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Best Cruises for Disabled Travelers | |
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COOL TRAVEL MAIL'S
TRAVEL TIPS
Tips & Advice for the Seasoned and Armchair Traveler Alike!
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http://www.CoolTravelMail.com
Jan. 15, 2008
Today I have a very interesting article that covers the
topic of disabled travelers taking some time to cruise.
You can find out about the accommodations on today's best
cruises for disabled travelers.
P.S. If you're interested you can now post comments on this
and recent issues on our forum at... Travel Tips Forum
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Best cruises for disabled travelers
If you have special needs, odds are your cruise line can
accommodate you
By Anita Dunham-Potter
Travel columnist
Q: My husband uses a wheelchair and I'd like to find out
about cruise ships that have accessible cabins and public
rooms for disabled passengers. Can you tell me what ships
are best?
— Enid Horowitz, Chicago
A: Cruise lines have come a long way in recent years to
make their ships more accessible to disabled travelers.
It's not uncommon for the newest large ships to feature
two dozen or more wheelchair-accessible staterooms with
such accommodations as wider door frames, handrails,
accessible furniture and closets, low sinks and wheel-in
showers.
In the past, cruising could be a struggle for wheelchair
users. Unfortunately this is still true on many smaller
and older ships, where disabled passengers can encounter
corridors and doorways that are too narrow, bathrooms that
have lips at the threshold to prevent flooding, public
rooms with thresholds that make them inaccessible, and
elevator buttons that are too high to reach.
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in
1990, the act was not extended to foreign-flagged cruise
ships until 2005, following a class-action lawsuit filed
against Norwegian Cruise Line that went before the U.S.
Supreme Court. The court ruled that cruise lines whose
ships carry passengers to and from U.S. ports must provide
features like grab bars, handrails and wheelchair-
accessible water fountains; however, the court also held
that cruise lines were not required to make major
structural changes to their in-service vessels, such as
widening doorways and adding new elevators.
Fortunately, many cruise lines are upgrading their older
vessels simply because there is demand for fully accessible
cruising. In fact, cruising has become the preferred style
of vacation for many travelers with limited mobility
because ships have become so user-friendly and offer a
convenient platform from which to explore the world's
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What to expect on the newest ships
Most cruise lines now offer public areas and staterooms
large enough for wheelchair use; these typically include
an accessible bathroom with handrails and emergency call
buttons. Braille-coded elevator buttons, room numbers and
restaurant menus are also in place on most ships for those
with vision disabilities, and guide dogs are also now wide-
ly welcomed. Many cruise lines provide TTY, a text-messag-
ing system that allows easier communication for folks with
hearing and speech disabilities. Some cruise lines also
offer "dippers" to lower handicapped swimmers into the
pools, and many cruise lines make an effort to include
shore excursions that can accommodate travelers with
special needs. Crew members are available on almost every
ship to assist disabled passengers with buffet service and
with embarkation and disembarkation.
Here are some things to consider before booking your
cruise:
- There are no additional fees for handicapped-accessible
staterooms but, like all cabins, they are offered at
different price points depending on size, location and
amenities. There are a limited number of these accommoda-
tions on board each ship, so book early to avoid disappoint-
ment.
- When booking a cruise, ask to see the ship's deck plans
or view them online. That way you can see where the
handicapped-accessible staterooms are and can reserve
the one that works best for your individual interests
and needs; you might, for example, wish to be near the
elevators, lounge or weight room.
- Contact a knowledgeable travel agent or call the cruise
line's special services desk to better understand all
the ship's requirements and limitations. For example,
some lines require travelers with disabilities to be
accompanied by an able-bodied companion.
- Make sure all public rooms are accessible, and make sure
the ship offers a good number of elevator banks.
- Find out the accessibility of ports of call, and try to
choose an itinerary that does not include tenders, small
boats used to bring passengers to shore from the ship's
anchor point. These boats are usually not equipped to
handle wheelchairs.
- Review shore excursions carefully since many are not
appropriate for travelers with limited mobility. Read
the brochure descriptions and avoid those excursions
identified as requiring heavy exertion. Most cruise
lines identify wheelchair-accessible tours in their
brochures.
- Let the cruise line know you are using a wheelchair so
staff can make an appropriate table assignment in the
dining room. You'll want to have easy access to bathrooms
and elevators.
- Be sure to request a wheelchair, or assistance with your
own wheelchair, if you will need one for embarkation and
disembarkation. There may be a short wait for the chair,
but you will receive priority boarding.
- Check with the cruise line if you are interested in bring-
ing an electric scooter or renting one in port; policies
vary.
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Find the best ships for your needs
The Web site for the Cruise Lines International Association
(CLIA) offers a "Special Interest Guide for Wheelchair
Travelers" that details ship information for disabled
passengers. The guide includes such information as the
number of wheelchair-accessible staterooms on a ship,
the number of decks with ramps, whether the elevators
accommodate full-size wheelchairs, and whether the
disabled traveler must be accompanied by an able-bodied
companion. The guide is a bit out of date and does not
include a number of newer ships; if you don't find the
ship you are interested in, you can make inquiries at
CLIA's toll-free help number: 800-327-9501, extension
70025.
The Horowitzes can also consider the advice of Mary Wilson,
of Coraopolis, Pa., who travels with her disabled daughter
on several cruises a year. Wilson says that each cruise
ship and cruise line is unique, and that each cruise will
have its own advantages and disadvantages for wheelchair
users. Look for ships with lots of hard flooring, she
suggests, as carpeting can make it difficult to wheel
around the ship. Also, do a safety check the last night
of the cruise, when passengers are asked to place their
luggage in the hallways for disembarkation; if the luggage
blocks wheelchair access, ask the purser to have it removed
early.
"We've never had a problem cruising, and if we find
issues all we do is ask for help," Wilson says. "In our
experience, cruise lines are very accommodating towards
disabled passengers."
Don't let a physical disability keep you from enjoying a
cruise vacation. All it takes is a bit of preparation,
planning and a willingness to ask for.
Well, that's it for this week, group. Thanks again for
reading, and please keep those comments, complaints and
questions coming in.
You can send me an e-mail message at: Email Pierce
Until next week, thanks for reading.
Your Tipmeister,
Pierce
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