Mobility Policy

A limited number of cabins on each ship have been adapted to facilitate more comfortable occupation for such guests. These cabins are designed to have wide thresholds to facilitate the acceptance of a wheelchair or scooter.

We must stress that these rooms have been modified based on original specifications as opposed to purpose built, and consequently may still pose difficulties to those guests fully reliant upon a wheelchair.

For all adapted cabins, there are no handrails in the main room area, only in the shower/WC. A rail is provided to assist with use of the WC and a fixed seat is provided in the shower. In effect the entire floor of your bathroom acts as the shower tray. Your dedicated Stewardess will naturally clean and dry the floor as required. Bed and toilet heights are relatively low, however, an additional mattress and/or raised toilet seat can be requested. All rooms have a telephone link with both the ship’s Guest Services and Medical Centre.

Guests are welcome to bring or privately hire additional equipment, such as hoists if required. With prior approval from F.OCL the delivery/collection and safe use of such equipment will be entirely the responsibility of the individual.

In addition to the Adapted Cabins available on our ships, many Non Adapted cabins will also be made available for guests using wheelchairs or scooters.

Guests with collapsible wheelchairs will be able to book most Non Adapted Cabins on board; guests with non-collapsible wheelchairs will only be permitted to book an Adapted Cabin, or a cabin with space for non-collapsible wheelchairs. Please speak to our Reservations Team for more information.

For guests bringing scooters on board, the following applies:

Balmoral – Non-collapsible scooters over 56cm wide will only be permitted in fully adapted rooms. Collapsible scooters will be permitted in every room on board.

Bolette & Borealis - Standard cabins on Bolette and Borealis are only suitable for guests using a collapsible mobility aid. Any guests travelling with a non-collapsible mobility aid will need to be booked into an accessible cabin (or Premier/Olsen Suite).

Please speak to our Reservations Team if you require more information.

All mobility devices must be stored within the guest’s cabin on board. Guests will not be permitted to leave their mobility devices in corridors and stairwells where they can pose an obstruction and potential safety hazard in the event of an emergency. 

Owing to health and safety regulations, wheelchairs and scooters weighing in excess of 25kg cannot be taken ashore in any port of call, unless there's access via an air-bridge or the mobility device can be dismantled*. Each individual component of the mobility device must not weigh more than 25kg. 

In line with SOLAS regulations, wheelchairs must not be left unattended at anytime in public areas and/or corridors. The maximum width permitted for non-collapsible mobility devices is 56cm. 

*Please note: the process of dismantling/reassembling the mobility device must be carried out by the guest.

In general, and particularly on guest accommodation decks, wheelchair users will encounter shallow gradient ramps and shallow risers as a result of the vessel’s construction and location of fire and water tight doors. Similarly, public areas and Promenade Decks are accessed via shallow ramps or a gradual slope. Subject to the vessel's superstructure, not all doors leading on to open deck areas will be suitable for wheelchair users. Our on board teams will be happy to offer advice on the most practical exit/entrance for you.

Whilst all vessels have lifts on board, please bear in mind that most doors leading to outside decks are non-automated and to serve their purpose are very heavy and could not be negotiated by a wheelchair/scooter user unless accompanied by an able-bodied companion.

Where the use of shuttle buses are in operation to transport guests to/from the local area, guests must be able to safely embark and disembark the vehicle provided without assistance. Fred. Olsen Cruise lines are unable to provide specially adapted vehicles for use as shuttle buses.

Regrettably, owing to the non-availability of either an overhead air-bridge or sloped gangway in certain overseas ports we are physically restricted from getting guests fully confined to their wheelchair on and off the ships. In these ports the guest must be able to manage a stepped gangway with the minimal of assistance from either a crew member or their suitably able bodied travelling companion. The angle of gangway is subject to the tidal conditions. Please ask at the time of booking if you have any concerns about getting on and off our vessels.

Where the use of shuttle buses are in operation to transport guests to/from the local area, guests must be able to safely embark and disembark the vehicle provided without assistance. Fred. Olsen Cruise lines are unable to provide specially adapted vehicles for use as shuttle buses.

At times where we cannot be allocated a physical berth in a port we may have to anchor off and utilise a ship to shore tender service. We regret that on safety grounds wheelchair confined guests will be unable to go ashore. Please note that on these occasions there may be up to 24 steps down to the tender platform. Fully collapsible wheelchairs can be carried on board a tender, but the guest in question must be able to board the tender with the minimum of assistance. Whereas tender ports are generally known in advance of arrival and as detailed in both our brochure and here on our website, unforeseen circumstances on the day may necessitate such a service should the original berth become unavailable for whatever reason.

Unless able to climb the steps of a coach, it will not be possible to participate in the programme of organised shore excursions we offer for sale on board. This includes tours with minimal walking involved at destination. We also cannot guarantee easy wheelchair access to all attractions visited on shore tours, or access to shuttle buses provided by either Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines or the local port authority.

Please contact our Shore Tours Department should you wish to explore private tour arrangements with suitable transport.

As with mobility impaired guests we would strongly recommend guests are accompanied by an able-bodied companion to assist them both on board and ashore.

If you have a hearing impairment and are unable to hear alarms/announcements a portable kit can be requested for your cabin. This includes a wireless doorbell, optical smoke alarm, flashing strobe light and vibrating pillow pad. Infra-red hearing loops are fitted on all vessels, with headsets available from Guest Services, for use in the main ‘Neptune Lounge’, please note that this headset system is not suitable for people who wear permanently inserted hearing devices. In the event of an emergency our specifically trained and assigned crew will come directly to your cabin. Please advise us of any serious hearing impairments in advance.

Guests in wheelchairs who are unable to board transfer vehicles for fly-cruises and require a private car for transfers to/from the vessel will not incur any additional costs for their adapted transfer. However, any guests accompanying wheelchair users on private transfers will need to pay extra. The cost for accompanying guests varies depending on destination and availability, therefore guests will receive a bespoke quote for this service. 

We are committed to ensuring that all our guests are able to make the most of their experience on board and our crew make efforts to assist guests as much as they can. Fred. Olsen’s three ships conform to the latest health and safety legislation and regulations under the Flag of Registry of the ship, and in accordance with the IMO (International Maritime Organization) convention to ensure Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS).

Under SOLAS Regulations, for guests reliant on, or registered to take, a wheelchair on board a Fred. Olsen ship, we have Care Teams on board who are on hand 24 hours a day to assist guests who require assistance in the event of an emergency. These crew members will go to the guest cabin immediately in the event of an incident and will oversee the evacuation of the guest. If an emergency occurs during the day on board the ship, wheelchair guests will be assisted from their respective locations, which are likely to be in the visible public areas of the ship.

All crew members specifically assigned to assist guests with wheelchairs are fully trained for this purpose.