Disabled

[blondie 34]

My friend is thinking of going on a cruise next year and she is confined to a wheelchair. Is there facilities on board for her and are cabins big enough.

[RiverSong 403]

I had to book a disabled cabin when I went with a large family group once.  I have got to say the cabin was perfect, the door was wide enough large wet room with rails.  They were really impressed.  Also at dining they gave us a table near the door and the crew could not do enough to help.  The only problem we had was on a tender port as they could not get off the ship.  I know they have been again on a cruise and will keep going the best holiday for them.

You just have to book early to get the cabins only have a couple on each ship.

Hope that helps bolndie  

[buddy 104]

^{i have seen loads of passengers on board who are disabled and they all say what a fabulous holiday you can have when going cruising}

^{The new ships especially really cater for wheelchairs & scooters and no area of the ship seem to be off limits.}

^{I'm not sure about what happens when they go on shore though especially when there are tender ports}

[in the sky with diamonds 27]

I took my grandmother on a cruise a few years ago and she was in a wheelchair and it was a perfect holiday for her, she was so well looked after.

[stocktonmackem 4]

I have just returned from our second cruise with P and O. My husband is a full time wheelchair user and the ships were perfect. I was on Ventura this year and Azura last time. Not sure about the smaller ships but everything was accessible on the bigger ships. The cabin itself it huge. In the balcony cabins there is enough space to move around and the bathroom itself has grab rails etc. The only problem we encountered was that if you needed a shower/commode then you will either need to hire one locally or take your own. At the ports its not really a problem getting off, except tender ports where you wont be able to get off unless you can walk onto the ship yourself. When you can get off its ideal because you have the crew taking you down the gangplank and pushing you back up again. We were very nervous about going on our first cruise but they have been fabulous holiday and I am sure if you decide to go you will enjoy it so much and probably book again as soon as you get back.

[raymondox 0]

I agree that the ships in general are very disabled friendly, and they do help you down the gangplank and back on. The problems really start when you are at the end of the gangplank. Excursions are very poor when it comes to disabled people, and the shuttle buses are even worse. They do have wheelchair shuttles but they are generally few and far between.

 

P&O need to do a lot to improve the none ship side of facilities for disabled people. Especially as there are a lot of disabled or partly disabled people on most cruise ships. I would like to see them offer specific disabled friendly excursions which they don't do today. For example boat trips are not suitable for disabled people as it requires the ability to go up and down steps. This is quite ridiculous, most cities visited have facilities and tours for disabled people, even in wheelchairs. P&O just decide not to hire them (except for the odd shuttle bus)

 

Luckily a lot of wheelchair users (like my mom, and my friends mom) have friends and family to help get them over these shortcomings. I would guess that P&O is probably no better or no worse than anyone else.

[happywanderer 5]

Just be aware that P&O have introduced new rules this year with regard to scooters. Only those passengers who are in a disabled cabin or suites are able to take the scooters on board.

[MeeMee 18]

Hi Blondie

 

My adult son is a full time electric wheelchair user, he is very physicaly disabled needing hoisting, shower chair and specialist feeding. We have been cruising with him since 2003 and have been on Aurora, Azura and Ventura. All 3 ships are very accessible, large staterooms (ventura and Azura also having accessible balcony options)with full wet rooms. You can take your own equipment on board i.e. hoists, shower chair etc and these can be put through the normal luggage process. The staff are amazing and do everything to help. We have just returned from a 4 week back to back cruise on Ventura. My son was quiet anxious about meal times as since the cruise last year he has lost the ability to eat solids and is mainly fed by gastrosmy. The head waiter Joy made sure that every day he had a soup he could eat and liked several days this involved them making a consumme especially for him. They even moved the soups to a select dining restaurant to enable all the family to enjoy a change in dining together.

In terms of ports of call we find most in the med and canaries have accessible shuttle buses free of charge when the town is not walkable also there is normally one fully accessible tour option availible at each port unless this is not availible due to the country visiting (not all countries are that advanced accessibility wise). Also we have found P&O excellent at sourcing accessible private shore excursions. Tender ports can be problematic so we try to avoid cruises with too many tender ports but again they are becoming less and less now days.

I hope we have encoraged you to give cruising a go as its an excellent option for someone with a disability of course there are always little niggles but in my view nothing to spoil the experience.

[The Blacks 10]

Well I also am a wheelchair user and have been on nearly all the P&O ships (trying Adonia in November) and can assure you all the disabled rooms we have been in have been excellent, the doorways to cabin can easily accommodate  a wheelchair and scooter, throughout the ships they have ramps through doorways to decks, more lifts that you can shake a stick at so please be rest assured she will have no trouble whatsoever! Enjoy

[DisabledTravelWithGeorgina 0]

Hey,

I just wanted to pop my blog posts on here in case it helps any future disabled cruisers

http://disabledtravelwithgeorgina.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/ventura-blog-part-1-cruising-is.html
http://disabledtravelwithgeorgina.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/p-cruises-ventura-part-2-pools-sunbeds.html

It just has hints and tips as to how wheelchair friendly Ventura (P&O) is.

Email me if want a bespoke holiday planning service or have any questions [email protected]

Thanks, Georgina

[RubyCruise 1]

We were on a wait list for an adapted cabin so husband could take his mobility scooter. It is so confusing! I am not sure if the cabin we have can accommodate said scooter - or not! AND CAN'T SPEAK to a real person. Answer to email in 5 - 28 days I don't think so! We are leaving Southampton on 3rd Jan 18. Grateful for all advice. Thanks

[sinbad10 753]

1 hour ago, RubyCruise said:

We were on a wait list for an adapted cabin so husband could take his mobility scooter. It is so confusing! I am not sure if the cabin we have can accommodate said scooter - or not! AND CAN'T SPEAK to a real person. Answer to email in 5 - 28 days I don't think so! We are leaving Southampton on 3rd Jan 18. Grateful for all advice. Thanks

If you have booked an adapted cabin you can check this by looking at deck plans in brochures or on P&Os website. P&O will not allow you to travel with wheelchair or scooter unless in an adapted cabin or a suite.