Consumer Newsletter – October 2009
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October 2009 |
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SPECIAL NEEDS AT SEA WINS SEATRADE INSIDER 2009 "ONBOARD SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR" AWARD Special Needs at Sea was honored as winner of the “Onboard Supplier of the Year” Award at the third annual Seatrade Insider Awards held in Hamburg, Germany on September 15; part of Seatrade Europe 2009.
“The high caliber of the Seatrade organization and strength of all the nominees make this award even more significant for us,” says Andrew Garnett, founder and president of Special Needs at Sea. “Additionally, it underscores the importance to the industry of what we provide and validates our commitment to accessible cruising.” Read More.
CRUISE LINE SPOTLIGHT: ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL Royal Caribbean is an industry leader in accessible cruise vacations and understandably a top choice for people with disabilities and slow walkers. Royal Caribbean’s Accessible Seas program ensures that every traveler is able to discover and explore the world around us.
All of Royal Caribbean’s ships have accessible staterooms. When Oasis of the Seas launches in December 2009, she will exemplify Royal Caribbean’s commitment to making travel accessible. The ship will have 46 accessible staterooms dispersed in a variety of categories. The Freedom-class ships and Voyager-class ships are also good options for people with disabilities with 32 and 26 accessible staterooms respectively. All accessible staterooms are equipped with wider doors (at least 32 inches), ramped bathrooms, roll0-in showers, grab bars, raised toilet seats, lowered sinks and vanity areas, and a five-foot turning radius in sleeping areas, bathrooms and sitting areas. Royal Caribbean also ensures that children with disabilities don’t miss out on the fun. The Freedom-class as well as the new Oasis-class ships have a children’s water park (the H2O Zone) where plastic wheelchairs are provided for them to navigate the area. Royal Caribbean’s children’s camp, the Adventure Ocean, may place the child by ability, rather than age. And for the child at heart, the OnAir Club, a space dedicated to karaoke, has ramps up to the stage which allow guests in wheelchairs and scooters to participate. Read more.
CITY OF HIGHLIGHT: VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA Vancouver is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Canada. Set between the mountains and the ocean, Vancouver’s natural beauty enables a spectacular range of activities for visitors. The city also boasts great shopping, first class dining and is home to world class entertainment. And, in 2010 Vancouver will host the world for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Fortunately for travelers with special needs and slow walkers, Vancouver is renowned for being one of the world’s most accessible cities.
Vancouver has more than 200 diverse parks, the most famous being Stanley Park. One of the largest urban parks in the world, Stanley Park has many popular attractions including the Vancouver Aquarium, Miniature Railroad Train and 18-hole Pitch and Putt course. From March to October, visitors may take an accessible horse-drawn carriage ride through the park. Read More. Interesting Fact: Vancouver is one of the only cities in the world where it is possible to ski, play golf and go sailing all in the same day.
Cruise Information: Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean all sail out of Vancouver.
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH "Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." Lou Holtz, football coach THAT’S AMAZING! Single-leg amputee, Rick Ball, set the world record for one-legged runners in Ottawa, Canada, on Sunday September 20, 2009, finishing the Canada Army Run with a time of 1:20:45. Ball, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident more than two decades ago, beat the previous record by approximately one minute. |
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Delivering an Accessible World.
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Toll Free: 1-800-513-4515 2860 West State Road 84, Suite 107, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 |
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About Special Needs at Sea and Special Needs Group…
Special Needs Group, Inc. is a one-stop resource for special needs travel around the world. We offer a broad range of special needs equipment for purchase and rental including wheelchairs, scooters, power chairs with capabilities to support 500 pound or more; oxygen (liquid, cylinder, and concentrator); hearing impaired equipment, Braille printing, baby cribs and more. Recommended by the world’s major cruise lines and hotels for superior service and value, we also provide consultation services regarding special needs policy and new-build design. Special Needs Group, a U.S. company, is not a travel agency; we do not compete in any way with travel agents. |
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