| We hope that this information being in one place can help those
that need the information for having a wonderful cruise on board a Holland
America Line ship. From finding a Handicapped Stateroom, deciding
if they are adequate, whether or not furniture might have to be moved around
or even completely removed by a Stateroom Attendant. And for those who
were placed in a Handicapped Stateroom via a GUARANTEE booking, whether
or not the room will cause any differences to you that matters (for example
the lack of a couch might be an issue to some when it comes to eating.
It's little things such as these which will make your cruise so much better:-)
[ We are also including what we feel is important information for the handicapped cruiser and those cruising with them. [ This is a combined work by Cruise Critic Members!! It was originally suggested by Cruise Critic Member: ariawoman |
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| Holland America Line is committed to providing safe, easy, and accessible
accommodations for all persons with disabilities, to the extent that is
feasible. It is for this reason that Holland America Line is honored to
be a part of Carnival Corp., which received the Society For Accessible
Travel & Hospitality's (SATH) "Access to Freedom" award. This award
is the highest honor in the travel industry that SATH presents to recognize
individuals or organizations that have made the greatest strides in advancing
opportunities for persons with disabilities, and for promoting the awareness
of, and access for, travelers with disabilities.
[ Holland America Line does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of disability. We seek, to the extent feasible, to accommodate guests with disabilities. However, some needs require adequate time to prepare for a guest's arrival. It is recommended that guests make every effort to contact Holland America Line's Access & Compliance Department: 1-800-547-8493 ext 4514, TTY: 1-800-254-8669 ,Fax: 1-800-577-1731 e-mail HALW_Access@hollandamerica.com Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm PST. And to submit a Special Requirements Information (SRI) Form well in advance of the departure of their cruise and/or cruisetour. (Download the SRI Form HERE) [ * Guests who are unable to care for their basic needs (e.g. dressing, eating, and attending safety drills) MUST have a capable traveling companion. The medical staff on board is not available for daily care unless an individual is hospitalized in the ship's Medical Center. In limited situations (either on board or ashore), we may find it necessary to ask the individual to make alternative travel arrangements, such as if an individual with a disability is unable to satisfy certain specified safety and other criteria, even when provided with appropriate auxiliary aids and services. [ * Traveling companions: [ If you require help with basic daily tasks such as eating and dressing, or if you will need help attending the mandatory safety drill, we require that you travel with a companion who can assist you. The Importance of Planning Ahead Whatever your special needs may be, large-print or Braille menus, an amplified phone in your stateroom, Holland America Line can accommodate you. But Holland America Line does need adequate time to prepare for your arrival. Please make every effort to contact Holland America Line's Access & Compliance Department: 1-800-547-8493 ext 4514, TTY: 1-800-254-8669 ,Fax: 1-800-577-1731 e-mail HALW_Access@hollandamerica.com Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm PST. well in advance of your cruise, at least 60 days if possible. As soon as Holland America Line's Access & Compliance Department receives your Special Requirements Information (SRI) form (Download the SRI Form HERE), they will begin working with you to create a cruise vacation for the memory book. |
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| A Lift To and From the Airport
[[ Transfer vehicles with hydraulic lifts are available at most airports and pier facilities in the United States at no charge to our Fly Cruise Plan guests. For those guests that fly in on their own, you can purchase a Transfer from the airport to the cruise facilities through your Travel Agent or through Holland America Line. In Europe and other international destinations where lift vehicles may not be available, it might be necessary for Holland America Line and/or Worldwide Shore Services to make alternate transportation arrangements. To reserve accessible transportation, contact Holland America Line’s Access & Compliance Department: 1-800-547-8493 ext 4514, TTY: 1-800-254-8669 ,Fax: 1-800-577-1731 e-mail HALW_Access@hollandamerica.com Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm PST. [[ Going Ashore [[ Nature, culture, history, art: There’s so much to see and do ashore, and our Shore Excursion Manager will be happy to help you select tours that are specifically suited to you. Similarly, our Guest Relations Manager can help coordinate any special assistance you might need getting on and off the ship. [[ Tendered Ports [[ At certain ports of call where there are no pier facilities, tender boats are used to transport guests from the ship to shore, seas permitting. * Our innovative lift system makes it possible for guests to move directly on and off these tenders while remaining in their wheelchairs. [[ * For a complete list of tendered ports of call, please visit http://www.hollandamerica.com. |
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| Wide wraparound Promenade Deck, spacious public rooms and larger
staterooms help create an accessible environment for our guests with limited
mobility.
