Key Aspects:
- A Carnival guest has complained that crew members would not carry their mobility scooter onto a tender boat in Belize – while they were sitting on it.
- Safety and liability restrictions prohibit crew members from lifting guests for any reason but they can help with getting equipment on and off water shuttles.
- Not all tender ports may be accessible to all guests and weather conditions and wave movements can create further accessibility complications.
As travelers get older and may develop mobility issues, there’s no reason to stop cruising. Cruise guests are welcome to bring canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters onboard and crew members will be as accommodating as possible for everyone to fully enjoy their cruise vacation.
There are some things that crew members simply cannot do, however. What is more astonishing is that one guest might have expected this type of service: being carried while in their scooter.
The frustrated guest shared their complaint with John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador. While Heald is not without compassion for the guest’s needs, some steps aren’t possible.
“I was responding to a complaint from someone today. They were disappointed and upset that the crew would not carry the mobility scooter down the steps into the tender to get to Belize,” he explained.
“While the wonderful crewmembers will carry the scooter into the tender we cannot do so for obvious liability and safety reasons if the person is still sitting on it.”
Heald goes on to note that he would have thought such a restriction to be obvious, but apparently it was not, at least to that particular guest.
To other commenters, the situation was clearly obvious.
“The fact that you even have to address this is ridiculous but I guess it goes right along with the labels we have to put on things like caution contents may be hot and don’t eat the laundry detergent pods,” one guest colorfully noted.
The ship or the date of the port visit to Belize was not revealed, but several Carnival cruise ships have visited the Western Caribbean nation recently. Carnival Magic, Carnival Dream, Carnival Paradise, and Carnival Liberty have all visited just this month.
Crew members are happy to assist guests as much as possible, but lifting a scooter with a person still sitting on it is simply not an option.
Depending on the individual and the type of scooter, this could be a combined weight of several hundred pounds, which would require several crew members to safely lift.
Between the potential weight, narrow gangways, and the bobbing motion of a tender boat against the side of the cruise ship, it would be impossible for such a maneuver to be managed without unacceptable risks.
Carnival Cruise Line’s policy on water shuttles is very explicit that crew members cannot carry guests.
“Safety restrictions prohibit crew from carrying individuals on or off water shuttles,” the cruise line states.
Crew members will certainly extend a helping hand to assist anyone on a moving gangway, and they are close by to react to any emergency situations immediately.
Are Tender Ports Accessible for Mobility Scooters?
Carnival does note that not every tender port may be fully accessible for guests with mobility limitations.
“Whether guests with mobility limitations can board a water shuttle is subject to numerous factors, including weather and tidal conditions, which may affect the transfer from one moving vessel to another,” the policy explains.
“Also, facilities in ports vary and, therefore, certain water shuttles may not be accessible to individuals using wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility devices.”
More From Cruise Hive
Ultimately, the ship’s captain makes the final decision about whether or not any guest, with or without a mobility scooter, may board a water shuttle.
Guests should also be aware that Carnival Cruise Line ships are not registered in the United States, and therefore are not obligated to follow every provision of the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Act.
While the cruise line certainly does take tremendous steps to minimize barriers and ensure the best accessibility onboard their ships, cruise ports are foreign ports of call and are also not bound to US legislation and guidelines.
