Cruises provide a relaxing vacation choice for disabled travelers. In addition to continuous onboard activities, entertainment, delicious meals and a luxurious environment, cruises offer accessibility for the physically challenged. It’s an easy way to travel to exciting destinations without exhausting oneself. Cruise ships are able to accommodate wheelchair users, diabetics, passengers on dialysis, oxygen users, the visually and hearing impaired and passengers traveling with service animals. A service animal is a guide dog, or any animal trained to perform tasks for a disabled person.
In response to the enactment of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the cruise industry has been modifying their ships to provide for the needs of the disabled. They have already undertaken retrofitting where possible and are designing new ships in compliance with the ADA. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees equal opportunities to individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations and transportation. A cruise ship is considered to be a hybrid of a transportation service and a public accommodation according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The major cruise lines now have a number of disabled-access cabins. Most new ships have now have larger doorways, handrails, hand grips in bathrooms, outfitted shower stalls, transfer benches, lowered closet bars, lowered safes and lowered telephones. Refrigerators are provided in staterooms to passengers upon request who need to store medication such as insulin. Among the changes that the Royal Caribbean cruise line has enacted include: the installation of hydraulic lifts for the pool and Jacuzzi, and accessible blackjack tables in the casinos. A few companies have built ramps. Travelers in wheelchairs should check the deck plans for the ships to see which paths are accessible.
What factors should a disabled person consider in selecting a cruise ship?
By selecting the right cruise ship a person can ensure that he/she will be able to enjoy the same freedom and participate in many activities as other able-bodied passengers. Among the factors that a person should look act are: the age of the ship, wheelchair availability and fit, the accessibility of public restrooms and whether there are any other obstacles such as stairs and steps. The physically-challenged who have visual or hearing disabilities should check to see if the ship has provided special accommodations for them, as well.
Although some older ships have been retrofitted to comply with the ADA, some older ships still have narrow doorways and high doorway "sills" which were placed at one time to keep water out. The ship’s public areas may be inaccessible. The newer ships, therefore, are most likely to have the most accessible cabins as well as other accommodations for the disabled. Note that the larger newer ships are designed with stabilizers which help prevent motion sickness.
Check with the cruise line to make sure that they have accessible cabins available when making a reservation. The majority of cruise lines have at least a minimal number of specifically designated cabins for wheelchair users available. There are a few cruise lines which have 25 or more specially designed cabins for people with limited mobility. They include: Princess cruises: the ships Golden Princess and Grand Princess each have 28 cabins. The Diamond Princess has 26. Carnival Cruise Lines: Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory each have 27 cabins. Celebrity Cruises has the Millennium ship with 26 cabins. Royal Caribbean Intl has the Adventure of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas with 26 cabins. Carnival Cruise Lines has the Carnival Destiny which has 25 cabins. The doorway of the cabin should be at least 30 inches wide which is wide enough to get into with a standard wheelchair. There should be room to turn around in the room.
Look for accessible bathrooms, either without a raised sill or with a small ramp that goes over the sill. Some accessible bathrooms have raised toilets with a grab bar around it, roll-in showers with a hand-held shower nozzle, and raised sinks.
If a person has a mobility problem what is necessary for getting around the ship? Are the elevators, steps, public restrooms, and dining rooms accessible?
Mobility-impaired passengers should check with the ship in regard to the availability of wheelchairs and what type the ship requires. Most ships recommend that the passenger should bring his own wheelchairs and that the wheelchair must be collapsible. The chairs must be powered by gel-cell batteries. The wheelchair battery charger must be adaptable to 110 volts.
Choose a ship with elevators that are large enough to accommodate a wheelchair passenger. Ask if there are steps leading to the public areas such as the lounge and dining room. Make sure that there is proper lighting. Another question to ask is whether the public restrooms are accessible. If a person is a wheelchair user, make sure that the table in the dining room is accessible.
What accommodations are available for travelers with hearing impairments?
There are some staterooms available on most ships for guests with hearing impairments. Most ships now provide adaptive devices which include: in-stateroom lights and vibrating alarms that fit under a pillow and alert the guest to a doorbell, phone or emergency situation. Many ships have text telephone equipment available when requested at the time of booking, as well as a kit with telephone amplifiers, visual smoke detectors, door knocker sensors and other aids. American Sign Language interpretation is available for live performances on many cruises.
What accommodations are available for the blind and visually-impaired travelers?
