Finnjet

I am extremely pleased with the information I received today, and I think the “transfer shower” will work for me. I asked them to place a hold on my signature suite until we receive additional photos to confirm the suitability of the shower. They did so. The access and compliance department was apparently blindsided by these changes as well. The Noordam is the first Vista Class ship to receive the new shower stall. The others will follow. I’ve attached additional photos provided to me late this afternoon.

I spoke with HAL access and compliance this morning to get more information. The term they are using is "transfer shower." Essentially, they are replacing the open-style roll-in shower in suites with a shower stall that includes a transfer bench. The first photo I've attached is from the Noordam, after drydock, and depicts the new "transfer shower." This photo is from a suite on Deck 8. The other photo is from a Seaborne ship and depicts a  similar "transfer shower." The change is being made across all Carnival-owned brands.

HAL access and compliance is going to send me additional photos soon. This new shower may very well work for me, so long as there is no lip to enter. The initial description I received yesterday was very inaccurate,  so HAL has some work to do in terms of conveying information to its guests. I was very pleased with my conversations with access and compliance and hope to have more info soon.

53 minutes ago, I like vacation said:

 

Not quite sure that the Americans with Disabilities Act is enforceable on a ship that is registered in the Netherlands.  

The ADA most definitely is enforceable. The Supreme Court decision on this point noted that ships that call on an American port are required to comply with the ADA. The Noordam most definitely calls on American ports. Also, I was told that this was done to improve compliance with the ADA by adding more accessible cabins. But, while they may have added more accessible cabins, they have eliminated roll-in showers in this particular instance and provided a “transfer seat.“

I was told that the retrofit to the suites was being done to IMPROVE overall accessibility and ADA compliance by adding more accessible suites. But, for people like me who NEED a roll-in shower, the retrofit has had the opposite effect. Really frustrating, especially considering that the Vistas are the newest, and thus most accessible, ships on this particular cruise. 

5 minutes ago, SumoCitrus said:

Was this ship recently in drydock?

Yes, after the 2019 Alaska season.

Received a call this morning from HAL, informing me that the "accessibility features" of my wheelchair-accessible Signature Suite have changed for our February sailing on Noordam in Australia/New Zealand. They are removing the roll-in shower (which I require) and replacing it with a transfer seat (which I cannot use). I was told that no Vista Class ships will have suites with roll-in showers. I was re-accommodated to a VB category stateroom. Needless to say, we are extremely disappointed - we will never be able to sail in a suite on a Vista Class ship. Just wanted to pass this along to those requiring such a stateroom.  

I think you may be better asking your questions on the destination forums for each city in Tripadvisor or the local tourist office for each town.

This forum is just one place where I have posed these questions. Thank you.

I will be arriving in La Coruna in a couple of weeks and plan to take the train to Santiago de Compostela. I am a full-time wheelchair user and cannot transfer into a taxi easily, so I prefer to rely on buses, trams and trains. My questions:

1. I know it is too far to walk to the La Coruna train station from the port area. I would like to take the bus. Can someone please confirm:

(a) the location of the bus stop that is closest to the port,

(b) the correct bus line(s) to/from the La Coruna train station,

© whether La Coruna buses are wheelchair-accessible, and

(d) the name of the La Coruna train station that services Santiago.

2. I know it is too far to walk from the Santiago train station to the city center where the cathedral is located. Can someone please confirm:

(a) the location of the Santiago bus stop closest to the train station,

(b) the correct bus line(s) to/from the Santiago city center,

© whether Santiago buses are wheelchair-accessible, and

(d) the name of the Santiago train station.

I have researched as much as I can on the Internet and have some answers but need confirmation from someone with first-hand knowledge. Thanks in advance.

Does anyone know if the shuttle bus provided by the port is wheelchair accessible?

Did you notice if the shuttle was wheelchair accessible? That is, did it have a ramp or lift? Also, does the shuttle take you to the city center? Is there a stop at the train station?