Traveling with mobility challenges can be difficult, but cruise lines do make every attempt to ensure all guests are welcome and accommodated as much as reasonably possible. But what is and isn’t possible?
One Carnival Cruise Line guest has reached out to John Heald, the line’s official brand ambassador who handles hundreds of requests, questions, and complaints each week, with their mobility experience and disappointment.
“There needs to be more care for your mobility scooter users. I was on the Valor last week for the [transatlantic cruise]. We had some bad weather one night. I tried to get through the corridor to my cabin,” the guest explained.
Carnival Valor just recently completed the transatlantic cruise from New Orleans to Barcelona ahead of her dry dock renovation in Cadiz, Spain.
She will return to service with her June 11 departure, a return transatlantic sailing back to New Orleans from Barcelona, visiting Malaga, Cadiz, and Punta Delgada along the way.
It’s unclear, however, what the ship’s itinerary or route has to do with the guest’s concerns, as bad weather can happen anywhere, on any cruise length, in any sailing region. From the guest’s continued explanation, it seems the weather was the cause of their difficulties.
“There were people not using the hand rails. They were just slowly weaving down the corridor oblivious that they were holding me up,” the guest said. “I know they knew I was trying to get past. I was too polite to say anything. It is another example, John, of how Carnival must try to do more for mobility scooter users.”
The guest offers no suggestions for what, exactly, Carnival Cruise Line should try to do. It seems like they might be expecting a right-of-way for mobility scooters, or that the cruise line should have a policy that scooters are always permitted to pass at any speed.
Other commenters did chime in with suggestions and thoughts on the confusing scenario.
Many noted that because the guest chose not to say anything such as “excuse me” or “could I pass, please?” they didn’t take any responsibility themselves, but instead expect the cruise line to manage even such minor inconveniences as a crowded corridor.
To be clear, the original poster did not indicate there was any need for them to rush to their stateroom, nor how much extra time it took them to move down the corridor.
Other guests felt the scooter user ought to have more consideration for travelers who don’t have a stable scooter to move about on in rough seas, and simply should be patient.
One commenter rightly noted that if they had to rush to give more space to a scooter, they might fall themselves and then it could be even longer before the hallway might be clear!
How Carnival Helps Guests With Mobility Scooters
Carnival Cruise Line actually does a great deal to ensure that guests who require mobility scooters, wheelchairs, rollators, or other assistance devices can still enjoy their cruise.
While it is true that there are limitations on the scooter size and style that can be permitted onboard the ship, this is due to safety regulations for the scooter to fit into the cabin and not block doorways or emergency access.
With ongoing dry dock updates, the cruise line is adding more accessibility features – including fully-accessible cabins – to many ships, giving even more selection to travelers who use scooters.
Heald is always willing to assist guests with dining room seating requests so they can feel comfortable using a scooter, whether they need a table assignment near a door or prefer a different location so they can maneuver their scooter more easily.
Most Carnival cruise ships also have some handicap-accessible seating in the main show lounge, with space available for scooters to be accommodated. Similarly, the onboard casinos can create scooter-friendly tables or machine space as needed.
One thing guests using mobility scooters cannot do is park their scooters overnight in hallways or public spaces. This is a violation of onboard safety procedures and guests need to be able to move their scooters into their staterooms.
There is one often-requested accommodation that just isn’t possible. Heald often receives requests for a dedicated elevator for scooter users, or alternatively, for a crew member to be manning elevator banks in order to ensure that scooters are permitted to board elevators first.
These requests are simply not possible to meet, given the necessary manpower that would be necessary to ensure success.
As for a corridor being blocked by weaving guests? Heald has the perfect response.
“If this couple had been ‘weaving down the corridor’ I would have said, ‘Get a loom,’” he suggested.
