Wheelchair Accessible Cruises & Ships | Holland America Helps
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- I interview Ashley Vaughn about accessibility on Holland America and how they help those who travel with challenges.
We talk about wheelchair-accessible cruises and ships.
1. One comment I hear is that there is not much availability for passengers that need an accessible cabin, can you offer any advice?
2. Are there some ships that have more accessible cabins than others?
3. Some cruise lines have different categories of accessible cabins, for instance fully accessible, limited mobility accessible, with the biggest difference being the bathroom. Does your cruise line have different levels of accessibility?
4. Do your required proof of the need for an accessible cabin?
5. I know some people will book one that is accessible for the extra space without a need, how do you prevent that?
6. Do you have excursions that are accessible, and how do passengers find them?
7. What accommodation do you make for the blind?
8. What accommodation do you make for the deaf?
9. What accommodation do you make for autism?
10. What about tender ports and accessibility?
11. Is the spa accessible?
12. Are the pools and hot tubs accessible?
13. What assistance is available for those with challenges?
14. Are there plans for further enhancements for those that travel with challenges?
15. Are there Itineraries that are better for those traveling with challenges, from the perspective of ports that are easier to navigate?
Holland America does not have a specific program for those that are autistic or suffer from another sensory processing disorder. We also talked about the use of oxygen on board and the providers they work with like Special Needs at Sea and they also work with them for dialysis.
Holland America does a really good job with having very accessible cruise ships and making provisions for accessible cruises.
I've been looking for the best cruise company for me for our 25th wedding anniversary (since I have a disability) and I think I found it! Thank you very much.
I am glad you did. We are travel agents and work to help travelers with a disability. It never cost the traveler for our services.
Wow and yeahhhhhh for the lift on the tenders. I also love that there is someone that you can actually talk to about accessibility that actually knows something!!!? I think I really need to try Holland America!!!! Very pleased to hear all she had to say. Thanks for setting this up Ken.
I am going to try them, just not sure when, my travel for the rest of this is booked.
Good interview, but I'm looking for pictures or videos so I can actually SEE how I could manuver my wheelchair.
I will have videos from the Niew Amsterdam in February.
Ty for this. I am wheelchair bound due to Transverse Myelitis and still want to travel w my husband. Ty for the video. So glad I found your channel
I am glad you found it help. I have a FB group for those that travel with challenges. facebook.com/groups/travelingwithachair
Congratulations on a great segment. I'm in a chair so content is very appropriate. St Petersburg is off limits with Putin's war, but we visited in 2019. No HAL tours for wheelchair, but we were put onto Sage Tours (USA) who provided a local driver, English speaking guide and a Mercedes van with lifter for two days of touring. As experts, she took us around all the queues and gave us priority access with limited crowds in most venues. Expensive but worth every dollar.
Thanks for sharing, once things settle down, we may try again. I hope you are subscribed to the channel, there is always new content.
Holland was great when my husband became less mobile. they were also very helpful when we went on excursions see that he had a front seat on buses and could take his walker.
I was very impressed by what Ashley shared.
Thank you for all of your information on traveling with disabilities. My husband has just had an amputation and lost his sight in 2019. We love to cruise and are planning a 2022 trip.
We spoke to a Holland America representative. I look forward to your next video.
I am sorry to hear about your husbands challenges. I have a FB group for those who travel with challenges. facebook.com/groups/travelingwithachair
The most common problem I have onboard is carrying a plate of food from the buffet line or burger venue to a table, while in a wheelchair. I don't have enough hands to carry the plate while maneuvering the wheelchair at the same time. At best I can carry only one plate at a time.
It's frustrating when an elevator arrives, opens the doors, then departs before I can reach it in my wheelchair. It's not uncommon for me to spend many long minutes playing elevator ping-pong before I succeed in catching an open lift.
Both can be issues, but we always ask for help in the buffet and it has always been provided. For the elevator there we haven't found a good solution.
Well done Video, Thank you.
Glad you liked it, we are planning on doing some cruises on HAL to create more content.
@@Travelingwithachair Thanks for heads up. Was lucky enough Book my first 2 HAL Cruises, a PC and a 18n Hawaii both Winter 2023. Done dozens of RCCL, NCL or Carnival Cruises but will be my first on HAL. Was surprised multiple accessible Cabins on both were still available, other Lines at 12-18 months most are already full on these longer/popular Sailings
Great video. Wish you had similar one with carnival
I am trying to do a series like this on the Horizon in a couple of months.
