DISABLED CRUISING
older ships. Cabins are larger; bathrooms have handrails, panic buttons, roll-in showers, drop down benches, raised toilet seats and plenty of grab bars; wardrobes are fitted with pull-down rods; desks, sinks and electrical outlets are wheelchair level and there is ramp access to the balcony. MSC has switches to control lights,
TRAVEL TIP
Those who consider a wheelchair, scooter or even portable oxygen might extend their range of move- ment can hire these through specialist cruise organisation CARE VACATIONS UK. A Canadian company with 20 years’ experience, they offer a complete service, delivering products to cabins on embarkation day and collecting after disembarkation in selected UK, European and North American ports. Look up more details at www.
carevacations.co.uk. Holland America Line work with
SPECIAL NEEDS AT SEA (www.
specialneedsatsea.com) with equipment pick-up and drop-off kiosks at all of Holland America’s home ports.
keycards and air-conditioning at low level, and include a low-level personal safe. For the blind, braille is used on elevator buttons, room numbers and restaurant menus, and guide dogs are now widely welcomed, although they still need to have their health certificates in order. Pillow alarms, telephone adaptor kits, lighted doorbells and flashing smoke alarms are usually available. Holland America’s Explorations Cafes even have Window-Eyes computer software to read text on the Internet to guests.
On most of their ships, deaf aid kits that can be fitted in any cabin are available on request, with equipment using lights and vibrations to notify of phones, doorbells, fire and evacuation alarms. There are personal wireless amplifiers for use in lounges and theatres while the Digital Theatre System and magnetic induction panels are available at reception and shore excursion offices. From just one or two accessible cabins per ship, the number of such cabins has increased dramatically, as well as a choice of inside, balcony staterooms or suites. For example, the new Rotterdam has 32 disabled-access cabins, NCL’s Jade has 26 and Jewel 27, P&O’s Ventura 23, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class ships 32 each and Grand Princess 28. Luxury duo Crystal Harmony and Symphony were designed to
28 WORLD OF CRUISING I Summer 2011
be accessible and have ramp access to most decks, bigger elevators and the theatres are equipped with Infrared hearing systems.
have wider corridors, although wheelchair users still need to check occasionally when housekeeping carts or luggage may block their progress. Cunard’s Queen Victoria has an outside
W
elevator to enable the disabled to reach a sun deck. All new-ship theatres now offer special places for wheelchairs and Royal Caribbean’s casino blackjack tables even have wheelchair access. And there’s no need to miss out on a
swim or a visit to the gym these days. Cunard ships, P&O’s Ventura and Azura and all of Royal Caribbean’s fleet have special hoists that lower and raise people from wheelchairs into the pool, while MSC have crew to help support guests in and out of their pools. Carnival trio Pride, Spirit and Legend have accessible gym equip- ment and massages are available in their Nautica spas.
All in all, it adds up to a much better experience for travellers with disabilities – and is yet another reason to consider a cruise in 2011.
hen it comes to making the general run of the ship more accessible, most vessels now
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