Accessibility
Accessible Sailing
At Windstar, we endeavor to provide the most extraordinary and pleasurable sailing experience for everyone. You can help us by working with us in advance. Our team will discuss your needs and expectations so that they can arrange a sailing experience tailored to your specific needs and will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your requests. If we are notified in advance, Windstar's crew will have notice of your requests and will also be able to assist you with your needs on the vessel.
We are happy to have our dedicated and specially trained team of professionals assist you with your request for accommodations to meet your specific needs. You can reach us at (855) 888-7785 or via email at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com
We ask that you complete a Guest Accommodation Request Form online so that we can arrange appropriate accommodations for any special needs in advance of your cruise because some requests may not be able to be fulfilled if we receive notice closer to your cruise. Accordingly, Windstar recommends that the Guest Accommodation Request Form be filled out online or we can email it to you upon request. The form may also be faxed or mailed to you upon request by calling us at (855) 888-7785 or emailing us at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com . You can also request these forms by filling out the below request(s).
Click here to access and fill in the online Guest Accommodation Request Form.
Click here to download and/or print the online Guest Accommodation Request Form.
Additional Information
While we don't require information about the type or extent of your disability, the more information you share with us about your specific needs, the better we are able to assist you. We encourage you to notify us of your needs at the time of booking. Please provide at least:
• 30 days' notice if you need sign language interpretation services;
• 14 days' notice if you need special equipment or services (see list below) to accommodate your disability;
• If we do not receive sufficient advance notice, we will make every reasonable effort to provide the requested equipment or services, but we cannot guarantee they will be provided.
In order to be able to best accommodate your specific needs, below is a list of equipment and services that require advance notice:
30 Days Prior to Sailing
• Sign language interpreting services
14 Days Prior to Sailing
• Commode Chair
• Shower Stool
• Transfer Bench
• Service Animal Relief Area
• Large Print Materials
• Sharps Container
• Visual-Tactile Guest Room Kit
• Mini-Refrigerator
• Oxygen Supply Delivery
• Dialysis Supply Delivery
• Distilled Water
• Extension Cord
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (855) 888-7785 or email us at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com
Modified Cabins
Our Star Class Plus Ships (Star Pride, Star Breeze, and Star Legend) have modified suites (4 each) for guests who may benefit from the features of a cabin with a modified bathroom layout. These modified suites offer a bathroom with a shower only (with a lip into the shower), one (1) sink, and grab bars. The width of the doorway into the bathroom is 27.5" and the width of the cabin doorway is 31." There is a 4.3" step into the bathroom.
Star Seeker is equipped with one modified suite for guests who may benefit from the features of a cabin with a modified bathroom layout. This suite offers a bathroom with a shower only (with a 1" lip into the shower), one (1) sink, grab bars, and a shower stool. The suite offers widened 35" doorways.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are provided for emergency use only. If you would like to use a wheelchair or scooter during the cruise, you are welcome to bring your own or rent one from one of the companies below which will deliver it to the initial embarkation port.
Scootaround
Phone: 888-441-7575
Local: 204-982-0657
Fax: 204-478-1172
E-mail: info@scootaround.com
Special Needs at Sea
Phone: 800-513-4515
Local: 954-585-0575
Fax: 800-513-4516
E-mail: info@specialneedsgroup.com
Mobility Assistive Devices
You may bring and use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and other mobility assistive devices onboard our yachts that are less than 26 inches wide. Mobility assistive devices must be stored and recharged in your room so that fire doors and corridors are kept clear for emergency evacuation. When not in use in the public spaces throughout the yacht, they must be left out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers, including other guests with mobility assistive devices. Wheelchairs may be difficult to accommodate in embarkation and disembarkation in certain ports and in tenders or rubber inflatable rafts (""RIBS"").
Note: Crewmembers are not permitted to lift mobility assistive devices weighing over 50 pounds.
Services Provided
• Early embarkation and disembarkation
• Boarding and departure assistance
To customize your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form. We encourage you to notify us of your needs at the time of booking to guarantee availability of specific equipment or services.
