Cunard Disabled Cabins

Jump to information for: Wheelchair users, Blind/visually impaired guests, Deaf/hard of hearing guests, Medical Questions

Facilities for the wheelchair users

Can I bring a wheelchair on board?
Yes, However please let us know at the time of booking

Are there any ships which are not suitable for wheelchair users?
All ships within the fleet can cater for the needs of those who are dependent on a wheelchair or scooter for mobility issues, including specially adapted staterooms with wide access doors, lower placed sinks and units and hand rails.
There may be, on occasion where going ashore would be by tender. In these instances, if you are confined to a wheelchair or similar equipment, you will not be able to go ashore.

What mobility aids does Cunard provide?

Queen Mary 2 - shower stools, raised toilet seats and commodes.
Queen Elizabeth - Raised toilet seats, commodes and bath chairs.
Queen Victoria - shower stools, raised toilet seats and commodes.
All of these items are limited and must be pre-booked in advance of sailing. Should you require the use of any of these items, please let Cunard know via the disability questionnaire or email disability@carnivalukgroup.com with your booking details. If for any reason your chosen item is not available you are able to bring your own.

Can I hire a wheelchair for use on board?
A very limited number of wheelchairs are available for hire on board Cunard ships.
At the time of booking please request if you would like to hire a wheel chair and we can check availability for you.

Social Facilities onboard the Ship

Is there a hoist available for pool use?
Yes, both Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 have pool hoists. Queen Victoria has a hoist for use in the Pavillion pool (regrettably this is out of service due to operational reasons until further notice), Queen Mary 2 has a hoist for use in the Pavilion pool and Spa pool. Pool hoists on Queen Elizabeth is yet to be confirmed. When booking a holiday with the disabled holiday directory you can ask a member of the team to find out if it will be available for your journey and we will do our best in finding out what we can for you.

Is there a designated area in the theatre for full time wheelchair users? All of the theatres on board have a limited number of wheelchair spaces and chairs for their companion, if applicable. Please note these cannot be reserved in advance and are for full time wheelchair users only.

Can I travel alone if I use a wheelchair or mobility scooter? For those guests requiring the use of a wheelchair or scooter it is not a condition that you travel with a companion. However, although the crew are very helpful, they are unable to assist you in moving around the vessel or in any personal day-to-day tasks. For this reason we would suggest you are accompanied by a personal assistant / traveling companion to provide these services.

Can I order a shower stool/chair for my bathroom? Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria carry a limited number of shower stools which are pre-reserved in advance. If you require a disability questionnaire from cunard, please email disability@carnivalukgroup.com with your booking details and complete the relevant section of the disability questionnaire.

Why is there not a choice of a shower or a bath in wheelchair accessible cabins? All wheelchair accessible staterooms have a roll in shower to make these user-friendly for all wheelchair users. There is a limited number of wheelchair accessible staterooms on each ship so to maximise the availability for all wheelchair users, these are fitted with roll in showers only.

Do the ships have hospital style beds on board? If not, can I bring my own? Cunard are unable to supply hospital style beds.

Can I charge my scooter in my stateroom? Your scooter must always be charged in your stateroom.

Can I take my own mattress on board? Due to strict International Marine Organisation regulations which we have to adhere too, regrettably Cunard are unable to allow guests to bring their own mattresses with them.

Will my wheelchair/ scooter fit through the door of a non-accessible cabin? Stateroom door widths do vary across the Cunard fleet and from stateroom to stateroom, so we ask that you follow the below specifications:
Width: No more than 20 inches (51 cm)
It is essential that you provide Cunard with the accurate dimensions of your wheelchair or mobility scooter on the disability questionnaire. This can be requested from Reservations at the time of booking, by calling 0843 374 0000 or from the Disability team via email at disability@carnivalukgroup.com.

Excursions and Ports of Call

Will I get wheelchair assistance at ports of call? Cunard can only offer wheelchair assistance in Southampton. If you require assistance at ports of call during your voyage, please request this once you are on board.

Can I disembark at every port if I am a full time wheelchair user? Due to the extreme tidal nature and the gangway configurations required to cope with large varying height differences between the quay and the gun-port doors, there is a strong chance that full time and/or part time wheelchair users may not be able to go ashore in ports including, but not limited too; Hamburg, Zeebrugge, Canary Island and French and Spanish Atlantic ports (not an exhaustive list). This is in the interest of the guest's safety.

How can I arrange embarkation and disembarkation assistance? Assistance is provided for guests with minor disability issues. This service does not need to be pre-booked. Guests requiring assistance will be asked to wait in turn. This service is only available at the Southampton terminals.

My Wheelchair

Does my wheelchair/scooter need to be a certain size? Yes, cunard do impose weight and size restrictions on board all their ships, which are as follows:
Width - 51cm, for those passengers not in accessible cabins
Weight - no more than 45kg total, with no component piece to weigh more than 23kgs when disassembled.
The battery must be Gel or Dry Cell only.

What if I can't climb the steps on to the coach? If you are unable to climb steps to board a coach for your excursion, please contact us therefore we can then discuss your requirements and make independent arrangements for you.

