Cruising is a great option for travelers with disabilities, but there are some things to know first.
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or many people with disabilities, traveling can be difficult. Most people with disabilities want to travel, but it can be hard to find accessible accommodations, attractions, and transportation options. This is especially true outside of the United States, where the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) don’t exist. Without the ramps, elevators, handrails, and wheelchair-accessible taxis that make travel possible for many people with disabilities to get around, traveling can be very difficult or impossible.
As a result, many people with disabilities have turned to cruising because it is often a more accessible option than other forms of travel, says Alvaro Silberstein, who uses a wheelchair and has been on six cruises. As the CEO and co-founder of Wheel the World, a travel agency that specializes in accessible tours and cruises, he often recommends cruises to his clients. It’s “a great way to see multiple places in a short amount of time without the hassle of getting on and off multiple planes,” he says. “If I’m able to ensure the room is accessible, I will be set for my entire cruise.”
Kelly Narowski, an avid cruiser who uses a wheelchair, agrees. Narowski, a former travel agent and public speaker who specializes in accessibility, has taken four cruises through more than a dozen countries. Narowski says that she “often recommends cruising for individuals with mobility-related disabilities who haven’t traveled much.”
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She explains that cruising is a great option. “Everything is right there. No need to worry about parking, checking in and out of hotels, or carrying luggage over and over. Attractions like shows, restaurants, shops, pools, and games are all in one place.”
Nevertheless, despite their popularity with disabled travelers, most cruise lines still have a long way to go before they are truly accessible.
Not All Ships Are Required to Comply With the ADA
The ADA provides protections for disabled cruisers by ensuring that many ships are accessible. However, the ADA doesn’t apply to all cruise ships or itineraries, which can create headaches and cause confusion for disabled passengers.
Only two types of cruises are required to be ADA-compliant, explains Martin Gasparian, an attorney and owner of Maison Law who consults with cruise lines about ADA compliance. First, cruises on ships registered in the United States are required to comply with the ADA, no matter where in the world they sail, he says. Second, cruise ships registered in other countries that enter U.S. waters must also be ADA-compliant, he says.
That means if a cruise on a ship flying a non–U.S. flag does not enter U.S. territory, it is not required to comply with the ADA. For example, cruises that only sail between European countries are not subject to the ADA if they do not fly an American flag. That’s true even if the same ship enters U.S. waters during cruises with a different itinerary.
On those cruises, whether a cruise line makes its ship accessible is up to them. Narowski found this out the hard way when she boarded a ship in Europe and found she could not access the ship’s cafe. She was surprised because she had previously sailed on the same ship out of the United States, and it was accessible. She was disappointed to find that the cruise line had removed some features that made the ship accessible once they were no longer required to comply with the ADA. However, because the cruise line had not violated any local laws, there wasn’t much she could do.
Disabled Passengers Often Can’t Book an Accessible Stateroom
The ADA requires that cruise ships have some accessible staterooms. This is important because people who use wheelchairs often need wider doorways and larger rooms to maneuver their wheelchairs. They may require other accessible features, such as roll-in showers, as well. However, the supply of accessible staterooms often outstrips demand.
John Sage, the CEO and founder of Accessible Travel Solutions, Sage Inclusion, and Sage Traveling, who uses a wheelchair, makes it a point to book his cruises far in advance. By planning far in advance, he has never had a problem getting the accessible room he wants. However, for many disabled passengers, “availability is an issue,” Silberstein says.
“Booking well in advance is very important as there aren’t a lot of accessible cabins,” he said. Even though he doesn’t wait until the last minute to book, Silberstein has still had problems finding accessible staterooms because they sell out so quickly.
Moreover, finding out how many accessible staterooms are on each ship isn’t easy. A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said that the company doesn’t make this information publicly available. Sally Andrews, the vice president of strategic communications and public affairs at the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), says that cruise ships aren’t required to have a certain number of accessible staterooms. “Each cruise line makes their own determination,” she says.
Because of the limited number of accessible staterooms available, Royal Caribbean tries to ensure that they go to those who truly need them, a spokesperson for the cruise says. While Royal Caribbean doesn’t ask passengers for proof of a medical diagnosis, they require anyone who requests an accessible stateroom to “acknowledge the need” for one by completing a “Guest Special Needs” form. However, even with these guardrails in place, disabled passengers still find getting an accessible stateroom difficult.
Disabled Passengers Often Pay More
When disabled passengers do find a room that works, they may discover it’s out of their budget. Under the ADA, cruise lines can’t charge more for accessible rooms. However, most cruise lines have accessible staterooms in several different categories, from basic interior rooms to ocean-view suites. In theory, that sounds good because disabled travelers should have several options. However, in practice, lower-priced accessible rooms often sell out quickly, leaving some disabled passengers in a lurch.
When this happens, Narowski believes that cruise lines should offer complimentary upgrades to disabled passengers. However, that rarely happens.
“Cruise lines are not legally obligated to offer accessible rooms at a discounted rate,” even if only higher-priced accessible rooms are available, says Paul Koenigsberg, an attorney with Koenigsberg & Associates.
