Cruising for the physically challenged offers one of the most hassle-free vacations possible, with a wide choice of ships and itineraries, a clean environment, and almost all of the details taken care of before you go. In the past 15 years, cruise ships have become significantly more accessible for people with most types of disabilities.
Many new ships also have text telephones, listening device kits for the hearing-impaired (including show lounges and theaters aboard some ships). Special dietary needs can also be accommodated by most cruise lines, and many cruise ships have cabins with refrigerators (useful for those with diabetes who need to keep supplies of insulin cool). Read more on cruise cabin features
The design of ships has traditionally worked against the mobility-limited. To keep water out or to prevent water escaping from a flooded cabin or public area, raised edges (known as ‘coamings’ or ‘lips’) are often placed in doorways and across exit pathways. Also, cabin doorways are often not wide enough to accommodate even a standard wheelchair. A ‘standard’ cabin door is about 24 inches (60 cm) wide.
What about safety? Only five cruise ships provide direct access ramps to the lifeboats: Amadea, Asuka II, Crystal Serenity, Crystal Symphony and Europa.
It’s not as easy to provide facilities for wheelchair-bound passengers as you might think. Specially trained crew members must be assigned to assist all wheelchair-bound passengers, which translates to two crew members per eight-hour shift.
Passengers who do not require wheelchairs but are challenged in other ways, such as those who have impaired sight, hearing, or speech present their own particular requirements. Many of these can be avoided if the person is accompanied by an able-bodied companion experienced in attending to their special needs. In any event, some cruise lines require physically challenged passengers to sign a waiver.
Accessibility on the Latest Cruise Ships
Here’s an example of what is provided aboard the large resort ships Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl:
- 11 wheelchair-accessible public toilets throughout each ship (including the spa).
- 27 wheelchair-accessible cabins, including suites. All have collapsible shower stools mounted on shower walls; all bathroom toilets have collapsible arm guards and lower washbasin. Other cabin equipment includes a vibrating alarm clock, door beacon (light flashes when someone knock on the door), television with closed caption decoders, and fire alarm (flashing light).
- Hearing-impaired kits are available on request.
- Dedicated wheelchair positions in the showlounge (equipped with hearing-impaired induction systems).
- Electrical hoist for access to pool and hot tubs.
- All elevators and cabins have Braille text.
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