Emerald Cruises UK
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It's 2024 - bullying and harassment are real, but this company condones it
I'm currently on an Emerald Dawn cruise, sailing from Amsterdam to Budapest. I was subjected to bullying and harassment from the "entertainment director", Noel, who appeared to think that directing jokes at me and publicly humiliating me was funny. He even performed a cabaret where one of the songs he sang was "The Lady is a Tramp", calling all ladies on board tramps, but saying it was just a joke. I was sitting a long way from him and had said nothing, but he then turned to me and said "although some ladies turn into tramps after a few drinks, isn't that right Liesel?". I still said nothing, and then he directed another shot at me, at which point I retaliated and told him to "f off" - his response was to tell me to put it in writing. When I walked out of his show with a few others shortly afterwards, there were more comments from him. Noel's actions also caused an argument between my husband and I and the cruise director offered me another (more expensive) room until that settled. I took Noel's advice and lodged a written complaint with the company. Their response was to try to shut me up with flowers, chocolates and a bottle of prosecco, none of which I touched. They also told me to move back to my original room with my husband. Apparently Noel's shows were always like that and no one had ever complained and 5 other passengers that they spoke to (out of about 140 with an average age of 70, who probably have no idea of proper social behavior in this year and age) thought his public humiliation of me was acceptable. What sort of company condones that sort of behavior? If the comments were about me being brown (which I am) or gay, would they also condone that? Telling me that it's part of his act and no one has complained to date, implying that me taking offense is my issue, is a disgusting response and I wouldn't recommend using them to anyone.