[heather-hopkins-clement]

Hi,

I am a Japan cruise specialist, and I have never heard of any “wheelchair accessible” shore excursions offered by the cruise lines. Unlike the US, for example, Japan does not have the equivalent of the Americans with Disabilities Act. That’s one of the reasons why I started my own private guide service–after seeing a lady in a wheelchair quite upset after disembarking. She was told at time of booking she would be fine, but did not turn out to be the case at all. Pre-covid, I was supposed to have a private guide client that was a quadriplegic. He was going to be on one of the lines you mentioned. The cruise line quoted him a rate of over $1,000 for just one day’s excursion. With proper detailed planning, it can be done privately, and at a much more affordable rate.

Most ports in Japan do not require tenders, but it can depend on specifically which ship and which date you will be there. If you want to send me the links of the specific itineraries you are looking at, I can give you more specific feedback. Or, you we can schedule a time to chat–no sales pitch–just so I can better understand your needs in order to make a good recommendation.