Viking River Cruises, Inc.
phone (818) 227-1234 fax (818) 227-1237
vikingrivercruises.com CST
2052644-40
Policy
Statement: Guests with Special Needs
As required by
the Terms and Conditions of our Ticket/Contract and as a matter of
consideration for all concerned, Guests must advise Viking River Cruises® of any physical, emotional or mental conditions which may require
special attention or medication on board our ships. In that regard, when at the
time of booking a Guest indicates that he or she may have such a condition, a
fitness for travel letter will be sent to the Guest. In order for his or her
circumstances to be considered fully, the appropriate information must be
returned to Viking River Cruises within two weeks of receipt. Viking River
Cruises will then determine whether the Guest’s needs can
be accommodated, and if so how best to achieve such accommodation, based upon
the information provided.
Consideration
will be given as to the individual’s condition and the obligations and
abilities of Viking
River Cruises
to assure the safety of the vessel and all of its passengers, including the
guest, as well as
crew
members and staff. If the Guest does not inform the Reservations Department of
his or her condition in a timely or in a complete fashion, Viking River Cruises
will not be able to consider these matters and may be required to deny passage
under such circumstances. Viking River Cruises reserves the right to deny
boarding at any time if, in our sole estimation, we feel the carriage of any
particular guest places the guest, ship, other guests or the crew at risk.
As a general
rule, Guests with disabilities who require the use of a wheelchair on board our
ships must bring and remain responsible for their own wheelchair, which must be
collapsible. Please review the Motorized Scooter and Wheelchair Policy
following.
Our cruises and
cruisetours are itinerary-intensive experiences,
offering access to a wide variety of foreign ports. Our ships are designed and
built in
Any questions a
Guest may have regarding this Policy Statement should be addressed to:
Viking River
Cruises, Inc
Attention:
Reservations Department
Phone:
818-227-1234
Fax:
818-227-1231
Viking River Cruises, Inc.
phone (818) 227-1234 fax (818) 227-1237
Motorized
Scooter and Wheelchair Policy
Viking River
Cruises will, under appropriate circumstances, permit its passengers to use
motorized scooters and wheelchairs which satisfy the following criteria on its
vessels, based upon a full understanding and appreciation by its passengers and
their companions that our vessels do not have elevators which would permit easy
access from deck to deck and that some decks are multi-level or contain
significant thresholds. Accordingly, a physically challenged passenger will
require the services of a responsible adult, since crew availability is
severely limited in most circumstances. Additionally, we encourage passengers
to carefully review the deck plans and physical layout of our vessels to
determine whether the use of such equipment is feasible. The following criteria
are based on safety considerations and the physical constraints of the vessels.
If a passenger requests a deviation from this policy, the passenger’s request
should be brought to the attention of the Company’s Risk Management Department,
Mary Van Hyning, whose address is 1801 Century Park
East, Suite 1250, Los Angeles, California, 90067, Telephone: 1-310-551-6555; Telefax: 1-310-277-1220. In light of certain of the
restrictions identified below, passengers may wish to consider using a
collapsible wheelchair in addition to their motorized scooter or wheelchair.
Passengers are responsible for providing their own motorized scooters and
wheelchairs.
Batteries
Must be
self-contained, sealed, gel type; Must be of a type that is acceptable/suitable
for airline transport; no leadacid batteries are
permitted
Dimensions/Weight
25"
maximum width; 48" maximum length; 600 lbs. maximum weight when occupied.
Electrical
Requirements
Maximum
amperage/wattage permitted for re-charging is 10 amps and 1100 watts European
electrical standard;
Loading/Unloading
Must
be easily disassembled for carrying up and down gangway. Passenger must be able to get up and down gangway
without use of motorized scooter or wheelchair.
Storage
Must
be easily disassembled for storage. Must be stored in the passenger’s cabin when not in use and
cannot be left in hallways. Must be stored in heavy weather.
Vessel
Restrictions
Please note that
our vessels do not have elevators and as a result, the use of motorized
scooters and/or wheelchairs may be restricted. The assistance of a responsible
adult will accordingly be required in these circumstances, as well as onshore.
Vessel personnel will provide assistance, subject to availability. Cabin
bathrooms have high raised thresholds and are not configured for the use of
wheelchairs. The assistance of a responsible adult will be required. Please see
the further Terms and Conditions of the Contract of Carriage incorporated in
and forming a part of the Cruise Ticket/Contract.
Port
Restrictions
Port facilities
are not maintained by Viking River Cruises. Accordingly, there are certain
ports where guests might not be able to use a motorized scooter or wheelchair
to get ashore due to the safety risks or physical impediments. The vast majority of ports where Viking River
Cruises calls are designed to meet European standards and provide only limited
access for those with special needs. Cobblestone streets are common and do not
facilitate the use of motorized scooters or easy maneuvering of wheelchairs.
The same standards apply to tour buses which are not equipped with special
devices for those passengers requiring assistance.
Viking River Cruises, Inc.
phone (818) 227-1234 fax (818) 227-1237
Date:
Guest Name:
Address:
Fitness for Travel Letter
Dear
______________:
Thank you very
much for providing the important information regarding your personal medical circumstances.
As set forth in the Terms and Conditions of our Ticket Contract, you must
provide certain additional information described herein. Viking River Cruises® takes great pride in providing quality services and facilities to
all our Guests and this information will assist us in this regard. If you
require medical services or will travel with medical apparatus, equipment,
medications, or other means of physical support, a letter from your physician
must be submitted to Viking River Cruises defining the specific needs. Each
Guest recognizes that Viking River Cruises is not responsible for providing
medication and/or equipment. The letter must be on the physician’s letterhead
addressed to Viking River Cruises, Inc.,
• Details of your personal circumstance.
• Any special equipment/apparatus that will be required or
that will be carried on board (manufacturer name, model #, etc).
• All prescription medication being taken and dosage and/or
all medical procedures required during the entire cruise or cruisetour.
• Doctor’s confirmation that you are “Fit for Travel.”
Once the
initial written statement from your current physician is received, we will
notify our medical staff. You will be advised if the medical requirements can
be satisfied in a safe manner. For your comfort and safety the medical staff
may contact your physician prior to the departure of your sailing to confirm
any unanswered issues. If we do not receive all of the information required
above including the physician’s statement, we may not be able to facilitate
your personal needs and consequently may be forced to deny boarding.
For additional
information, please review the accompanying “Policy Statement: Guests with Special
Needs.”
Please be
assured that all information which you provide regarding your personal
circumstances and condition will be maintained by Viking River Cruises on a
confidential basis.
We thank you for your cooperation.