What is your dream destination?
“Alaska’s where I want to go,” you might say, “but can I?”
Yes, you certainly can. Just pick up that phone and call any travel agent specializing in cruises for people with disabilities. You can easily book a cruise to Alaska with shore excursions that are accessible. It’s as simple as that!
Unfortunately, Alaska is an exception, not the rule. Choosing the right destination requires more consideration and planning than just picking a name out of a hat. There are several key elements to be considered: how to get there and how to get around once you are there, where to stay, and which attractions and facilities are accessible? Compliance, which is a necessity by law, does not guarantee accessibility to all. It just makes it “possible”-sometimes not even that.
To search destinations, the Internet is a good place to start. If you do not have Net access, a visit to the library is in order. Get as much information on the destination as possible. Once you have narrowed down your choices, an excellent source of information would be the local Independent Living Centers. They usually have a great deal of information on accessibility.
The mode of transportation to the location needs some serious consideration. Depending on your disability, certain modes of transportation may not be ideal for you. If you could drive there, how long would it take and what are the road conditions? New editions of highway maps give information on accessible rest stops en route. While on the road, be it in your own car or a motor coach or a Greyhound bus, this information is vital. The option to fly would depend on the availability of flights and the suitable aircraft being used on the route. Nowadays, most routes are serviced by aircraft with a capacity of more than 30 passengers. Any aircraft that carries less than that is exempt from being wheelchair accessible for obvious reasons. Since stopovers and layovers can be limiting factors in your travel, a direct flight is always the best bet.
Next comes the most complex part of planning your trip, choosing the right hotel. There has been a deluge of horror stories from past travelers, deterring many from venturing out. It is quite unfortunate that the conscious traveler, whose diligent and meticulous planning results in a seamless trip, remains largely unsung. Cardinal rule: you have to take responsibility for your own comforts and needs. Do not take anything for granted. Even at the risk of being annoying, be very thorough in your inquiries and requests. After all, you know best what your needs are. More often than not, the hotel personnel (unless they have had specific training in this area or have a personal experience) will have very little insight into what you want and why you want it. Be as specific as possible about your needs. It is also imperative that you contact the hotel directly for inquiries and reservations and not through the centralized reservation system using the national toll-free number. Otherwise, it could turn out that the person who books your accessible room might be sitting in Iowa and booking you into a hotel in Palm Beach, having no clue that the “accessible” hotel has a flight of steps to enter the hotel! A cinch for accurate information would be the housekeeping or engineering department of the hotel. Always ask questions that warrant descriptive answers. Your comfortable stay depends on what you ask for and is provided. Request for a detailed physical description of the room and accessibility features. Another foolproof method would be to send them a picture of what you want and get them to confirm if they have similar amenities. The golden rule for any traveler is to get your reservations and promised facilities confirmed in writing. This will help you to stand your ground and get what you paid for if you run into problems. Be aware of your rights so that you are not denied.
Eliminating most of the worries of ordinary travel is possible by opting for a cruise holiday. The cruise industry has been doing a wonderful job of accommodating and truly welcoming the people with disabilities onboard. Most of the newer ships have gone
beyond the spirit of the law to be accommodating to all kinds of disabilities. Shore excursions are a vital part of the cruise. Take into account the accessibility options at the ports of call while deciding on the cruise. Tendering@@the term used for disembarking from the cruise ship onto a smaller vessel to reach the port since the ship cannot dock at the pier–could be a nightmarish experience for a person with disabilities. Most of the bigger ships are finding ways to get passengers ashore with the least amount of inconvenience. Reaching the shore may not be the end of your worries; a major problem that jeopardizes shore excursions is accessible transportation. Many island/shore locations do not have accessible vans or taxis. Involving a travel agent who specializes in cruises for people with disabilities might be a good idea, because many of them have discovered ingenious ways to overcome these problems. The cruise company’s shore excursion planners may not even be not aware of this.
SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality; www.sath.org), a nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to raise the awareness of the needs of travelers with disabilities, is proud to be associated with the cruise companies in an initiative to set up accessible shore excursions in many cruise destinations. A resource that may be of interest is the Chat Room on RAacademy (www.raacademy.com/community_center/ ChatRooms.jsp?id=228) where you can meet people who have been on cruises. Who better to give you the right perspective than someone who has “been there” and “done that?”
Herculean tasks, these may seem? Once you start the planning and involve your family and friends, it becomes more fun than Monopoly! In essence, your vacation starts at the first click of your mouse or the first page of the guidebook. There are two guarantees: Thou shalt have fun and thou shalt return with a host of pleasant memories!
Jani Nayar is executive coordinator of SATH. She can be contacted via e-mail at: jani@sath.org.
