Feature Article
Cruising For Special Needs Accommodations
Onboard Amenities for Special Needs
People with disabilities or special needs should not think that cruises are inaccessible to them. If you are part of this category, you should know that your condition won't prevent you from enjoying an ocean adventure. All you need to do is talk to a travel agent to help you find the best cruise line for you.
Since cruise lines vary considerably from one another, you will want to review many options before choosing. Such features as whether or not they can accommodate wheelchairs easily, or whether the cabins are large enough for you to be able to move through them comfortably, must be known to you in advance.
You'll probably find an answer in some of the larger cruise lines. They often have special cabins with wider doorways to permit wheelchair access. Inside the cabins, you'll find other adjustments such as larger bathrooms and closets built for lower reach. You might even find a cruise line that has collapsible wheelchairs available, but it's better if you bring your own. For a motorized wheelchair, you should bring your own 110-volt plug charger.
Visiting the ports, however, might not be so easy. Apart from the fact that the boats transporting the passengers from the ship to the shore cannot easily or safely carry disabled persons, some ports may not be built of equipped so as to be suitable for people with special needs. In spite of the efforts made by the cruise line to overcome such inconveniences, the ports might remain inaccessible.
Cabin size and furniture is not everything a ship can offer to accommodate its passengers. On some cruise lines, passengers with hearing problems can be lodged in rooms with tele-typewriters or telecommunication devices for the deaf. Other facilities such as American Disabilities Association compliant kits containing smoke alarms and door sensors might also be found in those cabins.
Service animals such as guide dogs, however, will not be very easily accommodated on cruise ships. Furthermore, the rules and regulations concerning animals differ from one port to another - the animals might not be allowed to leave the ship sometimes. For more precise information, your travel agent can find out each port's possible restrictions from the Department of Agriculture.
After reading about the amenities mentioned above, you probably won't be too surprised to hear that the restaurant's menu is varied and flexible enough to satisfy people with special nutritional needs.
If you're willing to do some research, you will definitely find a cruise that's right for you. Sometimes it might take a bit longer to find one, but don't think about not informing the cruise line about your infirmity when you book the cruise. And if you think it might be necessary, have a companion travelling with you. Make sure you pack any supplies you need, such as oxygen if you have a lung impairment, or your medicines and prescriptions. If you plan everything well, you're in for a perfect vacation.
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