Segways and Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices
Depending on the type, size, and weight of the device, it may not be accommodated on the yachts. No devices powered by fuel or combustion engines are allowed on the yachts. Two-wheeled mobility devices such as Segways® are generally not capable of being accommodated on all of Windstar's yachts due to limited storage capabilities, but you are welcome to make advance arrangements to bring your Segway® onboard so that it can be stored in your cabin for use ashore.
We're determined to make your sailing experience as convenient and enjoyable as possible for our guests who are blind or have low vision. Please contact us prior to your cruise so we can discuss your specific needs.
VISUAL FEATURES/ACCOMODATIONS
• Large-print menus
• Service animals are welcome onboard: a relief area can be provided upon reasonable notice
• Qualified Readers
• Upon request, a yacht orientation and cabin tour
• Upon request, a private muster drill
To tailor your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form. We encourage you to notify us of your needs at the time of booking to guarantee availability of specific equipment or services. If we do not receive enough advance notice, we will make reasonable efforts to provide requested equipment and/or services.
We strongly encourage Deaf or Low Hearing guests to contact us prior to your cruise so that your specific needs can be discussed prior to your cruise. Many different options are available prior to your cruise and needs vary from guest to guest. We'll make every attempt to make sure all guests enjoy their yacht experience to the fullest.
HEARING FEATURES/ACCOMMODATIONS
• Upon request, on embarkation day you can meet with a staff member who will see to your accessibility needs while on the yacht.
• A portable room kit in your cabin may be available, which includes a visual-tactile alert system that provides alerts for door knocking, telephone ringing, alarm clock, and smoke detector.
• Amplified telephones can be made available in the cabins and public areas.
• Closed-captioned televisions are available in all cabins. Please note that only select programs are captioned.
• Sign language interpreting services will be provided upon request for deaf guests who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary means of communication. A request for sign language interpreting services should be made at the time of booking but no later than 30 days prior to sailing. Requests are subject to availability of interpreters and cabin space.
To customize your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form. We encourage you to notify us of your needs at the time of booking, to guarantee availability of specific equipment or services. If we do not receive enough advance notice, we will make reasonable efforts to provide requested equipment and/or services.
Windstar can provide guests with meals suited to the following special dietary needs:
• Alcohol Free
• Celiac
• Dairy Free
• Diabetic - Diet Controlled
• Diabetic - Insulin Controlled
• Food Allergy
• Gluten Free
• Lactose Intolerant
• Low Carbohydrate
• Low Cholesterol
• Low Protein
• Low Sodium
• Other Dietary
• Sugar Free
• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Wheat Free Diet
Our chefs will make every effort to fulfill your requests and will gladly prepare options that meet your dietary needs.
We encourage you to notify us of your needs and to discuss your food allergies or medical dietary needs at the time of booking to guarantee availability of your dietary requirements prior to your cruise. Special dietary requests should be submitted at least 7 days prior to sailing. Any requests made less than 7 days before sailing cannot be guaranteed. If we do not receive enough advance notice, we will make reasonable efforts to meet them, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so as it gets closer to sailing.
If provided advance notice, we will arrange for our crewmembers to set up a meeting on the ship with the chef to go over your food allergies and/or dietary requirements for your meals.
To customize your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form. We encourage you to notify us of your needs at the time of booking, to guarantee availability services. If we do not receive enough advance notice, we will make reasonable efforts to provide requested services.
Upon request, every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations that will meet the needs of guests with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and Alzheimer's disease. Some of these accommodations can include: early embarkation and disembarkation, boarding & departure assistance, and special dietary needs. Please contact us for any needs you may have.
To customize your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form. We encourage you to notify us of your needs at the time of booking, to guarantee availability services. If we do not receive enough advance notice, we will make reasonable efforts to provide requested services.
Windstar welcomes service dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability on its yachts, but we do not accept pets. Pets, or service dogs in training, are not allowed aboard. Service dogs are not considered pets. Emotional support dogs, which are not recognized by the Department of Justice, are not permitted on our yachts.
Guests are responsible for obtaining all required documents for your service dog to depart the yacht in all ports of call. A copy of these permits must be carried on the yacht, and a copy left with the Access Officer upon boarding the yacht. The documentation and immunization requirements are established by government authorities and not Windstar. Please note, requirements are subject to change without notice.
