Travelling with a disability or impairment can be daunting and stressful. Questions fly: Are there accessible rooms? Will I need to bring a carer to assist me? Are service animals allowed?
Don’t stress! Many major cruise lines are accessible to make your sail as smooth as possible. So whether you have reduced mobility or are hard of hearing, ramps to board the ship, wheelchair-accessible cabins and captioned movies can be available so you won’t miss out on a thing.
Searching for the best liner to look after you? Try these out:
1. Holland America
Winner of the Best Overall Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers by Porthole Cruise magazine, Holland America provides accessible experiences for all disabilities. Its fleet even features a specially designed lift system for tender transfers.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Accessible staterooms; wheelchair assistance during embarkation, disembarkation and emergencies; alternate transfers for shore excursions and lifts between ship and tender.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Room kits with visual and tactile alerts, closed-caption TVs, amplified telephones, assistive listening systems, screen reader computer software, large-print/braille menu and ship familiarisation tours.
Good to know: Holland America's Vista class has 28 accessible rooms. A screen reader in the Explorations cafe allows visually impaired passengers to read Internet text.
2. Carnival Cruises
Young or old, Carnival Cruises provides accessibility options for all.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Modified and accessible cabins, wheelchairs for embarkation and disembarkation, and accessible elevators and routes throughout the ship.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Braille signage and large-print menus. Audible signals and portable ADA room kits upon prior request.
Good to know: Ports with tenders (small boats which are used when the ship can't access the port) that are not wheelchair accessible include Belize, Catalina Island, Half Moon Cay, Cabo San Lucas and Kona.
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian is so committed to assisting its special needs customers that it has a dedicated Special Needs at Sea team to help personally coordinate your trip.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Accessible staterooms, wheelchairs for embarking and disembarking only and pool lifts on every ship. Barrier-free transportation to the ship on request.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Pagers for announcement alerts, hearing aids, visually-tactile kits and braille/markings onboard. Cabled cabins with optical and tactile stimuli and sign language interpreters on some ships.
Good to know: Sky, Sun and Pride of America have cabled cabins for guests with limited hearing.
4. Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean pulls out all the stops to make sailing with limited mobility a breeze. Think automatic doors, early boarding and pool lifts. Talk about the royal treatment.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Accessible staterooms, spacious corridors, automatic doors, ramps, pool lifts and accessible transfer vehicles.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Large-print menus, service animal relief areas, braille/tactile signage and buttons, orientation tours, hearing room kits, assistive listening system and closed-caption televisions.
Good to know: Serenade of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas both feature over 30 accessible staterooms and pool lifts.
5. Celebrity Cruises
Whatever your needs, Celebrity Cruises accommodates for all, including complimentary assistance getting on and off the ship.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Accessible staterooms, accessible excursions, spacious corridors, early boarding, automatic doors and wheelchair assistance during embarkation and disembarkation. Some ships feature pool lifts.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Large-print menus, qualified readers (a crewmember who will read written material), tactile/braille signage and elevator buttons on some ships, ADA kit on request and closed-caption televisions.
Good to know: Pool lifts on Solstice class and Celebrity Century. Tactile signage on Solstice class, Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Infinity. Accessible routes to tender platform on Solstice class.
Accessible staterooms and auxiliary aids are just a few facilities this ship of dreams offers its special needs passengers.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Accessible staterooms and public rooms. Bed boards, bed rails, portable or raised toilet seats, shower stool and transfer bench on request.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Auxiliary aids, stateroom communication kits with bed shaker and TTY. Sign-language interpreters may also be available.
Good to know: Dream class ships have 24 accessible rooms and feature youth counsellors experienced in working with children with needs.
Cunard is as transparent as a cruise line can be and provides you with a full list of accessible cabins so you know exactly what you'll get when booking.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Accessible staterooms and wheelchairs available for embarkation and disembarkation. Benches and shower stools on request.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Visual alert system.
Good to know: The Queen Mary II has 32 fully accessible cabins and over 100 non-adapted cabins for cruisers with partial mobility. Wheelchair assistance available at Southampton port.
8. P&O Cruises
P&O offers assistance to passengers with limited mobility both on board and on shore with personalised escorted shore excursions.
Available for limited-mobility passengers: Accessible rooms and a limited supply of wheelchairs available on board for embarkation, disembarkation and emergencies.
Available for the vision or hearing impaired: Specialised kits for the hearing impaired.
Good to know: P&O offers escorted limited-mobility shore tours upon request so you won't have to miss out.
Accessible cruise lines compared
Cruise line
Accessible cabins
Accessible ship areas
Wheelchair accessible excursions
Wheelchair accessible tenders
P&O Cruises
Wheelchair-accessible rooms across its fleet
Accessible routes are available through most of the ship
Yes, specially designed limited mobility shore tours available
Guest must transfer out of wheelchair
Holland America
Modified and wheelchair-accessible rooms across its fleet
Accessible routes are available through most of the ship
Alternate transportation can be arranged for a more accessible shore excursion
Guest must transfer out of wheelchair.
