If you are looking to book a cruise but are worried about the accessibility and special needs requirements, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! It is crucial to know what cruise lines provide inclusive and accessible experiences for guests with a disability or special needs requirements. So, we have come up with a list of all the cruise lines we operate with that will provide and support you with all your needs:
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offers a range of accessibility features on their ships. They provide accessible staterooms with wider doorways, roll-in showers, and also embarkation and disembarkation assistance and accessible shore excursions in some ports. Onboard, wheelchair-accessible routes and elevators, dining venues and public areas are designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities. In order to best accommodate, Princess Cruises advises guests to contact Access Desk if you are cruising with an individual with special needs, and every effort will be made to accommodate them.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line is dedicated to offering the finest cruising experience for all guests, including those with a disability. There are accessible staterooms for disabled guests aboard the Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Westerdam, Zaandam, and Zuiderdam vessels. Additionally, Holland America Line permits ONLY service animals that are individually trained to assist an individual with a disability. To best meet the needs of all disabled guests, guests are encouraged to contact Guest Accessibility Department before their cruise to evaluate and determine their specific needs and how best to accommodate them.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises have accessible rooms which are designed with wide door frames, accessible balconies, roll-in showers alongside a fold-down bench and lowered sinks and vanities. Guests can request vision and hearing-related accommodations alongside special excursions for guests of all abilities to take part in at certain ports. In addition to that, you are entitled to priority check-in, boarding & departure and special dietary accommodations if needed. All Celebrity cruises encourage an autism-friendly environment where guests are encouraged to freely walk around during the film and freely talk whilst offering sensory-friendly films, which are screened in a low-volume & low-lit environment. There is a toy-lending program for individuals who have autism that delivers top-rated products with both entertainment and educational purposes. Upon request, Celebrity Cruises are able to put together a bag of autism-friendly toys of your selection.
Cunard
Cunard offers 20 wheelchair-accessible adapted staterooms for three of their Queens, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. Guests are advised to fill out a disability questionnaire available on Cunard’s website 14 days before your sailing date to accommodate your needs best. Cunard welcomes assistance dogs aboard their vessels at no extra charge; however, they cannot disembark at specific ports of call. For visually impaired guests, Cunard can accommodate this by providing larger print versions of emergency and safety information available in Braille.
If you want more information, please call our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6681.