Happy St Patrick's Day sailors!
At Access Tourism NZ read about new guidelines making maritime travel more accessible for people with disabilities published by Ireland's Department of Transportation and the National Disability Authority (NDA).
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Patricia Ribeiro at her About.com site Brazil Travel breaks a wonderful Geotourism story in English:
The famous coral pools of Pajuçara, in Maceió, are about to become more accessible to travelers with disabilities. A wheelchair-accessible jangada - the typical sailboat of the Brazilian Northeast - is to be launched at the end of January.
Designer Jorge Luiz Silva and supporters hope to collect funds to build three more jangadas. I'll be posting the bank account as soon as I have it. Read more about the accessible jangada.
Photo courtesy of Prefeitura Municipal de Maceió
Follow the story at:
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Failure to understand that the use of a wheelchair for mobility is as much a "medical situation" as the use of Nikes or Guccis (or a bicycle by a fish) may result in Voyages of Discovery being denied access to a large, lucrative, and growing market:
Trying to accommodate a demographic with "special (sic) needs" begins with succeeding at understanding the psychographics of that market.PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Voyages of Discovery will always try to accommodate passengers with special needs. However, the following conditions apply:
Medical Situations: Any physical disability or medical condition that requires special treatment or medical apparatus must be reported to the company's Reservations Manager in writing along with the first deposit, which is due at time of booking. These include, but are not limited to, wheelchairs, oxygen therapy, dialysis, guide dogs, etc. Failure to disclose a medical situation at time of booking may result in your being denied boarding at port of embarkation.
Bon voyage, Geoff!
From his site:
Leaving today, 10th December 2009, Geoff Holt embarks on Personal Atlantic, setting sail on a 60ft, purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible catamaran on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The 3,000 mile journey will take him up to a month to complete, across some of the most hostile waters in the world.
In completing his Challenge, Geoff Holt will become the first quadriplegic to make the journey, unassisted in every aspect of the sailing.
Having sailed the Atlantic Ocean three times before an accident in 1984 which left Geoff confined to a wheelchair, this will be an emotional voyage for Geoff Holt as he attempts the journey for the first time as a disabled yachtsman. But his overriding desire in attempting the voyage, is to inspire others to do something positive with their lives.
As Geoff says, "It's not about being disabled. It's not about sailing the Atlantic Ocean. It's about demonstrating that disability need not be a barrier to achieving something positive in your life"
It will be a
matter of complex logistics for the shore-based support team and a feat
of personal endurance and sailing skills for Geoff. Although both
physically able to navigate and sail the boat competently, Geoff is
unable to look after his own physical requirements. He can not get
himself out of his wheelchair to sleep, to use the loo or to shower
without help. To overcome this, Geoff will be accompanied on the voyage
by a professional, medically trained carer to aid him with the physical
aspects of his life. The carer will play no part in the sailing of the
yacht.
TAKING
ACCESIBILITY TO NEW LEVELS: OASIS OF THE SEAS--WORLD'S
LARGEST, MOST INNOVATIVE CRUISE PASSENGER VESSEL
By Andrew
Garnett, founder Special Needs Group, Inc.
Royal Caribbean
International's (RCI) much anticipated next generation cruise ship,
the Oasis
of the Seas is ready for passengers. Rising sixteen decks high, she is
the largest vessel afloat---and among the most accessible.
We
toured the ship recently and can report first hand that the Oasis of the Seas offers the largest number of accessible staterooms
of any ship, a total of 46. For the newer ships in the fleet, RCI has
consistently maintained a standard of 1.7 percent of all staterooms designated
as accessible, the highest percentage in the industry. Wider doorways, roll-in
showers, grab bars and other assistive features ensure barrier-free vacations
for guests. We especially like the fact that on the Oasis of the Seas, accessible staterooms are distributed throughout
the decks, ensuring ample choices for location and category. One of the more deluxe
choices is the ultra-modern, two-story Crown Loft Suite measuring 737 square
feet--substantially larger than its non-accessible counterparts--and
equipped with an elevator to transport guests between the upper and lower
floors of the loft.
Of the
46 accessible staterooms on the Oasis of the Seas, 33 have balconies; eight with
There
are 24 dining venues onboard the Oasis of the Seas, all designed to accommodate guests in
wheelchairs. Viewing space in lounges and theatres, including the ice rink, are
configured for wheelchairs, as are card gaming tables in the casino. For those using
"wheels" who want to ride the first Carousel at sea, there's
a ramp to help you do just that. As on every RCI vessel, at least one pool and
one whirlpool have lifts.
The ship's ease
of accessibility is inviting news for travelers with limited mobility, and even
those passengers who may not use wheelchairs or scooters at home, including
show walkers, may want these aides to help navigate the Oasis of the Seas --she
measures 1,184 feet from bow to stern.
