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.
Cruise Deal News
cruise deal
Cruise.com is having a big sale, and the first thing that caught my eye was a “Kids Cruise Free” deal. I found a list of eight different 7-10 night Caribbean cruises where kids could sail for free. Deal: Children 17 and under can sail free when ...
Read moreCruise deal: Kids sail free in the Caribbean & Mediterranean - Los Angeles Times Blogs
The Miami and London-based Carnival Cruise Line is the flagship brand of Carnival Corp., one of the largest vacation/travel conglomerates in the world with $11.8 billion in revenue and net income of $2.3 billion. The parent company operates 84 ships ...
Read moreCarnival Cruise Lines - Newsday
Oct. 28: The Regal Empress is docked at the Galveston cruise ship terminal. Oct. 28: The Regal Empress is docked at the Galveston cruise ship terminal. HOUSTON — An aging cruise ship could become temporary housing for Hurricane Ike refugees if ...
Read moreTexas Floats Plan to House Ike Victims Aboard Cruise Ship - FOX News
The new pocket-sized “Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland” answers the question, “What would it be like to walk through Disneyland with Walt by your side?” The 128-page paperback takes readers land by land through the Anaheim theme park ...
Read moreImagineering Field Guide’ lets Disneyland fans walk in Walt’s ... - Los Angeles Times Blogs
The deal for the agency, founded four years ago by managing director Tony Youster , is expected to be completed before Christmas and is subject to shareholder approval, final legal negotiations and due diligence. Camberley-based Ideal Cruising will ...
Read moreSpecialist cruise agency sold - TravelDailyNews.com
Sunday, November 2, 2008 Q: Last year, I earned enough Marriott loyalty points to score a cruise with Carnival for my 25th anniversary. I followed all of the rules carefully. We booked a cabin and a certificate was issued for the cruise. But four ...
Read moreMarriott tries to weasel out of reward - San Francisco Gate
Q Last year I earned enough Marriott loyalty points to score a cruise with Carnival for our 25th anniversary. I followed all of the rules carefully. We booked a cabin and a certificate was issued for the cruise. But four months before the departure ...
Read moreTravel Troubleshooter: Cruising with loyalty points? Read the fine ... - Minneapolis Star Tribune
If coffee is not your thing, there are Italian sodas in dozens of flavors, herbal and caffeinated teas and frappé freezes. The food menu is limited to a few types of paninis (made fresh) and single-serving pizzas, plus a selection of pastries and ...
Read moreSpotlight On: Caffé Greco - Egypt Today
It’s 7:00 a.m. and anyone who is still asleep has just been awakened by this morning’s announcement. A polite good morning call that announces it is a “nippy” 39 degrees outside, and a reminder that the bus for the winery tour leaves in one ...
Read moreCruise West’s very spirited voyage - MSNBC
Mother-daughter duo Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise wear matching orange dresses as they play together on a Central Park playground in New York City on Thursday afternoon. Looks like this twosome is ready for Halloween! ( Suri carried around her ...
Read moreCruise Deal Links
CRUISE.COM - Cruise discounts, cruise deals and discount cruise ...LIMITED-TIME CRUISE LINE DEAL ... The Cruise411 Informer – Our Exclusive Cruise Savings Catalog! Lowest Price ... |
Cruise411.com - Caribbean Cruise, Cruise Vacation, discount cruises ...Cheap Cruises and Cruise Deals available at www.ecruises.com. carnival cruise deals, celebrity cruise deals, royal caribbean cruise deals, norwegian cruise deals, princess cruise ... |
Cheap Cruises, Cruise Deals and Discount Cruise Vacation Price ...Cruise Deals, Cruise Deal - The premiere source for Cruise Deals on the Web. ... Mon-Thu: 8am-Midnight EST Fri: 8am-8pm EST Sat: 9am-8pm EST 24hr Online Booking |
Cruise Deals, Cruise Deal from CruiseDeals.comBook the best cruise deal and discount cruise deal online at CruiseCheap.com. Call 1-800-543-1915 for a cruise deal. |
Best Cruise Deal at and Discount Cruise Deal at CruiseCheap.comSearch the Internet's largest database of Cruise deals. Best last minute cruise deals on all cruises and all cruise lines. |
Cruise Deals and Cheap Cruise Deal, and Last minute Cruise Deals at ...For the best Cruise deal book your next cruise with CruisesOnly. We are America's largest cruise agency. |
Cruise Deals and Cheap Last Minute Cruise Deals at CruisesOnlyCruise Direct - Book Your Cruise on Cruise Direct & Save! Guaranteed best prices on carnival, celebrity, crystal, Disney, holland america, norwegian, princess, royal caribbean ... |
Cheap Cruise Deal Vacations by Friendly TravelYou’ve reserved your imagine cruise. You ordered canvass in a whatever weeks. The airfare is purchased and the solarise discolour cure is packed. |