Accessible pools?

[DRS/NC]

I'm considering booking a fall cruise on Celebrity. I've only cruised on X once & that was 20+ yrs. ago.  Now I have somewhat limited mobility & certainly can't climb in/out of pools that have only ladders.  I need steps!

 

Are Celebrity pools Handicapped Accessible?  What's your experience?

Yes, I'm also posting this on the Disabled forum.

 

Thanks!

 

[chemmo]

Just now, DRS/NC said:

I'm considering booking a fall cruise on Celebrity. I've only cruised on X once & that was 20+ yrs. ago.  Now I have somewhat limited mobility & certainly can't climb in/out of pools that have only ladders.  I need steps!

 

Are Celebrity pools Handicapped Accessible?  What's your experience?

Yes, I'm also posting this on the Disabled forum.

 

Thanks!

 

on S and M class I think the indoor pools have steps.
 

On Eclipse, S class ship, there is a ‘ducking stool’ which enabled me to enjoy the solarium pool post surgery. Staff were fantastic, always ready to help me to access and help me get out again. I suggest you name the ship you are looking at then contributors can offer ship specific information.

[39august]

I have seen the "ducking stool" referred to above in the Solariium on Equinox as well. 

[Essiesmom]

I’ve seen the ducking stool on M class covered pool.  EM

[Jim_Iain]

On all of the ships I've seen ADA compliant lifts for at least some of the Hot Tubs as well as ones for both pool and Spa. 

 

Also at least on M-Class they have gentle stairs which may also work for you as you indicated a ladder was the problem.   The spa also have gentle stairs (far right)

 

 

Edited February 19, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Iriel]

I'm told the Infinity has a lift in a hot tub. I hope it's like in the second pic, which I guess works both for the hot but and the pool.

[Jim_Iain]

7 minutes ago, Iriel said:

I'm told the Infinity has a lift in a hot tub. I hope it's like in the second pic, which I guess works both for the hot but and the pool.

 

I think the use the same chair fleet wide.   I've seen the same chair at the Retreat Sun Deck on both M and S Class post revolution.    Celebrity does a good job of making the ship and facilities accessible.

[Iriel]

13 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I think the use the same chair fleet wide.   I've seen the same chair at the Retreat Sun Deck on both M and S Class post revolution.    Celebrity does a good job of making the ship and facilities accessible.

 

That's good to know! I'll be sailing Infinity on Saturday, so I'll find out soon 🤣

[Jim_Iain]

3 minutes ago, Iriel said:

 

That's good to know! I'll be sailing Infinity on Saturday, so I'll find out soon 🤣

 

Here's a picture from Infinity from Cruise Deck Plans

 

They also have the same chair for the pool and spa on Infinity

 

Spa -

Good Picture of stairs in spa

 

Couldn't find a picture with one for the spa pool.   But gut feel there's one there.

 

[Iriel]

2 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Here's a picture from Infinity from Cruise Deck Plans

 

They also have the same chair for the pool and spa on Infinity

 

Spa -

Good Picture of stairs in spa

 

Couldn't find a picture with one for the spa pool.   But gut feel there's one there.

 

 

Thank you so much for these pics! They're very helpful!

[DRS/NC]

Many, many thanks for your responses & esp. the pictures!  The pools look inviting & useful for me!  I may come back to X!

 

[DarwinMaya]

Was on Celebrity Constellation in March and the "ducking chair" was not working at the outdoor pool.  If it did, it would put the handicapped person in the pool that is all over 6 feet deep and over one's head.  Could not get into the outdoor pool because there's a 10 inch deep underwater ledge around the whole periphery of the pool with no handrails to walk across it for the mobility impaired.  Best to check with the cruise lline

[chemmo]

29 minutes ago, DarwinMaya said:

Was on Celebrity Constellation in March and the "ducking chair" was not working at the outdoor pool.  If it did, it would put the handicapped person in the pool that is all over 6 feet deep and over one's head.  Could not get into the outdoor pool because there's a 10 inch deep underwater ledge around the whole periphery of the pool with no handrails to walk across it for the mobility impaired.  Best to check with the cruise lline

Did you check at the Solarium Pool?

