Accessibility for All at Seas

  ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL

DID YOU KNOW… That 12% of Americans with disabilities have taken a cruise in the last 5 years, while 10% of the general U.S. population has taken a cruise in the last 3 years. That means travelers with disabilities enjoy cruising at an even greater rate than those without! 

Sources: Study by the Open Doors Organization and U.S. Travel Association 

               Cruise Lines International Association

Royal Caribbean International® believes the best vacations come without limitations. They are committed to providing the most accessible cruise vacation experience to guests with disabilities and special needs. That’s why they strive to meet the needs of every guest, by outfitting their ships with a wide variety of features designed to give access to all*, including guests who have:      

• Mobility disabilities 
• Hearing disabilities 
• Visual disabilities 
• Other disabilities including children with disabilities
• People of short stature 
• Individuals with cognitive, intellectual and development disabilities

Every year, thousands of guests with disabilities and special needs sail on Royal Caribbean International. Wherever our ships can go, you can, too – on a cruise designed to wow and accommodate you.

*Activities and amenities vary by ship

PLANNING AHEAD 

While we don’t require information about the type or extent of your disability, the more information you can share with us about your specific needs, the better we are able to assist you. We encourage you to notify us of your needs at the time of booking, however to guarantee availability of specific equipment or services, please provide at least: 

• 60 days notice if you need sign language interpreting services 
• 30 days notice if you need special equipment or services  to accommodate your disability 

If the cruise line does not receive enough advance notice, they will make reasonable efforts to provide requested equipment or services, but they do not guarantee they will be provided.

AUTISM FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION

Autism on the Seas certifies Royal Caribbean with an Autism Friendly Certification for their efforts to ensure their products and services are accessible for inclusion and participation by the autism and developmental disability community. 

Autism Friendly Certification includes achievement in up to seven areas, such as cruise line staff training, youth program services, pre-vacation planning and services, dining and dietary needs, disability accommodations, guest satisfaction and feedback, and support for “Cruises with Autism on the Seas Staff.” There are four levels of certification, each progressing with increased levels of staff training. 

Families with autism sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Autism Friendly Certified ships can be confident that Royal Caribbean has autism friendly products and services that will help accommodate family members with autism. 

They offer Autism friendly films; toys; activities and a tv station that is geared to Autism. But this channel is only available on the following classes of ships – Quantum; Oasis; Freedom; Voyager and Radiance. 

Their staff are required to have a 4-year degree or equivalent education and have at least 3-5 years of experience working with Autism teens and children.

CONTACT US WITH YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS    

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Norwegian Plans for Belize

What Does it Cost to Buy 

an Island in Belize?

According to new sources in Belize, a press conference was held this week unveiling details of an agreement between Norwegian Cruise Line and the Belize government to begin development of a new cruise destination in the southern part of the country.

Norwegian Cruise Line is keeping details quiet, perhaps since they have already been shot down once before by the government.   However, the news reports indicate the price for the island is $50M USD.  The new development will be called Harvest Caye and be an eco-friendly endeavor.   The project could be completed in 2015.

Two of the main figures at the press conference were Colin Murphy - VP, Destination & Strategic Development, NCL and Hon. Godwin Hulse - Minister of Labour.  If you watch the following video, you'll hear the minister say “It is not, as some would say, that we are all lying down, ‘licky licky,’ et cetera. We are here to protect the interest of the Belizean people – so that is why we were brought to Government and that is what we are going to do and we are going to do so successfully. No ifs, maybes or buts about it,” Hulse added.

Colin Murphy didn't know what "licky likcy" was but figured he would have known about it if there had been any.  Apparently that is slang for greedy.

Time: 00:30:41 - Start of press coverage of announcement

If the project is approved and actually goes forward, the construction phase could bring 1000+ jobs to the region. NCL is also sweetening the deal by recruiting more of their onboard staff from Belize. Currently there are very few crew members from this country. 

References:

Will Harvest Caye Take Ships From Belize City?
No “licky licky,” says Godwin Hulse

If We Build It They Will Come

Plans courtesy of Banana Coast

Next New Cruise Port?

Banana Coast

Tired of the same ports of call in the Western Caribbean? Developers think you might be, and as of this month have begun construction of a brand new cruise pier in Trujillo, Honduras. Located 45 miles south of the Island of Roatan, and situated within the Bay of Trujillo, you will find the new Banana Coast Landing development.

The finger pier will accommodate two post-Panamax cruise vessels by late 2012. A tender dock has been available for ships tenders since 2010.

A Day going Bananas?

Not exactly...   The name of the development comes from a high-point in the town's history.   The economy was fueled in the 1920s - 1940s by the banana trade.

Step into the history of those glory days, as you disembark from your cruise ship.  You will walk where Christopher Columbus did in 1502, during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. Trujillo was settled in 1524 by Spanish conquistadors and later became strategic for Spanish interests in the New World. The Santa Bárbara Fort, constructed in1575, remains largely intact today and provides amazing vistas of the Caribbean Sea.

What awaits guests as they arrive at Banana Coast Landing?

They will find a themed retail destination with approximately 50,000 square feet of retail shopping, including jewelry stores, designer boutiques, a themed restaurant and bar, and a large, sandy beach. This tropical setting, framed by the picturesque mountains to the west, is the perfect paradise for cruise passengers seeking new adventure in the Western Caribbean.

They Will Come?

Banana Coast is being designed by OBM International, the same firm that put Carnival's Grand Turk Cruise Center and Royal Caribbean's private island of CocoCay on the cruise map. The cruise port should be completed by December 2012, so we would anticipate the first passengers could arrive Winter 2012-13 or Spring 2013.

Cruise lines have begun posting their schedules for early 2013, but so far, none include Trujillo, Honduras. We will keep watch to see which cruise line will be the first to call in what sounds like a wonderful addition to the Western Caribbean ports of call.