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What facilities do you have on board for blind or visually impaired guests?

There are many different words used to describe sight loss and people with sight loss including: blind, sight impaired, partially sighted and visually impaired. If someone registers their sight loss with the local authority, there are two groups of terms used to refer to their sight loss: 
  • Severely Sight Impaired (SSI) or blind
  • Sight Impaired (SI) or partially sighted

What can blind people see?

  • Just because someone is blind, doesn't mean they can't see anything. In fact, 93% of people who are registered blind or partially sighted can see something.
  • Guests are able to notify us that they are blind or visually impaired using the "Your on-board needs" questionnaire. Guests can request large print documents via the questionnaire, however an option to request Braille is not on the questionnaire.
  • Should the guest require braille, please email accessibility@carnivalukgroup.com where this will be arranged.

Braille

  • Safety information and tender safety information is supplied in braille.
  • The Horizon is written and produced onboard and subject to constant change, so regrettably it is not available in braille.
  • Braille menus are also available in the main dining room and some bars. These can be requested onboard.

Large print documents

Large print documents can be requested by the guest via the "Your on-board needs" questionnaire. As a minimum they should receive the following documents in large print, font size 18:  
  • Safety and Emergency Drill Information 
  • Horizon daily newspaper  
  • Main Dining Room and Bar Menus  
  • Other literature that can be produced in large print should be provided at the guests request if it is possible.  

Orientation tour

Guests can receive a brief orientation tour once they board the ship. A crew member will be able to take the guest around the ship to give the guest the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the location of key areas in relation to the position of their cabin. This can be arranged by emailing accessibility@carnivalukgroup.com prior to the cruise.

Safety

  • On embarkation, when the Cabin Steward is introducing themselves to a guest who is blind or visually impaired, they must verbally advise the guest of their allocated Muster Station and asked if they require assistance to locate this Muster Station. Guests must also be verbally advised of their restaurant name, table number and table size at this time. 
  • In the event of an emergency on board, specially trained crew members from the Passenger Assistance Party will be sent to assist the guests in their cabin should it be required. This can be requested via the "Your on-board needs" questionnaire.
 

Please be aware that crew are not required to provide assistance with ongoing communication support, escorting the guest around the ship or any aspect of day to day personal care. However, it is reasonable to offer help with providing directions. Therefore, we strongly recommend guests travel with an able-bodied companion.

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