Cruising with mobility and accessibility needs

Cruising is one of the most workable vacations for a traveler with limited mobility, because you unpack once and the hotel comes with you. What makes it work is asking for the right things early, and knowing the one rule most people are not told: crew are not permitted to lift or transfer a passenger.

Accessible travel is one of our listed specialties. This page covers what we ask about and why, so you can see whether we are the right people to plan your trip.

How far in advance do I need to request an accessible cabin?

Between 30 and 90 days before sailing, depending on the cruise line. The accessible cabins themselves sell out far earlier than that, often a year ahead.

Two different deadlines get confused here. There is the line’s deadline for submitting a special requirements form, which is 30, 45, 60 or 90 days depending on who you are sailing with. And there is the practical reality that a ship has few accessible cabins and they go first.

Book the cabin as early as you can. File the paperwork as soon as the booking exists. We do the second part for you.

What makes a cabin accessible?

A doorway of at least 32 inches, a five foot turning circle inside, a roll in shower, and no lip at the bathroom door. A cabin described as wheelchair friendly is not the same as a certified accessible cabin.

Language matters here. Lines use terms like modified, ambulatory accessible and fully accessible, and they mean different things. A modified cabin may have grab bars but a standard doorway, which is useless if the chair does not fit. We check the deck plan and the cabin specification rather than the label.

Can I bring my own wheelchair or scooter?

Yes, and you should. Ships carry a small number of chairs for emergencies, not for your use through the week. A scooter must fit inside the cabin, since it cannot be left in a corridor.

Corridors are a fire escape route, so anything left in one will be moved. Measure your scooter and tell us the dimensions. If it will not fit in the cabin you have, that is a reason to change the cabin, and it is much easier to know at booking than at boarding.

Batteries need declaring. Dry cell and gel batteries are usually fine; wet cell batteries often are not.

Will the crew help me in and out of my wheelchair?

No. Crew are not permitted to physically lift or transfer a passenger. Anyone who needs help transferring must travel with someone who can provide it.

This is a firm rule across the industry and it is rarely stated plainly in brochures, which is why families sometimes discover it on embarkation day. Crew will help with a great deal, including getting a chair over a threshold or onto a tender platform where conditions allow, but not with lifting a person.

If you need transfer assistance, plan for a traveling companion or a paid carer. We will price the cabin arrangement accordingly.

What happens at a tender port?

At ports where the ship anchors and small boats ferry passengers ashore, wheelchair users are sometimes unable to go ashore. It depends on the sea state on the day, and the captain decides.

This is the honest limitation of cruising with a chair, and it is worth building the itinerary around. Some itineraries are almost entirely alongside berths. Others are heavy on tender ports. We can tell you which is which before you book, and for many travelers that single piece of information changes the choice of sailing.

Is there a lift into the pool?

On some ships, not all, and on some lines it needs booking in advance. Do not assume.

Availability varies by ship rather than by line, so this is a per ship question. If the pool matters to your week, tell us and we will confirm before you commit.

What about dietary needs?

Tell the line before you sail rather than telling your waiter on the first night. Gluten free, dairy free, low sodium, kosher and halal are all commonly accommodated, but kosher and halal in particular often need ordering ahead because the meals come aboard frozen.

Serious allergies deserve the same treatment as a mobility need. Declare them at booking, and then confirm with the maitre d’ on the first day. Ships handle this well when they know in advance, and poorly when they are surprised.

Other things worth telling us

• Hearing. Many ships have cabins fitted with visual alerts for the door, telephone and alarm, and some offer assistive listening in the theater.
• Vision. Braille signage is common. A service animal is permitted, with paperwork, and needs country by country checks for every port.
• Oxygen and medical equipment. Bring your own supply. Ships do not refill oxygen. Dialysis is possible on some sailings and needs arranging well ahead.
• Medication. Carry it in the original labeled containers, in your hand luggage, with enough for longer than the trip.

Why this matters to us

Accessible travel is on our list of specialties because we have been arranging it for four decades, and because it is where an advisor makes the most difference. Almost none of what is on this page can be handled by a booking website.

Tell us what you need. If it matters to you, it matters to us.