Saga Holidays discriminates

My last two holidays were Cruises One Amsterdam Secnod Danube both with my Mother.

The Holiday cancelled by SAGA would have been to the Sea Side in CRETE GREECE by my self.

When I wanted to cancel the Amsterdam Holiday last spring because it was cold they said they would not return my money and because i discovered it was via Euro Tunnel

That was booked by my Mother so I checked it too late..

The excuse they used was the impression I made on the Danube Cruise.

SAGA also said that I have never been on a SAGA Holiday without my Mother so I must bring my Mother or a Friend.

Yes I am thinking of going on another Sea Side Holiday with another company.

David

I would not get fixated on this, you got a refund, F-them. They obviously see you as a risk liability, so much for inclusion. Move on, go to there competitors. The thing that would annoy me would be that you had a contract with them, would you have got your money back, if it was you so decided you could not go. If you are still annoyed go to the tourist regulator. It sounds to me that you did not declare any health issues in good faith and maybe started asking for assistance when you got closer to the time of the holiday.

I couldn't do organised holidays. I'd feel trapped and don't like being in a crowd (and not because of repetitive or focussed tendencies!). Besides which being single on one of these makes you a target for every do-gooder couple that thinks you need taking out of yourself.

Joining a SAGA cruise seems a rather roundabout way of getting to swim in the Med. Some package holidays are designed around mature travellers as distinct from the usual bingeing kids or uncouth grannies.

What I have been on is med based field trips for students using package holiday resorts out of season, as they are cheaper but have the resources students look for.

Every hotel however has some pantomime dame, for want of a better description, who is there to protect the old from the young, as the main out of season use is senior citizens looking for warmer climes over British winters. These dragons seem hell bent on restricting the fun of any young groups the hotels agree to take, merely because prime revenue is pleasing the old.

I'm also reminded of what happened to one 20th century British composer who, finding himself in a hotel full of SAGA grannies, and unable to reach the self-service cereal and toast counters, stood on the table and shouted rule britannia, in protest and frustration.

All that dithering and nattering and gossiping I could never cope with the noise intrusion.

Must be better ways of getting to swim in the Med. Leave SAGA to the grannies.

I have been away on my own with other companies and I might go on Holiday with another company.

At the moment I fancy a swimming holiday.

David

I am fifty-six but young at heart.

The minimum age is fifty.

Most people on those holidays are at least in their late seventies.

David

I think she needs a better justification than "walking in front of cars"(on or off the ship?) or something you said. If she had a clear case of risk that justified asking you to be accompanied it could be understood. But she may be vulnerable if her excuse is poor.

I assume if they require your mother to accompany you, you are a lot younger than the average SAGA holiday traveller, although they are open to all ages.

But because the holidays probably attempt to offer a quieter and protected environment for over 50s travellers, they are trying to fulfill their obligations to the majority of their holiday-makers.

Do you have to cruise with SAGA?

The hosts/comperes/agents with these tours are probably a bit obsessive themselves about any element, whether within the group or outside that gets them inundated with complaints.

And for some reason lost to me (as if at my age I don't grumble Victor Meldrew style an awful lot) older travellers grumble about nearly everything and must make it really tough for organisers.

They'll be complaining most of the time that the ships engines make too much noise or the boat rocks too much. So a younger person behaving differently will have them banging on the agents' door anticipating all kinds of absurd consequences.

It would be better to go on cruises with a younger age range.

Wlking in front of cars would have been on an off shore excursion.

Have you been on a Cruise?

Today I saw about Autism Frinedly Films what ever that is supposed to mean.

It is a pitty that Autism Friendly Holidays do not exist.

What ever that is supposed to mean.

In the ideal world the Law would require Employers to give more time to train new staff.

It does not as Autistic people have a Support Worker paid for by the Department of Employment.

SAGA are not perpared to support me and want me to bring someone to support me.

David

I would have thought signing a disclaimer should satisfy them as perhaps they are worried you might put yourself in danger and they would be responsible for you.

Did she mean that you were "jay walking" in the traffic or something?  And presumably this would be on entry or exit to the ship or while on an onshore excursion?  Do you agree that you walked in front of traffic and put yourself in danger?  I mean anyone can have a momentary lapse in attention and be distracted.

Do you feel you are a danger to yourself or others?  I mean, having Asperger's means you have normal range IQ so you are capable of functioning as any other adult when it comes to safety, so I would say in that case yes, they are discriminating.

She said that I went in front of cars and by what I told her.

I said a Doctors report would not help because I am not ill and it would not change the fact that I have Asperger and might need extra help.

She said SAGA is not discriminating against me because I have Asperger.

The point is:   Does the Equality Act place a duty on SAGA staff to give extra help to their disabled customers?

Someone with Alzimas came on an earlier SAGA holiday with his wife.

They are saying I must bring someone.

David

Did you refuse to provide a doctor's report and they cancelled because of this?

Was this the reason they gave?  If not, what was the exact reason they gave?

I don't think telling Saga it's a social disability would necessarily have helped your case with them. It may well be that they viewed something you did on the Danube cruise as anti-social and this is what they are worried about as they are unlikely to be autism-aware.  Are you aware of anything you did on the cruise that could have offended anyone or upset anyone?

I can't see how it's a safety issue unless you did anything dangerous or looked as if you were intending to, that may have concerned them.  You didn't do a Kate Winslet did you (hanging over the ship [Titanic movie] to see the propellors!)

You could contact the Equality Advisory Support Service: www.equalityadvisorysupportservice.com