New Access Regulations Make Cruising Easier for Wheelchair Passengers

Have you ever tried to reserve a wheelchair-accessible cruise ship cabin, only to be told that none are available for your preferred sailing date? You're not alone, but it's getting better. 

By Candy Harrington | Barrier Free Travels | November 2, 2010

Although most cruise lines have done a good job making their ships accessible, there just aren't enough accessible cabins to go around. And with the increased incidence of able-bodied passengers snapping up these roomy accommodations as soon as they become available, fewer and fewer wheelchair-accessible cabins are going to disabled passengers.

The good news is, the Department of Transportation (DOT) isn't oblivious to this problem; in fact, they've been looking into it since 2005. Earlier this year they came up with a workable resolution, when they released the Passenger Vessel Operators Non-Discrimination Rule. Published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2010, the rule took effect on November 3, 2010. Not only does it outline booking procedures, medical certifications and access information requirements; but it also gives the cruise lines an effective tool for dealing with unqualified passengers who book accessible cabins. 

Information is Power

First and foremost, the new regulations require cruise lines to provide basic access information about their vessels, facilities and services, including:

• Access limitations aboard vessels.
• Access limitations embarking and disembarking at all ports.
• Access limitations of ancillary transportation and tours.

Although requiring the cruise lines to provide specific accessible facilities and services is beyond the scope of these regulations; just giving passengers the tools to make informed access choices is very empowering. 

Furthermore, the DOT realizes that some ships only have a limited supply of accessible cabins. And although they stopped short of requiring accessible cabins in all classes of service; the new regulations strictly prohibit cruise lines from charging disabled passengers extra because of this oversight. In other words, if a ship has no accessible cabins in their cheapest category, then the cruise line cannot charge disabled passengers more for booking the next higher class of accessible cabin. In the end, it's hoped that this requirement will help persuade cruise lines to provide accessible cabins in all classes of service.

Reserving an Accessible Cabin

The new regulations also make it easier for disabled passengers to reserve accessible cabins. Although cruise lines are prohibited from asking for medical certification from disabled passengers, they are permitted to ask passengers who book an accessible cabin to self-certify and attest to the fact that they are disabled and that they do require an accessible cabin. 

Additionally the new regulations require cruise lines to withhold accessible cabins from the general reservation pool until all other cabins in that category are booked. In other words, disabled passengers will be able to book accessible cabins at any time; however able-bodied passengers will not be able to book an accessible cabin unless all the other cabins in that class are booked. 

And last but certainly not least, the new regulations require cruise lines to investigate the potential misuse of accessible cabins; as well as give them the power to deny transportation to passengers who falsely represent that they have a disability, just to get a larger cabin. And although the rules fall short of requiring the cruise lines to deny passage to these abusers, the threat of that possibility will most likely provide a significant deterrent. 

More to Come

It's important to note that these regulations only address policy issues. The US Access Board is currently developing physical accessibility guidelines for cruise ships. And although there's no timeline for their completion, once they are released, cruise ships will finally be covered in their entirety under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.barrierfreetravels.com.