An update on Holland America

Holland America came back with a discount ($600)  on our next cruise.  But they still say they cannot guarantee joint discussion on any further problems.  I find that they deal with problems by ignoring them, which I have heard other people also mention.  We have booked another cruise, this one has no tender ports.....so hopefully it will all go smoothly.

An update on Champs at Southbank

After such a pleasant experience eating breakfast at this establishment, we decided to have tea there prior to a show at QPAC.  Ordered something quick, as time was limited.  We didn't have to worry about wasting time eating anything they served.......scallops consisted of 4 scallops on a large plate and the crab sandwich was two fingers of bread, which if put together, would not make a whole sandwich.  Sounds OK you say.....well the scallops were $24 and the sandwiches were $20.  Add a glass of wine ($10) and a beer ($10) and a plate of potatoes ($12) and it was an expensive and unfufilling meal........still recommend them for breakfast, but like something with a bit more substance for tea.

Brother's Leagues Club Ipswich

Went to Brother's Leagues Club, Ipswich, for St Paddies Day Celebrations.  Although there are several wheelchair parks, they are hard to get....guess there are lots of oldies visiting on most days.  However there are plenty of parks in the bottom carpark which can be used by wheelchair users, it is just a bit of a ways from the front door.  However the club is fully accessible.  The even have a lift to the top floor.  Anyway we had an enjoyable afternoon, listening to 'The Life of Reilly' singing Irish ditties and enjoying a drink or two with some of my friends from Rosewood Craft Group.  Would recommend the club for an outing....easy access and lovely ambience.

Champ Kitchen and Bar, Southbank

After a night at Southbank Rydges and a trip to see 'The Mousetrap', we decided to go to Champs for breakfast.  We had walked past this place a few times and kept meaning to try it, when Sully suggested we try it for breakfast.  It is located at the bottom of the new ABC building and the decor is what only can be described as rustic.  The waitress later informed us that the walls were made from wood taken from a house at West End that had suffered flood damage, and the lamp shades were made from barbed wire.  But don't let my description put you off, it has a very pleasant view to the hibuscus covered arbour, and even though it was very hot that morning, the air conditioning was walking nicely. 

This place is wheelchair accessible, and the waitress did not flinch when asked where we could sit.  A plant was moved and we were given a table at the front of the restaurant.  There was an extensive menu with very reasonable prices.  Sully had thrice fried beans with eggs and turkish bread and I had eggs and bacon with hollandaise sauce on turkish bread.  We both had coffee and I also had a fruit shake, which was made on ice, and was very much appreciated.  The meal cost $43.00 which was more than value for money.champkitchenandbar.com.au

In fact, when we went back to pay our hotel account, they tried to charge us $55 each for a buffet breakfast - making our little walk even more pleasant.

Southbank Rydges has three wheelchair accessible rooms that are very well set up.  Even the verandah has a built up floor so that it was easily accessible.  The only flaw was that the bed was very high and someone with issues when transferring, would of had a problem.http://www.rydges.com/southbank

Stumps Hotel in Ipswich

Went to Stumps Hotel in Ipswich for the Anniversary Dinner.  I had heard it was quite expensive but very nice and that was very true.  One of the staff noticed us standing at the wheelchair entrance and had to operate the button from the inside, but after that there was a ramp into the dining and bar area.  We were given a table and Sully ordered the Pork Belly ($28) and I had the Barramundi ($38).  The meals were not big, but definitely a very good size and delicious.  I spoke to one of the wait staff who said they had another area upstairs, but there was not wheelchair access to that.  I would recommend this place, both for meals and ambiance.

Still nothing from Holland America

So....a lady from the good ship Eurodam (Anabel) had promised that a representative from Holland America would ring us on the 1st October to discuss our concerns. She was the one who , without any pressure from us, came up with this idea. These concerns being that, although they had a wheelchair accessible tender that they had on their website - you actually had to be able to walk to be able to access it.  In Greenland, although the weather was perfect and the sea like a millpond and we had been assured that as long as all these things were in play we would be able to go ashore, some weak prat of a safety office (who we never did meet) decided that it was too dangerous for Sully to go ashore.  However when I went over there the ramp was a good height (too big said the aforementioned safety officer) and the roads were bitumened (again the aforementioned safety officer said that they were all gravel). Please if you are going to come up with excuses, make them good ones and do not lie.  Sully is a paraplegic - not an idiot!!!!

So after two weeks went past after the 1st October, I contacted our travel agent - the wonderful Di from Flight Centre Booval.  She contacted an Andrew Loving who is the Australian employee of Holland America and said he would contact us.  Well he did ring, a few days later, and he assured me that someone from Holland America would contact us.  I laughed and laughed but he assured me that they would.

Well today is 4th November and still no contact.  I have even gone onto their website and sent an email myself but, of coarse, nothing - zip - nada - and any other word you can think of for no one rang as yet!!!!!

If nothing happens soon - I am going to start a campaign on Facebook.  All we want is to get across that paraplegics that are relatively fit are not to be lumped in with the old and infirm that the ships are full of.......at least have someone that can make the decision come and meet with Sully and make an informed decision.  We are not going away....we have already booked another cruise with the company - and I will not give up in my quest for Sully to be treated with respect.

Going to the movies

We went to Gold Class at Mt Gravatt today.  Because it was so hot, we decided to book ahead to make sure that we got a seat.  Of coarse we can't book online (no wheelchair option - surprise/surprise) and after waiting a loooooooong time on the phone, we booked seats and then were told that there is a $6.50 booking fee because we chose to do it over the phone.  As we have no choice in this....does that make it prejudiced against wheelchair users.  I just spent 10 minutes trying to find where I could send this blog to so that it becomes an official complaint and (again surprise-surprise) I could not find anywhere to send a complaint.  They do however give you a number to ring...I think that will be one of my jobs tomorrow......

By the way, the service at Gold Class was fantastic and we saw 'Argo', the new Ben Affleck directed movie.  As with his last directorial outing - 'The Town'- it was fantastic.  It was also great to see buildings that we had just visited ourselves.