Whether it’s a result of recent successful consumer lawsuits, or a dawning realization that travellers with disabilities have money to spend, cruise lines are slowly removing barriers.

"The initiative that they are taking is incredible,” disability rights lawyer Matthew Dietz, who represented Florida advocacy group Access Now, recently told New Mobility magazine. “The designs [on the Carnival Jubilee] are as close to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines as you can possibly get.”

Access Now currently has pending lawsuits against several other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Westtours and Costa Crociere.

Several of these companies, however, are already in the process of improving accessibility for travellers with disabilities. Holland America, for example, has dedicated managers who oversee accessibility issues and requirements of guests with special needs. It would appear that these companies are recognizing the fact that wheelchair users and those with other disabilities represent a legitimate segment of the cruise market.

What do you need to know about cruising before you book? Here is a list of questions you should satisfy, courtesy of iCan, a leading U.S. online community:

• Are there special wheelchair accessible transfers for cruisers from the airport to the ship?
• Is the ship truly accessible to fit your needs, such as width of door openings? On some ships, wheelchair users have to be carried over doors sills and lips in bathrooms.
• Can you access all areas of the ship? If not, which areas?
• Will the width of the doors accommodate your wheelchair? What is the width?
• What bed types are available in the accessible room?
• Is there an elevator near your cabin? How wide is the elevator?
• Does the ship dock or tender at ports of call? If it tenders, can passengers with disabilities get aboard to get ashore?
• Are the land tours accessible? Don't forget to get a name of the person that confirmed the tour is in fact wheelchair accessible, especially if it's a bus or a boat trip.
• Can special meals be requested?
• Don't forget to request any other special accommodations you'll need in your cabin, such as oxygen or diet.
  
  More tips:
  
• Most ships do not allow service dogs.
• Some ships do not provide adaptive equipment for cruisers who are deaf or blind.
• In most cases, people with disabilities are required to present a certificate of health from their doctor and are required to travel with a companion.
  
  Highly recommended are most of the newer ships on any of these cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Princess, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.