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Boston Globe
8 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Are cruises accessible? A wheelchair user with 40-plus cruises under her belt weighs in.
Is that cruise ship friendly to mobility-challenged guests? Sylvia Longmire is happy to share her opinions on the good and bad features she's discovered onboard. Courtesy photo Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Love me tender? Not so much. Notice she says, 'If you get lucky.' Tendering (where passengers are transported from the cruise ship to the shore using smaller 'tender' boats, when the ship cannot dock directly at the port) can be a challenge, the cruise veteran says. 'I cruise a lot with Celebrity Cruises, and all of their Edge class ships have accessible tendering with the magic carpet,' a cantilevered, floating platform that extends from the side of the ship, making it easier for guests to embark and disembark. 'But I've had nightmare scenarios with other cruise lines when I've been picked up and carried in my chair from the ship's platform to the tender while the boat was bobbing up and down due to choppy seas. I thought I'd have a heart attack!' Advertisement Thus, Longmire recommends that wheelchair users choose itineraries where ships are docked at ports of call, or simply be OK with skipping a tender port. 'I've done this plenty of times. I always hit the spa while the ship is empty!' You've got the ship to yourself while everyone else is in port — not a bad thing. How accessible is it? As for the ships themselves: Modern cruise ships on major cruise lines follow the guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessible staterooms are typically oversize, with wider doors, lower counters, roll-in showers, and grab bars alongside toilets, Longmire notes. Balconies are usually accessible too. Public spaces, including dining rooms and theaters, have room to accommodate wheelchair and scooter users. The larger, newer ships are the best option when it comes to accessibility, but the cruise line you choose is also important. 'You're going to get a fairly standard accessibility situation with US-based cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, Princess, Disney, and so on,' Longmire says, but 'my worst cruise-ship nightmares have been aboard the newer MSC ships.' Very few of the doors in the MSC Seascape's public areas are automatic, she notes, and the elevator system was unreliable. In addition, she discovered that MSC's private island, Ocean Cay, was not accessible. 'There are no beach mats for wheelchairs, and no access to food or beverages because it's all in the middle of the sand (and thus not navigable for wheelchairs). The shuttle is not accessible, so you have to rely on your own battery power or manual power to get around the island,' Longmire says. Advertisement Sylvia Longmire is a full-time wheelchair user and accessible travel expert at Courtesy photo Also disappointing from an accessibility standpoint: Princess Cruises' Sun Princess. 'The medallion system was great for unlocking my stateroom door, but there was no automatic door opener,' she says. On some decks, there was a double-door system to reach outdoor spaces. 'One door would be touchless/automatic to open, but the next set of doors were manual and heavy. It made no sense at all,' Longmire says. 'They also didn't have one single lowered table in the casino (to accommodate a wheelchair), and I really wanted to give them my money for blackjack.' Longmire has shared her concerns with the cruise companies. The Globe reached out to both cruise lines, but neither responded by press time. That said, a few cruise lines have won her heart. 'My absolute favorite is Virgin Voyages, with Celebrity Cruises a close second,' Longmire says. They both have all of the standard ADA accessibility features, but there's this: 'a general sense that they've thought of you and want to include you.' It's not surprising that Celebrity embraces this group, since their demographic skews older, so they have plenty of passengers who rely on mobility devices, she says. 'Virgin has a younger demographic, but an extremely inclusive business culture, so they want everyone to have fun.' Examples include accessible karaoke spaces, pool lifts on their ships and on their private beaches, lower tables in the casinos, and designated spaces for wheelchair users all over the ships, she notes. Disney was also great for accessibility, 'but I only cruised with them once when my sons were younger,' Longmire says. Advertisement Take me to the river We suspected that river cruises would be a no-go for this group, given that many lines are European-owned, and therefore not subject to ADA requirements. Plus, river boats are often stacked up next to each other, so you need to walk through one vessel to get to another, and so on, before you finally hit pavement. But if you're pining for a river trip, Longmire has a recommendation: the Vakantieschip Prins Willem Alexander ( Accessible travel blogger/expert Sylvia Longmire has been a full-time wheelchair user for 10 years. She travels extensively, and shares the ins and outs of accessible travel online and in her travel guidebooks. Courtesy photo The kindness of strangers Forty cruises! That's a lot of safety drills and champagne toasts. What has surprised Longmire the most on these journeys? The kindness and grace she's received from local people. 