“My Number One Holiday As A Full-Time Wheelchair User” – Cazbarr

If you haven’t experienced a cruise holiday before, get ready for a delightful treat. It combines all the elements you cherish in a vacation – diverse destinations, mouthwatering cuisine, poolside cocktails – along with the added perks of a luxurious cruise ship. For those embarking on their first cruise, you may have some questions and hopefully, I can answer many of them here.  Be warned though, cruising is very addictive!

Cruising’s adaptability shines through its myriad activities, spanning shore excursions (some with fees), on-board cinema, spa sessions, and meticulously organized events like cake decorating and sushi-making classes (with potential fees). With such a variety of choices, there’s a wealth of engaging activities available, guaranteeing every moment is brimming with excitement and enjoyment.

I maintain no affiliation with the mentioned cruise companies; however, my experiences are primarily drawn from sailing with P&O Cruises.

Booking Your Cruise
You can book a cruise with many different companies ranging from Cunard, Princess Cruises, to Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Cruises and P&O Cruises.  To name a few.  With the number of companies out there, you should be able to find a cruise to suit your budget and destination.

Hint:  Book as early as possible as accessible cabins are not plentiful, and they do get booked up extremely quickly.  We often book a year and a half in advance.

Price
When choosing a cruise package, prices can vary dramatically.  The cost depends on;

– Cruise Company
– Ship
– Cabin type
– Destination
– Duration of cruise

My first two cruise adventures were with P&O Cruises, and my third was with Royal Caribbean. The one-week and two-week voyages with P&O felt reasonably priced, offering a sense of value. However, I found Royal Caribbean to be considerably more expensive for the overall experience.

Various cruise lines present distinct styles of cruising. Some prioritize family-friendly atmospheres, while others cater to adult-only crowds or offer a mix of both. Selecting the ideal cruise undoubtedly depends on the type of holiday experience you seek.

P&O Cruises, with its opulent design, exceptional service, and helpful staff throughout the ship, sets a commendable standard and leans more towards a luxurious experience, while Royal Caribbean gives off a vibe akin to a holiday park atmosphere. This distinction left us rather disappointed, particularly since we paid nearly double the amount compared to what we would have paid for a P&O cruise.

When choosing which cruise or destination to take, it is worth seeking the opinions of those who have sailed with the cruise line under consideration. Word-of-mouth recommendations prove invaluable in gaining insights into what to anticipate, ensuring an informed decision regarding your cruise experience and accessibility.

Also, do your research, compare cruise companies, regarding pricing for similar/same cruises and don’t be afraid to contact cruise lines to have your questions answered.  Most of them are very helpful and knowledgeable.  Some cruise lines include parking and/or on-board credit that you can spend around the ship, (exclusions may apply).

Hint:  Cruise companies may tell you their insurance company is the best as they specialise in cruise holidays.  This is not always the case, again, shop around before making a final decision.  You do not have to go with the cruise company’s insurers.  You can choose your own insurance company.  I have done this and found the prices can differ quite dramatically.

Getting Aboard/Embarkation
My personal choice is to book cruises that embark and disembark in Southampton.  It is lovely to load the car, drive to the docks and then hand over everything to the valet staff.  Rather than having to drive to an airport and deal with all the parking, walking and stress we disabled people normally have to go through to board a plane.  

I love avoiding the complexities of air travel and minimising the risk of potential damage to my electric wheelchair.  After all, who enjoys the hassle of dealing with airports?

Upon reaching Southampton docks, your vehicle is parked, (if you’ve booked parking) and your luggage is taken for delivery to your cabin.  This isn’t always the case with all cruise companies.  P&O did this, but Royal Caribbean only took our luggage, so we had to find our parking.

The check-in process unfolds in the hangar.  You are given your cruise card, which is linked to your room account. This card facilitates transactions for shopping onboard, purchasing drinks, and other expenses. The ship operates on a cashless system, except for acquiring chips in the casino.  It’s crucial not to misplace this card, as it serves as your boarding pass so you may re-enter the ship after you’ve disembarked to explore a port for the day.

