Which cabins are suitable for a full-time wheelchair user or a mobility scooter user?
Please see the following spreadsheet which displays accessible staterooms - accessible stateroom sheet.
For safety reasons, guests wishing to bring a powered mobility device (this includes all types of mobility scooter, powered wheelchairs and powered add-ons for manual wheelchairs) must be booked into a fully accessible cabin, partially accessible cabin on Arcadia only or selected Suite/Mini Suite. Full-time wheelchair users must occupy an accessible cabin. This is to ensure there is sufficient space for the powered mobility device to be stored safely while in the cabin, as well as ensuring the safety all guests and crew on board while the mobility scooter is in use around the ship. This is also a safety measure to ensure if there was a failure with the device a safety crew could access the cabin to manage the situation. To ensure accessibility on-board, the maximum length of a mobility scooter is 120cm.
Anyone bringing a wheelchair or mobility scooter on board must be registered for an evacuation chair in the event of an emergency as a mandatory requirement. Mobility devices must be declared at the time of booking and the "Your on board needs" questionnaire must be completed via My Cunard as soon as possible after booking and no later than two weeks before they sail, otherwise the guest may be denied boarding.
Ensure you check the following descriptions of each stateroom type to ensure this meets the guest’s requirements:
Accessible staterooms
- All of our accessible staterooms feature wide doorways into the stateroom and bathroom, as well as sufficient floor space for wheelchair manoeuvrability.
- All accessible balcony staterooms feature ramped access to the balcony.
- The bathrooms in all accessible staterooms are wet room style shower rooms with a flush threshold into the stateroom and grab rails for shower and toilet as well as a pull-down shower stool.
- All scooters and electric wheelchairs can be charged in the guest’s stateroom when not in use. The standard electric supply in the United Kingdom is 50Hz (cycle) and 240V. It is important that guests contact the manufacturer or supplier to ensure that the equipment is safe to use at 50Hz and the voltage is compatible - this is to ensure the equipment is not damaged or it performance affected.
- A guest is able to occupy an accessible or partially accessible stateroom if they require the facilities these staterooms offer.
Powered Mobility Device
- Guests wishing to bring a powered mobility device (this includes all types of mobility scooter, powered wheelchairs and powered add-ons for manual wheelchairs) must be booked into an accessible stateroom or selected Suite/Mini-Suite. This is to ensure there's sufficient space for the mobility scooter to be stored safely while in the stateroom, as well as ensuring the safety all guests and crew on board while the mobility scooter is in use around the ship. This is also a safety measure to ensure if there was a failure with the device a safety crew could access the cabin to manage the situation.
- Mobility devices must be declared at the time of booking by the completion and submission of the "Your on board needs" questionnaire prior to sailing, otherwise guests may be denied boarding.
- Powered Mobility Devices must be less than 120cm in length and be gel, dry cell, sealed lead acid or lithium-Ion battery operated.
- The mobility device will need to be stored safely inside the guest's stateroom away from the stateroom door.
- Manual collapsible wheelchairs are not included within the definition of the term "mobility scooter", but if the guest wishes to travel in a standard stateroom, their wheelchair must be easily collapsible in one piece. When collapsed, the wheelchair must not exceed 50cm in width or weigh more than 23 kgs.
Restricted access balconies
Due to the length of the access ramp which is required because of the height of the step through the door and turning space on the balcony, some guests might have issues in trying to access and utilise the balcony in the following staterooms:
- Queen Victoria - 6001 and 6002
- Queen Elizabeth - 6003 and 6004
Additional Information
- You must ensure to ask every guest “In the unlikely event of an emergency, would anyone on the booking need assistance?”. If they would require assistance, please add the relevant level of support to Polar Online using the "package list" option. If a guest is bringing a mobility scooter or wheelchair on board, you must add evacuation chair assistance for them. However, it’s not possible to add this resource to existing bookings. If this step is missed or needs to be added post-booking, please complete the Partnership Helpdesk Webform and we'll come back to you as soon as possible. For bookings sailing within the next six months, you should call the Partnership Helpdesk for urgent support.
- If the guest has mobility or accessibility requirements, they must complete their "Your on-board needs" questionnaire via My Cruise as soon as possible after booking and no later than two weeks before they sail. You can send them a reminder to do this by following this process guide.
- We have a range of how-to-guides on Shine Rewards Club. Please click here for Cunard and here for P&O Cruises.