearly the safety and wellbeing of all onboard is our priority at all times,” a P&O Cruises rep told ITV News.
“We are so sorry that these guests were unable to travel with us and we will be offering them a full refund for their holiday including any travel expenses incurred,” the spokesperson added.
A similar incident also occurred on a Virgin Voyages ship in November, according to Canadian news outlet Daily Hive.
A blind passenger said he was asked to get off the ship because the company was unable to provide sufficient support for him to travel onboard on his own, according to the outlet.
Virgin later apologized for the miscommunication and flew him to Honduras to rejoin the cruise.
P&O Cruises and TUI did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post.