Carnival Cruises
Modified and wheelchair-accessible rooms available
Accessible routes are available through most of the ship
Yes
Guest must transfer out of wheelchair
Royal Caribbean
Accessible staterooms across its fleet
Accessible routes are available through most of the ship; some ships have pool lifts
Yes – shore excursions are given levels of difficulty to help determine suitability
Guest must transfer out of wheelchair
Celebrity Cruises
Accessible staterooms across its fleet
Accessible routes are available through most of the ship
Customised tours and easy excursions available
Accessible gangway to tender platform on select ships
Accessible routes are available through most of the ship
Yes
Guest must transfer out of wheelchair
Cunard
Fully accessible cabins and non-adapted cabins across its fleet
Accessible routes are available through most of the ship
Yes, limited activity shore excursions are recommended
Guest must transfer out of wheelchair.
What do wheelchair-accessible rooms include?
Wheelchair-accessible rooms are designed for wheelchair maneuverability. They can include widened doorways throughout the cabin, wheel-in showers, lowered sinks and vanities, handheld showerheads, grab bars, shower seats, turning space, lowered dressing tables and wardrobes, ramped thresholds, benches, bath distress alarms and accessible balconies.
What are ADA kits?
ADA compliance kits aid the deaf and hearing impaired. They may be available on cruise ships and in hotels and can feature telephone amplifiers, visual smoke detectors, door knock sensors and text telephones (TDD).
Do I need to bring a companion with me?
If you have reduced mobility and require aid, many cruise liners advise you bring a companion or carer with you to assist you on board and on shore. Depending on your level of mobility, companions may also assist you in embarking and disembarking from tenders for shore excursions.
Are tenders wheelchair accessible?
Most tenders are not wheelchair accessible. If you have some level of mobility and can embark and disembark from the tender with minimal assistance, you may collapse your wheelchair to bring it on the tender for use on shore. Steps are usually present to embark and disembark from a tender.
How do I book a cruise if I have accessibility needs?
If you require accessibility assistance during your cruise, contact the cruise line direct to acknowledge your needs. Cruise lines are more than happy to provide assistance to passengers with accessibility requirements with advance notice.
When contacting the cruise line, you will also need to advise of any equipment you plan to bring, or require on board, to aid you during your trip. This includes wheelchairs, scooters and hoists.
Which ports are best for mobile accessibility?
Not all ports will have the infrastructure to allow for mobile accessibility. If you have limited to no mobility, these are some of the most popular and wheelchair-accessible ports to consider including in your itinerary:
Sydney and White Bay, Australia
Adelaide, Australia
Auckland, New Zealand
Brisbane, Australia
Cairns, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Fremantle, Australia
Singapore
Southampton/London, UK
Barcelona, Spain
Monaco
Naples, Italy
Athens, Greece
St Thomas, Virgin Islands
Princess Cays, Bahamas
Alaska (various ports are accessible), USA
Castaway Cay, Bahamas
Which popular cruise ports are not mobile accessible and/or are tendering ports?
If you have limited to no mobility, you may consider avoiding cruises that dock at the following ports as they are either not accessible or require tenders to disembark, which can be a bit difficult depending on your condition:
Airlie Beach, Australia
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Benoa, Bali
Bora Bora, Polynesia
Christchurch (Akaroa), New Zealand
Isle of Pines, New Caledonia
Lembar, Lombok
Lifou Isle, New Caledonia
Mare, New Caledonia
Moreton Island, Australia
Mooloolaba, Australia
Moorea, Polynesia
Mystery Island, Vanuatu
Port Arthur, Tasmania
Port Douglas, Australia
Wala, Vanuatu
Yorkeys Knob, Australia
Catalina Island, California
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Kona, Hawaii
Avonmouth, UK
Liverpool, UK
Rosyth, UK
Importance of cruise travel insurance for disabled travellers
There's a lot to consider when it comes to planning a holiday, and cruise travel insurance shouldn't be skipped over - especially if you're travelling with any sort of disability or have a pre-existing condition that compromises your ability onboard or may require some medical attention.
When it comes to manoeuvring into tender boats, getting around the close quarters of a ship while it's slightly moving with the sea or just enjoying the benefits a cruise has to offer it's important to make sure that you're covered in case anything doesn't quite go to plan on board. Medical care on a cruise doesn't come cheap, especially if there isn't a Medicare doctor on board, and having the right level of cover can really save you if something does happen.
Best cruise deals
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Enjoy huge discounts on selected day tours, attractions, cruises, and other activities for the whole family at Experience Oz. Limited time offer. T&Cs apply.
Discount applies on brochure price of select Carnival Cruise vacations. Valid on select 3- to 7-night Carnival Cruises departing Brisbane on select dates for 2024. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates in 2023 with Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night cruise with Carnival Cruises.
Available on select travel dates until 2024, including Easter and school holidays. Activities include whale- and dolphin-watching and lunch and sunset cruises in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Get up to 40% off cruises + drinks & Wi-Fi included + up to $400 onboard credit + kids sail free at MSC Cruises. Destinations include the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Bermuda, and Europe. T&Cs apply.
Up to 50% off Norwegian cruise line + FREE open bar, dining, and Wi-Fi
Get up to to 50% off sailings aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line and enjoy unlimited drinks, FREE specialty dining, and FREE Wi-Fi at sea. Limited time offer. T&Cs apply.
Available on select cruise dates. Destinations include Alaska, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and more aboard popular cruise liners such as Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and more.
Available on select travel dates with Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and more. Sample rate is for a 3-night Bahamas cruise with Carnival Cruises. Destinations include Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Italy and Alaska. T&Cs apply.
Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday. See full bio
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