Cruise lines are becoming increasingly savvy about designing your travel experience to minimize any inconvenience for those traveling with disabilities. However, there are some basic questions to ask to determine just how relaxed and enjoyable a given cruise will be.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has an excellent series of “criteria” for evaluating specific cruises that can easily be adapted as an accessibility checklist. Have the questions below in hand when you speak with your travel agent or a cruise line sales rep to help you determine the accessibility factor.

With a bit of paraphrasing from the CLIA list, these items include:

• Are wheelchair passengers accepted?
• How many wheelchair accessible cabins are available?
• Must passengers with disabilities be accompanied?
• Do the elevators accept regular wheelchairs?
• Do the elevators accept narrow wheelchairs?
• Are cabins with wide doors available?
• Are cabins with low/no sills available?
• Are cabin baths with rails available?
• Are cabins with ramps available?
• Do the public rooms have ramps?
• Public rooms accessible by wheelchair?
• Do some or all of the decks have ramps?
• Do the decks offer access to all passenger areas?

(To see how actual cruises stack up against these criteria, check out the “Special Interest Guide for Wheelchair Travelers”.)

Often, a cruise line will have a dedicated individual or department (ask for the “access department”) to make sure passengers with disabilities have their needs met quickly, reliably, and professionally. Don’t hesitate to contact the access department with any questions you may have. Also, once you’ve booked your cruise and received your confirmation papers, be sure to read them over carefully to verify that you received the accessible cabin you requested.

“Cruising with a Disability,” an excellent article from Cruise Critic: Cruise Reviews & News, points out several other things to consider:

• Be specific about your disability requirements when you speak with your travel agent or cruise line’s reservation agent. He or she can’t help you or give you useful advice if you don’t tell them the truth about your situation and your needs.

• Don’t hesitate to request a cabin designated for those with disabilities, since these are roomier than standard cabins in order to accommodate wheelchairs.

• Keep in mind that newer cruise ships often are more disability-friendly, an indication of the industry’s recent acknowledgement of the growing market among travelers with disabilities.

• If you have special medical needs, make sure the infirmary is equipped to respond. Also, make sure your medical insurance covers the ship’s infirmary; if not, purchase a travel insurance policy that does.

Also, ask about shore excursions. Are trips planned with disabilities in mind? How will the ship’s staff assist passengers with disabilities when visiting the various ports-of-call?

Once onboard, points out the article, it will help to keep a ship’s map with you to keep you oriented to your surroundings, including restrooms and the ship’s infirmary in case either are needed quickly. Also, once you’ve had a chance to check out your cabin, don’t hesitate to request any special equipment you’d like (for example, a shower bench) from the steward.

Bottom line: cruises can be an excellent, relaxing accessible travel option for people with disabilities, but it’s important to make sure that you’ve clearly identified your needs and made sure that they’ll be met before heading up that gangplank.

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Want more tips on for a cruising vacation? See Cruising the Eastern Caribbean.