accessible cabin question

[jolly3]

We haven't booked yet but are looking at a RCI out of Galveston. An accessible cabin is a must as daughter is in wheelchair. Do you have to book through the cruise line to be guaranteed an accessible room or can you book through an agency that offers more perks? Also we'd like a Jr. suite. Does anyone have experience or pictures to share?

[Corby114]

I never heard of a handicapped assessable junior suite on any cruise ship. On most lines there is a small amount of handicapped available rooms. You most likely will be able to reserve the room either through the cruise line or an outside agency. In most cases you need to reserve that type of room very far out because there usually is a demand for that type of cabin.Lastly and in some rare cases if a passenger who isn’t handicapped is assigned a handicapped cabin and the need arises for that type of cabin for another passenger you can be forced to give up the handicapped cabin and moved to another regular cabin on your ship.

[nextcruiseis]

5 hours ago, Corby114 said:

I never heard of a handicapped assessable junior suite on any cruise ship.

Some ships do have accessible junior suites. For example Grandeur of the Seas has two (8040, 8540). 

 

17 hours ago, jolly3 said:

Also we'd like a Jr. suite. Does anyone have experience or pictures to share?

 

There is a website called cruise deck plans  where you can see photos and videos of some cabins for each ship. The photos and videos of the accessible cabins are available to view even if you are not a member.  They also specifically list the accessible cabins in each category for every ship.

 

Edited July 28, 2022 by nextcruiseis
typos

[Essiesmom]

I went through cruisetimetables, and of the RCI ships scheduled to sail from Galveston in the next year, Grandeur, Liberty, Adventure, Allure, Radiance…all have HC junior suites.  two each.   Two.  Perhaps if you book two years ahead, as soon as schedules are announced…. EM

[texmex.ferr]

19 hours ago, jolly3 said:

We haven't booked yet but are looking at a RCI out of Galveston. An accessible cabin is a must as daughter is in wheelchair. Do you have to book through the cruise line to be guaranteed an accessible room or can you book through an agency that offers more perks? Also we'd like a Jr. suite. Does anyone have experience or pictures to share?

You can book either directly with RCI or with a Travel Agent.    If you have a particular sailing in mind (dates etc), you could have a look on Royals website and search to see if there are accessible cabins available and if they are Junior Suites or Balcony Cabins.    We sailed on Grandeur earlier this year in an Accessible Balcony Cabin (I have mobility issues) and we've also sailed in an Accessible Junior Suite on Jewel OTS, and there wasn't much difference between the size in both rooms, maybe because Grandeur is an older ship, the cabins were a bit bigger in size when the ship was built, compared to newer ships, so it might be worthwhile checking out the room sizes rather than booking a Junior Suite in order to get a bigger room, when that isn't the case.

[brillohead]

There are accessible rooms available in pretty much every category except Star Class.  

You can book through anyone you want -- you don't have to book with Royal in order to get an accessible room.

However, you may need to book as soon as itineraries get released in order to get an accessible room in your desired category -- they get snatched up quickly. 

[taglovestocruise]

9 hours ago, Corby114 said:

I never heard of a handicapped assessable junior suite on any cruise ship. On most lines there is a small amount of handicapped available rooms. You most likely will be able to reserve the room either through the cruise line or an outside agency. In most cases you need to reserve that type of room very far out because there usually is a demand for that type of cabin.Lastly and in some rare cases if a passenger who isn’t handicapped is assigned a handicapped cabin and the need arises for that type of cabin for another passenger you can be forced to give up the handicapped cabin and moved to another regular cabin on your ship.

Harmony.. Liberty..

 

freedom.. oasis

All Accessible JR Suites.. Found on almost all royal ships.

[mets123]

My wife is a stroke survivor and we absolutely need accessible cabins. For balconies, you probably have to book six to nine months out. Inside cabins, maybe a little bit less. We usually book two to three cruises when the new schedule is released. This way, we get what we're looking for. Prices are usually a little higher, but you can reprice if the price goes down.

[la_croisiere_s'amuse]

This video has a tour of an accessible JS on the Independence. It starts around the 8:45 mark:

 

 

But don't blame me if you get hooked on watching these two. They are just too cute for their own good. 😊

[cruising twosome]

Yes, accessible cabins go quickly, but we asked our TA for a balcony at the end of this season going to Hawaii.  Nothing was available, but a few weeks later (June of this year) she got us one! 

[brillohead]

5 hours ago, mets123 said:

My wife is a stroke survivor and we absolutely need accessible cabins. For balconies, you probably have to book six to nine months out. Inside cabins, maybe a little bit less. We usually book two to three cruises when the new schedule is released. This way, we get what we're looking for. Prices are usually a little higher, but you can reprice if the price goes down.

Non-balcony accessible rooms (inside, outside) are often available until about 90-days out, which I believe is when they make them available to the general public (meaning, available to the non-handicapped).  

But balcony accessible rooms (balconies or some sort of suite) are often scooped up right away after schedules are announced. 

[scubagirl1024]

Yes, you can get an handicap Jr. Suite on a cruise ship. We have had several. I don't have any pictures that I can up load but I will check.....

You can book with the RCCL or your Travel Agent can book. 

Happy Cruising

[CruiszBug]

One thing to keep in mind is that Junior Suites on Oasis class are located on Deck 14 just below the pool deck. Friends of ours who were traveling in one were miserable because they could not get any peace and quiet for a nap or going to bed early due to the dragging of chairs overhead. So I would check that out for sure! We have a special needs child also and have cruised in Owners Suite, Aqua theatre Suite, Crown Loft HA Suite and Ovation's HA Junior Spa suite which is a Grand Suite on Deck 8 that was converted. All of them worked for us. We would just wheel her over to the spa/fitness center and use the fantastic HA shower facilities there for the rooms that did not have a roll-in shower.

[lenquixote66]

I am disabled and can only be in an accessible cabin.I always book more than a year in advance.

[CatLadyFemme]

3 hours ago, CruiszBug said:

One thing to keep in mind is that Junior Suites on Oasis class are located on Deck 14 just below the pool deck. Friends of ours who were traveling in one were miserable because they could not get any peace and quiet for a nap or going to bed early due to the dragging of chairs overhead. So I would check that out for sure! We have a special needs child also and have cruised in Owners Suite, Aqua theatre Suite, Crown Loft HA Suite and Ovation's HA Junior Spa suite which is a Grand Suite on Deck 8 that was converted. All of them worked for us. We would just wheel her over to the spa/fitness center and use the fantastic HA shower facilities there for the rooms that did not have a roll-in shower.

Same with balconies on the boardwalk and CP. We love all the accessible rooms we have had (mostly OV and balconies, though one spacious panoramic room on Voyager and we are booked on a Jr Suite on Freedom next February), but the accessible balcony on Allure near CP was very loud.