Princess Cruises introduces specialised cruise services for the visually impaired.

Twenty-five new canine graduates from Guide Dogs for the Blind and their owners were recently introduced to the pleasures of cruising during an open day on Sea Princess in San Francisco. The day, which involved a tour of the ship and lunch in the dining room, familiarised participants with the ways in which Princess Cruises can accommodate the needs of visually impaired passengers and those of their dogs.

Among a host of specialised services revealed were specially translated menus and life jackets for canine companions.

Princess Cruises, which has hosted 11 Guide Dogs for the Blind groups on cruises since 2004, organised the day in association with Dimensions in Travel, a travel agency that regularly organises travel for Guide Dogs for the Blind clients.

“It’s not all about what we see when we travel anymore – it’s all of our senses,” said Diana Saint James, owner of Dimensions in Travel. “It’s a different way to see the world.”