Seabourn Cruises refuses Wheelchair Booking
We have cruised Alaska's Inside Passage now three times and found it to be extremely accessible. Operators in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan go out of their way to accommodate people with disabilities. The two major embarkation ports of Vancouver and Seattle are well equipped and plenty of assistance is available for embarkation and disembarkation at the ports along the trip. We have sailed with both Holland America and Princess lines.
Recently however we were enquiring about a seven night cruise with Seabourn cruises from St Thomas back to Fort Lauderdale. While the ship in question has accessible cabins (well sort of, it required a portable ramp to installed to enable access to the bathroom and the bathroom door being removed) and the two terminals at St Thomas and Fort Lauderdale meeting ADA requirements boarding was said to be not available to people who could not walk up the gangway.
Apparently the ADA only applied to built infrastructure according to Seabourn hence there was no obligation to assist with boarding up the stepped gangway. Further under occupation health requirements their staff were not able to assist with carrying not were any carers permitted to carry a person on the gangway. In short the reservation was technically refused. Cruising is a very good method of travelling with people with disabilities as once on board the ship facilities are available and known for the duration of the voyage but only applies if the culture of the cruise lines encourages that participation. Seabourn is not a lone player but part of the Carnival Group of Lines which of course includes Holland America, Princess, Cunard and P&O to name a few. I have copied the correspondence with Seabourn and would love to hear some of your stories.
Second Response:
Hello Bill
We have received the followin response from Seabourn Miami Office
If you are referencing the Seabourn Legend's 25Mar10 voyage, here is the info you have requested.
1. Guests may access the dining venues by wheelchair.
2. If you are referencing the elevators midship, as there are no elevators forward, yes, guest in wheelchairs can be accommodated. I will give you the dimensions of these elevators, so the family will know what size wheelchair will fit.
3. No restrooms in the public areas have the ability for roll in. We do have ramps available in these instances.
4. ADA requirements are established for shore side operations. Cruise lines over the years have complied with these regulations in an effort to assist guest with mobility issues.
Yes St Thomas is a US territory as would be Ft Lauderdale. However, a gangway is in operation in St Thomas, and as such the guest will need to embark the vessel with the assistance of an able bodied companion or of our staff. Unfortunately, our staff will not be able to carry the individual on the gangway.
Please find below the dimensions of the elevators on the Seabourn Yachts Pride, Spirit and Legend
Forward elevator entrance size is 75 cm and the inside is 78 x 110 cm, however, the floor button panel is taking a bit of the space inside and one side is only 66 cm.
The two aft elevators entrances are 78 cm, while the insides are 1 m x 125 cm.
Please advise if we can assist further.
Kind regards
Roslyn
The Yachts of Seabourn
Carnival Australia
15 Mount Street, North Sydney NSW 2060
p: 13 24 02 | f: +61 2 842 9198
First Response
From: "Miami Guest Services Mailbox" <gueser@seabourn.com>
Date: 12 January 2010 10:42:00 AM AEDT
Subject: Re: Seabourn >> Website >> Contact Us
Thank you for your e mail,
I have attached our mobility information to review with the guest. You will read that guests do need to have ability to walk on board the ship, entry to the ship is via stepped gangway, and to step into and out of tenders . (our emphasis)
best regards
Original Information Request:
I am from Harvey World Travel Dandenong and out specialist accessible arm Travability. I have a client interested in the Mar 25, 2010 7 Day Caribbean Gems to Fort Lauderdale on the Sea Legend. One of those clients is totally dependant on a manual wheelchair for mobility and has no ability to walk. I have studied the deck plans and see that there are four accessible cabins on the ship Two A1 category numbers 134 and 136 and two A2 Category 232 and 234. I have the following questions:
1. First of course is their availability for the 25 Mar cruise for one double cabin.
2. What are the facilities in the cabins especially the bathroom. Do they contain roll in showers?
3. All four cabins seem adjacent to the rear two elevators which appear to give access to levels deck 3 thru 7. Only the front elevator appears to access deck 8 can you confirm that is the case. All dinning areas appear to have level floors and are accessible for a person in a wheelchair, can you confirm that is the case.
4. The front elevator appears to be accessible from any deck via the central corridor, is that corridor wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
5. Are any of the restrooms in the public areas of the ship wheelchair accessible?
6. Can you advise the loading procedure in St Thomas. Is the boat docked for that voyage and can the gangways be negotiated with assistance. I also note St Thomas is a busy Port and that ships are sometimes required to anchor away from the dock with tender boarding. Can you accommodate a wheelchair passenger in such circumstances.
Kind Regards,
Bill Forrester
Owner Harvey World Travel Dandenong
Founder Travability