Once checked in, you travel along a walkway leading to the ship’s entrance. With P&O, a steward typically guides you to your room, where your luggage may already be waiting. In contrast, our experience with Royal Caribbean was less seamless – we were left to our own devices to navigate the big crowd of passengers and find our cabin independently.  We did feel rather overwhelmed and like fish out of water, even considering this being our third cruise.

Cabins
Most cruise ships offer the following cabin types or similar comparisons:

• Inside cabin – these cabins are the cheapest as they are the lowest-grade cabins on the ship.  But by no means any less functional and roomy.  I always book an inside cabin as they are more than adequate, mostly because we (my family) are very rarely in our cabin outside of sleeping, changing, and showering.  
• Sea view cabins (some of these cabins have obscured view) – Seaview cabins are identical to the inside cabins.  The only difference is you have a window that you can see out of.  This is beneficial if you are someone who enjoys some natural light entering the room.
• Balcony cabins – balcony cabins have sliding doors leading out onto a mini balcony. You can sit out on the balcony and breathe in the fresh air, take in the ocean view with a cocktail or two.
• Mini suites – these can look like little apartments and often come with complimentary robes and slippers for you to use. These cabins come with a balcony and you can order room service for champagne and chocolates.
• Suites – P&O’s Suits offer balcony, Champagne & Chocolates on arrival and complimentary bathrobe & slippers.

• Accessible Cabins – Larger compared to the same grade cabins and they usually come with the following:
  • Wide doorways into the cabin and bathroom
  • Sufficient floor space for manoeuvring a wheelchair or mobility scooter
  • Wet-room-style bathrooms
  • Grab rails for shower and toilet
  • Pull-down shower seat
  • Flush thresholds between bathroom and cabin
  • Balcony cabins have ramped access to the balcony.

All the cabins I have stayed in have American and UK plug sockets.  Be mindful that you may not get enough sockets to use/charge all your equipment at the same time.

Hint:  After booking my holiday, I am sent a form to fill in regarding my accessible needs and info regarding my electric wheelchair like height, weight, length etc.  I was directed to fill this in on my booking account.  You will need to do this for every passenger with accessible needs.

Door Widths and Bathrooms
I can’t give full information on all companies but as I have cruised with P&O the most, I can give you the information they offer about door widths.  Most cruise companies should supply the same information.

The link to all the door width measurements on P&O Cruises  

Around The Ship
There’s a multitude of activities around the ship, ensuring you’re never at a loss for things to do. From my experience, I must say the ships have been highly accessible. Show theatres feature designated wheelchair spaces accompanied by a companion seat. All areas either have level entry or incorporate ramps into their design. However, it’s worth noting that some casino tables can be quite high and crowded.

While certain ships provide designated wheelchair spaces in their restaurants, I’ve encountered instances where this is not the case, and busy times can pose a challenge when trying to find a suitable spot to park.

In various bars and venues throughout the ship, the majority operate on a table service basis. To place your drinks order, you simply flag down one of the waiters circulating the area. While some cruises provide drink packages, I’ve personally not bought any of them due to the fact we don’t consume a substantial amount of alcohol, and considering these packages are often designed for individual use (not being able to buy a round of drinks), we found them not particularly suitable for our needs.

Onboard, you’ll discover a variety of pools, including kids’ pools, main pools, and jacuzzies. It’s important to note that not all ships are equipped with pool hoists, so it’s advisable to check if you plan to use the pool. As for the gym and spa, I can’t provide insights as I haven’t utilized them personally.

One issue I encountered pertains to the doors leading out to the deck. They are exceptionally heavy, to the extent that I cannot open them physically. This design is intentional, as these doors also function as storm doors. Fortunately, our 2024 cruise is on a ship that supposedly features automatic doors, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a smoother experience.

Hint:  There are lifts to every floor but obviously can get very crowded at busy times, especially at mealtimes and when passengers are embarking and disembarking the ship at the port of call for the day.  We often head back to the ship a little earlier to try to avoid this.  Unfortunately, you are all pretty much leaving the ship at the same time, so not avoidable.

Your Onboard Account
As mentioned earlier, you will receive a cruise card that serves as the primary method for all onboard expenses. From my understanding, all cruise lines operate on a cashless system while on board. However, it’s important to be aware that not all cruise lines use pound sterling. P&O uses pounds, but Royal Caribbean operates in dollars.