'I'm astonished at the length locals will go to make sure you can experience as much as possible with a disability,' she says. 'Given that tour operators and residents deal with thousands of cruise passengers being dumped in their neighborhood every day, they're all about hospitality,' she says, and proudly share their culture and history with a stranger who might not otherwise be able to enjoy it. 'I can't tell you how many times I've been picked up and carried, both in and out of my wheelchair, just so I can experience something awesome in a foreign port.' Advertisement As for the cruise lines, they could do better when it comes to making passengers with mobility challenges feel welcome, Longmire says. 'When was the last time you saw a TV commercial for a cruise line that included a wheelchair user? I've been doing this for a very long time, and I never have. And that makes no sense whatsoever because every time you go on a cruise, you're going to see dozens of people using wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers. 'People with disabilities spend $50 billion on travel in the US, so I don't understand why cruise lines and the rest of the hospitality sector aren't more aggressively marketing directly to us.' They also haven't recognized the powerful peer-to-peer social media groups — many on Facebook — that focus on accessible travel. 'Cruise lines need to tap into the community and make us feel more seen and desired as future passengers.' 'Everything You Need to Know about Wheelchair Accessible Cruising' is available at Connect with Longmire at Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrity Cruises cancels sailing; Carnival opens Celebration Key
Celebrity Cruises cancels sailing; Carnival opens Celebration Key originally appeared on TravelHost. Just a couple of weeks after a fire on board Celebrity Infinity derailed a bucket-list cruise through Greece, another Celebrity Cruises ship has been struck by technical difficulties. This time, the mechanical problems led the cruise line to cancel the ship's next sailing just hours before passengers were set to board — leaving them stranded in the embarkation port and scrambling to save their incidents like this are rare in the cruise industry, they're becoming unusually common this summer, and not just among Celebrity Cruises ships. Two ships from sister cruise line Royal Caribbean recently faced propulsion problems that delayed their voyages, as did Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess. Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Star even lost power and had to be towed back to port. While passengers on board some of the impacted cruises had some disappointing changes to their cruise itinerary as a result of their ship's propulsion problems, Celebrity Cruises passengers have been the most negatively affected by recent cruise ship technical troubles. Doug Parker shared more details on the latest Celebrity Cruises failed voyage, and other cruise news, including the grand opening of Celebration Key – Carnival's new exclusive destination, on the July 21 edition of Cruise News Cruises ship unable to set sail on cruise from Miami Transcript: This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Monday, July 21st. Stuck in Miami, yeah, Celebrity Cruises has canceled the Celebrity Beyond sailing that was scheduled to depart from Port Miami yesterday. The move comes after a propulsion failure over the weekend, which delayed the ship's return to PortMiami and then left it reportedly running on just a single propeller. Passengers were first told Saturday about a delayed embarkation, but by Sunday the cruise was scrapped Cruises said in a statement, quote: 'During our previous voyage, the ship experienced a technical issue that affected its speed. While our teams have been working diligently, we need additional time to complete necessary assessment and repairs.' It went on to say, 'After carefully considering all options, we've made the difficult decision to cancel the July 20th sailing. Guests will receive full refunds, future cruise credit and reimbursement for travel costs.' This incident follows a wave of mechanical problems across the cruise industry, including another Celebrity ship that was stuck in Turkey a couple of weeks ago, and Norwegian Star, which was towed back to New York City shortly after leaving about a week Cruise Line's Celebration Key is now open Three, two, one. Yeah, Carnival officially opened Celebration Key on Saturday, its brand-new destination on Grand Bahama Island. Now, Carnival Vista made the first call with its guests experiencing the world's tallest sandcastle, the Caribbean's largest freshwater lagoon, and the largest swim up bar Key features five portals — or zoned areas, over 30 drink and food venues, and more than a mile of white sand beach. It's expected to host two million guests annually, growing to four million by 2028. