Carnival reaches settlement over disabled access complaints
Carnival Corp has agreed a settlement with the US Justice Department over complaints it did not provide sufficient access and adapted accommodations for passengers with disabilities.
In a landmark settlement for the industry, Carnival will pay a civil penalty of $55,000 and $350,000 in damages to past cruise passengers affected.
Some of the complaints date back 15 years.
Under the ruling, 3% of cabins on at least 49 ships will be designated as accessible in three different levels — fully accessible cabins, fully accessible cabins with a single side approach to the bed, and ambulatory accessible cabins.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also calls for the appointment of an executive compliance officer while each ship should also have designated officers responsible for ADA-related issues at sea.
“This landmark ADA agreement will enable individuals with disabilities the opportunity to equally enjoy a full range of cabins and services that previously were unavailable while vacationing on cruise ships,” said US attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the US government which was borne out of a cooperative effort,” a Carnival Corp statement said.
“We have historically maintained a strong focus on accessibility and have a longstanding track record of meeting the needs of all our guests.”
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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