[[ Wheelchair accessible staterooms: With Wide-entry doors, Roll-in showers with grab bars, benches and hand-held shower nozzles, Lowered closet and towel rods [[ Modified accessible staterooms*: With Shower-only bathrooms with low thresholds into bathroom and shower, Additional grab bars in the bathroom [[ Wheelchair assistance: During Embarkation and Disembarkation (If you require regular use of a wheelchair, you may bring your own or rent one from an outside vendor and have it delivered to your ship.) [[ For guests using wheelchairs, a specially designed lift system that provides seamless transfer from ship to tender to shore. [ [ Special provisions for Service Animals (Please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture for entry policy of the destinations you will be visiting.) [[ * Modified staterooms for Service Animals are available on the Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam and Veendam. |
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| Dialysis:
[[ If you require peritoneal dialysis, you may arrange for your fluid and equipment to be delivered to the ship. Guests undergoing hemodialysis may make arrangements by contacting a travel professional who specializes in this service* [[ * For information regarding an approved company, please contact Holland America Line's Access & Compliance Department: 1-800-547-8493 ext. 4514 or http://www.hollandamerica.com. |
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| Guests with respiratory needs are welcome to bring their own oxygen and/or oxygen equipment from home. Or you may arrange to have oxygen delivered to the ship. However, for security and safety reasons, all vendor provided oxygen and/or oxygen equipment delivered to our ships must be provided by a Holland America Line-approved company. (the 2 companies approved of by Holland America are CareVacations/Cruise Assist and Special Needs At Sea, their contact info is below, under Medical Supplies) |
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| Holland America Line's cannot accept reservations for women who will be 24 or more weeks pregnant at the time their travel with Holland America Line concludes, due to limited medical facilities on board. |
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| To help you maximize your cruise experience, Holland
America offers the following sensory enhancements:
[[ • Infrared systems/Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) in showrooms and theaters [[ • Window-Eyes® computer software in the Explorations Café that lets you navigate the web as you listen to the text [[ • Downloadable daily activities, news and menus for laptops with screen readers [[ • In your stateroom: With advance notice, any stateroom on board can be fitted with special accessories such as TTY/TDD machines, amplified phones and visual/tactile alert for door knocker, phone and alarm clock. [[ • With one month’s notice, large print or Braille menus describing the inspired cuisine offered across a myriad of venues, from the elegant Dining Room to the casual Lido Restaurant. |
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=============================================================================== [[ Amsterdam [[ Staterooms: H 1804, H 1805, H 1806, H 1807, FF 1955, FF 1964, G 2500, G 2702, K 2554, K 2555, L 2700, D 3431, DD 3393, DD 3394, HH 3428, HH 3433, C 6104, B 6225 & B 6228 are wheelchair accessible with a shower only. [ Staterooms: SB 7057 & SB 7058 are wheelchair accessible with a bathtub & shower. [ =============================================================================== [[ Eurodam [[ Staterooms: N 1011, N 1012, C 1081, C 1082, D 1099, D 1100, J 1074, VD 4051, VD 4052, H 4089, H 4092, VD 4131, VD 4134, SY 5001, SY 5002, VF 5051, VF 5054, VF 5135, VF 5140, VA 6001, VA 6002, VB 6049, VB 6052, SA 7057, SA 7058, VA 8031 & VA 8032, I 8037, SS 8068 are wheelchair accessible, shower only. [ There are no wheelchair accessible staterooms on Deck 10 or 11. [ =============================================================================== [[ Maasdam [[ Staterooms: C 389, C 390, G 704, G 706, G 709 & G 711 are wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only, wheelchair-accessible doorways. [ Staterooms: H 501, H 502, L 500, D 563, FF 829, FF 831, BA 200, BA 202 & S 030 are modified accessible, shower only with small