Guide dogs are permitted on cruise ships; however, the number of animals allowed may be limited. It is the responsibility for the passenger to make any arrangements necessary for entry of the animal into foreign ports. Some cruise ships have elevators equipped with Braille call buttons and audible arrival sounds. Some ships e.g., Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean offer Braille and large print menus and cruise service directories are also available in Braille.
What happens when the ship is in port? Are there any problems with getting on and off the ship?
Some ports require the tendering of passengers going ashore. This occurs when the ship cannot dock at the shore, either due to it being too shallow or there is not enough space. When the ships are anchored offshore, the passengers are transported to and from the shore in small boats. Wheelchair users are then carried on and off these boats. It is the captain’s decision whether it would be safe to load a wheelchair passenger.
Holland America was the first cruise line to address the tender situation. They created the Shore Tender Accessibility Project of custom built systems that transport wheelchair passengers down the gangway into the boats. The Princess Cruise Line has a special wheelchair transportation gangway mechanism called the Caterpillar Step, to simplify embarkation and disembarkation in dozens of fascinating ports worldwide.
What are some examples of cruise lines that have made their ships accessible?
The Princess Cruise Line created the Love Boat Access program designed to upgrade the standards and practices regarding access to many elements of the cruise experience. This cruise line was the first to employ a full-time Access Compliance Manager whose job is dedicated to monitoring and expanding onboard accessibility. It has also appointed a representative to the U.S. Access Board, Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee, which is responsible for drafting accessibility guidelines for passenger ships. In 1999, Princess was honored by the National Business & Disability Council with the Valued Customer Silver Award of Honor which recognizes their program to improve shipboard access and accommodations. For their Alaska destinations, they offer special-equipped coaches, vans and ADA approved hotel rooms.
American Hawaii Cruise Lines has dining rooms which have lower tables for people in wheelchairs because people in wheelchairs sit lower than regular chairs. This cruise line also offers special seating in their showroom. The cruise line offers companion seats in wheelchair designated areas, so people don’t have to sit alone. American Hawaii Cruise Lines has other specialized services. If, for example, a wheelchair doesn’t fit into the ship’s beauty salon, the passenger can make a personal appointment to receive the beauty services in his or her cabin.
Royal Caribbean has Braille numbers on the cabin doors and on public restrooms and elevators. They also have pool lifts. Crystal Cruises arranges for tour buses to accommodate wheel chairs. Disney offers special wheelchairs for their sandy beaches.
What are some tips for travelers with disabilities?
* Consult a travel agent who specializes in services for the disabled.
* A person with serious medical issues should consult with their doctor before deciding to take a cruise. In addition, a person should notify the cruise line of any physical disability or request requiring special treatment or attention when making the reservation. Some ships reserve the right to refuse or to revoke passage to anyone in such physical or mental condition as to be unfit for travel. They can also deny passage if they feel that the disabled individual may endanger the safety or comfort of other guests. Some cruise lines require that disabled persons be accompanied by a companion.
* If traveling with a non-physically challenged individual look to ships such as Holland America’s Rotterdam which has rooms with connecting doors to adjoining non-handicapped staterooms.
* When the wheelchair is not moving, lock the brakes to prevent the wheelchair from rolling. Be sure wheelchair brakes are in good working order. Ask whether it is necessary to bring a ramp or wheelchair narrowing device. Determine in advance whether any ports of call will require a license for the motorized wheelchair. When using an electric scooter, remember to recharge the battery every other night. Also, make sure that there is a compatible plug convenient to the stateroom.
* If there is a walking problem, choose a cabin near the elevator and reserve a table near the entrance of the dining room.
* Check with your medical insurance provider to see if visits to the ship’s infirmary are covered or take out a travel insurance policy that reimburses. Be sure to pack motion sickness medication. Some ships provide free motion sickness medication. The training of the medical staff and the facilities, vary widely from ship to ship. Some cruise lines carry a doctor and nurse staff. Other cruise lines may not have a full doctor aboard. Some ships have a full operating room and satellite access to major medical facilities through telecommunications. Other ships only have an infirmary.
* Travelers should inquire about the excursions and exactly what accommodations are available for people in wheelchairs.
*If you require a special diet, e.g. low salt, gluten-free, no sugar, be sure to request this in advance when making your reservation.
What is a good first cruise for a physically-challenged person?
Alaska is a good cruise for wheelchair passengers who want to spend some time ashore, since towns and cities in Alaska have curb cuts to access sidewalks and street crossings.
With advanced planning, awareness and determination, hopefully, there will be smooth sailing.
Have fun and bon voyage!
