Cruising for Disabled Passengers

For those who are new to cruising, it is certainly an experience you won't want to miss. With a wealth of entertainment options day and night, a variety of dining choices and an opportunity to go shopping or simply relax, you can never be bored. Not many holidays give you the chance to wake up in new destination each day!

Most cruise lines have some facilities for disabled passengers, and an increasing number of the larger and more expensive cruise liners are making full provision. However, it is particularly important that anyone contemplating a cruise holiday should contact us at an early stage, both to make known their particular requirements and to be able to discuss any difficulties they may face on board or at ports of call.

When selecting a ship, it's important to note that vessels built during the past five years are more likely to have purpose built staterooms, usually in more than one category and conveniently located for easy access to elevators. Please speak to one of our cruise consultants for more information on which ship would be best suited to your personal needs.

Wheelchair Friendly

Disabled adapted cabins are usually placed with better access to all public areas and lifts. They are designed with wider doorways, hand bars, low level controls, low door peephole and specially designed spacious bathrooms.

Most cruise companies will also insist that passengers who normally require assistance in their daily living are accompanied by an able-bodied passenger who will take full responsibility for any assistance required during the cruise. Ship crews will help out as much as they can, but you may well prefer the company of someone who understands your specific needs.

Accessibility will vary from port to port, but the only difficulty will be getting from ship to shore at the few ports which are too shallow or too small for the cruise ship to dock; you will have to transfer from cruise ship to dockside by tender. Many of these small boats can now carry wheelchair passengers, but it is always best to check beforehand.

Visually Impaired

Braille facilities are quite standard aboard cruise ships. You will find the deck numbers inside lifts and cabin numbers in Braille as well as being able to request a Braille menu at dinner.

Guide dogs are permitted on all ships, with required documentation to accompany passengers with vision impairments; however, if your cruise is scheduled to visit foreign ports (as most do), you may not be able to take a guide dog ashore, depending on the country. To avoid potential quarantine, guide dogs should have their shots updated within seven days of sailing, and owners should carry the dog's valid health and rabies certificates.

Hawaii is especially strict about importing animals. No dog, not even a guide dog, may step ashore without being quarantined for at least 30 days unless it arrives from an area recognized by the state as rabies-free.

Hearing Impaired

Most cruise lines have an alert kit for guests with hearing impairments which can be fitted to any cabin. These TTY kits include visual notification (flashing light in the cabin) of the door knocker and smoke alarm; also a vibrating alarm, door knocker, bed shaker and phone amplifier.

Dietary Requirements

If informed in advance, cruise lines can cope with specific diets (such as diabetic, gluten-free or fat free). However, while the latest ships are increasingly well-equipped, most cruise lines will only be able to provide the equivalent of a normal GP service whilst at sea; their medical centres are not intended for extensive or continuing treatment of ongoing health conditions, which will remain the responsibility of the passengers concerned.

Some of the most popular options

Arcadia/Artemis/Aurora/Oceana/Oriana/Ventura (P&O)

Each of the ships in the P&O fleet have a number of wheelchair accessible cabins. All of the cabins feature wide doorways into the cabin and bathroom, as well as sufficient floor space for wheel chair manoeuvrability. All wheel chair accessible balcony cabins feature rampedaccess to the balcony. The bathrooms accomodate a wetroom style shower room with a flush threshold into the cabin and grab rails for shower and toilet. Norwegian Dawn/Jewel (NCL)

Both NCL ships have 26 and 27 specialised accessible staterooms respectively in a variety of different categories. NCL's newest ships offer great access for guests with restricted mobility, guests in wheelchairs and for those who are visually or hearing impaired.

Amsterdam/Rotterdam (Holland America)

The ms Rotterdam is a good choice for disabled cruisers travelling with able passengers: four of the ship's 23 wheelchair accessible staterooms have connecting doors to adjoining non-handicapped staterooms. The ms Amsterdam offers 18 outside and 5 inside cabins with wheelchair access. The line is also credited with installing the first wheelchair-accessible tender transfer system on board their ships.

Grand/Golden/Star Princess (Princess Cruises)

The Grand-class ships offer the most accessible cabins in various categories ranging in size from 233 to 312 square feet. Princess Cruises claims the highest number of wheelchair accessible staterooms in the industry, and offers special wheelchair-transportation gangway mechanisms on most of their ships and accessibility for major destinations in Alaska through lift equipped coaches, vans and ADA approved hotel rooms.

Voyager/Explorer/Adventure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

For the best accessible cabins, choose the Voyager-class vessels, which have the widest doors and most complete facilities, including Braille numbers on cabin doors, and Braille lettering outside accessible public restrooms and in elevators. The line has installed pool lifts on most of its ships, so passengers with disabilities can enjoy the swimming pools.

Millennium/Infinity/Summit (Celebrity Cruises)

Celebrity's Millennium-class vessels offer a large number of wheelchair accessible cabins, including balconies and suites, plus ramp access, wide bathroom doors and bathtubs with grab bars.

Radiance/Brilliance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

Radiance of the Seas offers 26 wheelchair accessible cabins in a variety of categories, plus wide bathroom doors and bathtubs with grab bars. Ramp access is also provided.

Carnival Pride/Spirit/Legend (Carnival)

These ships offer accessible cabins with wide doors and roll-in showers, elevators with reachable tactile controls and audible signals and accessible gym equipment in the Nautica Spa.

Seven Seas Mariner (Regent Seven Seas)

Newest and largest in the fleet, Seven Seas Mariner has six suites with verandas in prime locations around the atrium area. Radisson requires a doctor's letter before assigning a disabled cabin or suite.