For disabled passengers

I am a disabled wheelchair user and I am writing this for people like myself. The Independence of the Seas is very well fitted out for disabled passengers. That is obvious everywhere you go. I was fortunate to take the Owner’s Suite. On all my previous trips on other lines I have taken an accessible room. If you can afford it take the Owner’s Suite or a suite where you get plenty of room in the cabin to manouvre. The cabin staff quickly provided me with a ramp for going out onto the balcony and into the bathroom. I can’t get out of my wheelchair so my carer used a hoist to lift me out of bed, and in the bathroom as necessary. I took my own but you can hire them from the same company I hired a hospital bed from which raises my shoulders and head/feet and eases my carer’s handling of me. It worked like a dream and I recommend you do this – unfortunately it is not cheap but what the hell for a comfortable night. I hired an inflatable weight reducing blow up mattress but the hospital bed was so comfortable I did not need it. Expect to be very well looked after and by the way you can get off very easily in your wheelchair down ramps in every port except one in my case. In that latter case the ship provided ramps to get into a tender. So you can see I was very satisfied with the service.

Speaking now to everyone, if you take a suite you are entitled each night to drink free of charge in most convivial surroundings with fellow suite passengers. It is not snobby, just great fun.

The only disappointment was the food served in the dining room. I cannot rate it as anything more than fair compared to the many other cruises I have been on.

The company I hired the hospital bed from is: CareVacations & Commerce UK (Agent for CareVacations Ltd., Canada)Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +44 (0) 7821 614803
www.carevacations.co.uk
www.carevacations.com
If you don’t have these numbers at hand Royal Caribbean will direct you to them if you persevere.

I hope this helps.

Gary Flather
07813003845