So that we may provide you with any additional information you may need in order to sail with your working service dog and make arrangements in advance of your cruise, please contact us directly or have your travel agent contact us at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com or (855) 888-7785. We also ask you to complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form.
For detailed information about sailing with service dogs, please visit Windstar Cruises | Accessibility.
We want to make sure height doesn't get in the way of an extraordinary sailing experience. To customize your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form online, contact us directly, or have your travel agent contact us at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com or (855) 888-7785.
Larger guests are always welcome onboard. Armless chairs and special seating are provide throughout the yacht and in various venues for your comfort and convenience. Larger guests may find our accessible cabins with wider doors, roll-in showers, and grab bars more accommodating.
To customize your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please contact us directly or have yor travel agent contact us at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com or (855) 888-7785, or have your travel agent contact us. We also ask you to complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form.
Medical Care
Please be aware that our yachts do not have full medical services. In case of a serious medical emergency, guests are referred to shoreside medical facilities. Medical evacuation during the cruise, whether at sea, by tender, or by deviating from the scheduled itinerary, may create an increased risk of harm and may not be feasible for a variety of reasons.
We strongly encourage guests to carry a copy of their medical records (e.g., a list of medical conditions, allergies, names and medication dosages as well as the name and contact information of their primary care and other physicians).
Diabetes
For guests who are traveling with injectable medication and need a Sharps disposable container, please alert us prior to your cruise so that we can arrange it. For guests who are traveling with medication that needs to be kept cold, please alert us prior so that we can have a mini refrigerator placed in your cabin for your medication. If you need a low sugar diet or have any other dietary needs, please notify us of this and all of your other needs by filling out our Guest Accommodation Request Form online, contact us directly at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com or (855) 888-7785, or have your travel agent contact us.
Dialysis
Guests with medical conditions that require the use of dialysis should contact us at the time of booking to discuss bringing the appropriate equipment onboard. Please notify us of this need by filling out our Guest Accommodation Request Form online or by contacting us directly at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com or (855) 888-7785. Guests requiring continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis are welcome onboard. Guests should bring onboard, or arrange to have delivered, all necessary supplies and equipment needed to perform the dialysis. Please have your supplier contact us to request clearance for port delivery.
We are unable to assist or administer hemo-dialysis treatments. However, guests using self-administered hemo-dialysis equipment are welcome to sail under certain requirements; contact us for details. Otherwise, guests requiring physician assisted dialysis may make arrangements by contacting Dialysis at Sea at 1-800-544-7604. Dialysis at Sea specializes in the treatment of hemo-dialysis care while onboard along with trained doctors and nurses and provides dialysis equipment and supplies.
Oxygen
Guests with medical conditions that require the use of oxygen should contact us at the time of booking to discuss bringing the appropriate equipment onboard. All types of oxygen are permitted onboard. Please notify us as to quantity, type, and delivery schedule.
ASSISTANCE AT THE PIER
We offer boarding and departure assistance to guests in wheelchairs or with mobility disabilities. To request assistance at the pier, contact us 30 days prior to your cruise so that we may prioritize your assistance to go onboard.
We will make reasonable efforts to assist our guests, but for safety reasons, our staff is not permitted to lift guests or equipment. Assistance with manual wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. will be provided.
SHIPBOARD ASSISTANCE
We will provide reasonable mobility assistance to guest in accessing areas of the ship that are not accessible.
If you have another type of medical condition that has not been mentioned, please inquire how we might make reasonable accommodations to meet your specific needs. Please note that not all accommodations may be able to be provided. Please also note that guests should be fit for travel. We do not require guests to travel with a companion; however, our personnel are not required to perform person tasks.
To customize your accommodations to meet your specific needs, please complete the Guest Accommodation Request Form, contact us directly at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com or (855) 888-7785.
Need More Information About Accessible Sailing?
Contact us at (855) 888-7785 or via email at accessdesk@windstarcruises.com , or have your travel agent contact us.
Our hours of operation are 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, and 9 AM - 5:30 PM on Saturday.