Accessible Cruising—Just the Facts
Posted On: November 09, 2018
Cruise travelers with disabilities often have concerns that
would never occur to able-bodied vacationers. They may question whether the
doorway to their stateroom can accommodate their wheelchair; if there’s ramp
access to the private balcony; if the bathrooms are roll-in ready, or if they
can easily access the evening shows.
Fortunately, the best cruise lines have already thought
through these questions and can offer a relaxing and worry-free cruise
experience to any passenger with mobility impairment, according to
Maritime/LeGrow’s Travel counsellor and quadraplegic Adam Short, who
specializes in accessible travel.
“In just the last few years, I’ve gone surfing in Costa
Rica, cruised all over the Caribbean, and travelled throughout Canada and the
United States,” says Adam, who is wheelchair-bound. “If you have impaired
mobility, you can still travel the world.”
Based in the Maritime/LeGrow’s Travel Belleville branch,
Adam is responsible for developing a travel program to serve customers with
their own physical limitations—a service with a virtually unmet demand in
Canada.
When it comes to cruising, mobility-impaired travelers
really can expect a level playing field in terms of the experience, Adam says.
“I recommend cruising more than any other type of adaptive travel.”
Here’s why …
• All areas of the cruise ship are accessible and easy to
navigate
• You are guaranteed an accessible cabin if you request one
• Staterooms are roomy and have roll-in showers
• Even the balcony in your room has a ramp, so it’s easy to
access with no big lip to navigate
• Ports of call are generally easy to access, with lots to
see and do right off the ship, so you don’t have to sign up for a tour
• If you do want to do a tour, there are generally accessible
options available in port
• Most ships have pool lifts to assist people in wheelchairs
with entering and exiting the water
• You can pre-arrange for medical equipment such as
wheelchairs, scooters, oxygen, lifts, etc. to be delivered to your cabin so you
have everything you need to make the cruise possible
• When it comes to disembarking the ship, cruise staff are
always available to help
• You can cruise directly from different ports if you prefer
not to fly
• Medical doctors and services are always available on board
in case of emergency
Ask Adam