10/16/2026
5 Tips for Cruising as a Wheelchair User!
1. Book as EARLY as possible.
Wheelchair accessible rooms are hard to get so it's best to plan your trips accordingly. If you are looking to plan a last minute cruise, expect to be disappointed and if you get lucky you'll have all the reason to be excited!
2.Book excursions EARLY.
A lot of the cruise lines don't offer wheelchair accessible excursions, and if they do, they book up fast. Once you book your cruise, book your excursions too if you plan to do them through the cruise line. A lot of people are scared to book excursions outside of their cruise line, but people do it all the time and I personally think it's a better experience and less crowded. There are also companies who specialize in wheelchair accessible excursions.
3.Research your ports to see if they dock or require a tender.
This is mostly for peace of mind and to ease stress. Boarding a tender can be a little more stressful, so knowing ahead of time and reaching out to guest services to see how they handle things will make your day off the ship a lot smoother. Although rolling right off the ship is simpler, you still want to enjoy tender ports.
4.Bring your own wheelchair or medical device.
Cruise lines offer a company where you can rent equipment from, but cruising is nothing like flying. You are not required to ever "check" your wheelchair and you won't have to get out of it. Therefore, your wheelchair will not be lost or damaged by the cruise line. Your body will be much more comfortable in your own personal medical device.
5.You can get assistance in the buffet.
I know, I know. We like to be independent. But there are many workers who WANT to help. They will offer, but they will also happily help if you ask. If you are on your own, I'd suggest taking the help. I flipped a whole tray of food going over a bump and they never let me do it independently again. 😂 Save yourself the embarrassment.
