Hollywood star Warwick Davis has travelled the globe for films such as Star Wars and Willow and for television travel shows, staying in some of the world’s top hotels, but he admits the most accessible accommodation he has experienced is on a cruise.
Davis, famous for playing Wicket the Ewok in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and the title character in Willow, is set to be a star guest aboard P&O Cruises'Britannia during a sold-out Caribbean sailing next month.
He is a regular speaker on cruise ships, having previously appeared on Cunard, Disney Cruise Line and Princess vessels.
The actor, who has a bone growth disorder called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita that results in dwarfism, says he has always found cruises to be an accessible form of travel.
He told The Independent: “Being someone with a disability travelling through airports, nothing is right for us.
“Everything is too high; they can’t see my face in the new automatic passport gates, so I often have to go back and queue up.”
Davis will fly to St Lucia next month, where he will meet Britannia and spend seven days giving talks about his career and meeting guests.
But he is confident the cruise experience will be better than the airport, and many of the top hotels he has stayed in.
He said: “Some ships are more accessible than others, but many have level access everywhere and ramps.
“You can always find disabled toilets, and there are elevators all around the ships.
“There are so many hotels I have stayed in, some of the best in the world, where you ring for room or luggage service and no one answers.
“You end up going up and down to get help with your cases.
“The support seems immediate on a cruise. Once you have checked in, your luggage is sent straight to your room. It is very accessible, and I would recommend it for someone with a disability.”
Davis says the crew-to-passenger ratio is often high, meaning there is support if needed, and the only time he uses his segue is to balance all the food in the buffet.
One thing to watch out for if someone is in a wheelchair, though, Davis warns, is that the ramps to get on and off can be quite steep, so it is good to have someone strong to push you.
Davis has done around 10 cruises, although this will be his first time with P&O Cruises.
He said: “My first cruise was about six years ago. I thought I would feel seasick and that it would be crammed.
“But I have now realised that it is great once everyone is settled in and you find your favourite spots. The cabins are always luxurious and cleaner than clean and the food is great. It’s better than many of the top hotels.”
Davis’ top tips include not going to the buffet straight away, as that is where the crowds first gather, and spending some time on the ship when it is in port to take advantage of the quiet period when most people get off.
He expects plenty of requests for autographs and selfies on board but says cruise audiences are far more relaxed than those on land, particularly during the shows.
Davis said: “Everyone is relaxed and on holiday whereas in a normal theatre people have come in with the stress of work and haven’t had a chance to wind down.”
He is prepared for questions about his film career, although there are subjects he is already surprised the internet hasn’t covered, such as how he got the Star Wars part at age 11 (his grandma heard a radio advert).
He has responses he regrets giving to questions on board, though.
He said he once had to do an interview for the ship TV station and said, “if you see me on board, say ‘ahoy Warwick!’ and wave.’ It was very Alan Partridge and I soon regretted it.”
While much of his onboard experience so far has been as a guest speaker, Davis says he is keen to hit the high seas for another holiday and would love to do a world cruise.
He said: “You open your curtains and there is a different view each day and somewhere else to explore. You only have to unpack once, plus I wouldn’t have to worry about flights and getting luggage off the plane or dealing with hotels.”