Carnival provides two types of cabins for wheelchair users based on individual needs. Both cabin types feature lowered closet rods and shelves, grab bars and shower seats. Modified cabins are best for those who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter for distance travel but are able to get around the cabin without the chair. You must store and recharge your wheelchair or scooter within your cabin, so measure it to ensure that it will fit. The entry door on a modified cabin is 29 inches wide, while the bathroom door ranges from 22 inches to 29 inches wide. On older Carnival ships, modified cabins have a small lip of 3 to 8 inches between the bedroom and the bathroom.
In a fully accessible cabin, the entry door and bathroom door are both 32 inches wide. The cabin provides a full turnaround space of 60 inches by 60 inches in both the bedroom and the bathroom. The cabin layout is designed to be entirely accessible.
Carnival’s ship layouts provide accessibility to all public spaces. Download a map of the accessible route through your ship from Carnival’s Guests With Disabilities website before your trip. Accessible elevators provide buttons that are low enough for wheelchair users to reach. In addition, all public spaces such as theaters, dining rooms and casinos have entrances with gradual slopes. Lower tables are available in dining areas and casinos, while designated accessible seating is provided in the theaters. Special needs guests are typically grouped together for the mandatory lifeboat drill, and in the event of an emergency, cruise personnel are available to assist you with evacuating the ship.
At some ports, the ship is unable to dock and must anchor off-shore. Small boats known as tenders transport passengers to and from the dock. To board a tender boat, you must be able to traverse a few steps and use a collapsible wheelchair. Power wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be safely loaded onto tenders. Cruise staffers will assist with your transfer, but are not permitted to lift you. If you want to tender and cannot navigate stairs on your own, consider bringing a travel companion to assist you. Note that depending on weather and sea conditions, ship officials might forbid tendering with a wheelchair for everyone’s safety. A full list of tender ports is provided on Carnival’s Guests With Disabilities website.
Carnival’s youth staff is committed to providing the Camp Carnival kids club experience to all children, but parents might be required to pitch in to assist with their children’s special needs. For example, camp staff members are not permitted to lift children with disabilities or administer any medications. You must fill out a special needs checklist and carry a beeper provided by the youth staff.
