Cruising with a disability: Five tips to ensure a smooth sailing

Having a condition such as cancer, diabetes or autism needn’t impede your wanderlust. You can still see the world whether you’re in a wheelchair or sight or hearing impaired – and cruising is one of the easiest ways to travel.

Jon Fletcher is the CEO of The Wheelie Good Travel Company, which provides an accessible travel planning service. Jon, who travels with an assistance dog, says, “As a disabled traveller, one of the things I love about cruises is that I enjoy a level of accessibility that you rarely find elsewhere, making places easier to visit than flying. With careful planning, along with the right ship and itinerary, no destination is off limits.

“Modern cruise ships have so much to offer disabled passengers, from accessible adapted cabins to fabulous food.”

Angus Drummond, who founded Limitless Travel to enable travellers with disabilities to make the most of a destination, agrees. He says, “Due to my declining mobility caused by progressive muscular dystrophy, travel is becoming harder – yet cruising allows me to explore all corners of the globe.

“As a disabled man there is no smoother, more hassle-free, calmer experience than a cruise. When on board, you have everything at your fingertips and no concerns about checking in to different hotels or problems finding accessible entertainment.”

Still feeling unsure about booking a cruise? Then here are five tips for travelling with a condition to ensure a carefree voyage.

1. BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE

As well as having a rare blood cancer – polycythaemia vera – I have cerebral palsy, which affects movement and coordination, particularly in my right arm.

Sorting out travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions can be tricky, as insurers class you as a higher risk than other travellers.

Your specific illness or disability will affect the insurance available to you. However, in my experience all insurance companies ask me to answer the same medical screening questionnaire, and as a result offer similar policies.

2. SPEAK TO YOUR GP

My blood cancer is treatable with medication, so I always carry a letter from my GP outlining my medical history when I’m overseas. That way, if I become ill abroad, I have a greater chance of receiving relevant treatment.

Issues such as running out of medication can arise if my return to the UK is delayed, therefore my documentation also lists all my meds.

Heather Churchouse, a senior communications officer from the cancer charity Macmillan, recommends that you seek advice from your cancer doctor, specialist nurse, practice nurse, GP or travel health professional before you make any plans or book a trip.

“Some treatment such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy can affect your immune system and increase your risk of infection,” she says. “They can tell you whether travelling may be unsafe or explain what precautions to take.”

3. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CRUISE LINE

It’s vital to discuss your needs with your chosen cruise line before you book.

Despite having limited use of my right arm, I generally don’t need any additional aids. So when I booked an inner single cabin on a six-night cruise aboard P&O’s Britannia from Southampton to the Norwegian fjords I could navigate the ship easily, along with all of its restaurants, entertainment and swimming pool.

All of the swimming pools on P&O’s ships offer a hoist with a chair and a 136kg weight limit, but it may need to be booked at reception with 24 hours’ notice.

While my cabin was small, it had ample space for clothes and a fridge – which is crucial if you need to keep medication such as insulin below
a certain temperature.

Choose your cruise line wisely. By their nature, older ships, expedition vessels and intimate yachts may be less able to cater for disabilities than a large modern cruise ship.

Other ships can be OK but it might depend upon your specific needs. TUI, for example, can’t guarantee guests space away from other people, devices, background noise or ship activity, and even in your stateroom (cabin) there may be some atmospheric or operational noise, which can make travelling with an autism spectrum disorder challenging.

Royal Caribbean International is autism-friendly, offering priority check-in, boarding and departure, pagers and phones for parents with autistic children and sensory-friendly films and toys.

Autism on the Seas collaborates with lines including Royal Caribbean to help organise cruises for passengers with special needs such as cerebral palsy or autism, Asperger’s, Down’s or Tourette’s and all cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities.

If you have sight loss or hearing issues, consider booking with TUI, which offers deaf guards – portable devices that activate on the sounding of the alarms by flashing lights and triggering a vibrating pad usually placed under your pillow.

