Laurac22

If you even have to ask, I have nothing more to say to you. One of these days you or someone you love may find out what it is to be disabled, and I think your views may change. I can tell you for sure my son would much rather sleep in a broom closet on a ship, than live his life in his wheelchair given the choice. I think my time with this blog is done...

I have no problem with a cruise line offering an accessible cabin after final payment if one is still available. I do not expect cruise lines to sit with open cabins and lose money. If they are offering these cabins before final payment then they are wrong in doing so.

Please go out and do a mock booking for the SAME CATAGORY cabins one regular and one accessible. They will be the same price. The accessible will not be more because of the larger cabin size. If able bodied persons are booking accessible cabins "because they want a larger cabin" (before final payment and they are opened to the general public), Then they are horribly selfish and should be ashamed!

I'm glad you got the answer to your question. It has taken me a while to figure out the category system as well. It is mainly based on location. I wish they had accessible cabins in every category so we could choose better how much we want to spend, but they don't, but like I said they have never charged me more for an accessible cabin as a standard cabin in the same category. I hope you have a fabulous cruise!!!

I'm sorry but you are incorrect on the cruise lines charging more for Accessible cabins just because of sq footage. The cost of an accessible cabin will be the same as any cabin in that same category. Thank goodness the Cruise lines don't have your same feelings on what is discrimination, or morally right. You may want to do a bit of research on this subject, here is a quote from DOT and PVGA on how they handle different categories of accessible cabins when the ones that are needed are not available. The Department recognizes that some existing vessels may not have accessible cabins in all classes of service. PVOs, (passenger vessel operators*) however, cannot properly impose costs on disabled passengers because vessels lack accessible cabins in some classes of service. If a passenger with a disability wants to travel in a less costly class of service, rather than a more expensive class, but the PVO has chosen to make adequate numbers of accessible cabins available only in more other expensive classes of service, the PVO must make accessible cabins available to passengers with disabilities at no more than the cost of the class of service the passenger requests. Under a nondiscrimination rule, disabled passengers, like all other passengers, should be able to purchase accommodations they can use at a price they are willing to pay." As well accessible cabins can not be at a higher price for the same class of cabin. An example of this non-discrimination rule is that on our next Allure sailing we wanted to sail in an accessible JS, as none (a year and a half out mind you) were available RCCL rules had to upgrade us to the accessible Crown Loft suite for the same price as the accessible JS. Yay! Given your feelings (or lack there of) on disabled needing to pay extra for the room they require, this probably doesn't sit well with you. But don't worry we won't be taking up space on the flow rider, zip line, skating rink, miniature golf, sports courts, rock climbing wall, even though we payed top dollar to sail just like everyone else. This should make the shareholders happy!

US ships are required to follow the ADA laws, however as we know most of these ships are considered foreign vessels. However the Passenger Vessels Accessibility Guidelines. (PVGA) set guidelines for new construction of ships, and set the "rules" for what cruise lines are doing, or not doing for disabled cruisers. Cost of accessible cabins has nothing to do with supply and demand, They do not increase the price of accessible cabins because there are not as many. I have never paid more for an accessible cabin than another cabin in the same category. They also do not charge more for square footage, (even though you seem to think they should) passengers in a wheelchair need extra space to do the same things you do everyday. Would you want to pay extra just to be able to walk through the threshold of your cabin? To the OP, what I think may be happening is you are seeing different category's of cabins... All OV balcony cabins are not created equal I would get with a good travel agent of call the cruise line directly and they should be able to help you. I have sailed exclusively in accessible cabins (my son requires a wheelchair) and it has taken years to figure out all the ins and outs of accessible cruising. If I can help you in any way I am happy to. Good luck!