Disney Cruise Line has introduced haptic vests at silent discos and braille and tactile guidebooks across its fleet, expanding entertainment and navigation resources for guests with hearing and visual disabilities. The guidebooks are also available at its two island destinations in The Bahamas.
The haptic vests convert music and sound effects into physical sensations, allowing guests who are deaf or hard of hearing to feel the rhythm during silent disco parties. They are available at the events on all Disney Cruise Line ships.
Guests who are blind or have low vision can request guidebooks containing tactile maps and venue information to help them understand ship and island layouts. These are available fleetwide, including at Guest Services, and at Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
“Previously, a guest who is deaf or hard of hearing could see a silent disco happening around them. Now they can feel it. A guest who is blind or has low vision can understand the layout of a ship or an island,” said Maura King, manager of accessibility at Disney Cruise Line.
The additions complement existing services such as accessible staterooms, assistive listening systems and captioning on Funnel Vision screens. At the island destinations, accessibility options may include sand wheelchairs, beach-access mats, accessible transportation and selected excursions for guests with limited mobility.
Guests can discuss their requirements with Disney Cruise Line’s shoreside Special Services team or submit a Special Services request form before sailing.