Back in 2018, a friend and former co-worker named Jan was getting ready to retire. Like many people approaching such an exciting milestone, she wanted to celebrate—and she decided she deserved a vacation.
Her dream?
A cruise to the Bahamas.
Jan asked me to help her organize and book the trip. At work, I was unofficially known as the office “travel agent.” I loved helping my coworkers plan vacations, so normally I would have been excited and enthusiastic about putting together her retirement getaway.
But this time was different.
Jan has multiple sclerosis (MS), and she often used a walker and, at times, a wheelchair to help with her mobility. I immediately realized that planning her trip would require much more than finding a great itinerary at a good price.
I knew practically nothing about cruise ship accessibility.
I had been on a cruise ship or two myself, so I knew how compact some of the cabins could be. My first thought went straight to the bathrooms. Would she have enough room to maneuver? Would she be comfortable? Would she be safe? What kind of assistance would be available if she needed it?
I wasn’t worried about arranging accessible transportation or finding shore excursions that could accommodate her needs. Those things felt manageable.
Choosing the right cruise ship was what intimidated me.
I wanted Jan’s retirement celebration to be everything she hoped it would be. I didn’t want her to spend her vacation worrying about whether she could get around the ship, use the bathroom comfortably, or safely enjoy the amenities.
So, I went into research mode.
I began researching cruise lines and comparing their accessibility options. I looked at the accommodations available, the cabin configurations, bathroom accessibility, and how well the ships could accommodate someone using a walker or mobility scooter.
My goal wasn’t simply to find a cruise that allowed passengers with disabilities.
I wanted to find one that would give my friend the best, safest, most comfortable, and most enjoyable experience possible.
After researching the options and matching Jan’s needs with what the cruise lines offered, we ultimately chose Holland America for a 4-Day Caribbean Getaway to Key West and the Bahamas.
And then came the part that mattered most: making sure Jan had the right accommodations.
She was booked into a stateroom with a modified, enlarged bathroom designed to provide additional space and accessibility. The room was ADA compliant and suitable for her walker and mobility scooter.
Suddenly, I could breathe a little easier.
Jan was thrilled.
She had something wonderful to look forward to—a retirement celebration, a beautiful destination, and the freedom to enjoy a vacation she had earned after years of working.
Then she left for her cruise.
And when she came back, She was practically glowing.
She was happy. She was excited. She had enjoyed herself.
And I was absolutely thrilled for her.
There was, however, one thing I regretted.
I didn’t go with her!
Looking back, that experience taught me something I hadn’t fully appreciated before: accessible travel isn’t simply about whether a destination has an accessible room or whether a cruise ship can accommodate a wheelchair.
It’s about the entire experience.
It’s about having enough space to move comfortably. It’s about accessible bathrooms, transportation, excursions, dining, elevators, and public areas. It’s about feeling safe and independent. And perhaps most importantly, it’s about being able to focus on enjoying your vacation instead of constantly thinking about whether your needs will be accommodated.
Jan’s trip opened my eyes to an area of travel I had never really considered before.
What started as a favor for a friend became a learning experience for me. It showed me how important it is to research accessibility carefully and thoughtfully—and how rewarding it can be when you help someone experience a vacation where they can truly relax and enjoy themselves.