Access Tourism NZ TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, AND AGEING BOOMERS IN NEW ZEALAND AND WORLDWIDE

Whether it’s a result of recent successful consumer lawsuits, or a dawning realization that travellers with disabilities have money to spend, cruise lines are slowly removing barriers.  So writes the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

Last year, Access Now, a Miami Beach-based organization that promotes rights for disabled travellers, settled a lawsuit with Carnival Cruise Lines over lack of accessibility on the company’s cruise ships. Since then, the company has upgraded access by, for example, providing cabins with plenty of bathroom turnaround space, accessible showers, and automatic cabin door openers, accessible routes, accessible seating with companion seats in the lounge and dining areas, an accessible gym and sauna, and lifts to access some of the stages, so wheelchair users can participate in shows on the carnival Jubilee.

“The initiative that they are taking is incredible,” disability rights lawyer Matthew Dietz, who represented Florida advocacy group Access Now, recently told New Mobility magazine. “The designs [on the Carnival Jubilee] are as close to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines as you can possibly get.”

Access Now currently has pending lawsuits against several other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Westtours and Costa Crociere.  Several of these are already improving access for travellers with disabilities. Holland America, for example, has dedicated managers who oversee accessibility issues. It seems that these companies recognize people with disabilities are an important segment of the cruise market.

The article goes on to give tips for PwDs who want to go on a cruise.