I have a friend who is cruise crazy and has taken many cruises. I just found out that she can't swim !!! Do the cruise lines allow passengers with this disability ? Do they perhaps have them sign a waiver of responsibility before they are accepted as passengers ? I know my friend would undoubtedly hide her situation as would others. Well, there's yet another reason I would never take one of these trips. I certainly wouldn't want to be on a ship with non-swimmers !

Not being able to swim is not a disability.

Swimming is not a pre requisite for cruising. Swimming is not even a pre-requisite for snorkeling! There are life vests on board the ship.

Even swimmers will panic in the EXTREMELY unlikely event that something happens to the ship that requires people to disembark in an emergency situation.

Not sure what you think is going to happen to you if you're on a cruise and non-swimmers are on board. There are plenty of other logical reasons to avoid cruising...this one seems pretty overly dramatic.

Perhaps this is a serious question, but it is pretty funny to me.

People are not fish, so fortunately, not being able to swim is not considered a disability by anyone I know. In case of a real problem, even a great swimmer might not fare well without a life jacket. Your friend has taken many cruises and is still here to talk about about them. DH can swim the length of a pool several times. I can make it once. The only downside to that, as far as cruising, is we don't enjoy the beaches we visit or the pools on board as much as we might if we were good swimmers. Oh well, the hot tubs are still enticing.

Even though you don't see many people in wheelchairs, cruising is a good option because they can rest as needed and still visit places they might not be able to see by train or bus. Same reason older people cruise. Cruising doesn't require athletic fitness.

Just curious. Do you think you would be called on to rescue non-swimmers? If not, how would it affect you?

Think about it this way. No one that I know of has been able to fly. Yet, most of us travel by plane with no requirement that we be able to fly like birds.

LOL this must be a troll!

Yes, you have to sign a waiver first, so you can sue the company for discriminating non-swimmers later.

You must also sign a waiver if you are a vegetarian.

I can't swim. My husband can swim so he had to sign a waiver he would save me. I think the swimmer is only allowed to save 1 person. Check the fine print.

I agree with D!

And at least it's not boring.

Bedar is a long-respected member of Fodor's. Her last post about 'foie gras d'oie - not canard' was a thrilling exploration into the nether-world of duck-stuffing.

How any of you could think of her being a troll is quite beyond me.

I intend to keep this post top of the list forever. For some reason I find it kinda liberating.

OK, Dogster, is it liberating because
1. You can swim and feel safer and freer than all the non-swimmers.
2. You don't have to rescue non-swimmers.
3. You can't swim; now some posters may avoid traveling with you if they learn of your disability. Might be a good thing - for you.
2. You can swim, so think you might also be able to fly. That could be liberating - for a very short time anyway.
5. You can't swim, and knowing that would free you up to just relax in case of an accident.
There must be more, or one that applies to you. Please share it.

Seems that elementary counting skills are also not required of cruisers.

jacketwatchon Jun 5, 12 at 5:39pm
I agree with D!

Would you dare not to?

Thats why I luv you.

Nope, can't count, make typos sometimes that I accidently post before correcting, can't swim, can't fly, just cruisin' along in ignorant bliss. . . .

That's why I luv you too Sass.

Cruisers who can't swim must wear "little swimmers"

Jacket, you are the best!

Thanks hun. Just don't tell the dogster. It might make him jealous.

I only have eyes for Bedar.

Anybody who cares about water-safety is fine by me. I am a non-swimmer, too. Without Bedar, I would never have realised the risk.

No more cruises for me, I guess.

Well bedar there it is. The dogster has bared his soul to you.

Oh, Dogster, I'll go on a cruise with you. As you know, my requirements are oysters and foie gras as is a kennel for my new Bichon called Bubba. Guess it'll have to be a transatlantic one on Cunard. Don't worry. You'll be safe with me. In my youth I was a swimming instructor and a lifeguard. And, that was what my post was about - safety ! I do hope those non-swimmers will make sure their children or grandchildren learn to swim. It, along with vaccinations, learning to read, write, and do arithmetic, is the most important acquisition a child can make.
By the way, I have another friend, a Southern Belle, who is also disabled. This one can't drive ! But, that's another story.