Q | What assistance does Royal Caribbean provide guests with disabilities getting on and off the ship?
A | We have personnel with wheelchairs who provide assistance with pushing wheelchairs on and off the ship using gangways and boarding bridges. Please note our personnel are not permitted to lift guests. During peak times there may be a wait for assistance. Please see Getting On and Off the Ship for additional information. If you need further assistance, please contact our Access Department at special_needs@rccl.com or 866-592-7225.
Q | Does Royal Caribbean have wheelchair accessible staterooms on your ships?
A | All of our ships have staterooms designed to accommodate guests with mobility disabilities and other disabilities that require the features of an accessible stateroom. If you need additional information, please contact our Accessibility Department at 866-592-7225.
Q | Do I need to provide proof of a disability to reserve an accessible room with Royal Caribbean?
A | We do not require proof of disability such as medical certificates or disability placards. However, we do require you to acknowledge your need for the accessible stateroom by completing a Guest Special Needs Form.
Q | Is Perfect Day at CocoCay accessible? What are the services for guests with disabilities?
A | Perfect Day at CocoCay is an accessible island. There are complimentary beach access wheelchairs available throughout the island on a first come first served basis. Once on the island, ask a crew member for assistance to locate an available wheelchair.
Accessible trams are available on regular rotation throughout the island.
Coco Beach Club is accessible and includes complimentary beach wheelchairs, pool lift, lower counter at the bar, and ramps to the dining area. Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool and the infinity pool at Coco Beach Club have pool lifts and the Wave Pool in Thrill Waterpark is also wheelchair accessible.
Note that the towers to the waterpark’s slides and the tower to the Zip Line have stairs.
We are continuously evaluating and implementing features for our guests with disabilities across the island.
Q | Do I need to provide Royal Caribbean with advance notice that I have a disability?
A | We do not require you to give details about your disability. However, the more information you can share with us about your needs, the better we will be able to assist you. We do require advance notice for certain services; please see our Planning Ahead section for more details.
Q | Are guests with disabilities required to have a companion to sail onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
A | We do not require that a guest with a disability travel with another person as a condition for traveling on our ships. However, our personnel are not required to perform personal tasks (e.g. assisting with eating, dressing, toileting or lifting and therefore, guest requiring assistance with these functions should consider these needs when making a booking.)
Please see our full policy regarding Fitness to Travel Safely in our Guest Conduct Policy.
Q | Who can I contact with disability related concerns at the pier or Royal Caribbean ship?
A | You can contact a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) at all U.S. ports of departure and all ships address your disability related concerns. They have been trained and are aware of applicable U.S. Department of Transportation disability rules as well as our policies and procedures regarding guests with disabilities. They will be glad to assist you.
Q | Does Royal Caribbean provide wheelchairs or scooters on or off the ship?
A | We provide complimentary wheelchairs for getting on and off the ship. If you would like to have a wheelchair or scooter during the cruise, you are welcome to bring your own or rent one from a company that provides wheelchairs and scooter rentals for cruises:
Scootaround
Phone: 888-441-7575
Local: 204-982-0657
Fax: 204-478-1172
E-mail: info@scootaround.com
Website: www.scootaround.com/cruise-rentals
Special Needs at Sea
Phone: 800-513-4515
Local: 954-585-0575
Fax: 800-513-4516
E-mail: info@specialneedsgroup.com
Q | Does Royal Caribbean provide Braille formatted material onboard the ship?
A | No, however we provide Qualified Readers onboard our ships for guests who are blind or have low vision. Select crewmembers have been trained as qualified readers to read written material such as the daily Cruise Compass and shore excursions information. Waiters will also read dining menus upon request. To request qualified readers for your cruise, please contact Guest Relations upon boarding.
Q | Are service animals allowed onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship? What about emotional support animals?
A | Service Animals - Yes, we accept service animals on all our ships. Please see our Service Animal section for more details about our service animal policies.
Guests traveling with a service animal should contact Accessible Shore Excursions to review guidelines and arrange special accommodations on tours.
Emotional Support Animals - We’ve changed our policy on emotional support animals onboard our ships. Our policy now differentiates emotional support animals from service animals that are trained to perform a function for a person with a disability. Service animals will continue to be welcomed onboard for guests with disabilities. We will no longer have emotional support animals onboard.
Q | Are shore excursions wheelchair accessible?
A | Due to the historical nature of the sites and venues at some ports of call as well as the uneven terrain, inclines, steps to navigate and narrow sidewalks not all tours offer access to wheelchair/ scooters. Accessible tours are tours designed for full time wheelchair users or guests unable to negotiate motor-coach steps. They are available in certain ports based on the transportation we have been able to secure.
To better assist you please complete the Accessible Shore Excursions Form. Once the information is received we will be able to provide you with the applicable list of tour available for your sailing.
Guests who have a reservation with payment may also contact 1-800-398-9819 for Pre-Cruise Planning Assistance.