I have been on 6 cruises and use a scooter full time due to my multiple sclerosis. Three of those were on Royal Carribean's Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas. These three were accessible almost everywhere. The walk up stairs chapel was not on one.
I have been on four of the MS Foundation Cruises for a Cause. This last one was on the Celebrity Cruise Lines (owned by Royal Carribean) Millenium. I had an accessible cabin. Many areas were hard on my scooter as there were raised thresholds several places and in all halls. The bump bump noise and jarring was annoying and probably woke up people when at night. The Princess cruise we went on was awful. I had to get off the scooter and have someone get it over and help me over many places, and one whole floor was not usable for me.
One of the annoying things is elevators. Many events the whole ship is going to at the same time. I waited through 11 elevators to go one floor one evening on the Explorer of the Seas. The able bodied who could walk one floor of stairs have the elevators all too crowded to let a scooter on. It would be nice if one elevator on each ship was for handicap and their party only or even handicap only.
I love cruising though but I will be happy when it is more accessible. You unpack once, and your cabin is always close enough to rest, the food is great too. Shore excursions in many ports are not accessible. Some have areas you can navigate, but many stores and businesses, etc. have a raised doorway. I wish the ships knew about the accessibility of the ports they go to, but they have no clue when you ask that.
Thanks for your efforts to make my cruising easier.
Jeanie E. Zeis
[address]
West Palm Beach, FL 33413
[phone]