Topic: Arcadia for wheelchair users

We are booking a cruise on arcadia, does anyone know what the shower room is like, in an accessable room as it said the person cannot be confined to a wheelchair
many thanks

QUOTE:

We are booking a cruise on arcadia, does anyone know what the shower room is like, in an accessable room as it said the person cannot be confined to a wheelchair
many thanks

Hello florrie

Only just caught sight of your enquiry.
I to am going on the Arcadia to the Caribbean next October2011, all being well.

I'm wheelchair or scooter dependent, except for a few yards between rooms at home, but I also have little balance, which does not allow me to stand in a 'normal' shower.

Arcadia does have a number of 'disability-adapted' cabins/staterooms, these must be booked in advance and the cruise Company will request details of your disability.

If you are more or less totally dependent on a wheelchair and have similar problems such as mine, you will need to stress that you require a 'totally disability adapted' stateroom.

n.b. Beware cabin grades which describe 'shower/bath,' this means a shower-head mounted above the bath or as a hand-held shower.

A 'totally-adapted' cabin will ensure that the doorway into the room is wide enough to accomodate a wheelchair and seated occupant, as distinct from a folded wheelchair minus occupant, as some 'partly adapted' rooms have only a standard width door aperture.

The second most important requirement is a fully adapted bathroom.

These have what is termed as, a 'walk-in wet-room,'
which has a designated open-area, with floor to ceiling shower curtain, no steps on entering and fitted with safety rails, a pull-down shower seat and a 'panic-cord' for emergency assistance.

For use when using the hand-wash basin, without the need to stand, request a suitable stool for this purpose - this area of the bathroom also has safety features such as grab rails.

The disability staterooms are usually sensibly situated near to the lifts, this is where comfortably entering the lift, whilst occupying a wheelchair or scooter, is entirely dependent upon the patience or good manners of the other able-bodied passengers, some of whom have an 'anti attitude' towards the disabled, but not all - this is easily discernible from their individual facial expressions.

Vehicular progress throughout the ship is usually very good, certainly P&O, where ramps and slopes are plenty and, in the case of the larger vessels: Azura & Ventura, a designated disability area of the Theatre is provided exclusively for wheelchair users and their carer/companion - although, regrettably, mis-used by some lazy able-bodied theatre-goer's arriving late and unable to find seats in the main auditorium, sadly not monitored by the staff and, even more sadly, indicative of today's disregard by many, for less fortunate other's needs and comfort.

Apart from the latter 'whinge,' I hope that I have been of some help to you and any other potential cruisers with similar problems.

Gordon