Wheelchair Accessible Disney Cruise Excursions - Alaska

[kjscrafts]

I will be going on my 2nd Disney Cruise with my younger brother (will be 17 during cruise) this July. He has CP and uses a manual wheelchair. Last time we went to the Caribbean and the lack of accessible shore excursions did not matter because he just want to hang at the beaches. This time though he wants to do shore excursions and I made the wrong assumption when I booked the cruise a year ago that we would be in the US and accessibility should not be an impossibility, although we would probably have to make sure we made proper arrangements early.

However, now that I have begun looking at the excursions it seems we are in the same situation of everything saying you need to have a collapsible wheelchair and be able to transfer on your own. The collapsible wheelchair isn't a big deal, as he is getting a new wheelchair that I think is collapsible and if not we can get him a temporary one, although he really is a stickler about being in his own wheelchair and might refuse to do excursions if he cannot do them in his regular wheelchair. The transferring on his own, though, is an impossibility.

Basically, I want to know if I am missing something? Are there any wheelchair accessible shore excursion options offered?

 

[dclfun]

I have booked the coastal DCL cruise going from LA to Vancouver. I had the same issue when trying to find accessible excursions in San Francisco ( although I found many in Victoria, BC). Call DCL and ask to speak to someone in Special Services. They will attempt to assist you in advance with making arrangements for something accessible. I was asked to tell them what I want to do and they are contacting the vendors. Good luck, and I hope you have a great cruise!---Kathy

 

[KPeveler]

I have booked the coastal DCL cruise going from LA to Vancouver. I had the same issue when trying to find accessible excursions in San Francisco ( although I found many in Victoria, BC). Call DCL and ask to speak to someone in Special Services. They will attempt to assist you in advance with making arrangements for something accessible. I was asked to tell them what I want to do and they are contacting the vendors. Good luck, and I hope you have a great cruise!---Kathy

Ooh! You're coming to the West coast? Are you going to perchance be stopping by DL at all?

I am looking forward to hearing about accessible shore excursions! I was just talking to my wife about it last night.

 

[Bete]

I've looked for the last few years and it's really difficult to get shore excursions for almost any kind of cruising trips for wheelchair folks.

What I did find out is there an occassional cruise trip that's specifically for wheelchair folks. They've designed the trip with this in mind. They ususally cost double of a normal cruise. The offerings for doing this is not prevalent. To date, I have not found one for Alaska.

I think the other post has the best suggestion. Contact guest services and see what they can suggest and you may get help for some tours.

It will not hurt you to do some investigating yourself. You know the ports you are getting off and the land destinations; so, you can do some searches and calling on your own for shore excursions through private companies. It may take a private tour by car to do some of it which you can do on your on own or hire someone.

This is a tough predictment and I have to tell you that Alaska is a harder place; because, there's not enough competition for tourists. They somewhat have a captive audience.

I'm sorry there is not more good news this way.

I would love to hear how it all works out including suggestions to make this better for others in the future. TIA.

 

[kjscrafts]

Thanks for the suggestions. After I have my brother decide what things he most wants to do, we are going to call DCL and see if any accommodations are possible. I have found a few options in Ketchikan saying you can arrange them to be done with motor coach with lift.

I know my brother really wants to go to the Klondike Gold Rush National Park in Skagway because a few summers ago we visited the part in Seattle and he doesn't think he can say he has really been to that national park until he has been to the Alaska half. We are thinking maybe we could rent a car in Skagway, as I don't think he would want to get off the ship to spend 4 hours on a train (only obvious accessible option in Skagway).