Handicap cabin assignment

[Pink Lady]

On an upcoming cruise in a few weeks, we have just found out we have been assigned a HC cabin. We are not handicapped at all. We don't think it fair to occupy one in good conscience. I would never use a HC parking spot and certainly do not wish to take their cabin. Do I have any recourse in refusing to accept it ? What advice would you give me to tell the cruise line ?

 

They already have all our money so it looks like they are holding all the cards. Is there any fine they could be subjected to or law they are breaking ? If there isn't, there should be ! I am wondering what if any leverage a passenger could use.

 

Thanks in advance for any insights.

[Starr Mtn]

It sounds like you booked a Guarantee cabin assignment. Since it is

only a few weeks until your cruise, and that HC cabin hasn't been booked

by a person needing it - the cruise line appeared to have assigned it to you.

 

Truly appreciate your knowledge and concern about occupying a HC cabin

when you don't need it! Wish more able bodied passengers were as

thoughtful.

 

However, if, indeed it is only a few weeks until your cruise, I would not

be concerned about occupying your assigned cabin. You could check

with your TA also if you wish to be assigned another cabin.

[pmfan]

With a cruise in just a few weeks and you are assigned a HC cabin I would say don't worry about it. Enjoy the cabin. Thank you for your feelings on the subject. Wish more were like you.:)

[Umbarger]

Thank you for your concern. Wish more AB people were like you. :D

 

I would advise to keep the cabin but when you get on board go to the purser's desk and tell them you are in a HC cabin but do not require it and will give it up for someone that does. On my last cruise there was a handicapped person in a regular cabin who really needed a HC room but was told none were available. There were AB people in the HC cabin beside mine(they booked it for more room)but wouldn't move. :eek:

[Hebe]

I also agree to inform Guest Relations that you are a wheelchair assessable cabin and are willing to move is someone needs it. Sometimes people have injuries right before a cruise and could benefit by this room.

[nikkicattrell]

Oh thanks for the tip - we've been assigned a HC cabin also, and yes we booked a few weeks in advance of the cruise, but would rather someone who needed the cabin used it. It would not make a difference to us where we go, but could make a difference to someone else.

[suvicki]

Thank you for your concern. Wish more AB people were like you. :D

 

I would advise to keep the cabin but when you get on board go to the purser's desk and tell them you are in a HC cabin but do not require it and will give it up for someone that does. On my last cruise there was a handicapped person in a regular cabin who really needed a HC room but was told none were available. There were AB people in the HC cabin beside mine(they booked it for more room)but wouldn't move. :eek:

 

I totally agree with this.

My hubby is disabled and we have booked a HC cabin for july next year, booking so early to make sure we got one.

It is lovely that you are concerned about using the cabin when someone else might need it.

If you offer to swap with some who needs it, and then no one does need it, then you can enjoy your cruise with good concience.

Have a great time.

[Cali_Mum]

I agree with the other posters about letting the ship personnel know when you are on board. If you can though, contacting the cruise line before you leave might help someone as well--just getting it noted on your reservation that you don't require the cabin.

 

We are booked on NCL to Alaska next weekend, and my son broke his leg ice skating last weekend. He's 5, so the drs want him using a wheelchair and it's been quite a week trying to get a cabin that will work for us. We submitted proof to the line's medical department about his injury and they were able to switch AB people out of an accessible cabin and into ours. I can tell you for us, we would not be able to go on the cruise if we weren't able to get an accessible cabin. And from reading this board, it looks like that happens a lot...:(

 

It's so nice to see that you are concerned about it...I hope you have a wonderful cruise!

[Amy from Delaware]

:) I too commend the OP for their sensitivity and willingness to move if someone else needs the cabin. Thank you!

 

I've been coming to CruiseCritic for about a year, and something has dawned on me about the availability of accessible cabins.

 

Some disabled people say they need to book a year or so in advance to get an accessible cabin because they go fast. Some able-bodied people book at the last minute, or with guarantee rates, and get accessible cabins assigned to them randomly.

 

I have a gut feeling (and it's JUST a feeling, I have no hard evidence) that travel agencies that cater to disabled travelers are blocking many of the accessible cabins early on, in hopes of selling them. Then the unsold cabins are released at the last minute, and wind up going to people who don't need them.

 

What winds up happening is that some disabled travelers try to book cabins, say, 6 months out, and are told that none are available. So they don't book that particular cruise, because they must have an accessible cabin. What these people may not know is that by calling one or two of the travel agencies that specialize in accessible travel, they might have better luck finding a suitable cabin pretty much whenever they want.

 

Again, this is speculation, but the evidence seem to fit.

 

If this is true, then it's very unfortunate for a few reasons:

 

:( Some disabled would-be cruisers are not able to find the accommodations they need.

 

:( Some able-bodied cruisers are winding up in cabins that don't suit them (ie, different furniture arrangements, sometimes roll-in showers, etc).

 

:( Disabled travelers are unwilling to take a chance on a guarantee rate...and therefore pay more for their cabins than they need to.

[sanspike]

:) I too commend the OP for their sensitivity and willingness to move if someone else needs the cabin. Thank you!

 

I've been coming to CruiseCritic for about a year, and something has dawned on me about the availability of accessible cabins.

 

Some disabled people say they need to book a year or so in advance to get an accessible cabin because they go fast. Some able-bodied people book at the last minute, or with guarantee rates, and get accessible cabins assigned to them randomly.

 

I have a gut feeling (and it's JUST a feeling, I have no hard evidence) that travel agencies that cater to disabled travelers are blocking many of the accessible cabins early on, in hopes of selling them. Then the unsold cabins are released at the last minute, and wind up going to people who don't need them.

 

What winds up happening is that some disabled travelers try to book cabins, say, 6 months out, and are told that none are available. So they don't book that particular cruise, because they must have an accessible cabin. What these people may not know is that by calling one or two of the travel agencies that specialize in accessible travel, they might have better luck finding a suitable cabin pretty much whenever they want.

 

Again, this is speculation, but the evidence seem to fit.

 

If this is true, then it's very unfortunate for a few reasons:

 

:( Some disabled would-be cruisers are not able to find the accommodations they need.

 

:( Some able-bodied cruisers are winding up in cabins that don't suit them (ie, different furniture arrangements, sometimes roll-in showers, etc).

 

:( Disabled travelers are unwilling to take a chance on a guarantee rate...and therefore pay more for their cabins than they need to.

 

I also think that sometimes after final payment some of those cabins get cancelled. I have book a HC cabin early and then decided to do a different cruise just before final payment, so that cabin goes back into cirlculation.

 

Sandi

[Hebe]

I also agree with Sandi that sometimes they are held by handicap people who then realize they want to go on another cruise. I had to do that last fall but did come here and post that I was going to release a great room if anyone needed it.

[joanniet]

Have you contacted and asked for a change? Hope things work out.

[Arwenmark]

Have you contacted and asked for a change? Hope things work out.

 

The post you are responding too is from a year ago. Don't feel bad I have done the same thing.

[gail2405]

I actually booked our cruise early 2008 for a cruise in november 2009.

There were no accessable cabins available at the time but we were put on a waiting list. My travel agent has been chasing it up. It appears that there are not really any checks to ascertain that the passengers actually require the facilities. After reading some of the comments I am really concerned that the bathroom facilities are going to be inadequate. We are going on 2 cruises back 2 back. Any suggestions?

[Arwenmark]

Which ship and date?

What type of cabin are you in now?