When the Oasis of the Seas visits port and
RCI's private islands it's easy to roll off/roll on via the gangway
ramp for those in wheelchairs or on power scooters. No tendering.
The Oasis of the Seas and her staff effectively
accommodate guests with physical disabilities relating to hearing, vision,
breathing problems and other limitations. Like all vessels in the Royal
Caribbean International fleet, the Oasis of
the Seas is outfitted for people who are blind or have low vision.
Menus, daily activity schedules and ship directories are available in both Braille
and large print. Braille signage, including stateroom numbers and elevator
information is a standard RCI feature. Your fingertips can even identify which
deck you are on via Braille deck numbers on the staircases. The ship provides
a 4 x 4 foot relief box for service animals.
State-of-the art, advanced
technologies for people who are deaf and hard of hearing are available in
staterooms and public rooms. If you are traveling with oxygen, the Oasis of the Seas welcomes all types
onboard. Just alert the cruise line in advance of the quantity and type, and
the method of delivery.
"Our goal is to
allow persons with disabilities to enjoy a complete vacation experience,"
according to RCI spokespersons.
As a preferred
supplier for Royal Caribbean International, Special Needs at Sea / Special
Needs Group is proud to help support the goal of a complete vacation experience
for persons with disabilities. In fact, echoing a statement by Ron Pettit,
Access Manager of RCI, taking a cruise onboard the new Oasis of
the Seas is a chance to take a
vacation from disability.
Welcome, Oasis of the
Seas. We are glad this ship has come in.
Andrew J. Garnett is the founder and CEO
of Special Needs at Sea/Special Needs Group., Inc. He is passionate about
dissolving barriers and dedicated to helping persons with disabilities travel
the world. Special Needs at Sea/Special Needs Group Inc. is a member of CLIA,
OSSN and FCCA and a sponsor of SATH.
From the video description:
"A very nice trip, also good suitable for wheelchair users. With good exotic food and fantastic music and dancers. "
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Benefits of Sailing as a form of Recreational Therapy: Social Interaction: Small environment/cockpit requiring close interaction. Helps counter physical and social boundaries and improves physical and emotional comfort in small spaces. Teamwork: Team building and collaboration. Participants encouraged to actively crew the boat to the best of their ability. Participants must cooperate to assist in pulling the lines, wrapping them around the winches and securing them. Learn importance of cooperation for man-overboard procedure. Cooperative environment of everyone having a job on the boat. Communication/Comprehension: Ability to listen to instructions and follow procedure. Communication required between crew and captain to identify and name potential hazards and to navigate. Motor Skills/Coordination: Eye-hand coordination to hoist sail or pull lines. Balance when ambulating around the boat, using hand holds. Visual stimulation to watch for hazards, and align boat with object in distance/horizon while steering. Confidence/Self-Esteem: Empowerment from sense of control while steering and maneuvering the boat as well as being part of team. Sense of accomplishment at facing fears and completing tasks Environmental awareness: Appreciation of nature and waterways. Observation and interaction with wildlife including birds/fish/mammals. Understanding of effects of pollution on environment and species. Relaxation: Reduced noise stimuli: primarily rhythmic sounds of waves lapping the hull and wind in sails. Rhythmic movement of boat is also comforting, yet heeling provides excitement. Concentration/Focus: children with limited ability to sit still or concentrate are able to focus on tasks on boat and are visibly calmer, relaxed and focused. Ability increases to concentrate on task(s). Adventure/Exploration/Imagination: Children dream of being explorers, pirates, etc. Opens up the world to them. Encourages imagination. International program and virtual programs provide opportunities to learn about faraway places. | ||||
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For more information about Heart of Sailing or to learn how you can help, please visit www.heartofsailing.org.
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Contact Information: |
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For further information:
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Oxygen Onboard?
Clearing the Air about Cruising with Oxygen
By Andrew
Garnett, Founder Special Needs Group
As a supplier of oxygen and other special needs equipment
for travelers, I see first hand the uncertainty and confusion regarding
traveling with oxygen, especially the rules and regulations for dealing with
cylinders or other forms of portable oxygen on a cruise.
Like everything in life, cruising with oxygen is simple,
once you know the guidelines. After almost a decade of working with
cruise ships and accessibility, here's what I've learned that can
ensure smooth sailing for anyone traveling with oxygen.
All cruise lines welcome oxygen onboard. However,
each line has specific guidelines or requirements for guests to follow.
Princess Cruises requires a prescription, or note from
your doctor with a diagnosis of your breathing problem and the prescribed
dosage and flow rate. You are required to have this at least 30 days prior to
sailing. Some lines also require, or suggest, that you have a release
form from your doctor. We think it is a good idea for anyone traveling to
have medical clearance.
Complying with paperwork and meeting specification can
take time, so it is always a good idea to begin planning early and to contact
the medical or access/special needs department of your cruise line at least
three to four weeks before your sailing date.
