My shocking first-hand experience of disability discrimination in the travel industry
by Mike Miller-Smith
In 30 years as a disabled person I have never felt the need to name and shame a company for discriminating against me, that is until now. Take a bow Cunard Cruises…
I have a type of muscular dystrophy which causes weakness in some of my muscles and I use an electric wheelchair. In addition, I also use a type of non-invasive ventilator or BiPaP machine and have been doing so for the past 14 years. It keeps me fit and healthy, making sure I breathe effectively just like everybody else. I work full-time and I haven’t had a sick day for years.
I had booked a cruise with Cunard this summer but they have now told me they will not permit me to travel with them because of the risk I pose to other passengers. Cunard say that if my breathing machine should fail I would take up ventilatory resources in the ship’s medical centre that others may need to use.
I have been clear with Cunard that the machine I use has never failed in 14 years. Whenever I travel, for my own reassurance, I take the sensible precaution of always having a spare machine, just to cover that very, very remote possibility of a failure. I also have a letter from my respiratory consultant which explains that I’m absolutely fine to travel.
Cunard tell me I am still not allowed on board their ship.
I have worked in aviation and the disability and medical industry all my life, so I understand risk factors. It is insulting to say I cannot travel because they need to protect on-board medical resources for other passengers.
Among the thousands of other passengers aboard the Cunard liner there will be, I am sure, a huge range of medical conditions that pose a far greater risk of requiring unexpected medical treatment on board than that which I pose. Those people are still travelling.
Do other passengers with their own medication pose a risk to other passengers if the6y lose that medication and take up valuable resources in the ship’s medical centre? That is what Cunard is saying about me, simply because of my disability.
While there was understandable caution around medical conditions and disabilities during the pandemic, we are supposed to be getting back to something like normality. I have provided clear evidence that I have mitigated any potential risk – Cunard’s lack of logic and reasonable adjustment is, in my view, discriminatory, draconian, depressing.
Bizarrely, just one month ago I had a fabulous holiday with Princess Cruises which had no problem with me travelling. Princess is part of Carnival – the same company that owns Cunard.
Cunard’s decision means all the family members travelling with me are also losing their holiday this summer. Being disabled is often a challenge for the individual, but when it spoils the lives of those around you as well it is a double blow.
I don’t understand how a global company like Cunard can defend taking a stance that flies in the face of diversity and equality in 2022.
