Many wheelchair users already know that cruising is one of the best ways to see the world. It is arguably also the easiest way to visit The Last Frontier in America, also known as Alaska. Having cruised to Alaska in 2016, this is easily one of my favorite destinations in the entire world. Considering the volume of Alaska cruises I book for my accessible travel agency clients, it’s a popular itinerary for wheelchair users as well! The scenery is jaw-dropping, and the people are so friendly and welcoming. However, there are a few things to take into consideration when picking the right cruise ship itinerary for an Alaska visit. Here are some tips for finding a great wheelchair accessible Alaska cruise.
Departure/Arrival Ports. One of the first things you want to decide on is where you want to depart for your Alaska cruise. You will also need to decide if you want your cruise to be round-trip or one-way. The majority of Alaska cruises depart from either Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, British Columbia. These are typically seven night itineraries. There are also a few one-way itineraries that depart from San Francisco and Long Beach, California, and these are either 10-night, 12-night, or 14-night itineraries. The one-way itineraries often arrive in either Seward or Whittier, both of which have connections to Anchorage and often side excursions by train to visit places like Denali National Park. It is often more expensive to fly into the departure port and fly out of the arrival port, so keep this in mind when budgeting. I usually recommend to my clients that they arrive at the departure port at least one day prior to the cruise sailing date. Both Vancouver and Seattle offer several great options for wheelchair accessible hotel rooms that I can arrange for you.
Itinerary. Many Alaska cruise itineraries are similar from cruise line to cruise line with only minor variations. They usually involve three or four ports of call and cruising through one of the many glacier viewing areas where the sea is like glass. Typical ports of call include Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Victoria, Icy Strait Point, and Sitka. What is crucial for wheelchair travelers to know and understand is that some ports of call in Alaska itineraries are tender only, and many others are either “dock or anchor” (D/A). A tender port means that the cruise ship anchors offshore, and passengers must be brought to shore on smaller boats called tenders. While some travelers who use collapsible wheelchairs and can negotiate a few steps can use tenders, tender boats are generally off-limits to electric scooter and power wheelchair users with very few exceptions.
This means that most likely you will be stuck on the ship when you are at a tender port. In places like Juneau or Ketchikan, the ship can either dock or anchor, depending on many factors. Some cruise lines have much better chances of docking on certain days. Cruise Lines of Alaska (CLA) makes this determination each year, and publishes a schedule in roughly late November of which ships will be docking in Alaska ports and which will be anchoring; this is, of course, subject to change. I can help you select the a cruise ship and itinerary that will significantly increase your odds of being able to get off the ship at each port of call.
Shore Excursions. While cruise lines are getting better at providing wheelchair accessible options for shore excursions, they are still extremely limited. Sometimes the shore excursion keeps you on a bus for a few hours without the ability to even get off — something known as a windshield tour. However, don’t hesitate to contact for providers to ask specific questions about accessibility. They may surprise you. Again, I can either reach out to ship-provided shore excursion operator to determine true accessibility, or find an independent tour operator at each port of call to make sure you can enjoy your time in port. My best friend and I were able to participate in three Princess excursions after making those calls, and we independently arranged a wheelchair accessible helicopter tour in Juneau after doing our own research. Here is a post I wrote about several options for wheelchair accessible shore excursions available on Alaska cruise itineraries.
Ship Selection. Most of the bigger cruise lines, like Norwegian, Holland America, and Princess, have fully accessible ships on Alaska itineraries. However, some are newer and better than others. Each cruise line has a special needs department, and I highly recommend letting me help you to find out all the details of their accessible cabins. For example, I booked a balcony cabin on the Star Princess, and the threshold from the room to the balcony was too high for me to negotiate with my scooter. However, on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise in Scandinavia, the threshold was completely flat. These are the kinds of questions you want to ask before selecting a ship and a cabin.
