cruising with the blind

i'm contemplating taking my friend. she was on a cruise when she was sighted so knows what to expect from that perspective. she has 8 yr old twins which would be with us. i shop with her on a regular basis so i'm used to having to read the menus if we go to new places and things like that..navigation etc and she would always be with her kids at a minimum, and me of course most of the time. but at some point i'd probably drop her off at the pool if it got warm enough to use it in december in the bahamas

but just curious what things you've run into during cruising that i may not be thinking of that may be limiting or challenging.

i told her she would be great on the ropes course on BA because she cannot look down and see the sea whizzing by!

i wrote to the access desk to ask what info they have. i'm assuming no discounts but was curious about anything else like priority em/disembark. of course she would go much slower and would no doubt clog up the gangway etc.

No discounts for having a disability. Only discount would be if the cruise line is running a promotion as well as the 3rd & 4th person in the cabin generally sail at a reduced rate.

The following information would be helpful.

• What cruise line ?
   
  
• Does your friend use a service dog ?
  

ncl breakaway, no dog. just me or the kids leading her

ncl breakaway, no dog. just me or the kids leading her

You stated in your original post the if warm enough in December you'd drop her off at the pool. DO you mean you would than go somewhere else ? If so than I'd be very concerned for your friends personal safety in the pool as well as trying to get out of the pool by herself unassisted. The ship's pool staff isn't responsible to watch over your friend. All cruise lines contracts have a version of a fit to travel clause that requires the individual to travel with someone to assist on a daily basis.

Following is copied directly from NCL's website

Guests who are Blind or Have Low Vision

At Norwegian Cruise Line, we will attempt to provide our Blind or Low Vision guests with an enjoyable cruise, which means providing personal, customized service to make your cruise fun, safe and happy.

For additional information, call (866) 584-9756 (voice), fax (305) 468-2171, or send an e-mail to accessdesk@ncl.com, or have your travel agent contact us.

Amenities and Services Available include:

• Embarkation day meeting with staff member who will see to your accessibility needs during the cruise
  
• A vessel orientation tour is available upon request
  
• Braille / tactile signage
  
• Service animals allowed onboard and must be arranged through the Access Desk prior to the cruise
  

from what i remember of the kids pool i believe there was a wall around it where she could sit while they play. i'm not a sit in the sun kind of guy but this isnt june, its december. so i dont think id be toooooo hot. so i could probably stay there too. she takes her kids alone to the playground now herself so it would be up to her if she's ok by the kids pool as i described. or anywhere else.

from what i remember of the kids pool i believe there was a wall around it where she could sit while they play. i'm not a sit in the sun kind of guy but this isnt june, its december. so i dont think id be toooooo hot. so i could probably stay there too. she takes her kids alone to the playground now herself so it would be up to her if she's ok by the kids pool as i described. or anywhere else.

Don't forget: The ship moves; playgrounds generally do not.

And presumably she's had considerable time to learn her way around the playground.

That is, as the ship moves, if those of us who are sighted suddenly start to lose our balance a bit, it's almost automatic to grab a handrail or position a hand against a wall.

I would think that would be more difficult for someone with serious or complete vision problems, especially in a brand new environment.

from what i remember of the kids pool i believe there was a wall around it where she could sit while they play. i'm not a sit in the sun kind of guy but this isnt june, its december. so i dont think id be toooooo hot. so i could probably stay there too. she takes her kids alone to the playground now herself so it would be up to her if she's ok by the kids pool as i described. or anywhere else.

As another person posted the ship does move which poses even more of issue for an unsighted person. Additionally unlike a park where no one's going to ask her to leave , all cruise lines have the right to remove a passenger and those traveling with them at the next port if it's determined the individual did not have the proper assistance relative to their disability and their safety on board is at risk because of lack of assistance. For the record cruise lines do exercise this right and no you can't claim foul play under ADA as it has no bearing on the cruise lines passenger contract specific to the fit to travel clause. In fact ADA doesn't apply to Foreign Flagged ships other than public areas and that's still yet in question by the USA Supreme Court.

There are no lifeguards on cruise ships, so if her kids are swimming in the pool, YOU will need to be there watching them as she obviously cannot. 8 year olds cannot be allowed to swim without a sighted adult watching them.

 

i wrote to the access desk to ask what info they have. i'm assuming no discounts but was curious about anything else like priority em/disembark. of course she would go much slower and would no doubt clog up the gangway etc.

gotta wonder why you think she deserves priority access on anything? lots of people 'go slower'( myself included) due to age, or other disability.

as for discounts, again, why? most people with a disability want EQUAL treatment, not special treatment. no one is entitled to a discount just because they have a disability. if so, I'd be able to afford to cruise a helluva lot more often.

I suppose she can request the alternative embarkation manner( elevator or wheelchair assistance to get her on board with less fuss.

gotta wonder why you think she deserves priority access on anything? lots of people 'go slower'( myself included) due to age, or other disability.

 

as for discounts, again, why? most people with a disability want EQUAL treatment, not special treatment. no one is entitled to a discount just because they have a disability. if so, I'd be able to afford to cruise a helluva lot more often.

 

I suppose she can request the alternative embarkation manner( elevator or wheelchair assistance to get her on board with less fuss.

I missed his tissue from the OP first time round...

I agree, why would you (OP) even think there would be a discount? There are so many different types of handicaps, and arrangements made to accommodate them when possible...

