What's up with Disney Cruise Line?

[Biscuitsmom31]

Are they not subject to ADA regulations that require equal access? As most of you know, DH is a wheelchair user and we have 4 kids. We wanted to try a Disney cruise and knew we would have to get two connecting cabins for the 6 of us. Much to our dismay the only accessible cabins with connecting rooms are in the category 3 price range = $9,000. They have suites that accomodate 7 but none of them are accessible. It makes me feel physically ill.

 

[LindaDVC]

My memory thought that 6647 was an adjoining cabin to 6645-
however when I rechecked my brochure it doesn't show that. Those are Category 11 rooms.

I have heard of some larger families getting rooms next to each other and mom slept in one room and dad in the other if the kids weren't old enough to be next door alone. I have also heard of families saving money by getting one inside and one outside cabin that were across the hall from each other.

We have been in 3 accessible cabins (6147,6154, and 7136) all were nice.
You didn't mention your kids ages BUT our son who sailed at 10, 12 and 17 was never seen by us and always with the programs-- so parents have plenty of time together!

Regardless of the category a cruise is expensive BUT a wonderful trip!

Linda

 

[rigs32]

When cruise ships are registered outside the US, like the Disney ships are, they are NOT required to follow the ADA. The Supreme Court ruled on that issue last summer in Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line. As they are not subject to many American regulations, we cannot force them to follow the ADA. We cannot force Canada or Mexico to conform to the ADA when US citizens visiti and cruise ships flagged elsewhere fall into the same category. Norwegian Cruise Lines does have three ships registered in the US - all three sail around the Hawaiian Islands.

I'm not saying I agree with it, I'm just giving you a run down as to why. I wrote my law review note on the issue last year.

 

[LindaDVC]

The norwegian cruise line ships even if in the US--Hawaii state in the brochure no power chairs--

Linda

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

When cruise ships are registered outside the US, like the Disney ships are, they are NOT required to follow the ADA. The Supreme Court ruled on that issue last summer in Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line. As they are not subject to many American regulations, we cannot force them to follow the ADA. We cannot force Canada or Mexico to conform to the ADA when US citizens visiti and cruise ships flagged elsewhere fall into the same category. Norwegian Cruise Lines does have three ships registered in the US - all three sail around the Hawaiian Islands.

I'm not saying I agree with it, I'm just giving you a run down as to why. I wrote my law review note on the issue last year.

I've heard that too. I bet that is the exact reason that Disney's ships are registered outside the US.

 

[Talking Hands]

Are they not subject to ADA regulations that require equal access? As most of you know, DH is a wheelchair user and we have 4 kids. We wanted to try a Disney cruise and knew we would have to get two connecting cabins for the 6 of us. Much to our dismay the only accessible cabins with connecting rooms are in the category 3 price range = $9,000. They have suites that accomodate 7 but none of them are accessible. It makes me feel physically ill.

They have accessible rooms. in several categories. There is no requirement that those rooms be connecting or that they have to have connecting in all categories. Since they are registered in the Bahamas, DCL doesn't even have to follow ADA but they do. It is up to you to adjust your sleeping arrangements to work things out.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

They have accessible rooms. in several categories. There is no requirement that those rooms be connecting or that they have to have connecting in all categories. Since they are registered in the Bahamas, DCL doesn't even have to follow ADA but they do. It is up to you to adjust your sleeping arrangements to work things out.

The problem I have is that they have connecting rooms in all catagories for able bodied people but a disabled person with children has to pay twice as much for connecting rooms. I don't think that is equal access. I could sleep in one room with 2 kids and he could sleep in another with 2 kids. However, call me weird, but I like to actually sleep with my husband when we're on vacation.

I guess I'm the only person who thinks it's unfair that other families with 4 kids can get connecting rooms for $4,000 and we have to pay $9,000 because DH is disabled. I think it stinks.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

May I suggest accumulating some of the comments and your experiences into a polite letter to Alan Braverman, General Counsel at Walt Disney Company. Although the ships are registered outside the US, DCL is still a US corporation with another US corporation as parent. In the letter ask if ADA does apply and why there appears to be this discrimination. I think that the worst that can happen is nothing, but you may get pleasantly surprised. (If you go to www.disney.com at the bottom of the page is a link to Corporate Information; go from there for addresses, etc.)

 

[tigger2on]

We will be a family of 5 come January 2007 and our oldest.... 10 this year is severely disabled. We have found it cheaper to split up @ night or bring along our mom or sitter. This also gives us an evening to eat without children! We will do a Cat 5 or 6 HA cabin( if we bring another adult ) + a close iinside cabin Cat 11. Thay way we get a huge verandah to use for whole fam and safe $$$ on second room.Also find it cheaper to book more expensive room with 1 adult and 2 or 3 kids and other room with 1 adult and 1 kid. You can play with cost differences on the disney cruise site and see what is cheaper for you!

 

[michelle9343]

I have to agree that it isn't fair. We are a family of 4 and the only Cat we could get would be a cat5. Way out of our price league. We decided that we will transfer our DD out of her chair, luckily her chair folds and we will fold it to bring it inside the room. I think part of the problem is that many people in WC feel cruising will be to difficult and dont cruise. That being said there are not many HC rooms on the ship.

 

[Michigan]

While the first battle was lost it will be harder to lose the second battle. The second battle to go to the court will be that the companies are American and are headquartered in America and therefore must abide by the ADA.

 

[rigs32]

While the first battle was lost it will be harder to lose the second battle. The second battle to go to the court will be that the companies are American and are headquartered in America and therefore must abide by the ADA.

That was already addressed by the Supreme Court. Norwegian's Principle Place of Business is in the US and for corporations, that's just as (or almost as) important as where they are headquartered.

It's not going to be up to the courts - they've spoken. It's going to be up to Congress. Also, anything Congress requires cannot violate international law for ship safety which *some* things to make ships 100% accessible would do.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

We decided that we will transfer our DD out of her chair, luckily her chair folds and we will fold it to bring it inside the room

How is your daughter going to get around without her chair?

 

[michelle9343]

We will fold her chair to get into the room. She will use it every place else on the ship.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Oh sorry, duh on my part. I wasn't thinking about folding it to get it through the door. Sorry about that!

 

[terri01p]

The problem I have is that they have connecting rooms in all catagories for able bodied people but a disabled person with children has to pay twice as much for connecting rooms. I don't think that is equal access. I could sleep in one room with 2 kids and he could sleep in another with 2 kids. However, call me weird, but I like to actually sleep with my husband when we're on vacation.

I guess I'm the only person who thinks it's unfair that other families with 4 kids can get connecting rooms for $4,000 and we have to pay $9,000 because DH is disabled. I think it stinks.

Exactly why we have not went , it was going to cost us twice as much as my sister's family...so unfair and unkind !

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I know it's not Disney, But you may check Royal Caribbean. We thought about doing a cruise for this year's vacation, but decided on The World instead. However, Every RC ship has a lift into one pool and whirlpool and by this year all their tenders were to be accessible as well. Overall, their facilities seemed to be better equiped for wheelchair users than other cruise lines. I don't know about the availability for connecting accessible rooms. I'd be interested to hear the outcome if you pursue the matter with Disney.