Plenty of Sunshine Travel shares cruising insights
By Kathleen Penner CTA

Listen to this Article

PART 1

Cruising is an excellent vacation option for individuals with limited mobility for several reasons: 

Attentive Staff: Cruise ships have staff available around the clock to assist passengers. This ensures that help is always nearby when needed.

Accessibility Features: Modern cruise ships are equipped with many accessibility features. These include lifts that provide access to all areas of the ship, accessible rooms with wider door frames, roll-in showers, emergency pull cords, and telephones in the restrooms. 

Pre-arranged Equipment: Before boarding, I can arrange to have various mobility aids and equipment ready in your stateroom. This includes items like beach wheelchairs, bed lifts, scooters, and more, ensuring you have everything you need when you arrive. 

Personalized Service: The cruise staff goes above and beyond to accommodate special needs. For instance, if you have dietary restrictions, the head chef will meet with you at the beginning of the cruise to discuss your needs and adapt the menu accordingly or prepare custom meals. This would be for all your meals for your time onboard. The Chef will ensure everything is exactly how you need it to be.  

Adapted Shore Excursions: Cruises often offer adapted shore excursions to cater to different levels of mobility. For example, on a recent river cruise along the Danube River with AmaWaterways, there were separate groups for active, regular, and gentle tours. The gentle tours provided the same experiences as the other groups but with accommodations like transport to city centers to minimize walking. 

Future Considerations: When planning future cruises, it’s helpful to choose newer ships with the latest accessibility features. For example, ensuring the ship has elevators that reach all decks, including the sky deck, can enhance the experience. 

By providing these comprehensive services and accommodations, cruises ensure that travellers with disabilities can enjoy a seamless and enjoyable vacation.

As someone with limited mobility, several features and services on cruises have stood out to me, making my travel experience highly enjoyable: 

Exceptional Service: The level of service on cruises is outstanding, especially on smaller ships. On these ships, all the silverware is already set on the tables, and the waitstaff is available to assist with drinks and other needs. This setup allows me to carry my plate from the buffet and enjoy my meal easily. If I prefer not to use the buffet, an à la carte menu is always available. 

Accessibility throughout the Ship: Smaller ships often have a design that allows full accessibility from bow to stern. Thanks to thoughtful design considerations, I was able to access all areas of the ship without any issues. 

Accessible Room Features: The staterooms are well-equipped for guests with limited mobility. Features like automatic nightlights that illuminate the path to the restroom at night are small details that make a big difference. These thoughtful touches ensure safety and convenience. 

Elevator Accessibility: Elevators on the ship are equipped with braille buttons and voice announcements for each floor, making them accessible for visually impaired passengers. This feature ensures that even those with sight limitations can navigate the ship independently without constant assistance. 

Overall, the combination of excellent service, accessible design, and thoughtful room and elevator features have made my cruising experiences very enjoyable and stress-free.