Javascript is not enabled.

Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.

Skip to content

Try our Recipe Analyzer to measure any dish's nutritional value.

Content starts here
CLOSE ×
Search
Popular Searches

Games

Car rental

AARP daily Crossword Puzzle

Hotels with AARP discounts

Life Insurance

AARP Dental Insurance Plans

Travel

Suggested Links
Help Show me my account info Change my Address How do I contact AARP? Where is my membership card? How do I get a digital card?
Red Membership Card

AARP MEMBERSHIP

AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products, hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. 

 

120x30-AARP-logo-red
Join
Renew
Enroll
Rejoin

AARP en Español

Join
Renew
Enroll
Rejoin
Leaving AARP.org Website

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Continue Cancel

How to Find the Best Cruise When You Have Accessibility Needs

Expert tips for choosing a ship, excursions and more if you use a wheelchair

a woman wheeling a man in a wheelchair down a dock past boats
Getty Images
By

Barbara and Jim Twardowski,

 
AARP
Published April 13, 2023

Many travelers with disabilities vacation on a cruise. The convenience of seeing multiple destinations on one trip, unpacking once and having accessible entertainment options are part of the draw.

Logistically, cruising is one of the best ways for people with mobility disabilities to travel, according to Sylvia Longmire, author of Everything You Need to Know About Wheelchair Accessible Cruising. “Also, there are more and more cruise lines offering accessible excursions,” she says. ​

Longmire, an Air Force veteran, uses a power wheelchair and has been on more than 30 cruises. She says if you’re new to cruising, it’s important to do your homework to make sure the cruise can accommodate your needs: Will your scooter fit through the stateroom door? Are there wheelchair-accessible attractions at the destinations? 

If you would rather let someone else take care of the details, Longmire recommends hiring a travel agent who specializes in accessible travel. The agent can help guide you through a variety of cruise options tailored to your physical needs, as well as arrange transportation and reserve shore excursions and rent medical equipment if needed.  

Many cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, offer extra assistance with transportation and excursions for people who use wheelchairs. Here’s more on how to find a cruise that accommodates your needs.

Select a ship

All major cruise lines in U.S. waters are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and offer accessible public spaces and staterooms. However, some cruise lines offer more options than others. “The newer, bigger ships are much better for accessibility — they tend to be built with accessibility as part of the plan as opposed to being retrofitted later,” says Mark Chilutti, a manual wheelchair user. Chilutti and his wife have been on more than a dozen cruises, and he recommends booking at least a year in advance to ensure you get an accessible stateroom as most cruise ships have a limited number of options. Early booking helps you get the type of room you want. 

For example, if you want a balcony, Royal Caribbean offers accessible staterooms where Chilutti says he was able to open the balcony door by himself and easily cross the threshold.  

Additional features for accessible staterooms across cruise lines include: ramps at bathroom entries; roll-in showers with fold-down benches; handheld showerheads; and raised toilets. 

On board, modern ships have designated wheelchair seating at theaters, accessible public bathrooms, elevators, large corridors and automatic doors. If you want to take a dip in the pool, be sure to choose a ship with a lift. Some lifts are portable and you’ll need to ask the crew to set it up.

Even within the same cruise line, staterooms and ships can be different. 

Before you book, call the accessibility department to discuss the cruise and the amenities to make sure it has everything you want.

Choose an itinerary 

Cruises stop at ports all over the world, but people who use wheelchairs are not always allowed off the ship. When a cruise ship is unable to dock at a port, small boats — called tenders — shuttle passengers to shore. Passengers who have mobility limitations may not be able to use the tender and must remain on the ship. Weather and tidal conditions affect the ability to transfer from one moving vessel to another. 

Tenders typically do not permit motorized wheelchairs or scooters. If you can walk a few steps and carry a manual wheelchair, which can be folded, you can probably use the tender, but check with the cruise line first.

When selecting your itinerary, if you want to get off the ship, it’s a good idea to try to avoid ports where tendering is required. The cruise lines do not reimburse you for missed ports, and some destinations always use tenders. Royal Caribbean lists more than 50 ports where tendering is required. Holland America Line and Princess Cruises list the tender ports in the itinerary of each cruise.

Research shore excursions

Shore excursions are fee-based group outings offered by the cruise line. They can run for less than two hours or last all day, but the overall selection of wheelchair-accessible excursions is typically limited and/or not available at every port. Longmire notes that cruise lines may not post all accessible shore excursions until after you depart, which can make it difficult to choose a cruise with wheelchair-accessible excursions. Longmire recommends consulting with the cruise line to determine what it offers and seeking destinations that you can explore without transportation.   

Another option is to book a private excursion with a local tour company (this is where a travel agent and the access desk on the ship can help). Independent excursions provide one-on-one service with knowledgeable guides and accessible transportation, but they are pricier than the cruise line excursions. 

Know your options

If you have difficulty walking long distances and typically don’t use a mobility aid, you may want to rent a wheelchair or scooter through Scootaround, Special Needs at Sea or Cloud of Goods. These companies deliver the items to your stateroom. Be sure to confirm the equipment will fit through your stateroom door. Wheelchairs and scooters must be stored and charged in your room. Note: The wheelchairs on the cruise ship are for medical emergencies, and you cannot borrow them.

If you are ready to give cruising a try, Longmire suggests booking a three- or four-day trip to see if it’s a good fit. She recommends traveling to the Bahamas where the seas are usually calm and the weather is warm. “There are so many ports of call that do have accessible shore excursions that you can book through the cruise line,” Longmire says. “You go to Nassau — if you don’t find or you don’t want to do a shore excursion, you can just roll around Nassau — and they stop at CocoCay, which is accessible.” ​

The Twardowskis are freelance writers and photographers whose work has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, PBS, NextAvenue.org, AAA magazines and others. 

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member?

AARP Travel Center

Or Call: 1-800-675-4318

Enter a valid departing date

Enter a valid returning date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

Enter a valid departing date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

Enter a valid departing date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

Flight 2

Enter a valid departing date

Flight 3

Enter a valid departing date

Flight 4

Enter a valid departing date

Flight 5

Enter a valid departing date

+ Add Another Flight

Enter a valid checking in date

Enter a valid checking out date

Occupants of Room 1:

Occupants of Room 2:

Occupants of Room 3:

Occupants of Room 4:

Occupants of Room 5:

Occupants of Room 6:

Occupants of Room 7:

Occupants of Room 8:

Enter a valid departing date

Enter a valid returning date

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 1:

There are children in room 1 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age for room 1

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 2:

There are children in room 2 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 2

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 3:

There are children in room 3 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 3

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 4:

There are children in room 4 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 4

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 5:

There are children in room 5 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 5

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

You have more than 6 people total

Please select a trip duration less than 28 days

There must be at least 1 traveler (age 12+) for each infant in a lap

Enter a valid start date

Please select a Pick Up Time from the list

Enter a valid drop off date

Please select Drop Off Time from the list

Select a valid to location

Select a month

Enter a valid from date

Enter a valid to date

Benefits Recommended For You

See All