A cruise is a wonderful change of scenery and a complete alternative to a person's "normal" daily activities and surroundings. This wonderful change is amplified if you're disabled, handicapped or physically challenged. Any attempt to make such a vacation better and smoother for a disabled person is applauded. Yesterday, a new ruling by the Department of Transportation was approved and opened for comment that will require public passenger vessels, including cruise ships, additional regulations designed to benefit disabled persons.
You can read the details here:
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#documentDetail?R=0900006480b03822
Because of personal family experience, I've witnessed the provisions made for disabled passengers and the lack there of on cruise ships. For the most part, they excel in their attempts especially when you consider all that has to be contended with while trying to make a cruise vacation a happy experience for everyone.
Areas where cruise ships excel, with regard to disabled persons, are in the embarkation and disembarkation process but, for the days that lie in between, there certainly is a need for some improvement. My pet peeve is the problem the disabled have in getting from one deck of the ship to another. Your immediate thought may be with the question,"Are there no elevators?" Yes, there are elevators but getting on one is like trying to get a ride on a moving bus! Ninety percent of cruise passengers are able bodied but when an elevator door opens, you would think you were at a bus stop in a third world country! No offense to third world countries but it is what it is. Cruise ships, in their fear of inconveniencing their greater number of able bodied customers, refuse to give the disabled priority passage into the elevators.
Enjoying the ship is great but what about the ports? Ship employees are usually very helpful in getting passengers off at the ports but better coordination between the ship, the port and the excursion operators need improvement. Sometimes after disembarking the ship, there is little regard for a person that has difficulty in getting to and in a tour bus or the shops at the port. Don't get me wrong, improvements have been made but more needs to be done.
When it's meal time, the main dining room is great for individuals with disabilities. If you're interested in the buffet, however, good luck! After filling your plate, if you can reach everything, a person can go in circles and circles and circles trying to find a table that hasn't been quickly grabbed by somebody that can move quickly and assert themselves.
The above problems are no doubt indicative of life in general for a disabled person but this is supposed to be a memorable vacation we're talking about and cruise ship operators could, if they would choose to, improve in these areas.
Something I feel should be mentioned, but have no solution to, is the attitude of able bodied individuals that is often expressed when a disabled person and their attendant is allowed to walk past them in a line. Some people, regardless of how much they try to hide it, express disdain against anyone allowed to go the the head of the line. That in turn, causes the disabled to have feelings of guilt which can absolutely ruin their vacation experience. One thing I've noticed that helps suppress the expression of disdain, is when an official attendant takes an active part in helping with the movement of the disabled through the long lines.
My two cents worth,
Leland Garner
Cruise Knowledge Travel
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