difference between fully accessible and ambulatory accessible cabins

[sunsetme]

what is the difference and does the ambulatory cabin have a couch in the deluxe balcony category?

Edited December 15, 2023 by sunsetme
added text

[JF - retired RRT]

Is this a new thing?

Never seen "fully" vs. "ambulatory".

What ship?

[sunsetme]

Regal Princess but I assume all the ships have these

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

My research suggests the following...

 

Accessible is access with wheelchair/scooter

 

Ambulatory means you might have mobility issues but can walk perhaps with a cane/stick.

[sunsetme]

Is there a couch in the deluxe balcony accessible? From videos it looks like there isn't one.

[Tonsoffun44]

 

1 hour ago, sunsetme said:

what is the difference and does the ambulatory cabin have a couch in the deluxe balcony category?

Where do you see cabins listed as ambulatory accessible? Never seen anything listed other than wheelchair accessible.

[sunsetme]

16 minutes ago, Tonsoffun44 said:

 

Where do you see cabins listed as ambulatory accessible? Never seen anything listed other than wheelchair accessible.

in the princess booklet

[kodidog]

I know for sure that there is only a fully accessible cabin on the Enchanted Princess.  Using a walker, and asked for 'ambulatory' accessible balcony cabin, but there isn't that category on the ship.

[skynight]

There is no such specific cabin category indicated as an "ambulatory accessible" cabin on the Regal Princess or any other Royal or Grand Class Princess ship. Excluding the fully wheelchair accessible cabins, all cabins have 22 inch entry doors. Inside, Outside, and Balcony category cabins have a step in shower and no sofa. Deluxe Balcony category cabins on Royal Class ships only also have a step in shower but they do have a two seat sofa. Mini Suites have a 3 seat sofa and a shower/tub combination where you have to step over the bathtub side to enter. For full suite cabin layouts research the one you are interested in.

The above does not represent the new Sun and Star Princess which are Sphere Class ships. 

[suzyed]

26 minutes ago, skynight said:

There is no such specific cabin category indicated as an "ambulatory accessible" cabin on the Regal Princess or any other Royal or Grand Class Princess ship. Excluding the fully wheelchair accessible cabins, all cabins have 22 inch entry doors. Inside, Outside, and Balcony category cabins have a step in shower and no sofa. Deluxe Balcony category cabins on Royal Class ships only also have a step in shower but they do have a two seat sofa. Mini Suites have a 3 seat sofa and a shower/tub combination where you have to step over the bathtub side to enter. For full suite cabin layouts research the one you are interested in.

The above does not represent the new Sun and Star Princess which are Sphere Class ships. 

The accessible Mini Suite on Regal does not have a tub. It has a big shower with a fold down seat.

 

[skynight]

32 minutes ago, suzyed said:

The accessible Mini Suite on Regal does not have a tub. It has a big shower with a fold down seat.

 

Yes, that is why fully wheelchair accessible cabins were excluded from my posting. 

[sunsetme]

1 hour ago, skynight said:

There is no such specific cabin category indicated as an "ambulatory accessible" cabin on the Regal Princess or any other Royal or Grand Class Princess ship. 

I beg to differ:

 

[kiwimum]

We were assigned an ambulatory balcony cabin on, I think, the Grand.  Shower had fold

down seat in the shower.   Other than that nothing different.

[kiwimum]

We were assigned an ambulatory balcony cabin on, I think, the Grand.  Shower had fold down seat in the shower and maybe an additional grab bar in the bathroom.  Other than that nothing different.

Edited December 15, 2023 by kiwimum

[desertdwellingsailor]

Doesn't ambulatory just mean that you are able to walk? That would be most customers. Never mind.  I can't figure out how to delete this.

Edited December 15, 2023 by desertdwellingsailor
posted dumb thing

[SCX22]

Per the people from Carnival.  Maybe the same is true for Princess, since both are under the same umbrella?

[cr8tiv1]

If memory serves me well...don't count on it...

 

Aren't there "mistake" cabins?  Those that don't have doors wide enough for wheelchairs/scooters, but modified showers?

[desertdwellingsailor]

Found this from 2015: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaches-agreement-carnival-corp-over-ada-violations-carnival-cruise-line

 

"Three percent of the cabins on 49 ships will be accessible according to three levels of accessibility: fully accessible cabins, fully accessible cabins with a single side approach to the bed, and ambulatory accessible cabins."

 

It sounds like at that time Princess and the other Carnival brands had to provide three types of ADA accessible rooms. I am not sure how to request each type now assuming that is possible.

[iamaqt2]

The cabins for ambulatory guests include accomodations for hearing impaired such as doorbells that make the lights flash, and a TTY phone.  

[cruisinsince75]

Three types on all Carnival Corps ships.

 

Fully Accessible.

     Wider cabins to help maneuver a wheelchair or mobility scooter

21 hours ago, desertdwellingsailor said:

Found this from 2015: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaches-agreement-carnival-corp-over-ada-violations-carnival-cruise-line

 

"Three percent of the cabins on 49 ships will be accessible according to three levels of accessibility: fully accessible cabins, fully accessible cabins with a single side approach to the bed, and ambulatory accessible cabins."

 

It sounds like at that time Princess and the other Carnival brands had to provide three types of ADA accessible rooms. I am not sure how to request each type now assuming that is possible.

That is correct.  We always have to book fully accessible, because we are both use mobility scooters.  Fully accessible also means roll-in showers.  Here is the description. 

Fully Accessible suites are designed for use by guests with highly limited or no mobility who require regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices and provide accessible elements including turning space, accessible routes throughout the cabin, and accessible bathrooms. Fully Accessible – Single Side Approach rooms are also designed for use by guests with highly limited or no mobility who require regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices. These rooms provide an accessible route and clear floor space on only one side of the bed in a cabin configured to provide one bed and between the beds in a cabin configured to provide two beds. Ambulatory Accessible rooms are designed for use by guests with mobility disabilities who do not require the regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices. These rooms provide some accessible features. The configuration of Accessible Suites may vary from the non-accessible suites. 

[cruisinsince75]

The 2027 ADA codes also will include automatic opening doors on all accessible stateroom doors and bathroom doors.  The Nieuw Statendam just came out of drydock.  Part of the drydock was to bring the ship up to the 2027 ADA guidelines.

[coo359a2]

On 12/15/2023 at 11:56 AM, sunsetme said:

what is the difference and does the ambulatory cabin have a couch in the deluxe balcony category?

Have you tried contacting a TA or PVP to see if they can help.  I just tried making a booking in 2025 and was only given handicap cabins with a logo of a wheelchair next to the cabin number.    

[Moondogy]

5 hours ago, coo359a2 said:

Have you tried contacting a TA or PVP to see if they can help.  I just tried making a booking in 2025 and was only given handicap cabins with a logo of a wheelchair next to the cabin number.    

I now use a PVP since DW uses a scooter. I found that a lot of times they don't show all the accessible cabins and the PVP can access them. Last cruise we took there was none left interior accessible cabins, and none others were showing. My PVP found a balcony accessible cabin and we got it at interior price.

[JF - retired RRT]

On 12/15/2023 at 3:49 PM, cr8tiv1 said:

If memory serves me well...don't count on it...

 

Aren't there "mistake" cabins?  Those that don't have doors wide enough for wheelchairs/scooters, but modified showers?

Yes. We were assigned one. Several of the "older" ships have them. Great cabin, only thing missing was a bathtub. Enormous balcony.