Cruise line Royal Caribbean have apologised for its treatment of a disabled passenger and is conducting a review into its booking procedures
From Travel Weekly
Cell biologist and Motor Neurone Disease (MND) sufferer Justin Yerbury took to Twitter on Sunday to slam Royal Carribean’s decision to deny him and his family a holiday because of his disability.
Yerbury claims that while he provided information on his condition when booking the holiday to the South Pacific in November last year, Royal Caribbean refused the professor and his family as they were about to board the Explorer of the Seas vessel on Sunday.
The cruise line’s actions sparked criticism from many of Yerbury’s Twitter followers, who labelled them “disgraceful”, “absolutely outrageous” and “very disappointing”.
In turn, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said told Travel Weekly yesterday that the ship’s doctor made the decision to deny Yerbury from boarding “on the grounds that the ship would be unable to provide the level of care required in the event of an emergency at sea”.
The cruise line has since provided another statement on the incident, saying that it was conducting a review into its booking procedures in the case of Yerbury.
“Our processes of communicating Professor Yerbury’s medical condition to our on-board staff let down Professor Yerbury and his family and friends,” the statement said.
“Royal Caribbean takes this issue very seriously and we apologise unreservedly for the distress, disappointment and inconvenience that this has caused.
“In addition to providing a full refund of their cruise fares, we will be reimbursing the Yerburys for all out-of-pocket expenses.”
For more on this story go to; http://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/royal-caribbean-apologises-reviews-booking-procedures-after-denying-disabled-passenger/