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas heads to Spain for finishing touches And Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas has officially left the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The second in the line's Icon Class was delivered on July 10th and began her journey to Spain on July 17th. Once outfitting is complete, Star of the Seas will head to Florida for a series of short cruises in August before launching regular seven-night sailings from Port Canaveral starting August cruise line stocks were mixed on Friday. Carnival Corporation: up slightly, 29.55. Royal Caribbean: up half percent, 350.10. Norwegian: flat, 23.59. And Viking: up one and a half percent, 58.33. If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@ Have yourself a great Monday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Time Out
23-07-2025
- Time Out
Ditch the cruise control: four fresh ways to shake up your next sailing
There's so much value in a cruise vacation that it's no surprise millions of Americans choose these types of trips. Your cruise fare typically includes your cruise cabin, most food venues, entertainment and onboard activities—including the pool deck, fitness center, and amenities like sports courts. But, if you keep sailing the same itineraries and cruise lines, you could miss the boat—literally. Instead, consider trying something different for your next voyage at sea. Here are some suggestions to inspire new cruise ideas. Plot a new course If your cruise goal is to sail to the tropics and immerse yourself in the sun and surf, there are ample great choices out there. And you are likely to have a favorite line because you feel you know what to expect from a particular cruise line, but don't let that keep you in a cruise rut. If you're a fan of beaches and crystal-blue water, think about visiting a port in the Caribbean you haven't already been to. Some cruise ships have varying itineraries, so a bit of research on your end can facilitate a visit to a new island stop. For example, there are Southern Caribbean itineraries on Celebrity Cruises that visit Aruba, Antigua, Barbados, Bonaire, and Curacao. These ports could be new ones you haven't experienced. Sail into a new season If your cruise plans are to escape the winter season and visit sunny and warm destinations, you could be repeating the same trip every year. If you are a fan of cruising due to its ease of travel, consider swapping the time of year for your next cruise. For example, consider a summer cruise to Alaska or Iceland. Many of these high-demand sailings book up a year in advance, so consider booking your stateroom for next summer now. Winning picks include Crystal Cruises to majestic Alaska and Viking Ocean in Iceland, which offers an Iceland's Natural Beauty itinerary featuring an included shore excursion in each port. Think beyond the buffet There's no shortage of food on cruise ships, and that's what makes a cruise so much fun and value-based. These impressive buffets serve breakfast, lunch and dinner—and sometimes bonus meals—to guests and the menu and selections are well-curated and bountiful. Additionally, your ship's main dining rooms offer sit-down table service, changing menus and attentive staff that make you feel like you're truly on vacation. Additionally, some cruise lines offer included themed venues and poolside grills, as well as additional complimentary options. Consider elevating your dining experience. Most cruise lines now offer specialty dining restaurants that elevate your cruise experience. These will come at a cost. During your next cruise, it could be a treat to pay extra for a visit to a specialty venue or two for gourmet meals or top-tier service. My favorite specialty dining picks include Cagney's Steakhouse on Norwegian Cruise Line, Eden Restaurant on Celebrity Cruises and Pinnacle Grill on Holland American Line. Splurge on a specialty dining venue on your next cruise, you'll be glad you did. Trade sea views for river vibes Whether you enjoy the unpack-once convenience of a cruise or the concept of using a cruise ship as your floating hotel, you can expand your vacation options by trying a new mode of cruise travel. For example, river cruise vacations can open new sailing opportunities. For example, river cruise itineraries sail on calm rivers in Europe, offering city-based excursions that provide up-close culture, history, and culinary immersion. Viking River Cruise offers several good choices in the Danube, Rhine and other rivers. Other river cruise carriers, such as Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, offer themed cruises, including Christmas Market sailings to various European cities. Standout choices on Uniworld include the Belgian Holiday Markets and Magical Parisian Holiday, which offer cruise guests the gift of visiting various Christmas markets to experience the enchanting holiday season abroad.