step, step into bathroom, standard interior and exterior door size. [ [[ After 24 April 2011 [[ Staterooms: CA 367, C 389, C 390, G 704, G 706, G 709 & G 711 are wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only, wheelchair accessible doorways. [ Staterooms: S 030, BA 200, BA 202, L 500, H 501, H 502, D 563, FF 829 & FF 831 are modified accessible, shower only with small step, step into bathroom, standard interior and exterior door size. [ =============================================================================== [[ Nieuw Amsterdam [[ Staterooms: N 1011, N 1012, C 1081, C 1082, D 1099, D 1100, J 1074, VD 4051, VD 4052, H 4089, H 4092, VD 4131, VD 4134, SY 5001, SY 5002, VF 5051, VF 5054, VF 5135, VF 5140, VA 6001, VA 6002, VB 6049, VB 6052, V 8025, V 8026, I 8033, V 8116, V 8119 are wheelchair accessible, shower only. [ Staterooms: SA 7057 and SA 7058 are wheelchair accessible, bathtub and roll-in shower. [ =============================================================================== [[ Noordam [[ Staterooms: C 1081, C 1082, N 1011 & N 1012, J 1074, D 1100, H 4089, H 4090, VD 4051, VD 4052,VD 4131, VD 4132, SY 5001, SY 5002, VF 5051, VF 5054, VF 5137, VF 5140, SC 6164, SC 6175 & SS 8068 are wheelchair accessible, bathtub and roll-in shower. [ Staterooms: VA 6003, VA 6004, VB 6049, SY 6108*, VA 8031, VA 8032 & I 8037 are wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only according to deck plans. *(Photos of SY 6108 however show a bath tub also). [ =============================================================================== [ Oosterdam [ Staterooms: N 1011, N 1012, J 1074, C 1081, C 1082, D 1100, VD 4051, VD 4052, H 4089, H 4090, VD 4131, VD 4132, VF 5051, VF 5054, VF 5137, VF 5140, VA 6003, VA 6004, VB 6049, SY 6108*, VA 8031, VA 8032 & I 8037 are wheelchair accessible, roll-in shower only according to deck plans. *(Photos of SY 6108 however show a bath tub also). [ Staterooms: SS 8068, SC 6164, SC 6175, SY 5001 & SY 5002 are wheelchair accessible, bathtub and roll-in shower. ===============================================================================
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| Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm PST.
Phone: (800) 547-8493 Fax: (800) 577-1731 Email: halw_access@hollandamerica.com TTY: (800) 254-8669 |
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| If you plan to bring a scooter on any ship, please contact the cruise
line first for their guidelines. For the safety of all passengers
and crew, Holland America advises that scooters and other mobility equipment
need to be securely stored and charged in staterooms; not in hallways or
elevator lobbies. Scooters left in those areas could restrict people needing
to travel through them in an emergency, particularly others using mobility
aids, since they would have no way of getting by a scooter left in a hallway.
Passengers utilizing mobility devices with batteries are advised that the
batteries must be a dry cell type.
[[ Specialists in providing Medical Supplies, such as Oxygen, Concentrators, Wheelchairs (manual & power) and Scooters on board your cruise ship (at a decent price) [[ CareVacations/CruiseShipAssist phone: 877-478-7827 Fax: 780-986-8332 Email: csa@carevacations.com Web site: http://www.cruiseshipassist.com [[ Special Needs at Sea Phone: 800-513-4515 Fax: 800-513-4516 E-mail: info@specialneedsgroup.comWeb site: http://www.specialneedsatsea.com SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL NON HOLLAND AMERICA LINE PASSENGERS: Scooters and other medical equipment rented by you, the passenger, WILL ONLY be delivered to your stateroom!!! Holland America Line Passengers have the option of having the scooters and/or wheelchair available for pick up and return at the Kiosk(s) located just outside the Holland America Terminal from which you are embarking/disembarking. In some cases such as San Diego or Vancouver, you may also be able to arrange the delivery of the rented Scooter or Wheel Chair to your hotel, IF the hotel is within one block of the Terminal. |
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| An EXCELLENT article written by Linda Coffman
of Cruise Diva is a MUST read for all Handicapped passengers and
those cruising with them. The information in her article is impressive
and a wealth of knowledge for all concerned with handicapped cruising!!
