Feel like an expert by following these tips when choosing and booking your next itinerary.
Do plenty of research
Regardless of your accessibility and special needs, ask yourself questions like:
- Where do I want to go?
- What kind of cruising experience am I after?
- How long do I want to be away?
- Is the cruise the main holiday or part of a bigger trip?
With these details sorted, look online or chat with one of Flight Centre's cruising experts to determine which companies, ships and itineraries best cater to your accessibility and transportation needs.
Don't be afraid to ask the nitty gritty questions. Depending on your disability and needs, make sure you consider the following when picking a cruise and room:
- Cabin accessibility dimensions like doorway widths, toilet height, amount of storage space for medical equipment, sliding doors, roll-in showers etc.
- What is the cruise line's policy around batteries, chargers and equipment weight limits? You'll want to bring the essentials plus backup supplies.
- General accessibility measures. Think - how wide is the gangway? How high are the tables in the casino or restaurants?
- Are ports docked or tendered? (ie will the ship be tethered to docks with gangway access, or anchored off-shore with only small-boat access to the mainland?)
- Google the deck plan of potential ships on the cruise line's websites. Accessible cabins will be shown with a wheelchair symbol.
Choose the right cruise line for your needs
If in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that bigger ships tend to be more accessible. While each ship is different, some cater better to different levels of ability than others. For example:
- Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises cater to older travellers, so access was a high priority in ship design.
- Luxury ships will have a higher staff to passenger ratio, meaning you've got more support and potentially better service.
- Smaller ships and river cruises are typically not as accessible or wheelchair friendly, though they can cater to those with sensory impairments.
Better yet, learn from previous travellers by Googling "(cruise ship name) wheelchair access review" for feedback from other wheelchair users.
Book with plenty of notice
While the ships are huge, the number of accessible cabins are limited and often booked quickly. We recommend doing your research and booking as soon as possible.
If there is a particular cruise you've got your heart set on, keep your eyes peeled for "on-sale" dates so you can book as soon as they are open.
Let the cruise know about your needs
The cruise should go above and beyond to cater to your needs. However, they aren't mind readers and the staff may have limited experience with passengers with your disability. With this in mind, don't be afraid to be specific and outline exactly what you need from them. Likewise, feedback can go a long way to improving your experience and the experience of future passengers.
Not only does this provide the staff with valuable information in case of an emergency, but it prevents them asking irrelevant questions, allows them to dedicate appropriate resources and avoids any confusion. The same goes for booking spa services and specialty meals.
Packing Tips
Most cruise lines will provide a general packing list for the essentials like clothes and toiletries. Beyond that, we recommend spending a little extra time packing to ensure you're not lacking in medical consumables or equipment.
If you've got a wheelchair, then make sure you pack a spare charger and some spare parts in case something breaks on board. Some ships may have manual chairs to borrow, but this isn't always the case.