When it comes to accessible travel, Virgin Voyages is making waves in the industry. Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Alex Zeitz, the director of crew and sailor experience at Virgin Voyages. Our conversation delved deep into their commitment to accessibility, upcoming itineraries, and the overall sailor experience. Here's a peek into our enlightening discussion.

Meeting Alex Zeitz

Right from the start, Alex's passion for Virgin Voyages shone through. Residing in New York City, he shared insights about how Virgin Voyages operates, emphasizing the flexibility offered to him to stay connected with the ships and their many journeys.

Prioritizing Accessibility

Virgin Voyages is not just about luxury and exotic destinations; they are deeply committed to inclusivity. One of the most pressing questions I had was about the accessibility efforts Virgin Voyages has made. Alex provided a comprehensive overview, detailing the design and amenities onboard. From...

My wife travels with a mobility scooter, and we live near Orlando and travel out of Miami on cruises or flights frequently.  We will examine the choices available to make the journey and review the advantages of traveling via Brightline.

What are the choices?

There really 4 practical options available for everyone.  For abled bodied individuals, any of them might be acceptable, but when you are disabled and make this trip, there are factors that affect your decision.

Airplane

Flying may be slightly quicker than taking Brightline, but when you factor in needing to check in very early for your flight, and then the wait time for your mobility device to show up, and then get your luggage the time difference is not significant.

When you have to deal with the screening process, even with TSA Pre-Check and have assistance to go through screening, at the airport it is an unpleasant experience.  My wife travels with her Whill Ci2 and so she winds up needing a physical...

 A most enjoyable accessible day trip in Barbados would include the Animal Flower Cave and Restaurant on the north side of the island with its beautiful views and local Bajan meals and seafood.

My accessible trip was arranged by Blessed Blossom Transportation and Taxi. I appreciated their care and attention to my needs throughout the day.

On the way north we started with a stop at the Limegrove Lifestyle Center, a modern shopping mall for those with discretionary taste. It is located in Holetown, Barbados. With shops, restaurants, and an ice cream parlor, a morning would pass quickly here.

In the parking lot, just to the left of the entrance, are a few reserved spaces for accessible vehicles and a ramp to enter the mall.

The mall is an open-air style in some places and enclosed hallways in other places, and has two floors. There are several elevators to access the second floor.

This mall specializes in finer shops for those with distinguished taste.

We found a few...

Today, November 25, 2022, Ken and I just finished an enjoyable, fully accessible, day trip in Martinique with Martinique Access'ile. Our tour guide was Noël Cicalini, himself a paraplegic, and the owner of Martinique Access'ile.

Noel speaks French, with English as a second language, and we spent the day discussing many things about travel and life and Martinique. Noel knows the fully accessible sites, restaurants, and restrooms, so our tour was relaxed and without any undue concerns.

Arriving on the RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas, we alit at the Tourelles Cruise Port in Fort-De-France. The weather was quite pleasant, cooler than expected with an occasional cloud, but no rain in sight.

Just inside the port there is a very tall building, and on the first floor there is a very nice accessible restroom, how handy!

 Our first destination was the Rhum Sant James, rum factory museum in Sainte Marie. A beautifully restored...

On June 1, 2022, I was standing 15 feet behind the zipline platform at Icy Strait Point.

 My fear of heights was at a peak as we had ridden the gondola up the mountain and then taken a truck ride down a very, very steep and narrow road to the zipline. For riders needing assistance they use a UTV or truck to take the from gondola area to zipline.

I knew the zipline would be the fastest way back down and would be a most amazing journey.

More than anything I did not want to take the at least 7 minute long ride down the gondola. 

The group of six riders ahead of us crossed the bridge to the platform and prepared for their descent.

After veing strapped in, the rider in the number six position started to cry out loud. They were released on the count of three, and she continued to cry out as far I could hear.

I thought I hope I enjoy this. I will close my eyes before it starts. 

Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, a lesson I learned years ago would allow me the...

When planning a trip with a wheelchair, what do you want to know?  

For us, we are always concerned about accessibility.  

Can we get from one place to another and do so comfortably?  

That means more than can we get the wheelchair onto the transportation, but what are conditions like as we travel. 

What are the bathrooms like?

These were all questions we had about the about our trip to Catalina on the Catalina Express

How Accessible is the Catalina Express

We were very pleasantly surprised by the experience.  We did not find any issues with accessibility, and the crew was outstanding in their willingness to help passengers no matter their ability level.  We did not encounter any barriers, and while the ramp at Catalina Island was steep we had plenty of assistance getting onshore and back on the boat when we returned.

We will discuss the following topics:

• Terminals
• Boarding
• Boat Seating Area
• Accessible Bathroom
• Food and Beverage
• Ride
• ...

The Port of Ensenada in a Wheelchair - A Quick Walk Through the Main Port Area

When we booked this cruise, it was a replacement for a hotel stay. This was our third cruise in two weeks, and we had three days to fill before we needed to fly to Miami. Using a TA rate, the cruise was cheaper than a hotel, so we booked it.

Ensenada is the only port on this 3 day cruise, and we looked at the excursions, and there was nothing particularly exciting that was accessible. We decided just to walk off the ship and explore the port area.

Sea Lions

As we got off the ship, at the end of the pier on the other side of a fence, there was a sea lion basking in the sun. It was joined by another sea lion which caused a loud discussion between the two of them about who's spot it was.

We watched as they both bellowed and postured trying to show their supremacy, and then the most recent occupant seemed to concede and move away from the original occupant, and things quieted down.

On that point of land next...