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A significant portion of the population is aging gracefully and finding that travel is a perfect way to enhance their retirement. Because of cruise ships’ all-inclusive benefits, many seniors are looking at booking several trips each year to different destinations.
According to this blog, past cruisers saw traveling as a challenge, even assistive devices such as rollators. However, cruise lines are making considerable changes to their services and physical accommodations to receive everyone comfortably on board.
Ship updates
Cruise ships used to be a maze of tight corners and narrow corridors, but today’s liners take mobility into greater consideration. Although there are sweeping staircases for photos and architectural aesthetics, seniors with assistive devices have ample pathways to reach almost all the ship’s amenities.
Hallways, doorways, and rooms maintain standard wheelchair widths, depending on the liner. Numerous elevators whisk seniors to any deck with easy-to-reach buttons. Cruise ships even make navigation on board a simple matter by providing clear signs that note pathways and accessible public restrooms.
Seniors shouldn’t feel frustrated moving around at all.
Renting equipment
Although people may be comfortable with their assistive devices, each ship has slightly different hallway and room widths to negotiate. Contacting the ship’s associated mobility device supply company is a smart way to stay mobile while on vacation.
These supply shops typically rent rollators, walkers, wheelchairs, and other specialized devices that are customized to the particular ship. Travelers simply show up on their sailing day to pick up the rental.
If requested, the equipment may be placed in the stateroom instead of brought to the terminal. Personal service makes these rental devices very attractive.
Transfers made easy
Each ship must ensure safe accessibility for debarkation at ports, unless there is a tender involved. A tender is a small boat that parks beside the ship, and enables people to travel between the ship and land.
Accessibility into tenders is often limited, but most ports have traditional landing decks. Once secured, people with assistive devices can simply walk or roll out onto land and enjoy the local pleasures.
The transfer back onto the ship may be slightly more challenging because of the uphill climb. Ship personnel will help passengers back onto the liner for safety and courtesy reasons.
Excursions aren’t limited
A number of different buses, taxis, and charter groups pull up to the ship when in port. If travelers plan ahead, these vehicles can be accessible for almost any excursion type.
Enjoy a car tour around the countryside or take a few hours to bask at a local beach resort. Tour operators want visitors to have a great time, regardless of their special needs.
Vehicles often have hydraulic lifts to help people enter attractions without climbing steep stairs. Every possible alteration is made to help assisted people feel part of the group and forget their everyday worries.
It’s a good practice to contact the cruise line before booking a special vacation. Explain your mobility needs so they can accommodate every practicality. You should have smooth sailing as long as there’s communication between travelers and hospitality personnel.
