Quote:
Originally posted by drlivingston:
I am with you on this one, Dwayne... It seems to me that LHP has a rather negative view of Steve Cassel. Inquiring minds want to know. 
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Not to worry...probably nothing that will affect anyone else's cruise...
we have a special needs child that the Corporate office made some accomodations for years ago, so that we could continue to cruise.
He has severe panic attacks (used to be to the point of harming himself to get away) around mascots...so when Funship Freddie was introduced...we thought we would have to stop cruising.
Hubby has been cruising with Carnival for 26 years and Vicki Freed with Carnival came up with this accomodation for our son with Autism. It made the difference between us being able to cruise or not.
The CD on every ship is required to get involved (per Corporate instructions) ...again this was Vicki Freed's idea years ago (not ours). Corporate made this offer to assist us...we did not ask for it.
The bottom line is that we have the email addresses of all the ships (and they change about every 5 years or so).
The Corporate Office (back in 2003) instructed us to contact the CD of any ship that we are sailing 30 days prior to sailing to make the needed arrangements with the CD for our son.
We agreed to never give out the email addresses (which we never have).
Our 17 year old just finished his 27th Carnival cruise...so the system has worked very well.
And who is the ONLY CD that never responded ...
had to be contacted by Corporate directly several times....still did not do what was asked of him and who actually acted "put out" and refused to acknowledge he had a special needs child onboard.....
you guessed it.....
The amazing thing is ...all that is required is Funship Freddie's schedule for that cruise and that he makes the Entertainment Staff aware that they have a child on board for whom a FF encounter can cause severe panic attacks.
The CDs send me Freddie's schedule (he is usually only out 30 minutes a day) and we simply AVOID where Freddie is going to be.
Simple right....well apparently to much to ask of ONE CD. Again...27 cruises and only ONE CD who has been a problem....enough said.
This 17 year old is a Milestone Rewards Member and it is to much to ask this ONE CD to do what the Corporate Office set up.....
The really amazing thing is that we have been able to use cruising as a teaching tool for DJ.
He has learned to compensate (extracting himself SAFELY when exposed to a mascot).
We understand that unscheduled appearances happen. The timing gets off by 15 minutes or so...and have never complained with that happens...that's life.
And there have been one or two accidental run ins...but it has taught DJ (over the years) how to cope with that.
Now he will look at Freddie through a glass window (like when Freddie is in the disco)...or watch him on stage from the back of the theater...or even watch him walk on the other side of the atrium...as long as there is that huge hole between them.
And what has he always slept with...a Funship Freddie Doll....now someone please explain that one???
The wonderful world of Autism and all it's contradictions!!!
So that's the story...and unless you have a special need that requires the CD's assistance...you probably won't even know how flawed he is.
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