Thomson Cruises Answers

Thankyou for your response, which was very useful. Am i right in thinking the disabled cabins are only 3 berth? There will be 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 children. May need 2 book 2 cabins. I did'nt notice any wheelchairs by the gangway, they were folded outside 2 cabins on deck 3 and also by one of the sofas in the public area by the lift on same deck. My daughter does not require use of a chair full time, just for occassional and distance use. Thanks again.

My mother is in the same mobility situation as your daughter - longer distances she needs her chair. The official line is that you can only use a wheelchair on board the ship if you have a disabled cabin - the reality is often/ occasionally as you saw- wheelchairs outside standard cabins etc - however if they enforce the policy and you need to use a chair on the ship you are stuck if you do not have a disabled cabin unless it is a known emergency need from an event arising on the cruise when I am sure the rule will be waived. There is no cost to taking your own wheelchair and it does not form part of the baggage allowance so why not take your own and leave it at the security at the gangway which is the Thomson official line and when / if you need it whilst on the cruise to use on shore then collect it as you leave the ship. As for the number of berths in the disabled cabin - I am not sure - I did not check as I only looked for other reasons - but there would be more than enough room for 4 but you would be best checking directly with Thomson. The doorways are wider and there is no lip/ step up in to the bathroom and the shower etc are disabled adapted. Note the cabins are 7023 and 7025 but they are exactly 50 % bigger than shown on the deck plan in the brochure. The circumstances in which you saw the Thomson Destiny wheelchairs are not known but it is likely to be that they were given to someone who had an emergency need - they do not provide them on a weekly rental basis. Whether they would lend you one just for a short trip ashore if they still have a couple available then you may find they would - but if they are needed or taken already then you are stuck. I seem to think they have about 3 of them from memory and I used to see them near the gangway - but if you saw them elsewhere they were obviously in use. My recommendation is to take your own as it costs nothing and if you pre book airport assistance ( free of charge but they need proof of disablement eg DLA etc ) with Thomson then your daughter can remain in her chair until the door of the aircraft if necessary or transfer to a chair at the airport and do likewise. Hope this helps but if not ask again !

Thankyou for your response. My daughter does not require use of a chair full time. She has mild brittle bones and only requires her chair when in recovery. Hopefully she will not need a chair whilst we are away. I just wanted to have a chair organised in case we needed it. Thanks again.

The comments regarding " no disabled cabins " on the Destiny is out of date as two were made on Promenade Deck - I have actually been in them as I looked at them for my mother's possible future use - the rest of this currently applies - however on occasions on the Destiny some people have managed to use a non disabled cabin and been allowed to keep their wheelchair and use it on the ship and not have it retained at the gangway. However this is not guaranteed and if the wheelchair is essential the risk is not one to take.