Can I take an electric wheelchair or scooter on board? If you are traveling alone please take note the cunard crew are unable to assist you in moving around the vessel or in any personal day-to-day tasks. Guests requiring the use of an electric wheelchair or scooter part-time must ensure that once the wheelchair / scooter collapses and meets the following specifications:
Weight - no more than 45kg total, with no component piece to weigh more than 23kgs when disassembled. Electric wheelchairs/scooters must have a Gel or Dry Cell battery only.

Do you provide storage for wheelchairs, scooters or mobility aids? All wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking aids must be stored in your stateroom when not in use, as they cannot be allowed to obstruct corridors, emergency doors or stairwells.
Cunard Line will not be responsible for the storage of personal mobility equipment.
Please be advised that the use of mobility scooters is limited in the theatres on board. Allocated wheelchair spaces are for the use of full time wheelchair users and their companions only. The parking of unattended mobility scooters is prohibited in public areas and all walkways, including emergency evacuation routes, on board.

---

Facilities for the Blind/visually impaired guests

Can I bring my Assistance Dog with me? Cunard Line welcomes Assistance Dogs on all their vessels, however due to current DEFRA requirements dogs are unable to disembark at any port of call. Cunard Line has a DEFRA license on Southampton to Southampton cruises and transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2. We require a minimum of 3 months notice, preferably it needs to be 6 months notice.

Do Cunard provide pre cruise documentation in Braille or large print formats? Cunard can provide most essential information in either of these formats, including shore excursion information, menus, port guides and safety notices. Please let us know your preferred format and we will endeavor to provide the information in advance of the voyage.

Do you have Braille on board? Braille is available in the following areas;
Queen Mary 2 - underneath the stateroom number on the door, underneath each deck number inside the elevators and at each stairway under the deck letter for the stairway.
Queen Elizabeth - outside and inside the elevators, outside public toilets and underneath the stateroom number on the door.
Queen Victoria - underneath the stateroom number on the door, underneath each deck number inside the elevators and at each stairway under the deck letter for the stairway.

Can blind or visually impaired passengers travel alone? Cunard welcome blind and visually impaired passengers on board to enjoy the Cunard Line experience.

Is there a hearing loop available at Ocean Terminal? Yes, all of the terminals in Southampton provide a hearing loop facility.

---

Facilities for the Deaf/hard of hearing guests

Are subtitles available on the televisions on board? Televisions on board can be set to display captions.

What facilities are available for the deaf or hard of hearing? On all ships there are complimentary assistive listening devices for guests with impaired hearing and are available upon request for use in the Royal Court Theatre and Queens Room.
On Queen Mary 2 there are a limited number of Ameriphone systems available which include a TDD (text) telephone, a pillow vibrator and a flashing light signal to alert the guests if the phone is ringing or someone is at the door.
Should you require one of these systems, please let us know at the time of booking.
All of the television programming on board the vessel can be set to show captions.

Is there a hearing loop available at Ocean Terminal? Yes, all of the terminals in Southampton provide a hearing loop facility.

---

Medical Questions

Do I need a European Health Insurance Card? With a European Health Insurance Card, you may be entitled to medical care ashore at a reduced cost or sometimes free. When traveling on a voyage, you must have sufficient travel insurance and so a EHIC is not essential.

Do I require any vaccinations? Cunard recommends that you consult your GP in all instances taking a copy of your itinerary along with you.
Areas of concern for Malaria are detailed in Cunard Line brochure, however Cunard are unable to recommend any specific anti malarial medication.

What services are available from the Medical Centre on board? There are a wide range of facilities on board Cunards ships including ECG, Nebuliser, Oxygen, X-Ray, Pathology, In-patient Ward, 24 hr Emergency Medical Services & a variety of medication. However, these facilities are not intended or designed to provide ongoing treatment of pre-existing medical conditions. All our Doctors and Nurses on board our ships are fully qualified and trained to assist in emergency situations.
If you require a specific procedure on board it may be necessary to speak with us prior to travel.

Can I take medications on board? Generally, there are no issues with you bringing your medication on board, however Cunard would like to inform you that some prescriptions, over the counter drugs, complementary therapies and other medicines that are purchased in the UK may be illegal in the United Arab Emirates and are therefore banned in Dubai.
Codeine, for example, is banned and no products containing codeine, which may include paracetamol, may be imported or sold in the country. Penalties can be severe if banned substances are found when entering this country.
If you are taking any medication and are in doubt then please contact the United Arab Emirates, London Embassy medical department on 0207 486 6281 prior to your arrival.
Anyone traveling with medications and / or syringes should carry a prescription with them. All medications should be kept in their labeled dispensing bottles or packages. If the medications are "controlled" or injectable drugs it is also advisable to carry a Doctors letter.

Can dialysis be done on board? Yes, but only peritoneal (fluid) dialysis which must be carried out by yourself or traveling companion rather than the medical staff on board. You must be self sufficient and arrange your own supplies. Cunard cannot accept haemodialysis (blood dialysis) passengers on board.
Cunard deal with a company called Baxters quite often and they know the procedure.
They will deliver the fluids to the correct terminal the day prior to the vessel. Cunard will then make sure they are loaded whilst the vessel is alongside. You can then request the fluids through the housekeeping team as and when you require them.
For Blood Dialysis (haemodialysis), visit www.dialysisatsea.com which gives a list of ships that can provide these services.