Also, you are now stating that this person would "clog up the gangway", and I'm assuming you'd all be boarding together, which would mean you'd be there, too?

But yet, elsewhere, you seem more than comfortable letting this person be on his/her own on the ship (including near water, at the pool)?

(You [OP] haven't replied to the comments some of us offered about your questions previously.)

:confused:

We just cruised the Ncl sky in October with a friend who is legally blind after suffering a medical issue. He had his own room next door to ours and with his limited vision was able to get around ok after a few days of us guiding him and reminding him of whats where and on what deck. Since he is also in the next cabin again for our cruise on Grandeur to Bermuda we will of course accompany him to the buffet and around the ship, can't imagine leaving hm on his own... The dining rooms do have larger print menus...The buffets are a guess even for some of us with normal vision...

We just cruised the Ncl sky in October with a friend who is legally blind after suffering a medical issue. He had his own room next door to ours and with his limited vision was able to get around ok after a few days of us guiding him and reminding him of whats where and on what deck. Since he is also in the next cabin again for our cruise on Grandeur to Bermuda we will of course accompany him to the buffet and around the ship, can't imagine leaving hm on his own... The dining rooms do have larger print menus...The buffets are a guess even for some of us with normal vision...

You need to advise your friend that all cruise lines will provide an orientation tour of the ship for the vision impair upon request. Your friend should have that noted in his booking as well as follow-up with guest services upon boarding. Additionally he can complete an RCCL Special Needs form on line requesting the orientation tour for the Grandeur. Just note the request in the section marked "Other" in this link https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/allaboutcruising/guestSpecialNeeds.do

NCL would have done the same for him.

Yes I do know that now. I booked the cruises and I did inform RCCL and they informed me of the help avail for the visually impaired. I do wish the signs were larger in the buffet above each dish. I had to describe and decipher each dish and based on my description is what he ate... Ncl sky had a lot of hot dogs and hamburgers... Having sailed on Grandeur of the Seas before I know this will be better...

We traveled with my sister on a cruise after she went blind and we had a wonderful cruise. By the 2nd day she could navigate by herself to multiple places on the ship. The first day we boarded we took a tour of the ship, going to the places where we would be hanging out. We started each time from her cabin. First we went from the cabin to the elevator. She counted the steps. Than we got on the elevator went to our desired deck. Got off and I led her to whatever place was our destination. She counted the steps from the elevator to the place as I described obstacles. Than we would go back to the cabin and start all over again to head to a new destination. We did this repeatedly for an hour or so and by the 2nd day she could find her way to the buffet, the MDR, the pool area and to the casino. The staff was very nice to her. We had a fabulous waiter who after seeing one of us cutting up her meat did it before he brought her food to her every night thereafter. When he placed the plate in front of her he quietly whispered where the food was on the plate. Peas at 3 o'clock, meat at 6 o'clock etc. Was everything perfect? Absolutely not. She walked into walls a few times, was almost run over by a scooter, knocked over a few drinks etc

We had lots of laughs and we had a great cruise.

Also, just wanted to add, I agree that you need to stay at the pool if the twins are in or near the water. Someone needs to keep the kids in their sight the entire time.

Enjoy your cruise!

Apparently, this woman knows how to handle her environment. Just because she's visually challenged doesn't mean she shouldn't cruise. She'll be fine!

now that this thread has been bumped i was reminded to give NCL a review:

we called the telephone number we were given once we got to the pier and were told who to find and where. just to the left inside the 'front door' is the disabled section. saw lotta wheelchairs. then that woman handed us over to Mary. i dont know where she gets her patience but she was wonderful. we were walked through security (taking off coats etc is not fun) and they didnt discover any swords in my friends cane (yes there are reports of this at an airport) and then we were walked to one of the counters. the checkin process did take a very long time. at least it seemed that way. 4 people means 4 times as long. Mary was super patient when she literally had nothing to do but stand around. after that was done she headed us back past haven and at the far right end of the pier is the disabled section. this is roped off and has a large open space in the middle with chairs around. great for fitting in tons of wheelchairs. however. the caregivers dont have a lot of seating. we gave up our seats because it got pretty full in there. i believe we were probably 1st behind haven or even simultaneous with them as far as boarding.

sadly there were no welcoming people/parties/dancing on board, just a solo woman inside the door saying hi. this was the other 3 people's 1st cruise and while not the end of the world. i had expected a tad more. then again who wants to stand outside in 20 degrees :)

last sea day went to the front desk but ran into the head of disabled services by chance in line. she told us to meet her in the BA theater to disembark. turns out thats where the higher tiered members also disembark.

oh note to self and everyone. if you are aft do NOT take elevators to 7 and try to walk across the casino . DO NOT do this. it was absolutely horrible , especially with a blind person and kids and suitcases in tow. go forward on another level and come down the steps or something.

i was impressed with Mary at the terminal at the check in process and she refused my tip to the point of dropping the money on the floor when i tried to hand to her. (not on purpose)

i have to also say tendering back from GSC was smooth but once butted up against the ship it was scary how much the walkway moved up and down and i was worried for my friend. they frequently had to stop people because the plank was moving so badly up and down.

Being blind is such a devastating illness. It´s admirable how some people tries to live on and face daily habits with disabilities. Cruising enjoyment (and travelling) in general depends mostly on the sight, but it´s nice to see that blind get on board and have a nice time.

I am not sure if I wouldn´t feel like, but it´s a very positive attitude to live.