[ Cruise Diva's FOCUS is on Accessible Cruise Travel by Linda Coffman http://www.cruisediva.com/accessible.htm |
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| Can anyone tell us what ships or companies do ALL
of this for disabled passengers:
[[ 1. Adapted cabins with roll in showers? [[ Most of the major cruise lines -- Princess, HAL, Carnival, Celebrity (and others) have handicap accessible cabins. They don't have many on any one ship, and don't necessarily have some in every category, so if you need an accessible cabin (and you do, if your partner uses a wheelchair!), you need to book early, 6-8 months out from when you intend to cruise. [[ 2. Loan of hoists and shower chairs? [[ None of the ships provide hoists. You have to rent this yourself. Most of the cruise lines will supply you with the name(s) of who they have contracted with, for mobility equipment. You call the company, arrange for what you want, and it will be delivered to your stateroom in time for your cruise, and collected at the end of your cruise. If you book a handicap accessible cabin, it will come with a shower, and there will be a shower chair in the shower -- either a portable one, or a drop down chair (attached to the wall of the shower). [[ 3. Fully profiling or at least rising beds (so care can be given)? [[ I don't know if any of the ships provide this. And if your partner does need care, you would have to do it. [[ 4. WAV transfers from shore to the sights (as partner is restricted to wheelchair and cannot self transfer)? [[ I do know that most of us arrange for private tours on land, as the excursions and tours offered by most of the cruise companies are not wheelchair- friendly. They use buses without lifts, for example. [[ 5. If tenders are needed, can they accommodate a wheelchair(s) safely, so we are not stuck on the boat? [[ HAL (Holland America Line) advertises that it is the most accessible for its tenders. Many of the other lines will not permit wheelchairs on tenders at all unless they are the collapsible manual wheelchair, and the person using the chair can step up or down a few steps (assisted by crew). I have personally been avle to use the tenders in Ports with absolutely no problem due to HAL's policy! [[ 6. Will accommodate special diets, e.g. extra soft? [[ Most of the lines can accommodate this, if you arrange it well in advance of your cruise (2 months or more away from the actual cruise date.) All of the cruise lines have a special needs department. Start there -- call, explain what you or your partner needs, and see if they can accommodate those needs. Special Needs Department Phone Numbers are below. [[ 7. How many people can comfortably fit in an HC Inside Stateroom, HC Ocean View Stateroom, HC Verandah/Balcony Stateroom, HC Deluxe Verandah/Balcony Stateroom? [[ If you are talking about a regular accessible stateroom or Verandah/Balcony cabin and you need it because of use of either a wheelchair and/or scooter, the maximum number of people that would be comfortable in such a cabin is two. Accessible cabins are larger but the extra space is needed to turn a scooter or wheelchair in the cabin. some cruise lines have restrictions on the maximum number of passengers in an accessible cabin. [[ 8. A) What with the drastic tidal changes in Southeast Alaska, how much trouble did you have getting the power chair/scooter onto and off of the ship in Alaskan ports (i.e. with the steepness of the gangways at high tide)? [[ On Holland America Cruise Lines, I have had very very little problem with getting on or off the ship in any SE Alaska port. Sitka was the most difficult, but not for me, for the 2 crew members who lifted my scooter off the ship and onto the tender and then again from the dock onto the tender. I am able to walk a few feet, so made it easier for them by getting off the scooter and less weight for the crew to lift. I sat on the scooter during the tender ride (That was awesome!!) [ There was one woman on our last Alaska cruise who was larger than I was at the time. I weighed approximately 200 lbs, and she did not get off her scooter and they lifted her, still on her scooter, the same way as myself, though it did take more crew on each end of the tendering process. [ Also, for the gangways, since the tides do change, there can be extremes in the height of the gangway. The crew would not allow me to go down the gangway without one of them in front and one in back to control my descent. They did the same if it was extreme to get back aboard the ship. [[ 8. B) Did you have any problems with the angle being too steep for the scooter/chair, in that it kept sliding backward and not being able to get up the ramp without getting off and freewheeling it up? [[ No problem at all! There was one point that the tide was almost out and the ramp was extremely steep. As soon as I got about 100 feet from the ropes leading to the gangway 2 crew members came and assisted me to get on board. They had me stay on the scooter, put the scooter to snail's pace and then with 1 in front and 1 in back, they guided me on to the ship. |
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| If there is any other information you would like to ask about or
see here, please send it to Joanie at irl_joanie@yahoo.com
[[ Please put the words Cruise Critic HC Info in the Subject line and in the body of the email itself, describe what info, where it can be located on the internet, etc.. And please include your Cruise Critic Name. |