Accessible Excursions Are Hard to Find
Disabled passengers who manage to find an accessible stateroom within their budget may face other issues. For Silberstein, the biggest accessibility issue when it comes to cruising is the lack of accessible excursions. While Silberstein and Narowski have been able to find some accessible excursions, this is the exception rather than the rule, they say.
Another complication is that there is high demand for the few accessible excursions that are available. Cory Lee, a frequent cruiser who uses a wheelchair, says that even when he finds an accessible excursion, he can’t always join in. “These excursions fill up quickly because they can usually only hold a couple of wheelchair users,” he explains.
Silberstein now looks closely at whether excursions are accessible before booking a cruise, so he knows what to expect. “I recently went on a very high-end cruise to New Zealand. In half of the ports, I couldn’t get off the boat,” he says. Silberstein explains that people who use wheelchairs often can’t get off the ship at all in ports that require tenders, small boats used to reach the port from the ship, because they are not wheelchair accessible. “I don’t know how that problem can be avoided, but now I always ask how many ports use tenders before booking the cruise,” he says.
Nevertheless, the lack of accessible excursions isn’t a deal-breaker for many people with disabilities. If Silberstein can’t find an accessible excursion, he always finds something to do. “If you’re on a ship with great customer service, often they will do something extra for you to make up for the lack of accessible ports. I was on a Virgin ship and the cruise director arranged a private bridge tour for me,” he says. Otherwise, he just enjoys “quiet time” on the ship while other passengers are out exploring.
Accessibility Doesn’t Go Far Enough
Even with the protections of the ADA, disabled passengers still face accessibility challenges. “One thing people don’t think about when it comes to challenges of cruising is the rocking of the ship,” Silberstein explains. “If you use a manual chair, you need to be aware of choppy days. It’s important to be very careful. Smooth sailing routes are the best.”
Pools on ships often aren’t accessible either. Says Silberstein, “Due to typical ship construction of the pool area, pools usually aren’t accessible” and often lack the lifts that allow people with disabilities to get in and out of the pool. Even when disabled passengers can get to the pool, they may not be allowed to swim. That’s because disabled passengers who are incontinent may not be allowed in the pool at all due to public health regulations, no matter how much protection they use.
How Cruise Lines Are Responding
The cruise industry has heard the frustrations of disabled passengers and is responding. Many cruise lines are taking steps to make their ships more accessible. On Silberstein’s Virgin Voyages cruise, he noticed that the cruise line made major improvements to make their pool deck more accessible. Similarly, Lee had a great experience at Virgin Voyages’ private beach club, The Beach Club at Bimini. “They have beach wheelchairs, beach access mats, an accessible tram, and a pool lift,” he says. Celebrity’s beach club, Hideaway Beach, has made similar improvements.
Other cruise lines are also making improvements. To try to accommodate growing demand, Princess Cruises has 51 accessible staterooms on its newest ship, the Sun Princess. To tackle the problem of a lack of accessible excursions, Holland America Line added a new slate of accessible tours in 2024 and now offers 13 tours geared specifically towards guests with disabilities. These tours “are designed to be accessible for all guests and avoid steps and stairs,” a spokesperson for Holland America Line says.
Silberstein and Narowski have both noticed these efforts and are hopeful that cruising will become even easier for people with disabilities. “What I have learned is, in almost all cases, the newer the ship, the better the accessibility,” Narowski said. Sage observed that “the best success story in accessible travel in the last five years has been the number of accessible shore excursions that the cruise industry has added. People with disabilities who haven’t cruised in the past due to the lack of accessible shore excursions may be surprised to see how much is available now.”
How Disabled Passengers Can Select the Best Cruise for Them
Given the wide range of accessibility needs, “the best thing for travelers to do is to work with a professional travel agent who can help them find the right cruise line, accommodations, and experiences for their needs,” says Andrews, the vice president of public affairs at CLIA. While working with a cruise line directly is possible, an experienced travel agent can help disabled passengers identify accessible options more quickly. They can also help facilitate communication with the cruise line and make suggestions, Andrews explains.
If a disabled passenger books a cruise themselves, there is one important step they should take to help ensure the best experience possible. Many cruise lines have departments dedicated to accessibility. Whether or not a ship is required to comply with the ADA, disabled passengers should contact this department before booking to make sure a ship can meet their needs. “The more information you can share about your specific needs, the better we are able to assist you,” a spokesperson from Celebrity Cruises says.
Despite the problems many disabled passengers still encounter, Narowski says that “cruises are definitely accessible enough that I’d go on one solo. Even if you need a little assistance, the staff is always willing to help.”
Before booking a cruise, Narowski suggests asking these 11 questions:
1. Do you offer any accessible shore excursions on this cruise?
2. Are any of the ports of call for this particular cruise tender ports? If so, is there any wheelchair access?
3. Are restaurants and entertainment venues onboard accessible?
4. How high is the bed in your accessible cabins?
5. What are the features of your accessible bathrooms? Do you have roll-in showers? What is the height of the sink?
6. Do any of your accessible cabins have balconies?
7. Do you have a pool lift? If so, at which pool is it located?
8. Are there companion care bathrooms located throughout the ship? If so, where are they?
9. Do you have power-assisted doors in the main areas of the ship?
10. Are there any areas of the ship that are not accessible?
11. How wide is the doorway to accessible cabins?