Hint:  You can pay your room account at any time during your holiday, you don’t have to wait until the end.  We were worried we would run up a large bill and then not be able to afford it as you can easily forget what you have spent.  We would go to reception every couple of days and pay off what we had spent.  It was much more comforting to do it this way rather than face a humungous bill at the end of two weeks.  Full breakdown

Dress Code
Certain cruises implement varying dress codes for specific nights. While these dress codes are optional, it’s important to note that if you choose not to adhere to them, you may not be allowed into specific areas of the ship, including restaurants and bars with said specific dress requirements. However, rest assured that there are still numerous areas on the ship that you can visit without concern about dress codes.

Day Wear – On Board
“You should feel comfortable and wear what you’re happy in. From T-shirts to shorts, sundresses to skirts (unless, of course, you’re heading to colder climates in the winter!), you can wear whatever you please during the day. Our only ask is, if you’re away from the pool, please wear shoes and no pool wear in the ship’s lounges, inside bars, restaurants or reception. It may be chilly on deck and breezy in the evening (even in the tropics), so we also recommend packing a few light layers”.   Source:  P&O Cruises

Day Wear – Heading Ashore
“There’s so much to explore in each beautiful destination so it’s probably best to get your walking shoes on. Flat shoes tend to be the best for longer walks or in older cities – cobbles and high heels aren’t the best of friends! Depending on what you fancy exploring, you might pop into air-conditioned museums or cooler churches, so take a shawl, sweatshirt or light jumper, even on balmy days. Please remember that some cultures may require you to cover up too. And naturally, if you’re travelling to sunnier climes, sunglasses or hats may be needed”.  Source:  P&O Cruises

Dress codes for the evening – Evening Casual
“Bring out your best shirt or keep it a bit more casual; you can do what suits you, so long as the tracksuits are left behind. From dark denim to casual separates, dresses to skirts, you can choose something you’re comfortable in. Plus, if you’re travelling on a fly-cruise, you could pack your best-tailored shorts, as these will be allowed in certain venues around the ship”.  Source:  P&O Cruises

Formal Evenings
P&O say:  “Celebration Nights give you the option to put your most fashionable foot forward. Elegance is the order of the evening… a chance to wow everyone with a favourite cocktail dress, tuxedo, ball gown, DJ, or a suit, jacket and tie. You may also wear formal national dress or military uniform. Again, whatever style preference, simply join in the mood and chic of the evening”.  Source:  P&O Cruises

We love these evenings, allowing us to do something we don’t normally get to do at home.  

Evening Dining Dress Code
“For our non-formal evenings, we have an Evening Casual dress code. Smart-casual is best – we recommend dark denim, trousers, skirts, shirts, or dresses. No tracksuits, football shirts or trainers please”.  Source:  P&O Cruises

Are dress codes the same for children? 
For those travelling on family-friendly ships, dress codes also don’t apply to children aged 17 and under. However, they can still dress to impress if they want to!  Source:  P&O Cruises

Dining
The main restaurant has a more formal setting and table service.  You must wear a shirt and trousers here, no shorts, tracksuits etc.  In this restaurant, we had the option of two types of dining, Freedom and Set dining.

Freedom Dining
You can book a table for the time of your choice between the opening times and of course, providing there is a table free.

Set Dining
Is when you set the time for your evening meal for the same time each day (presumably) at the start of your holiday.

The menu offers a diverse range of options, including gluten-free and vegetarian choices. The staff proved exceptionally accommodating; when I expressed a preference for soup but faced challenges with a regular bowl and spoon, they willingly accommodated my request for a bowl with a handle or, if not possible, a mug. These thoughtful touches contribute to a seamlessly enjoyable holiday experience.

Throughout the ship, various dining options abound, spanning pizza houses, steak houses, buffet-style pub grub, and speciality restaurants requiring payment, similar to High Street establishments. Additionally, numerous bars and cafes provide opportunities to grab soft drinks, tea, coffee, and even some delectable treats.

You also have some themed restaurants on many ships, from American diners to oriental cuisine.

