Updated: 12/12/2022
For a person with disability, a cruise holiday can be one of the greatest life experiences that they can undertake, but the reality is that just like on land you could come across obstacles, so it’s important to bring some aspects of life onboard to your attention so that you enjoy your cruise with P&O Cruises Australia.
If you’re a person with disability that requires personal care or nursing, then you must arrange for a companion or carer to accompany you.
If you bring your own wheelchair, please notify the Customer Care Department as soon as making your booking as they are required to know the measurement and type, so they can guarantee that it can be easily maneuverer through the cabin doorway as doorways do differ in size for each cabin.
It is imperative for the safety of all guests and crew that your wheelchair is stored in your cabin when not in use, as it is prohibited to obstruct corridors, emergency doors or stairwells.
If you require medical equipment onboard please advise your Travel Agent or our Customer Sales & Service team at the time of booking. In most cases, you can bring them onboard, is important you request an information sheet with power supply details, so that you also check that your medical equipment is compatible with the ships power supply, and if in doubt check with the equipment supplier.
It is a safety requirement that your equipment be checked prior to boarding.
If you have any queries, please contact the Cruise Contact Centre 13 24 94 (AU) or 0800 780 716 (NZ).
Accessible Cabins
P&O Cruises Australia have wheelchair-accessible cabins on all ships within the fleet, and as with all cabins they are subject to availability at the time of request.
The number of accessible cabins for each ship are as follows:
- Pacific Dawn – 12 Accessible Rooms
- Pacific Aria – 6 Accessible Rooms
- Pacific Eden – 6 Accessible Rooms
- Pacific Explorer – 16 Accessible Rooms
It is imperative for the safety of all guests and cruise that your wheelchair is stored in your cabin when not in use, as it is prohibited to obstruct corridors, emergency doors or stairwells.
Hearing Impairments
P&O Cruises Australia also have a limited number of specialised kits for hearing impaired passengers available, upon request at time of booking.
It is important that you request a kit as early in the booking process as possible.
These Kits Contain:
- Text telephone
- Vibrating bed shaker
- Door knock transmitter
- Telephone handset amplifier
Visually Impaired
All elevators onboard have been fitted with voice synthesisers that broadcast arrivals at each deck as well as Braille buttons.
Travelling with a service animal is permitted in any grade of accommodation, subject to availability at the time of booking.
However, share accommodation is not recommended. If you require assistance from a service animal during your cruise, please notify P&O Cruises Australia at the time of booking.
Guests travelling with service animals should be aware that various ports of call have different guidelines, with specific reference to animals being taken ashore, so it is important that guests check with P&O Cruises Australia at the time of booking.
Passengers are also accountable for providing current health and travel documents for their service animals as well as for feeding and hygienic needs.
Medication Requirements
If you are required to take medication with you onboard you must ensure that you advise P&O Cruises Australia at time of booking. You will be sent a health questionnaire to complete, so they have all essential information.
It is vital that you plan well in advance and ensure you have ample supply of your medication to last you until the end of your holiday.
In the rare occasion that you are onboard for longer than what your original itinerary specifies it is also a good idea to take with you a few extra days’ supply, in case of any unanticipated delay.
Your medication must be kept in its original packaging and brought with you onboard in your carry-on luggage not in your check-in luggage.
As most cabins onboard don’t have fridges where your medication can be stored, it is vital that you advise P&O Cruises Australia before your cruise so that if your cabin is equipped with a portable fridge, subject to availability.
Each ship has a Medical Centre that offer care only in the case of illness or injury that is staffed by registered doctors and nurses who are available during scheduled clinic times to provide medical care for everyone onboard.
They are also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for medical emergencies. Medical Centres cannot cater for treatments that you will know you will require while on holiday.
Special Dietary Requirements
P&O Cruises can accommodate guests with special dietary requests, such as food allergies, yet, some restrictions may apply.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please ensure you instruct your travel agent or the Customer Sales & Service team when you make your cruise booking at least 60 days prior to your cruise departure.
It is also important that you talk to the maître d’ once you are onboard to check your dietary requirements. For more information please ask for a copy of the special dietary information flyer.
Shore Tours
The best part of cruising is visiting new locations, and P&O Cruises Australia have a boundless choice of Shore tours that cater for people with various disabilities, and levels of mobility.
Once onboard it is advisable to visit the Shore Tour Staff to discuss individual tours.
It is important that you also note that tours comprise some walking and some tours consist of extra walking and stair climbing than others. Walking may be over bumpy surfaces such as cobblestone city streets or the rocky trails of historic ruins.
On numerous tours, it is essential to negotiate stairs. Please keep in mind that many of the buildings and other venues you will go to were built well before amenities such as elevators were invented and have been conserved in their original state.
It is important to note that access to tender ports may be restricted and this may limit your tour options.
I was very disappointed on my cruise on the Pacific Aria… no central lifts meant having to walk to the end of the ship in order to change decks. The Pantry is difficult to use, as you have to line up for each individual dish/ drink and then collect cutlery, etc. None of the pools have stair or disability entry. The spa area had extremely heavy doors which were difficult to open and had high doorsills. I am not wheelchair dependent, but I found it a difficult experience cruising on this ship.
Hi Cheryl
I understand your frustration, do you cruise alone? Maybe you could think about cruising with a companion to make life easier for your onboard.
Would love to have an accessible cabin for families one day.
I have cruised with my disabled daughter and haven’t had any problems. Everyone is so helpful when you board the ship and get off. ???
I recently booked on the Aria, only to find out there isn’t any cabins that have shower only, was told all Have shower over bath. Also none of the suitable for disability, ie grab rails, stand up showerhave balcony’s. Consequently I had to cancel booking, very disappointed. One of your reps told me I could shower out of the bath, 2 reasons why not, flooding and slippery floor. Looks like I won’t be cruising anytime soon. Very disappointing. I wonder if anyone will read this. Wrong info given or not catered for.
Ask to speak Team Leader was not able to.
P&O Pacific Eden was pretty disappointing re wheelchair accessible cabins. Only 2 on board in the most undesirable location on the ship - Deck 4, at the very front of the ship, a very long way from the lifts and dining areas. Not only that but the location ensures that the guest had a very uncomfortable and rough cruise with the constant rocking and yawing - very hard to transfer to and from the wheelchair when you are being thrown all over the place. Furthermore, the bed was positioned so that there was no way to move a wheelchair along side - we had to transfer to the foot of the bed and push/pull/ wriggle up the bed. The passage ways were extremely narrow and most of the time were cluttered up with cleaning trolleys which made wheelchair access almost impossible. The lifts were very small and we only just managed to squeeze on sideways with the wheelchair. Also there are around only 5 public wheelchair accessible toilets on the ship on various decks but they are either mens or womens - not unisex - which makes it difficult if the carer is of a different gender and you require assistance. P&O have sold Pacific Eden and she will go to her new owners at the end of March 2019.