IOL News
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Cruising in style: Sorisha Naidoo's family voyage through Europe's hidden gems
Sorish Naidoo with her husband Vivian Reddy and their two children, Saihil and Kalina. Image: Instagram. Reality star and businesswoman Sorisha Naidoo, known for her role in "The Real Housewives of Durban", has taken to the waves for an enchanting European holiday alongside her husband, Vivian Reddy and their two children, Saihil and Kalina. The family set sail with award-winning cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, and their journey has been nothing short of spectacular. Documenting their unforgettable trip through a series of vlogs on her social media platforms, Naidoo has given her followers a front-row seat to their adventures. From luxurious days at sea filled with yoga classes and artistic glass sessions aboard the cruise ship, to explorations of historic destinations on port days. "Day one on the cruise, we boarded and watched the ship sail away ... Lots to do on the Celebrity Cruise ship, and I think for me it was about the yoga classes, the hot glass sessions, but we decided to take it easy into the night and have a little bit of sushi ... "Our first port day, we got to go to Pompeii. We saw tons of things," said Naidoo during the video. As the ship made its first port stop in Pompeii, the family was eager to embark on their exploration. The vlogs reveal Naidoo and her family experiencing the enchanting ruins of this ancient city, where history and architecture intertwine beautifully. "There's probably a million tourists at this time that we're here, so everything is packed," she continued. In a separate vlog about their excursion to the iconic Tower of Pisa, Naidoo expressed her admiration for historical structures. About a beautiful ancient church, she said: "It is so gorgeous, the attention for detail is incredible, why don't we build things like this now. I want to see more buildings like this. "I'm so tired of these glass fronts. These modern, boring, no imagination buildings, I think we need to go back in time. We need to step it up ... It's so detailed, it's unbelievable." Offering practical advice for fellow travellers, Naidoo advised to 'hold tight to your bag and keep your belongings safe,' while noting the hot Italian sun during this season. Her choice of attire, a lightweight linen ensemble, was both stylish and practical, keeping her comfortable as they explored stunning cities filled with charm and history. 'When you're going out to Italy or Europe in the prime of summer, linen is the way to go,' she recommended. Culinary experiences were also a highlight of their trip, as Naidoo described every dining experience as 'pure bliss". From fine dining aboard the cruise to sampling delectable local cuisine ashore, the family indulged in the flavours of Italy, making the most of their time together.
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Travel + Leisure
22-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Greece Just Added New Fees for Travelers Visiting Its Most Popular Islands—What to Know
Cruise passengers in Greece will now pay a 'tourist tax' of up to €20 ($23.41). The new policy was first reported by European media outlets. Exploring popular Greek islands just got more expensive for cruise passengers. That's because the Greek government is now charging a disembarkation fee for travelers heading to the country's islands. Cruise passengers to the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos are now responsible for a €20 ($23.41) fee, while cruise travelers to all remaining islands—including Crete and Rhodes—will incur a €5 ($5.85) fee, according to EuroNews. These fees are in effect through Sept. 30. After that, the fee will drop to €12 ($14.07) for Mykonos and Santorini and €3 ($3.52) for all other ports in October and from April 1 through May 31. Several cruise lines either did not respond to requests for comment from Travel + Leisure on how the fee would be paid or directed this reporter to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). A representative for CLIA also did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment. The Greek islands are among the most popular in the world for cruise passengers with several major cruise lines offering trips there, including Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Virgin Voyages. On Royal Caribbean, for example, travelers can book packages like the "Ultimate Santorini Day" or a kayaking trip to explore the beauty of the island from the water. "Santorini is one of the world's most popular islands, known best for its dramatic scenery, whitewashed villages and fiery volcanic activity," Royal Caribbean wrote about the Greek island. "Here adventure bubbles above the Aegean Sea in the most bold and breathtaking ways." The new fees are being implemented with the hope it may help manage overcrowding, which is especially prevalent on the islands. Last year, more than 7.9 million cruise ship passengers arrived in Greece, according to data from the Hellenic Ports Association, a more than 13% increase compared to 2023. Greece is not alone in imposing fees on cruise ship passengers, a practice that has become somewhat of a new trend. Mexico, for example, implemented a new $5 fee on cruise ship passengers earlier this month. That fee will increase to as much as $21 per passenger by August 2028. Beyond cruises, several European destinations have also implemented tourism fees as a way to manage crowds and drive ancillary revenue. The Italian city of Venice, as an example, started charging as much as €10 ($11.73) per person for day trippers who do not have an overnight reservation.