In all emergencies, trained crew proactively search cabins, and guests requiring additional assistance have dedicated resources available to support their evacuation.

There is a closed loop system to account for all guests in emergencies. There are also Braille signs around the vessels and hearing loops in the show lounge, reception and destination services.

But due to the specific nature and environment of cruise ships, the line recommends that if you’re hard of hearing or have vision impairments you may wish to be accompanied by a fit and able companion who can assist you.

Jonathan Abro has the hereditary eye disease retinitis pigmentosa. He travels with his partner Annie, who can see.

He says, “Annie reads menus to me and we chat about the courses, then when staff arrive with the meal, they tell me where things are. On excursions, I use my phone to help navigate new locations. As I have my partner with me, it’s nice getting lost together while wandering around on land.”

But not everyone with a disability can travel with a companion – and not all of us want to.

If you plan to travel independently with P&O, or you require mobility aids such as a scooter or wheelchair, it is essential that you notify P&O at the time of booking. You will be asked to complete an onboard needs questionnaire via its website. The line welcomes registered assistance dogs on its Southampton-to-Southampton sailings. It can also help you at check in, security and when boarding the ship.

Like P&O, Saga asks guests to declare any disabilities and requirements at the time of booking, which allows it to tailor the appropriate arrangements. All the line’s ships and facilities are accessible to wheelchair users, while the onboard Playhouse theatre and Britannia Lounge are fitted with infra- red induction loops for guests with compatible hearing aids. Each ship also has 10 accessible cabins.

Jonathan adds, “As I don’t read Braille there is often a muster drill orientation on the TV in my cabin playing on a loop, allowing me to get safety information.

“I don’t ask for adapted cabins because after a few days on board I tend to know my way around a ship better than anyone else. Once, I cruised for 10 days on Cunard’s Queen Mary II from Southampton to New York. The ship was rocking about, with high waves and strong winds, but I found it exciting as I have good balance and mobility and there were handrails everywhere so I wasn’t afraid of falling over.”

4. ENQUIRE ABOUT EXCURSIONS

Whether you’re booking direct with a cruise line or through a tour operator, it’s important to research your onshore adventures.

“Planning and booking your cruise with a specialist travel agent means you get expert advice,” adds The Wheelie Good Travel Company’s Jon. “Despite having spina bifida, I have an assistance dog called Georgia who cruises with me, along with my partner who is also blind. Cruising is a great way to meet new friends, see exciting places and experience amazing holidays.”

Limitless Travel has a potter-around- the-port service, which supports disabled passengers in disembarking the ship and exploring the local sights via accessible itineraries.

Angus adds, “I set up Limitless Travel because many people have specific needs. You may need to travel with a companion or require support while away. We tour in small groups, allowing guests the opportunity to meet other solo passengers and make new friends, reassured that they are not the only disabled person. Each group is led by an experienced tour manager, and a team of carers are on hand to assist each person, from unpacking luggage to tailored support.

“We can offer a door-to-door service, or meet you at the port, check you in and help you while on board. We organise accessible excursions, plan itineraries on board and make sure every guest has an incredible holiday. We spend a lot of time planning each guest’s holiday support package to ensure it meets their needs.”

On my Britannia cruise to the fjords, I opted for a cablecar ride in Olden which was accessible to wheelchair users – and spotted a base jumper flying through the air in a winged suit. Inspired, I also booked a speedboat ride in Haugesund. With a little help from other passengers, I got in and out of the inflatable dinghy, despite wearing an oversized wetsuit.

On other days I strolled around Stavanger and Kristiansand at my leisure, with accessible guide maps provided by the local tourist information office near the harbour. The maps had easy-to-follow routes, with accessible toilets marked at places of interest such as museums.

5. THE BOTTOM LINE

Jonathan sums up his experience of cruising with a disability like this: “There is a wide choice of cruise lines, from ultra-luxury to budget-friendly, so whether you’re looking for a family holiday, a romantic getaway or just want to relax, there is something for everyone.”

I couldn’t agree more.