Cruise lines are committed to making a cruise vacation experience one that satisfies each guest’s desire for comfort, relaxation variety and adventure. All guests should ensure that they are medically and physically fit for travel and that such traveling will not endanger themselves or others. Any condition requiring medical treatment or attention must be reported to the cruise line in writing at the time of booking.
Among the various needs that cruise lines can accommodate are:
- Guests who use wheelchairs
- Hearing disabilities / hard of hearing
- Visual disabilities / low vision
(including those who have service animals) - Most special diets
- Oxygen therapy (liquid oxygen, compressed gas
oxygen or oxygen concentrator) - Dialysis (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis only)
Please note: Medical equipment required by guest for mobility, oxygen or dialysis are not provided by the cruise lines.
WHEELCHAIRS
Cruise lines do not provide wheelchairs. However, they do provide wheelchair assistance during boarding and departure.
If you required a wheelchair for the duration of your cruise vacation, one can be rented from a medical supply company for a week or two.
Today's state of the art cruise ships comfortably accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, and are designed to provide smooth sailing for everyone. Most cruise lines have wheelchair-accessible cabins with larger doorways and bathrooms and lowered storage and desk/dressing table areas.
In addition, the vessel's elevators accommodate both regular and motorized wheelchairs or scooters. All public rooms are equally accessible. Cruise lines are aware of passengers' needs in the 21st century - and that awareness notes that not everyone can walk with ease. Older vessels, and some of the smaller ships don't have wheelchair-accessible cabins, so do your research before booking a cruise with a passenger who needs help getting around.
Some guidelines for traveling with a passenger in a wheelchair might prove helpful:
- Hand-carry medical records and let the cruise line know your specific medical situation.
- Once on board, notify Passenger Services (formerly known as the Purser's Desk) soon after boarding to inform them help may be needed in an emergency.
- If you don't plan a shore excursion -- and some are actually quite appropriate for wheelchair guests -- find out if a port is user-friendly. With the crew's assistance in getting the chair down to the ground, consider the possibility of pushing your mate around the port area, to a market, telephone or cafe. In Cozumel, for example, you can enjoy a great lunch and a lot of fun at Carlos 'N' Charlie's at the Punta Langosta Pier, do some shopping, then head back to the ship.
- Request a table near the doorway in the main dining room to avoid negotiating long distances.
- Cruising might be easier if you don't have to fly to the port city. Consider the large number of alternate ports now in play: These include four ports in Florida, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charleston on the East Coast; New Orleans, Galveston and Houston on the Gulf of Mexico; several California cities; Seattle; and Vancouver in Canada.
- Make up your mind to have a good time and you probably will.
HEARING/VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Cruise lines can make special arrangements for guest who are hearing or visually impaired
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
A letter from your physician on doctor's letterhead is requested for guest who medically required an access able stateroom
MEDICAL CARE
Every ship offers professional medical services -- for a reasonable fee -- through independently contracted, licensed (international or domestic) physicians and nurses.
TRANSPORTATION
With advance notice, transportation can be arranged for guests who are unable to board buses. This service is offered at no extra charge to Air.Sea guests or those who purchased cruise-only transfers.
DIETARY ACCOMMODATIONS
Cruise lines can accommodate a variety of dietary needs if requested in advance, however, not all special diets can be met.
TRAVELING FROM SHIP TO SHORE
Occasionally, port facilities, congestion or weather makes it impossible to berth ships at a particular port of call, at which point the ship will be anchored offshore and small boats (tenders) are used to travel back and forth. Cruise lines will make every attempt to accommodate each guest at every port. However, at some tendered ports, guests may find some difficulty in transferring from the ship to the tender. The safety of guests and crew are always foremost, and the decision to tender any guest is made by the cruise line en each case. Tender status of all ports is subject to change without notice.
All cruise lines welcome guests with disabilities and work hard to assist them throughout their vacation. To receive appropriate assistance, guests must notify their cruise line in writing at the time of their booking of any physical or mental illness, disability or other condition that may require or make advisable special accommodations, the use of a wheelchair or medical treatment that may constitute a risk or danger to the guest or others onboard or that may render the guest unfit to travel.
