What to Expect in Handicap-Accessible Cruise Ship Cabins

Cruise lines eagerly claim to be the perfect vacation for everyone, no matter what their age or interests may be. While cruise vacations do have a lot to offer, they aren't always the best choice for passengers with limited mobility concerns or who need handicap-accessible facilities. Most ships do, however, have a number of handicap-accessible cabins available, and understanding what modifications have been made to those cabins can help concerned passengers decide if a cruise is the right vacation for them.

Handicapped Cabin Locations

Cruise ship cabins that have been modified to be more accessible for those with limited mobility are often located in centralized areas near some of the ship's most popular public areas, such as dining rooms and lounges. This placement helps minimize the need for using stairs and gives passengers easier access to all the ship's facilities.

Interested passengers should note, however, that cabins with accessible features are not always the least expensive staterooms. Different ships may have limited mobility cabins available in a range of cabin categories, or they may be restricted to oceanview or suite staterooms that are already more spacious and command slightly higher prices.

Cabin Features

Most cruise ship cabins are not known for their spacious, open layouts, but staterooms that have been modified as handicap-accessible do have certain features that can make them easier to use. While those features will vary between different ships and different cruise lines, common modifications include:

• Lowered or adjustable bathroom mirrors for easy use by wheelchair-bound passengers
• Cabin peepholes at wheelchair level
• Sturdy bars in the shower and on walls around the toilet for passengers to use for stability
• Foldable seats in the shower
• Fewer steps or ridges between the sleeping area and bathroom
• Doors designed to open wider or equipped with arms to hold them open for easier access
• Handheld shower heads
• Low vanity tables for use with wheelchairs

Despite these modifications, cruise ship cabins are not always suitable for wheelchairs, personal scooters, or other equipment, and individuals with mobility issues may not be happy with other design details. Towel bars may need to be moved higher on the wall to accommodate grab bars in the bathroom, and many cabins have narrow entry corridors that may not be wheelchair-friendly. Cabins are not equipped with hospital or moveable beds, and oceanview windows in handicapped cabins are not generally lowered.

Additional Ship Features

In addition to the features added to staterooms to make them more accessible, general ship design is often done with passengers' needs in mind. Common ship features may include:

• Multiple elevators throughout the ship
• Shallower stairs than standard construction
• Handrails at all stairways
• Automatic doors on public restrooms and some public areas
• Handicapped or wheelchair seating in public lounges

It is still important to remember, however, that a cruise ship can be a crowded place. Elevators may be slow or crowded, and corridors are often narrow. Nonetheless, the ship's friendly crew is always there to try to make the voyage as pleasant as possible for all passengers, no matter what their individual requirements may be.

Tips for Booking a Handicap-Accessible Cabin

Passengers with limited mobility who would like to reserve an accessible cabin should book their cruise vacation early to ensure the availability of the cabin they need. Always inform your travel agent about your needs, and confirm the cabin's accessibility directly with the cruise line. Because ships are fully booked when they set sail, if you fail to get an accessible cabin it may be impossible to change once you are on board.

Passengers Who Should Reconsider a Cruise

Despite the many modifications cruise lines make to help their ships and cabins be more accessible to individuals with limited mobility, a cruise is not the ideal vacation for someone with severe disabilities or difficulties. Individuals who require specialized bathroom facilities, hospital beds, and large wheelchairs or scooters may want to reconsider the idea of going on a cruise. Furthermore, individuals with limited mobility who will be traveling alone or without someone who can help with personal tasks may also want to investigate a cruise very carefully before booking a voyage.

Whether a passenger requires a walker, wheelchair, cane, or scooter, cruise ships have cabins available that try to accommodate those limited accessibility needs. By understanding what is and is not available on a cruise ship, interested passengers can decide if setting sail is the right vacation for them.