Someone called me up looking to book a first time cruise for their 50th birthday and wanted to know if I could offer them some advice. They had never cruised before and were a little worried as they were in a wheelchair and were wondering if a cruise would be a suitable holiday.
I gave him all the advice and help he wanted and he ended up booking a cruise but it occurred to me that if he had questions about taking a wheelchair on a cruise ship then other people might have the same questions.
It's with that in mind that I've written todays post.
First of all almost all cruise lines are great for wheelchair users. There are however different criteria that need to be considered for the different cruise lines. I've tried to cover some of the main lines here.....
Princess cruises, P&O cruises and Cunard cruises.........
You're fine to bring a wheelchair onboard although you wont be able to book a wheelchair accessible cabin unless you're 100% wheelchair bound. After you have booked the cruise with your travel agent the cruise line will send you out a medical questionnaire just asking a few more questions about your needs and requirements so that the ship can prepare and have everything ready for you.
Fred Olsen.............
Fred Olsen are a bit more tricky so if you need to bring a wheelchair onboard it's always worth booking early.
Because of their older clientele Fred Olsen limit the number of wheelchairs onboard. They will only allow so many onboard and after that no more so if you want to book a Fred Olsen cruise you need to check if they have room for your wheelchair before you book, you can't just assume they'll let you onboard with it.
They will also allow a certain number of wheelchairs to be stored in the hold for use on shore excursions but these will never be allowed onboard. And again, because of their older clientele, you can't request assistance at the port prior to travel. That's not to say they wont provide help, you just can't request it before travel, you need to flag a porter down at the dock.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity
These are quite easy; you can book a normal cabin and just let them know afterwards or ask your favourite cruise travel agent to find you a disabled cabin to book, although be warned these tend to go quite quickly.
That about covers the main cruise lines although if you want information about any others just post the request below and I'll get it added for you or if any of you have any other tips or advice feel free to add it below.
Happy cruising.
Electric wheelchair users have to make sure his wheelchair or handicap scooter is in good condition before leaving home. It is advisable to send your wheelchair for servicing especially before a long haul trip. Remind the service man to tighten any loose bolts and screws and also add lubricant to the axles of the wheels. You would want your wheelchair to be in tip top condition when traveling to prevent any problems that will wreck the enjoyment of the holiday.
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