@@Travelingwithachair well be on the Mardi Gras in December. Hoping someone will post some images of our FAC
I would challenge her about the tender lift system. On our last cruise (2020) after staff said that there wasn't a lift and being challenged as we knew there was one, staff stated that the lift was "not working and NEVER will". HAL won't use the lifts for liability reasons!!
If you look on their web site under "What are my ship transfer options?" you can see that HAL has covered themselves regarding the use of the lift saying "For the safety of all concerned, the Captain shall make the final determination regarding whether or not it is advisable to provide assistance to guests with mobility limitations, or to carry their mobility assistance device (wheelchair, scooter, walker, etc.), taking into account all appropriate matters including, but not limited to, weather conditions, ship's location, weight of the guest or their mobility device, etc.". All the captain has to say is no and that's it. Knowing HAL's liability concerns as the captain does as well the lift will never be used!
Have been on numerous HAL cruises over the years and have always been told lift not working/available.
I am working on booking a HAL cruise, and I will see what I can find.
The discussion with Ashley Vaughan was very helpful, as my wife and I are trying to plan a cruise (our 1st one). She can't deal with any stairs whatsoever, so I ask, if we want to cruise, is it sensible to plan to cruise? She would be completely dependent on a scooter to roam around, so more frustration from this? We'd need to use elevators to go deck-to-deck, right? Might this result in more frustration than not?
My wife use a wheelchair, and can't really do stairs, though she can walk a little. We have been on 18 cruises, and love to cruise. We were on 2 cruises in the last 3 weeks. We find that cruising is the easiest of the ways we travel. You will run into limitations on shore sometimes. I have a FB group for people that travel with challenges, you are welcome to join. We all share what we find in the way of travel information. facebook.com/groups/travelingwithachair
When I’m waiting in line to board the ship can I get a wheelchair if I have to stand for a long time.
Yes.
great video... there should be a policy in effect so that if someone books an accessible room who does not require it then they should either be put in another suite or if no other suite available be denied access to the ship and turned away with no refund. that way people will stop booking accessible suites and rooms who don't need them. Some sort of proof should be required I think. I am a person in a wheelchair and would be very angry to see someone in an accessible room who does not need it and I would not be shy about vocalizing that very loudly either
Most cruise lines demand at least a statement certifying the reason for the need.
TY For this video we have traveled on HAL for years. this fall will be our 1st experience cruising with HAL and my husband using his electric wheelchair due to a stoke. It is a folding wheelchair we have completed the special request for HAL. my concerns are port excursions for Caribbean Panama canal he can't go to beaches and limited to no stairs. Any suggestions
Puerto Limon, and Cartegena are both areas you can visit with a power chair. Bonaire and Curacao both have accessible activities. What other port do you have questions about?
Which accessible rooms on Westerdam has right hand side grab rails on toilet. I was previously in 6049 on Nieuw Amsterdam and the grab rails were only on left side - not much help when paralysed in left arm
I have never been on any of the HA ships, so I can't answer that question, But I will put them on my list to check out.
I'm a very active wheelchair user I like doing sports and things like that and I like to party this is my first cruise I've saved up $6,000 I don't want to waste my money and I want to have some pretty cool on shore excursions like I say I'm very active and mobile does anybody have any suggestions
Where are you going on the cruise, and then I can help more. Also, check out our FB group facebook.com/groups/travelingwithachair and you might want to check out cruisecritic.com
@@Travelingwithachair I plan on leaving from Miami and I have no fixed destination I have no clue what I'm doing I have never cruised before in my life kind of a once in a lifetime thing so I don't want to waste it I'm planning on a two-week Cruise so 14 days oh and I also wanted to know about single cruises and I like to party I'm more worried about onshore excursions that I won't be able to participate in
From Miami, there are several options, Barbados there are accessible taxis and tours, Martinique has accessible taxis and tours, Grenada has accessible tours and taxis, Cozumel has accessible taxis that give tours. If you haven't booked, you can email me ken@travelingwithachair and I can see if I can help.
Do the ambulatory accesible cabins offer a seated shower on the Neuw Statuendam?
I haven't been on board so I cannot say for sure. I would expect that they do. You can call the accessibility desk and get a specific answer.
@@Travelingwithachair Thank you!
I'm new to the scooter scene.
Where do you find the special request form?
This link will take you there.
book.hollandamerica.com/specialServices/login.action