Sadly, thousands of people with a physical disability sit at home every year because they are unaware of vacation opportunities that could accommodate special needs. Having a disability for many people is not just embarrassing but also demoralizing. After all, no one wants to feel as if he or she is being made a spectacle of, which is why Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has created a method for dealing with all types of disabilities while leaving the passenger with integrity.
Every crew member of Royal Caribbean wants guests to feel comfortable, be safe, and debark having had an amazing experience aboard the cruise ship of choice. The good news is that because of the way the cruises have been designed, accommodations coupled with the positive attitude of crew members guarantees that all passengers with a disability will have the same opportunities as other passengers when it comes to fun, exploration, and adventure.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has a special Guest Services group that can help anyone with a disability who is interested in sailing with this cruise line. Anyone with a disability can notify this cruise line by calling a representative with the company directly, filling out a Guest Special Needs form found on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line website, or notifying the travel agency handling the cruise booking. Information about sailing with a disability can also be obtained by calling toll-free 866-592-7225 or sending an email to special_needs@rccl.com.
For Royal Caribbean to be able to guarantee that all passengers will be treated with respect and integrity, but also be given the necessary aids to enjoy their cruise, the company has Complaint Resolution Officials who oversee very aspect. These professionals go through extensive training to learn the latest information and requirements specific to disability regulations according to the United States Department of Transportation. Therefore, if a passenger needs more information or needs to have a problem resolved when sailing with Royal Caribbean, a Complaint Resolution Official would be contacted.
A few examples about sailing with Royal Caribbean while living with a disability includes the following:
Mobile Disability
For the passenger with a mobile disability, every cruise ship is designed with a wide corridor making it easy for a wheelchair to pass but also make a 180-degree turn. Additionally, entrances have gentle inclines and the majority of decks onboard provide accessibility through automatic doors.
Visual Impairment
For passengers who have difficulty with vision or those who are completely blind, Royal Caribbean provides menus with large print, both tactile and Braille signage throughout the ships, audio call signals, Braille buttons in the elevators, and service animals can come onboard where they are given a relief area measuring 4×4-feet and containing cypress mulch.
Hearing Impaired
Royal Caribbean also provides a wide variety of solutions for people who are hearing impaired or completely deaf. As an example, the passenger’s stateroom would come with a portable room kit that includes a tactile alert system for door knocking, alarm clock, smoke detector, and phone ringing. Upon request passengers can use a TTY, which interfaces with the Guest Relations Desk.
Another service provided aboard all Royal Caribbean cruise ships for people who are hearing impaired or deaf if an amplified telephone for staterooms but they are also located in many of the ship’s public areas. Then, Assistive Listening Systems are also found on all ships in the main theater. Royal Caribbean even provides closed-caption televisions and services for sign language interpretation if needed.
In addition to all the services mentioned above for people sailing with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line while having a disability, many more exist. The one thing passengers can be certain of is that this organization works extremely hard to make the cruise experience a positive one. This means treating every passenger the same and making sure they have fun but also stay safe.