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your letters
22
Mixed experiences of
In response to the article
written in the last Bulletin
regarding cruises, I would
agree with your writer’s
comments on cruises for
disabled people.
I went on a cruise to the
Norwegian Falls in June with
P & O Cruises – the ship was
the Oreana. The access to the
boat was quite a frightening
experience. It was such a
very steep slope to get on to
the ship and consequently
a frightening drop on the
other side. Two men put ropes
around my electric wheelchair
and pulled it up the slope, then once I reached
the top, one man had to hold me in from the
back around my armpits otherwise I would have
slipped off. It was quite a terrifying experience
as far as I was concerned, although the men
involved did say “we often have to do this to get
disabled people on board” (what about health
and safety?)!
Once on board, the cabins were very spacious
and accessible, with a reasonably-sized shower
room/toilet, although it would not have been
possible for a carer to have helped me, as I have
to go into the shower room in my chair –
I cannot walk at all.
All areas of the ship were completely accessible
but the downside was the shore excursions – there
was only one specialist tour that I could go on
with a small bus with a ramp up the back to take
chairs. This was supposed to be a five-hour trip.
Six people went, three in chairs with their carers/
partners. We quickly went around the local area,
which was not very interesting, and then joined a
queue for one hour for a trip in a little train, which
cruise facilities
With its incredible number of bridges and steps, Venice is particularly
difficult for disabled people to get around.
took us up to the top of a mountain where the
views were superb. Once on the train, it only took
five minutes to reach the top of the mountain
where we all hoped to stay for at least 1½ hours.
However, no sooner had we reached the top and
had a cup of coffee and got our cameras out
than the tour guide appeared to take us back
on to the train. We actually spent 25 minutes on
the mountain top. His excuse was that traffic was
heavy and we would have to leave to get back to
the boat. We then went briefly around the area
for another half an hour and then back to the
boat. Our trip started at 10.30am and we were
back on the boat at 2.30pm. A very expensive
trip, which cost us £90 each, so £180 for myself
and carer.
Although cruising is a great experience as it
is not possible for those in wheelchairs to see
the country they go to see, I feel that I would
not want to repeat this. I will try other forms of
holidays where there is a specialised bus to take
me out to see places every day and not just one
short trip on a 10-day cruise.
Ann Gillanders
The British Polio Fellowship