Special Needs at Sea works with Cunard Cruise Line to provide mobility services for thousands of travelers aboard their ships each year!
In October 2010, the brand-new Queen Elizabeth joined Cunard Line’s iconic Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. Cunard’s ships are recognized as “The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the World.” From their vast array of enrichment programs, delectable cuisine, legendary voyages, comfortable accommodations and personal service, Cunard is the epitome of luxury cruising.
Cunard Cruise Line cruises for handicapped passengers welcome aboard guests with disabilities and those requiring assistance. All three of Cunard’s ships have wheelchair accessible staterooms. About two percent of Cunard wheelchair cruises’ rooms are accessible: The Queen Mary 2 has the most accessible staterooms, 31 out of 1,296 total rooms, followed by the Queen Victoria, 20 out of 1,000 and the Queen Elizabeth with 20 out of 1,029. The staterooms are across different categories including the Queen Grill Suites, Princess Grill Suites, Balcony, Ocean View and Inside rooms. Rooms are equipped with accessible closet rods, lowered shelves and bed height of 22”. Stateroom bathrooms on wheelchair cruises are nicely equipped with a roll-in shower, grab bars, lowered sink, fold-down shower stool, ramped threshold, toilet seat riser, sliding bathroom doors, hand-held mirror and portable hair dryer.
Accessibility highlights of the Cunard Cruise Line cruises for handicapped passengers include room for 180 degree turns in wheelchairs, public rooms with gradual inclines, accessible seating for shows and accessible seating in the main dining hall. Cunard also provides embarkation and debarkation priority to guests with special needs.
Cunard Cruise Line cruises for handicapped passengers accommodate persons with visual impairments. Elevator stations, room numbers, menus and daily itineraries are all available in Braille. Seeing eye dogs are allowed onboard; however, guests are required to adhere to local laws or customs at certain ports or countries that may prevent animals from disembarking. It is the guests’ responsibilities to check all customs requirements as well as official veterinary certifications.
Cunard Cruise Line cruises for handicapped passengers also accommodate guests with hearing impairments. The Queen Victoria has more capabilities than the Queen Mary 2 for guests with hearing impairments. Hearing devices are available in the Royal Court Theatre aboard both ships. The Queen Victoria also has hearing assistance devices in the Queens Room and ConneXions meeting rooms and has a portable VHF device for areas throughout the ship where there is amplified sound. Information for the Queen Elizabeth is not yet available. Guests with hearing impairments may request portable room kits alerting guests for door knocking, phone ringing and smoke. Additionally, rooms have closed captioned televisions and TDD phones.
Cunard requests that travel agents or direct passengers advise the Reservations Department of any special need at the time of booking. For questions and more information regarding traveling with special needs, contact Cunard’s Reservations Department at 1-800-7-CUNARD. Cunard does not provide wheelchairs or scooters for their guests. For wheelchair cruises rentals, scooter rentals or other special needs equipment rentals, contact Special Needs Group at 1-800-513-4515.