Active Living....

CRUISE TRAVEL FOR THE DISABLED

Cruise travel is good for you. It improves your physical and mental health, while exposing you to sea air, like-minded travelers, interesting shore excursions, and unique cultures.

However, cruise travel wasn't always good (or easy). Cruise ships and cruise travel in the past were often difficult for many people in wheelchairs or with other disabilities. But today's new luxury liners and renovated older classic ships now cater to the disabled with a variety of cabins, services, and other accessibility improvements.

According to the New York-based organization, the Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped (212/447-SATH), cruise travel options and facilities for the handicapped have improved greatly. Chairman Murray Zidockler says, "More and more cruise lines are becoming accessible as a matter of good business. This is a large and growing market and many companies now offer programs for people with a variety of different disabilities."

Mr. Zidockler says there is a large and growing number of ships which have installed cabins for people who are wheelchair users, as well as facilities available for those who are on oxygen, those who need kidney dialysis, people who are hearing or sight impaired, and even ships and operators that will block off a number of cabins for a tour group of people with particular disabilities. In short, cruise ships have come a long way. Your ship is definitely in.

Holland America Line (800/426-0327) is a typical shining example of what's available, taking visibly great concern and regard for the special requirements of their physically-challenged guests. Spokesman Lawrence Dessler says, "The company is at the forefront of the cruise industry in providing the facilities and services to give guests as much assistance as possible within the limitations of a seagoing resort."

For guests using wheelchairs, Holland America Line ships have several staterooms with roll-in showers in bathrooms, which are also equipped with ramps and heavy-duty handrails. Four such staterooms are on board the ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, and ms Westerdam, while six such staterooms are on-board the ms Statendam, ms Maasdam, and ms Ryndam. The classic ss Rotterdam has successfully accommodated disabled travelers for years, with no need or plans for specific cabin adjustments.

All public rooms on Holland America Line ships are wheelchair accessible. Elevators on board can accommodate wheelchairs, as do designated public area restrooms. The maitre d' will arrange for a table in the dining room easily accessible for a wheelchair. A limited number of on-board wheelchairs are also available, through advance request.

Holland America also welcomes bookings for accompanied and unaccompanied visually- or hearing-impaired guests. After being advised at the time of booking, Holland America staff members can help with safety tours, debarkation help, service animal assistance, TDD equipment, amplified telephones, visual alert alarms, closed caption decoders on televisions, and an assistive listening system in the show lounge.

Every Holland American Line ship has an on-board infirmary equipped with emergency medical facilities, a well-stocked pharmacy, and oxygen for emergencies. Each cruise is staffed by one physician and three nurses. Guests are advised to bring their own prescription medications with them in their carry-on luggage, as well as copies of relevant medical records and their physician's telephone number in the event a ship-to-shore consultation is needed.

Recognized by publications like Handicapped Travel Newsletter for their efforts, Holland America Line is at the forefront of cruise industry efforts to provide appropriate facilities and services for disabled guests. But many other lines have also made incredibly successful strides in their efforts.

A glance at the Cruise Lines International Association's (212/921-0066) Cruise Guide for Wheelchair Travelers provides a preview of the possibilities, with details about the facilities aboard more than 100 ships, including wheelchair-accessible cabins, those accepting wheelchair passengers (most), wide doors, low/no sills, bathrooms with rails, ramps, public room access, and much more.

Princess Cruises (800/ LOVE BOAT) is another acknowledged leader. Their color brochure, Love Boat Access: Making Your Cruise Vacation Accessible, provides details and specific examples of all the facilities available. Their president, Peter Ratcliffe, says, "This brochure will acquaint you with some of the many features of the Love Boat Access program and the facilities on each of our ships, including our new Grand Class ships offering more facilities than ever."

Fun-loving cruisers will love Carnival Cruise Lines (800/327-9501). The industry leader is also a leader when it comes to cruise accessibility. The huge new Carnival Destiny offers and incredible 25 wheelchair-accessible cabins, while other Fantasy-class ships offer 20 such possibilities and other Carnival ships feature more than ten such options. Carnival doesn't discriminate when it comes to cruise fun.

Royal Caribbean International's (800/327-6700) six Vision-class ships and three Sovereign-class ships all have special staterooms in a full range of categories, all of which include convenient location near elevators, wide doors, flat floors, large turning areas, portable phones, listening device kits, strobe lights, functional bathrooms, and many other features.

On Celebrity Cruises (800/437-3111), passengers will also find exceptional facilities. "Celebrity Cruises welcomes and encourages physically challenged guests to sail with us to fabulous destinations and to enjoy the complete pampered Celebrity experience," says Richard Sasso, their president and CEO. "In addition to our attentive service, award-winning cuisine, and interesting ports of call, guests may enjoy well-equipped staterooms that provide extra assistance, when required."

The Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony of Crystal Cruises (800/446-6620) were both designed to be accessible for the disabled and physically challenged, with several specially-equipped penthouses and cabins. Other services include closed-captioned programing, a hearing system in the theaters, and accessibility throughout most of the ships. Many ships of Italian-flavored Costa Cruises (800/462-6782) have similar cabins and facilities.

Once you decide to cruise, it's best to use an expert to help book the right trip. Local travel agents, cruise specialist operators, and even companies that specialize in travel for the disabled are all excellent options. The key is to use someone who understands your special needs and that can help make sure the cruise line also understands these needs in advance (very important).

Flying Wheels (800/535-6790) of Owatonna, Minnesota, has served travelers with disabilities since 1970, offering a wide range of services, trips, and even specific cruises. President Barbara Jacobson and her experienced staff can help arrange appropriate Caribbean, Alaska, European, and other worldwide cruises.

Larry Fishkin, senior partner at The Cruise Line, Inc. (800/777-0707), a popular cruise discounter, summarizes it best by saying, "The cruise industry has come a long way in redesigning older ships and making the new ones even better. Our people are now trained about which ships are best and, when you combine that with our discount prices, it's a great service for disabled cruise travelers."