Cruise into summer vacation with these travel tips

Planning your cruise

When planning their cruise, elder adults should consider booking a room close to an area of the ship that they anticipate using most, such as the dining room or pool area, to minimize the amount they need to walk. Many ships also offer accessible staterooms with wider doors, walk-in showers, grab bars and other accommodations. If needed, elders should request these accommodations when booking.

“If elders have specific needs, they should discuss these with cruise staff prior to booking to ensure they can be accommodated. Elders traveling with family members or a companion may wish to request adjoining staterooms with a connecting door,” she added.

Cruise ships can be very large, and if elders use an assistive device such as a cane or walker for long distances, they should bring it on the ship. Some older adults may even want to consider a lightweight travel wheelchair to use for longer distances.

It’s also important to be prepared for a variety of indoor and outdoor climates. Catic suggests packing these items for protection: 

• Sunscreen
• Protective lip balm
• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Sweaters or wraps to keep warm
• Comfortable, non-slip shoes to reduce their risk of falling
• An extra weeks worth of medication in carry-on luggage

She also said that older adults should speak with their medical provider about treatment for possible motion sickness prior to embarking on a cruise.