Chris Ricci can only walk short distances at a time, but he has traveled the world on his scooter.
The 57-year-old U.S. Army veteran has limited mobility due to a foot injury he suffered in the 1980s and related complications, making cruises an affordable way to explore destinations like Alaska or the Caribbean. Just this month, he, his wife and friends took a week-long Royal Caribbean International cruise to Belize, Honduras and Mexico.
Ricci, who lives in Lakeland, Florida, simply had to drive to Tampa to board the Enchantment of the Seas. “I think it’s really easy,” he told USA TODAY. They also booked an accessible cabin for the first time.
“It was really big,” said Ricci, who chronicles her cruises and other trips on her YouTube channel, Scootin Around the World. “I had no problems getting the scooter into the room.”
Cruise ships can offer guests who use mobility devices an accessible and simplified way to travel. But some extra planning can go a long way in ensuring the trip goes smoothly. Here’s what you should know.
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Do cruise ships have accessible cabins for mobility devices?
Cruise companies offer affordable cabins, but they are not all the same. “Make sure you get the accessible room that’s best for you,” said Joy Burns, organization and public relations manager at affordable travel booking platform Wheel the World.
For example, some cabins may be better suited to power wheelchair users, but the configuration may not be conducive to passengers using other types of devices, according to her husband, Bert, who has been paralyzed since 1982 and has done more. of 20 cruises. .
“If I could get a wheelchair-accessible room made for a power wheelchair with a Hoyer lift, the bed would be really high,” he said. “I can’t transfer with a high bed. I use a manual wheelchair, so I’m down.”
Standard cabins can also accommodate mobility devices, but guests should familiarize themselves with cruise line requirements.
Passengers who reserve a standard cabin on Carnival Cruise Line ships must have devices that can fit through a 22-inch-wide door, according to its website. Devices must also be folded and disassembled to allow safe exit from the room (passengers cannot store mobility devices in hallways or public spaces).
“Guests bringing scooters wider than 21″ (53.34 cm) or traveling with multiple scooters in the same cabin must purchase a fully accessible cabin with a wider door (32″, 81.3 cm) or rent a scooter smaller appropriately suited to your cabin,” the line said on its website. “Guests may be required to size their scooters upon check-in to ensure they fit in the cabin.”
Major cruise lines typically have accessibility departments that can help guests navigate the process, according to Sylvia Longmire, an accessible travel writer who runs the travel blog and brand Spin the Globe.
“Please talk to the accessibility department with any questions and let them know what kind of equipment you are bringing if you are bringing your own things,” said Longmire, who has multiple sclerosis and has been on more than 30 cruises, most of which have been with a scooter or wheelchair. “Tell them what your ability or disability is, what your level is, what your accessibility requirements are. And so they can tell you what kind of cabin you might need, what location, (information) about the ship and everything before you even call to make the reservation.”
For those booking through a travel agent, she said she “highly” recommends working with someone who has a disability or specializes in accessible travel.
Which cruises are best for guests with reduced mobility?
Some destinations may also be more suitable for guests with mobility devices than others.
Once, while cruising around New Zealand, the Burns’ ship hit rough waters, causing Bert to leave the casino and crash into the bar (although no one was injured). Joy recommended researching sea conditions. (Click here to see USA TODAY’s guide to the best times to cruise by region.)
She added that expedition cruises, which often feature activities that require guests to get on and off Zodiac boats, may not be as accessible.
Which cruise ship is best for guests with mobility devices?
New ships tend to have more features that can make traveling easier for guests with mobility devices, Burnses and Longmire said. These include automatic sliding doors in public spaces, cabin locks that allow passengers to shake the key to open the door, and pool elevators.
“The newer the ship, the better the accessibility,” Longmire said.
Can I get a mobility device through a cruise line?
Guests can rent mobility devices through providers like Scootaround or Special Needs at Sea (Longmire is a contract employee of Scootaround).
Rentals may also be available at the cruise terminal, and some lines have a limited number of scooters and wheelchairs available on the ship, according to Longmire. She estimated that rentals could range from about $80 to $250, depending on the type of equipment, how long guests need it and other factors.
Do cruise companies offer affordable tours?
Yes, but options may be limited. Joy said that affordable shore excursions available through cruise lines are “few and far between,” and she and Bert have gone on cruises where none were available through the cruise line.
Longmire noted that “cruise companies are entirely dependent on the availability of tours with who they are contracting with.” If a certain destination doesn’t have wheelchair-friendly taxis, for example, this limits cruise lines’ offerings.
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When they are available across the line, Longmire said many of them are what she calls windshield tours — bus rides with a group of other passengers that might include a 15-minute stop or two to take photos. “And the rest is just seeing everything out the window,” she said.
However, she added that cruise lines “get a little better” every year at offering them.
Joy said passengers can also book affordable shore excursions through companies like Wheel the World. Longmire has also had good luck booking buses and tours directly through providers in several ports, though guests should be careful to return in time before the ship departs.
Are tender ports accessible?
When it comes to accessibility at tender ports — where guests have to take a small vessel from ship to shore — Longmire said it’s “not very black and white.” Cruise ships may allow guests to board tenders and some have technology to help passengers in wheelchairs do so, but port capabilities may differ.
“Just because you can get from the ship to the dinghy doesn’t mean you can get from the dinghy to the dock,” Longmire said.
Rules can also be different, with some lines allowing guests in manual wheelchairs to use tents but prohibiting motorized devices. She recommended checking these policies with the accessibility department.
The Burnses, for their part, generally find tender ports inaccessible, and Joy suggested that travelers review itineraries to see how many they include.
Overall, Longmire said her cruise experience has been “very good,” both for accessibility and convenience (you can visit multiple places but unpack once, for example). “I always recommend it to wheelchair users for their first travel experience, like, if you don’t get seasick and you’re okay with cruises, a cruise is the best option.”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY and lives in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
