Where do we come from?
We already run a successful company and work with many disabled people. We also have lots of clients, partnerships, and friends within the disabled community. Our co-founder has experience working in the travel industry – having worked in insurance, she’s seen first-hand the difficulties disabled travellers face when on holiday.
By partnering with us, cruise lines can expect an increase in the number of disabled travellers choosing their cruises, driven by the confidence that the ship is certified and tested for accessibility by real users.
Ships and will be assessed based on a detailed scoring system, covering accessibility for various needs such as blindness, deafness, mobility impairments, and neurodivergences.
Individuals with each type of access need will be sent on the cruise to evaluate aspects like cabins, pool facilities, restaurants, and excursions.
Each evaluator will submit a detailed report, which will be collated into a comprehensive document shared with the cruise line.
Each ship will receive a score out of 100, with individual scores for each type of access need.
We will work closely with the cruise line to suggest improvements and help increase their accessibility score.
Ships will need to be re-certified annually to ensure ongoing compliance with accessibility standards. Early reassessment can be requested if the cruise line have worked on their score and wish for an updated evaluation
Incorporating feedback from disabled guests who are travelling/have already travelled on the cruise for a more comprehensive assessment. This could be a Q&A/feedback session in one of the theatres, as well as our ambassadors being available around the ship for guests to come and talk to.
Initially, we will cover one ship, assessing it from the perspectives of a wheelchair user, a neurodivergent individual, someone with vision impairment, and someone with severe hearing loss. This pilot will help establish the framework and demonstrate the value of our certification process.
Disabilities can manifest in various forms, each impacting individuals in unique ways. Broadly, there are seven primary types of disabilities, and the experiences of adults can differ significantly from those of children. We recommend assessing each ship from both perspectives, as understanding these distinctions is crucial for creating inclusive and accessible environments where people of all ages can enjoy their holiday.
Impairments that affect the body’s physical capacity to function, such as amputation, paralysis, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.
Impairments related to one or more of the senses like blindness, low vision, deafness, and hard of hearing.
Impairments characterised by limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour such as down syndrome and developmental delays.
Conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior. Things like depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Impairments that affect how a person understands, remembers, and responds to information. This includes dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, and ADHD.
Disorders of the nervous system that impact movement, learning, or other functions, such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury.
Long-term health conditions that can limit a person’s ability to perform daily activities, including things like diabetes, IBD, HIV/AIDS, and ME/CFS.
At Disabilities At Sea, we believe in creating mutually beneficial partnerships with cruise lines to enhance the accessibility of cruising for all passengers. Our collaboration is designed to provide comprehensive support and significant value to our partners. Here’s how we can work together
The cruise line will cover the cost of the cruise for our evaluators. This includes providing cabins, onboard spending money, free meals, WiFi, and access to paid facilities. Covering these costs ensures that our evaluators can thoroughly assess all aspects of the cruise experience without any limitations.
In addition to covering the cruise costs, the cruise line will pay an assessment fee, which includes a base fee and per evaluator fee. This fee covers the preparation, execution, and reporting of the accessibility assessment.
For any additional customisation options requested by the cruise line, an additional fee will be applied. Ships will also undergo annual re-certification at a discounted rate to maintain their accessibility standards.
After each cruise, we will provide a comprehensive report detailing the accessibility of various aspects of the ship, along with actionable recommendations for improvements.
Ships that meet our standards will receive an official certification from Disabilities At Sea, highlighting their commitment to accessibility. This includes various digital assets for use by the cruise line across their platforms.
We will promote certified accessible cruises on our website and social media platforms, helping to attract a wider audience from the disabled community. We will also work with travel agents and support groups, ensuring that more potential customers are aware of the accessible options available to them.
Customisable assessment criteria to focus on specific areas of interest or concern for the cruise line. For example, anything you view as your USP can be focused on.
Per ship assessment
Per evaluator (assuming 4 evaluators, this totals £8,000).
Per carer (assuming 4 carers, this totals £4,000)
Additional per customised report or specific requirements
Per ship, plus Evaluator and Carer fees
More than 1 cabin may be required for some ambassadors to travel with their carer(s). Evaluators may request to bring their children, in which case they will pay a subsidised fee
10% discount for 3-5 ships
15% discount for 6-10 ships
20% discount for 11+ ships.
By investing in an accessibility certification, cruise lines can attract more disabled travellers, which can significantly boost revenue. For instance, just 1 additional customer per month spending £1,850 (the average spend for a 1 week cruise) would cover the certification cost, making it a profitable and socially responsible investment.
Per ship assessment
4 evaluators x £2,000 each
4 carers x £1,000 each
More than 1 cabin may be required for some ambassadors to travel with their carer(s). Evaluators may request to bring their children, in which case they will pay a subsidised fee
your first ship put through our Pilot Program
