The
cruise industry has taken the
lead when it comes to accommodating
all travelers, including those
with special needs.
Although foreign-flagged
cruise lines are not required
to comply with the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA),
the cruise industry, including
member lines of Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA),
has taken it upon itself to
make cruising comfortable and
accessible for travelers with
disabilities.
“We congratulate
the way the cruise industry
has gone far and above any other
segment of the travel industry
in this area,” said Jani
Nayar, executive coordinator
for the Society for Accessible
Travel and Hospitality (SATH),
the New York-based non-profit
organization whose goal is to
raise awareness of the needs
of all travelers with disabilities,
remove physical and attitudinal
barriers to free access and
expand travel opportunities
in the United States and abroad.
“The cruise
industry has been wonderful.
They have really taken this
issue to heart,” says
Nayar. “It has been said
that it is not the letter of
the law but the spirit of the
law that counts; the cruise
industry has definitely followed
the spirit of the law.”
“It is
important that every cruise
passenger has a wonderful experience,”
says Bob Sharak, executive director
of CLIA, which represents 24
lines in the North American
cruise industry. “That
is why lines have adapted their
existing facilities and newer
ships are being designed with
passengers with special needs
in mind.”
The cruise industry
has long been proactive in accommodating
guests with disabilities. As
new ships are built, design
features have been added that
take into account wheelchair
access and facilities for the
hearing- and sight-disabled
and persons with other handicaps.
Features available
on various ships in the CLIA
fleet include the following:
-
Specially
equipped staterooms, with
wide doors and large bathrooms.
-
Wheelchair-accessible
bathrooms, some with roll-in
showers.
-
Braille
menus as well as Braille
call buttons and stairwell
banister deck numbers.
-
Easy access
on and off the ship –
many lines will also arrange
tours on shore that can
easily accommodate people
with disabilities, and some
even provide accessibility
ratings in their shore excursion
booklets, so passengers
can plan their tours in
advance.
-
Special
health services, such as
kidney dialysis machines
and oxygen tanks, that can
be accommodated when arrangements
are made in advance.
-
Menus to
accommodate special dietary
needs, such as low cholesterol/low
fat, low sodium, diabetic
and vegetarian.
-
Assistance
for people who are deaf
or have a hearing impairment
– cabins may feature
TTY (text telephones) devices
or vibrating alarm clocks
as well as visual alerts
for emergencies as well
as door bells.
To be sure that
a ship can accommodate a traveler’s
specific requirements –
whether it is medical, dietary
or physical – it is best
to work with a CLIA-affiliated
travel agency. They are considered
the experts when it comes to
cruising and work closely with
the CLIA member lines.
“It is
important that travelers discuss
their special needs with their
travel agent from the beginning,”
says Sharak. “In addition
to helping them determine which
cruise is best for their circumstances,
a CLIA-affiliated agency can
notify the cruise line well
in advance of any special needs,
such as bringing a wheelchair
on board or medical or dietary
needs.
“We all
have one goal – to ensure
that every traveler has a wonderful
cruise experience.”
“The health
and comfort of all our passengers
and crew is our main concern,”
says Sharak. “While the
cruise industry is making great
strides to provide services
for passengers with disabilities,
all our passengers should know
that they are never far away
from modern medical care and
trained staff, which we hope
they will never have to use.”
For more information
about cruising and cruising
for those with disabilities,
visit CLIA’s website,
www.cruising.org, then visit
a cruise expert at a CLIA-affiliated
travel agency. To find a nearby
affiliated agency staffed with
Accredited Cruise Counsellors
(ACCs) and Master Cruise Counsellors
(MCCs) – agents who have
extensive cruise experience
and have completed advanced
levels of CLIA’s intensive
training program – click
on “Find a Cruise Travel
Agent” on CLIA’s
website.
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