It is important that you have enough oxygen for the entire
voyage. To help you calculate, assume you will spend 10 to 12 hours per
day out of your cabin; that's the average based on statistics and
feedback from our customers. You do not want to end up confined to your
stateroom because you do not have enough portable oxygen.
Keep in mind, you will not be able to "pack"
your equipment in, or with, your luggage. Cruise line policy states that you
are permitted to bring your own equipment with you. However, you must
bring it onboard yourself. They will not be held responsible for any
missing equipment or for damages. In fact, you could be held liable if
anyone were to get injured by it. So, don't try to sneak it on in
your luggage.
Why worry about the possibility that your equipment
won't make it in one piece? Special Needs Group/Special Needs at
Sea delivers directly to cruise ships at ports around the world and works
closely with almost every major cruise line. We can handle all the
details for you. The oxygen will be delivered in accordance with the
line's requirements, and you can then carry the oxygen with you as you
navigate the ship.
Importantly, learn everything you need to know about your
portable equipment before you leave on your trip. The middle of the ocean
is not the place to start figuring out how things operate.
In working with and talking to the major cruise lines, the
only universal restriction they have for passengers using oxygen on board ships
is to avoid smoking and stay away from any areas where others are smoking.
There may also be limitations on taking certain quantities of oxygen on
certain shore excursions. This is best confirmed and handled with your
cruise line when you book.
So start planning, and get packing to enjoy your cruise.
ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP, INC. Special Needs Group,
Inc. (www.specialneedsgroup.com) is a one-stop resource for special needs
travel around the world. We offer a broad range of special needs equipment
including wheelchair, powerchair and scooter rentals with capabilities to
support 500 pounds or more; oxygen rentals (liquid, cylinder, and
concentrator); hearing impaired equipment, Braille printing, baby cribs and
more. Recommended by the world's major cruise lines and hotels for
superior service and value, we also provide consultation services regarding
special needs policy and new-build design. Special Needs Group, a U.S.
company, is not a travel agency and does not compete in any way with travel
agents.
Representantes de la fundación 'Un mar sin barreras' reclamaron hoy
al delegado del Gobierno en la Comunitat Valenciana, Ricardo Peralta,
un espacio físico en el Puerto de Valencia, y que las instalaciones
tengan un diseño universal. Ante esta petición, el delegado se
comprometió a darles esa "presencia física" para "desarrollar sus
actividades".
Así lo indicaron hoy en declaraciones a los medios de comunicación el presidente de la entidad, Carlos Laguna, y Ricardo Peralta, tras mantener un encuentro en la sede de la Delegación. En la reunión, Laguna le pidió un espacio en la zona del Puerto, en la que se produjo la remodelación con motivo de la America's Cup, para la fundación.
Le indicó que, por ejemplo, la entidad necesitaría un espacio donde tiene 'La Sirenita', una embarcación adaptada a minusválidos, para instalar una grúa de transferencia y poder integrar todavía más "a las personas con discapacidad".
Asimismo, le reclamó que todas las instalaciones portuarias "tengan un diseño universal", "no sólo para personas con discapacidad, sino para todos, para madres con carritos, para personas de la tercera edad, o para las que han sufrido un pequeño accidente".
Al respecto, Peralta aseguró que su voluntad era la de que esta fundación tenga una "presencia física" en el Puerto, "para sus actividades, para implicar el mundo de la minusvalía con el del mar". "Son --agregó-- actividades importantes que cuentan con el apoyo de la Administración".
En este punto, recordó que las instalaciones del Puerto fueron remodeladas "pensando en la America's Cup", aunque, dijo, "recientemente se ha despejado la incógnita de la segunda edición con la peor de las soluciones, y es que el evento no tendrá lugar en Valencia en 2009". Por ello, lamentó que ha habido una estrategia "que ha fracasado completamente", y afirmó que "alguien tendrá que dar explicaciones".From Special Needs at Sea:
FT LAUDERDALE, FL - Special Needs at Sea, a global provider of special needs equipment for travelers and the travel industry, was honored as winner of the "Onboard Supplier of the Year" Award at the third annual Seatrade Insider Awards held in Hamburg, Germany on September 15; part of Seatrade Europe 2009.
"The high caliber of the Seatrade organization and
strength of all the nominees make this award even more significant for
us," says Andrew Garnett,
founder and president of Special Needs at Sea. "Additionally, it
underscores the importance to the industry of what we provide and validates our
commitment to accessible cruising."