[TJ O'Pootertoot]

I'm sailing on Equinox in the winter and we looked into this: there doesn't seem to be a chair lift at the outdoor pool but there definitely is one in the solarium.

 

I don't know if this is standard across M class.

[Marie51]

Going on Beyond soon and concerned about the solarium pool. From pictures I see only ladders and no steps. Can anyone verify this. Thanks

[DarwinMaya]

1 hour ago, chemmo said:

Did you check at the Solarium Pool?

There was a "ducking chair" at the Solarium into one of the hot tubs but I don't recall one into the pool itself.  I could have missed it because, in March, I had just had a knee replacement and was able, with some effort, to get into the Solarium pool by going up about 6 steps and then down a few more into the pool because there were handrails on both sides of the steps.  Since then, I've also had a hip fracture and am not as good at steps.  Perhaps someone else knows about a chair into the Solarium pool?  

 

In honesty, for some of us who are a bit shy, getting into the "ducking chair" and needing so much assistance into and out the pool is somewhat embarrassing.  Would be so nice to have some self-accessible way into the pools for those who have mobility issues but who are not wheelchair bound.  The Constellation's clientele are mostly 65+ and many have walkers, rollators, scooters or canes.  We don't need to be put in a chair and dunked but would love some basic access to the pools. The 10 inch deep underwater shelves around the outdoor pools are a real detriment with no way to cross them because there are no handrails and the shelves are water-covered and slippery. 

 

[chemmo]

3 hours ago, DarwinMaya said:

There was a "ducking chair" at the Solarium into one of the hot tubs but I don't recall one into the pool itself.  I could have missed it because, in March, I had just had a knee replacement and was able, with some effort, to get into the Solarium pool by going up about 6 steps and then down a few more into the pool because there were handrails on both sides of the steps.  Since then, I've also had a hip fracture and am not as good at steps.  Perhaps someone else knows about a chair into the Solarium pool?  

 

In honesty, for some of us who are a bit shy, getting into the "ducking chair" and needing so much assistance into and out the pool is somewhat embarrassing.  Would be so nice to have some self-accessible way into the pools for those who have mobility issues but who are not wheelchair bound.  The Constellation's clientele are mostly 65+ and many have walkers, rollators, scooters or canes.  We don't need to be put in a chair and dunked but would love some basic access to the pools. The 10 inch deep underwater shelves around the outdoor pools are a real detriment with no way to cross them because there are no handrails and the shelves are water-covered and slippery. 

 

I cruised some years ago with an orthopaedic boot (none weight bearing) but with the permission of my physio to take off the boot and use the pool. The staff were fantastic. After letting the pool attendant know first day that I would need the ducking stool to get in and out they were always looking out for me. Once they had me in one or other would as they crisscrossed the area doing the rest of their jobs would keep an eye on me and as I was ready to get out they were there!

 

I do understand what you are saying about not wanting to use the chair but there is a point where quite simply limited mobility and trying to use standard entrances and exits to pools is dangerous. My mobility can still a bit suspect and if it is when I cruise I would rather keep to the side of caution and use the stool rather than risk a fracture. For many older guests walking on the straight, dry and flat is fine but the perimeter of a pool offers none of these things, it is, by its nature, a hazard….choosing to use the stool is a positive not a negative choice.

[hcat]

On 2/19/2023 at 1:13 PM, Iriel said:

 

Thank you so much for these pics! They're very helpful!

Jim Lain..great job,  Gentle Stairs with rails is a good way to describe.

Use of the chairs can be a drawn out process,  needing extra staff and clearance esp in hot tubs,,  But if not in a rush..we have seen it work more than once