Can you carry out INR / Warfarin blood testing on board?Yes however there is a charge for this service. Costs for this service vary so can only be confirmed on board. Passengers who require this service must bring their INR booklet with them.

What should I do with medication that needs to be refrigerated? Your stateroom has a refrigerator which you can store your medication in. For larger items that need to be refrigerated, Cunard's Medical team should be advised so that they can arrange storage.

Can I travel when I am pregnant? Yes, depending on how far into your pregnancy you are. Please advise us at time of booking or as soon as you are aware that you are expecting a baby.
Guests who are pregnant may travel as long as they do not enter their 24th week of pregnancy by the final day of their cruise and their doctor has agreed both mother and baby are fit to travel.

Can you provide oxygen cylinders on board? The only oxygen cylinders we have on board are for emergency use.
Should you require use of an oxygen cylinder for non-emergencies, you should arrange this yourself.
Omega are a private hire company providing oxygen cylinders, who maybe able to assist you depending upon the itinerary for your cruise. Contact Bill Quantrill of Omega on 01273 308 176.

What is the cost of an appointment to see a doctor on board? Medical treatment on board is classed as private care and as such is chargeable. The cost of these charges can vary depending on treatment, services and items used.
It is advisable that you ensure you have appropriate travel insurance prior to sailing.

Is there a charge to change medical dressings using the medical centre on board? Visiting the medical centre on board would incur a charge for any reason. The charges vary depending on your requirements and will be notified to you on board. You should insure you have adequate travel insurance before you travel.
If you need to have medical dressings changed then this is something we can accommodate, however you will still incur the charge. Bringing your own sterile bandages will help lower the cost.

How many doctors & nurses are usually on board? Usually there is a Senior Doctor, a Doctor and 3 nurses although this can vary depending on ship size.

What should I do if I feel sea sick? There is a medical centre on board where a doctor can help combat the effects of sea sickness, although this can be quite costly.
Anti sea sickness tablets (Travella herbal tablets) and bands are available from the shops on board or you can opt for an acupuncture treatment from the spa.
Should you feel you may suffer from the effects of sea sickness, it may be advisable to contact you doctor or pharmacist prior to embarking.

What medication do you have on board to help deal with sea sickness? The doctors will prescribe tablets called Avomine in the first instance. If, after taking these, you still feel sea sick, they can administer an injection called Promathezine.
There will be a cost involved for either of these which will be advised on board. You should ensure you have adequate travel insurance prior to traveling.

Can I pre-book a sea sickness injection? The sea sickness injection cannot be pre-booked. It is given, if deemed necessary, once sea sickness has taken effect and passengers cannot retain sea sickness tablets (i.e. they are being physically sick).
We would suggest that guests seek advice from their local pharmacy for advice on which remedies would be suitable for them prior to travel.
Costs on services from the medical department can vary, as these may include consultation periods, however as a guide, this can be around $96* (this figure may vary depending on exchange rates). Guests should ensure they have adequate medical insurance before travel. *Please note, this amount is approximated and is subject to change.

Can you provide a medical sharps box? Yes. This can be provided and placed in your Stateroom

Can I take an oxygen concentrator on board? Yes, Please notify Cunards Reservations Centre on 0843 374 0000 who will contact our Medical team. They in turn will contact you with further details.

Can I bring liquid oxygen on board? Liquid oxygen can be carried on board Cunard ships, so long as it is provided in a Cryogenic Flask or Pressurised Cylinder. Please contact the Medical Department via the Reservations centre as express permission from the ship will be required first. Liquid oxygen cannot be carried if its container requires an external power source to keep the oxygen in its liquid state. Carnival PLC reserves the right to request full specifications of the equipment prior to confirming that you can bring liquid oxygen on board our ships.
Please note that the ship's Medical Centre cannot refill oxygen or supply cylinders. You are responsible for renting / supplying enough equipment and supplies to last the entire cruise. It is likely only one cylinder can be stored in your cabin and the remainder elsewhere.
Due to changes to the supply of NHS oxygen cylinders and concentrators, it is Cunards understanding that oxygen cylinders may no longer be provided under an NHS prescription for your cruise. These supply changes may affect your ability to take your concentrator abroad.

Can I obtain distilled water for medical reasons? There is the opportunity to purchase this on board or you may bring your own.

Is there a dentist on board? No. The only dental services we are able to offer are teeth whitening processes offered by the spas on selected ships.

How can I claim on my insurance for an accident I had on board? You will need to provide the detailed medical report and bill to your insurance company.
Should you require a replacement copy, please contact Cunard's medical department who can supply you with this.
Medical Department
Cunard Line
Carnival House
100 Harbour Parade
Southampton
Hampshire
SO15 1ST

Special requests cannot be guaranteed and all services and items listed are subject to availability

Please call our friendly team for availability, advice and latest offers