Budget. Alaska itineraries tend to be more expensive compared to other cruises, so it’s important that you have a realistic expectation of what an Alaska cruise will cost. One if the primary cost factors is the cruise line. Generally speaking, Carnival will be the least expensive and Disney will be the most expensive, with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian at the lower end and Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, and Cunard at the upper end. Another major cost factor is the type of stateroom you prefer. Accessible staterooms cost exactly the same as a regular stateroom in an identical category and location on the ship. Your least expensive option will be an interior stateroom. Balconies are extremely popular on Alaska sailings because you can view the glaciers in the comfort and privacy of your own stateroom without having to fight the crowd for space on deck. However, balconies cost more and sell out first. When you sail will also affect your cost. Mid-summer is the high season and most expensive, while you can get cheaper fares in May and September. To accommodate for taxes, port fees, and gratuities, I would budget no less than $1,500 per person for an interior stateroom and $2,000 for a balcony stateroom.
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I truly believe that taking an Alaska cruise should be on everyone’s bucket list. It can be quite a haul to get out there, but it is worth absolutely every minute of travel time. I have done it myself, and as an accessible travel agent at Spin the Globe/Travel, I would love to help you book your fully wheelchair accessible Alaska cruise!
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New to wheelchair travel here.
I have a Quickie 710, which is daily large and heavy (350 lbs). Do you know of any way to get it to Seattle without flying with it, where it would have to be disassembled? (My chair guy says that airlines always reassemble it incorrectly.)
What do you mean, “get it to Seattle without flying with it”? I have no idea where you are, but my reply will probably still be no.
Oops. I meant get it to Seattle from SF. I was hoping to hear there was some specialty shipper. Thanks anyway.
Have you looked into cruises out of SF?
Yes! I actually had a client sale on a 10 day Alaska itinerary on the grand princess out of San Francisco last summer. She loved it!
If don’t want to take your wheelchair or scooter with you there is a company called “special needs at sea” you can hire any specialised equipment from them and they deliver and pick up direct to the cruise ship.
We have used them in the past to hire a scooter.
We are planning a trip to Canada 2019 to include Alaska cruise. One of our group has MS so will need accessible cabin and she uses a wheelchair when she is tired. We would like to be on a smaller ship. What can you recommend?
thanks,
Hi Pennie! I’d be more than happy to help you find and book the perfect itinerary! Could you please email me at [email protected]?
Hello I just came across your site, and I am so glad I did. I want to take my mom on a cruise to Alaska departing from Seattle. She is worried she won’t be able to do anything off the ship due to not being able to get around easily. Can you recommend the best handycap accessible cruise. We wanted to go this July or August . Thanks
Have 2 adult kids in chairs always a challenge even if we call ahead we have had to take doors off bathrooms. We on a budget. Live central Iowa never cruised or flown with chairs.
Looking to take my brother on a vacation. He is a TBI person and cannot walk stand or talk need a package that will provide full-service for him. That would mean having a bathroom that is wheelchair accessible for a shower chair. Possibility of having a Hoyer lift lift in the bedroom etc. Is there a telephone number that I can call to gather more details. Possibility of having a Hoyer lift lift in the bedroom etc. Is there a telephone number that I can call to gather more details. Thank you Thank you.
You can email me at [email protected]
I am wanting to learn of the most accessible cruise to Alaska for a wheelchair user. The most accessible ships, ports in Alaska, trips at the ports.
I am looking for a cruise for my sister who is handicapped and 3 abled passengers. Perhaps sharing a balcony suite. Preferably a RT scenic Alaska cruise from San Francisco where she lives. Any and all recommendations would be appreciated. Thank You, William
Hi William! Please email me at [email protected]
I did the Alaska cruise on Holland America and was very happy with my cabin. Perfect bed height, light switches positioned to be reachable, roll-in shower, ramps over the threshold to the balcony. I did need to ask to have some furniture moved to create better access but that took seconds. The shore excursions were also very accessible except for finding a bathroom.
I spoke with you last year about an Alaskan cruise and bought your book. I’d like to book through you, (assuming we get Covid vaccines), for August 2021, as you are so knowledgeable about wheelchair access. My Husband is an incomplete para and 100% dependent on a wheelchair. Are they booking at this time?