Special Needs at Sea, a Special Needs Group Inc. company,
provides cruise passengers and cruise ships with a broad range of special needs
equipment for purchase and rental, including wheelchairs, scooters and
powerchairs with capabilities to support 500 pounds or more; oxygen in all its
forms; hearing impaired equipment, Braille printing, baby cribs and more. The
company delivers the needed equipment directly to the passenger's stateroom
at cruise ship ports around the world, and is currently testing a pier-side
kiosk program in
Earlier this year, Special Needs at Sea became the first
accessibility preferred partner benefits supplier for the Cruise Line Industry
Association (CLIA), the world's largest cruise line association, and is a
sponsor of SATH, the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality. Special
Needs at Sea is a Preferred Mobility and Oxygen Supplier of Holland America
Line and Royal Caribbean and also services the other major lines including
Princess,
The Seatrade Insider Awards presentation, a yearly
highlight of Seatrade Europe, was held at the Schmidts Tivoli Theatre in
Hamburg. Fidelio Cruise was a principle sponsor of the awards. Judging
for the awards is by a select panel of industry executives, members of Seatrade
Insider's global editorial team, cruise consultants, analysts and industry
experts from around the world.
ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP, INC.
Special Needs Group,
Inc. (www.specialneedsgroup.com) is a one-stop resource for special needs
travel around the world. We offer a broad range of special needs equipment
including wheelchair, powerchair and scooter rentals with capabilities to
support 500 pounds or more; oxygen rentals (liquid, cylinder, and
concentrator); hearing impaired equipment, Braille printing, baby cribs and
more. Recommended by the world's major cruise lines and hotels for
superior service and value, we also provide consultation services regarding
special needs policy and new-build design. Special Needs Group, a
Andy Wright continues to move the industry toward inclusion:
Norwegian Cruise Lines has now introduced agent training for disabled passengers on the cruise line. The company's online training programme has introduced a module on accessibility, designed to provide agents with knowledge of the line's facilities and policies to sell cruises to disabled passengers.
The course information includes a guide to fleet-wide facilities for guests with limited mobility, hearing and sight impairments - as well as how the line can equip guests with medical or dietary needs. The current NCL fleet has up to 27 wheelchair accessible cabins per ship with facilities such as grab bars, ramps and Braille signs on doors...
Andy Wright, managing director at Accessible Travel, which specialises in holidays for disabled, wheelchair and elderly guests, was involved in the creation of the training module.
Full story:
Here is a travelogue to launch you into 2009:
Stewart and Lesley MacLennan, from their home in Australia, decided to plan an adventure that would take them out of their comfort zone. Not that they had spent much of their lives in that particular zone!The adventure involved designing and building a boat for the waterways of Europe - and it had to be wheelchair accessible. By late August 2008 they were on board and raring to go.
The goal of this website, as Stewart and Lesley meander along in Endellion, is to keep in touch with family and friends from around the world.
Travel Weekly Cruise Club and Complete Cruise Solution members were asked what innovations they think passengers would value most on future ships.
“For regular cruisers quality is more important than gimmicks. Different types of restaurants gives people more variation. Smaller, more intimate restaurants could be introduced on more ships. It is a good idea to introduce more single cabins and I can see value in larger cabins for groups or families on a budget.” David Sixsmith, Personal Travel Advisor (part of Future Travel Group), Wigan
“I find the lack of single cabins on cruise ships appalling. It is an ideal holiday for single travellers, so why don’t other companies offer a special rate to single travellers instead of asking them to pay double?” Adele Parry, sales consultant, TR4 Travel, Holywell, Flintshire
“I would like to see larger dance floors, single cabins with no extra supplements, a reduced rate for carers who attend with a disabled passenger, and more choice for vegetarians. There should be a mobility co-ordination officer to meet disabled passengers.” Tracy McFall, sales consultant, Accessible Travel, Bath
"I think Cruise customers would welcome P&O Cruises' decision to incorporate 18 single cabins in their new build; a return to traditional values aboard cruise ships – courtesy, respect and not forever trying to squeeze the last penny out of folk in on-board spend; more new and different itineraries and ports of call, and more special interest cruises." Martin Hay, GoCruise, The Ribble Valley
"A number of clients have said the thing they would like most is a specialty fish restaurant with a wide menu choice. Perhaps celebrity chefs could be on board giving cookery demonstrations? Most gripes are for family cabins, and the price for single cabins is a big issue. They could have smaller cabins at a lesser cost. Also more regional departures would be welcomed by customers." Sandra Lines, Knowle Travel, Knowle, Solilhull
“The industry continues to introduce outstanding ships and deliver better service than any other holiday. Cruising is no longer one size fits all.”
Mark Pilkington, sales director, Complete Cruise Solution (TW Cruise Club sponsor)
Miami was chosen for the first Cruise Ship Center of Expertise (COE) in Miami of the US Coast Guard. Announced on September 30, 2008 this is the first in a series of Centers of Expertise that will be located throughout the country. Each Center of Expertise will focus on a specific segment of the maritime industry. We can hope that the Coast Guard will develop an expertise in maritime application of Universal Design and become a point of dissemination of best practices.
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