| Most of the newer ships offer wheelchair
| |
| | vacation a more comfortable experience:
|
| assessable state rooms and can provide
| |
| | - Stateroom and cabin doorways wide
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| dining room seating arrangements to avoid
| |
| | enough for wheelchairs (at least 30")
|
| stairs and raised areas. Just be sure
| |
| | - Stateroom dimensions and floor space
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| your travel agent notifies the cruise
| |
| | for maneuverability and bathroom
|
| line of your wheelchair usage and any
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| | dimensions adequate for maneuvering
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| other special needs prior to sailing when
| |
| | - No "lips" or sills into bathrooms
|
| making your cruise vacation reservations.
| |
| | - Sink positioned so wheelchair can roll
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| Cruise travelers with physical
| |
| | under it
|
| challenges should check with the onboard
| |
| | - Roll-in shower wit a fold-down stool
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| tour office to ensure that all
| |
| | in shower with detachable showerhead
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| pre-reserve tours can accommodate their
| |
| | - Bathroom walls with handrails
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| needs.
| |
| | - Raised toilet seat, at least 17" inches
|
| Cruise travel may be the ideal vacation
| |
| | high
|
| for an individual using a wheelchair,
| |
| | - Pull-down clothing racks
|
| since it provides the opportunity to
| |
| | - Light switches at wheelchair level
|
| visit a number of destinations in a
| |
| | - Adjustable mirror above sink
|
| relatively short time. A cruise vacation
| |
| | - Portable telephone
|
| provides effortless travel between
| |
| | - Blinking lights in staterooms for the
|
| locations without the inconvenience of
| |
| | hearing challenged
|
| packing and unpacking. You'll appreciate
| |
| | In some ports, ships must anchor offshore
|
| the choice of experiencing the ship's
| |
| | due to size of the port or because of
|
| destinations or relaxing and enjoying the
| |
| | extreme weather (if the weather is too
|
| comfort of being pampered at a "resort at
| |
| | extreme they won't stop at that port at
|
| sea."
| |
| | all). They "tender" guests to shore with
|
| Is important that if one of your party
| |
| | small boats that may not be accessible to
|
| uses a wheelchair you want to ask the
| |
| | guests in wheelchairs. You'll want to
|
| following questions:
| |
| | check with the shore excursions
|
| * How many wheelchair accessible cabins
| |
| | department to determine which shore
|
| on the cruise ship?
| |
| | excursions are most suitable for you. In
|
| * Are the doors to the rooms and
| |
| | some destinations, particularly those
|
| elevators wide enough to accommodate a
| |
| | outside of the United States, you will
|
| regular wheelchair?
| |
| | not always find accessible transportation
|
| * Can I get my wheelchair out on deck and
| |
| | and facilities.
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| into the public rooms during my cruise
| |
| | Some of the Princess cruise line ships
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| vacation?
| |
| | have hoists by the pool so a physically
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| * Will I be able to access the dining
| |
| | challenged passengers can enjoy the pool.
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| areas?
| |
| | Some of Holland American ships have the
|
| In some ports of call, where the ship
| |
| | ability to tender wheelchairs into ports
|
| must anchor, access via wheelchair may
| |
| | where they do not dock. Ask your travel
|
| not be possible.
| |
| | agent to inquire with those lines to find
|
| Ships generally stock a limited number of
| |
| | the ship that is suitable for you.
|
| wheelchairs but please be aware they must
| |
| | There is no reason that anyone who is
|
| be pre-reserved at the time of your
| |
| | physically challenged should avoid a
|
| booking.
| |
| | cruise vacation. Just remember when you
|
| Due to S.O.L.A.S. (Safety of Live At Sea)
| |
| | are looking into cruise travel that you
|
| Regulations, physically challenged
| |
| | have your travel agent find the cruise
|
| passengers must have partial mobility,
| |
| | ship that caters to your needs.
|
| and a traveling companion who can assist
| |
| | Now that you know that a cruise vacation
|
| them, should an emergency arise.
| |
| | may be perfect for you, call your travel
|
| You'll find that the newer, larger cruise
| |
| | agent and start packing.
|
| ships have been built with the goal of
| |
| | Happy Cruising!
|
| full-accessibility. A new ship will have
| |
| | Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights
|
| wider corridors, more spacious cabins,
| |
| | Reserved.
|
| more, and larger, elevators and ramps
| |
| | This article may be distributed freely on
|
| where needed. In addition, the designated
| |
| | your website and in your ezines, as long
|
| "accessible" cabins on newer ships are
| |
| | as this entire article, copyright notice,
|
| outfitted with many of the following
| |
| | links and the resource box are unchanged.
|
| features that will make your cruise
| |
| |
|