Entertainment
You would be very unlucky if you can’t find something you enjoy doing aboard a cruise ship.  Our next cruise is on P&O’s ship called the Ventura which boasts a whopping 4 pools, 21 restaurants and bars and 8 entertainment venues.  

Other entertainment can range from the following but remember, not all are available on all cruises:

• Speciality Restaurants
• Cabaret Shows
• Casino
• Cinema
• Karaoke
• Discos
• Themed Nights
• Onboard Shopping
• Spa
• Gym
• Swimming
• Dedicated kids/teens zones
• Games Room and Arcade Machines
• Daytime Activities
• Afternoon Tea
• Art Gallery
• Library

On one of our cruises, we took a cake-decorating class and a sushi-making class.  There were other options, but these were what took our fancy.

Hint:  In my personal experience, casinos on cruises often offer tutorials at specific times for beginners interested in learning the games. It’s worthwhile to check out these hands-on tutorials if you’re new to casino games.

Excursions
Unfortunately, we’ve never opted for excursions for a few reasons. Primarily, none of them were wheelchair accessible. Additionally, some didn’t pique our interest, while others were too expensive. We prefer venturing out on our own to explore the next port of call. This allows us the freedom to set our own pace without being constrained by time, except for ensuring we’re back at the ship at least half an hour before it departs, this allows extra time for any eventualities that may delay us.

However, our upcoming cruise does advertise accessible excursions, marking a first for me, as I haven’t been on a cruise for a few years. The range of excursions offered on this cruise is plentiful, with at least a handful of accessible options as well.

As a sneak peek, holidaymakers can choose from excursions like “Fire Mountain and BBQ Lunch – Canaries Style,” “Wine and Food,” “Camel Ride and Fire Mountain,” and a “Catamaran Experience,” among others.

Accessibility
Again, I can only speak of what P&O offer and says, so please, if/when booking, check with your cruise company for their procedures.  

Assistance dogs
P&O Cruises accepts registered assistance dogs on board that have been specifically trained to assist a person with a disability and have been certified by an organisation that is a full member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), the accrediting bodies for assistance dog organisations worldwide. 

Our ships are only permitted to carry Assistance Dogs on itineraries that start and finish in Southampton and therefore we are unable to accept an assistance dog on any Fly-Cruise or sector of the World cruise.

Please visit P&O’s website for a full breakdown.

Your medical needs on board
“We will do all we can to accommodate your medical needs while you’re on holiday with us. This section explains what we can and cannot provide and covers electrical supply, medical equipment and storage of medical supplies”.  Full Breakdown

Accessible cabins and ship access
“Any guest who is a full-time wheelchair or mobility scooter user or requires the use of their device inside their cabin must be booked into an accessible cabin, selected Suites or Mini suites that provide the space and features required to suit guest’s needs. If you tell us (on your onboard needs questionnaire) that you will be bringing mobility equipment and the cabin you have chosen is not a fully accessible cabin or selected Suite or Mini suite, there may be insufficient room to manoeuvre your mobility aid. Therefore, we may need to contact you to discuss other cabin options”.  Full breakdown

Mobility aids and equipment
“If you need to bring a wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid on board with you, it is essential that you let us know at the time of booking or as soon as the need is known. If you need a mobility device or equipment on board, we urge you to please bring your own or hire independently. You must provide in advance the closed dimensions required to fit on an aircraft and/or a suitable cabin on board. Please note that wheelchairs cannot be hired on board our ships”.  Full breakdown

Source:  P&O Cruises

Hint: Please remember, most ships will have area or decks that will not be wheelchair accessible, I couldn’t go the sun deck on one ship as it was only accessible via steps.

Conclusion
As a full-time wheelchair user, cruising emerges as an exceptional holiday choice for me, offering a unique blend of accessibility, convenience, and diverse experiences. The wheelchair-friendly infrastructure on cruise ships ensures easy manoeuvrability, from accessible cabins to public areas. The availability of accessible excursions on certain cruises addresses previous limitations, allowing for immersive exploration at various ports of call. The convenience of a cashless system streamlines on-board transactions, while the variety of dining options accommodates diverse preferences and dietary needs. With numerous activities and entertainment options, coupled with the freedom to choose between guided excursions or independent exploration, cruising stands out as my number one holiday option.

Author:  Cazbarr

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