Where can I find information about traveling with disabilities?

Dear Editor,

I am signed up for your newsletter and am excited about receiving more travel information. I just would like to make one comment: It looks like the information is for active seniors. I would like to find out more information on how to travel with my mother, who can walk for short distances, but will need to sit most of the time. I plan to take a wheelchair to accommodate her needs.

Do your articles address handicapped senior needs?

Terese

Dear Terese,

As for travel stories for handicapped seniors, I recommend reading our feature “Traveling with disabilities: Tips for air travel.” You can view this story in our [% 4875 | deal | Senior Travel Tips section %]. This article focuses on air travel, but lists the websites for several groups that provide information about all types of travel for disabled people.

While we do not currently have a story about disabled cruise travel, I’d suggest that taking a cruise might be a good option for your mother. The cruise industry has done a decent job of making its ships accessible to seniors with limited mobility. Plus, there are plenty of activities onboard that don’t involve walking, such as sunbathing, attending shows and lectures, and getting spa treatments. Most major cruise lines have ships that are wheelchair accessible and have wheelchair-accessible rooms. There are enough cruising options that you shouldn’t feel limited to a particular cruise line or destination. I’d pick where you want to sail and what type of atmosphere you want first?say a luxurious Caribbean cruise?and then find an accessible ship that meets those parameters.

You can visit the website Access-able.com for a list of accessible cruise ships and detailed information about the handicapped rooms and amenities of each ship. First, use the site’s pull-down menu to select a cruise line. On the next page, if you click on a particular ship’s name, you’ll link to details about the ship’s accessible staterooms and facilities, and in some cases, comments from past cruisers who have sailed on the ship.

I would also recommend that you contact a travel agent who specializes in cruise bookings. They can help you find a cruise that meets your party’s needs and make any special arrangements with the cruise line that might be necessary.

If you have a question about senior travel, please e-mail us and include your first name and where you’re from. (We will not publish your last name or any contact information.) Because of the volume of e-mail we receive, we can’t guarantee a response to each question.