Ask The Expert!
by Candy Harrington, editor of Emerging Horizons
Accessible Stateroom for Four?
I am interested in finding a cruise ship that will allow my husband and I (a full time wheelchair-user) and our two children (ages six and eight) to stay in one accessible cabin together. Do you have any suggestions?
Many ships have accessible staterooms that will accommodate four people, but my top pick is Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas. I just like the configuration and the access features of accessible cabin 1328, which can accommodate up to six passengers very comfortably. It has a standard bed, a fold-out sofa and two bunk beds in a small alcove.
The great thing about this cabin is that it’s very roomy, and with the bunk beds in the alcove area, it gives parents a little more privacy. It also boasts a very spacious balcony, with plenty of room to wheel around.
Access features of the cabin include level thresholds, wide doorways and good pathway access. The accessible bathroom includes a full five-foot turn around, a roll-under sink and a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower bench. There are standard grab bars on one side of the toilet, and a fold-down set on the other side. This feature comes in handy for folks who need help standing up, but it can be folded up out of the way for lateral transfers.
Access is also excellent throughout all of the public areas of the ship, with threshold ramps and automatic doors to most outside areas. You’ll find access features everywhere you look; from the lowered blackjack tables in the casino to the accessible treatment rooms and roll-in showers in the spa. There is barrier-free access to all of the bars, restaurants, dining rooms and shops; and accessible seating in the Platinum Theater (the main showroom) and Studio B (the ice show venue). And if you want to get wet, there’s even a lift-equipped pool.
It’s a great ship, with good access and plenty of things for the whole family to enjoy.
— February 7, 2010
