Going on Alaska cruise:  I understand its a matter of preference, but do you think a balcony is worth the xtra money vs ocean view considering you are not in your room that long?

Ports of call: Portland, Maine Bar Harbor Saint John Bay of Fundy, Canada Halifax, Canada on NCL Escape 8/27.  Has anyone gone fishing, if so with who? Thank you!

im spending thousands on this cruise. I don't think I'm going to weigh having lobster or a pc of blueberry pie. No matter how good the blueberry pie is.  No comparison!

can you give an update on how you got around on the new england/canada cruise w/the scooters. we booked for august and that is my concern now = getting around w/a scooter.

i have found that the larger airports we would wonder around in la la land not knowing where the gate is or we had to go downstairs in miami airport and where do we find an elevator and where do you go from there. seattle airport was really large  and we would have had a heck of a time finding the gate, and then we would have been standing in line waiting. when ask for wheelchair assistance we go right thru. no stopping, no waiting. i do know that you must have a FOLDABLE scooter in order to get on any of the excursion buses. especially alaska. they will not take your scooter if it does not fold.

i have been on many a cruise and find no problem in the casino. most people are okay with someone on a scooter. you can park the scooter on the end of a row of machines where there is room. or if you want to just bring it up to the machine.  people are not usually that rude. and if they are....oh well.

always ask the steward. dont be afraid to rent and take that scooter all over the destination. you'll have a great time. better than sitting on the boat waiting for someone to tell you about the port when there is no need to.

my experience has been. i would much rather tell airlines that i need wheelchair assistance and have one of the handlers push me around the airport. its simple. when i go w/my on own scooter, i dont know where im goin. a handler picks you right up at check in and brings you to airline departure gate. sometimes the airport is so large (miami), you dont know where you're goin. these transporters get you there no fuss. no muss. well worth whatever you want to tip them.  i rent a scooter to be on the ship. never had a problem. whatever scooter make sure that it folds. most buses will take the scooter as long as it folds. the ship also has an area for handicapped where you wait for transport and its wonderful. again they take you right to your room. then get the scooter and you're on your own. as for dinner we usually leave the scooter by the entrance to the restaurant. as i can walk to our table w/o difficulty but cant stand a longer period of time. the theater usually has an area in the back where you can stay on the scooter or sit in a chair.  no you cannot leave a scooter in the halls. as for excursions, as long as the bus will take the scooter, you will have no problem. you might not see everything, but you will see as much as possible. dont be afraid to rent a scooter and use it. you're only limited by your imagination and what you're willing to try

On 1/18/2020 at 4:21 PM, cl.klink said:

DW is now limited in ambulation due to medical problems, can walk a bit at home with a cane, but can't walk enough for a cruise anymore, neither for getting around the ship nor for most ports.  She can walk with a cane for for 50-100 feet or so on flat surfaces.  Our last cruise (September 2019) became more than she could handle.  She has worsened.  She has loved cruising, and travel in general,  and I want her to be able to keep going as long as she can, while she still can.  So, I decided to get her a scooter.  I have questions I hope you all can help with by sharing your experiences, opinions, advice.  I apologize for a lot of questions, but here goes.

 

1.  I know I can rent but I think I want to buy.  I plan to buy a scooter we can fold, but just for my information, how wide are the doorways of most regular staterooms? 

 

2. I'm planning on a fold-able more light weight scooter (e.g. TravelScoot, Triaxe).  What do you think of those?

 

3.  How does it go if we take a scooter like this into ports?  Would cabs be OK with us putting it in trunk?  What do you do if you want to pop into a shop or restaurant -- can you bring it in?  I know there are going to be a variety of responses, but I want to know what your experiences have been trying to do these things.  I want to know what to plan.

 

4.  Can you bring a scooter like this through airport security and to the gate, and then gate check?  Or, should we just have an aiport person transport us by wheelchair (like we've done so far), and send the scooter through as checked baggage?  What have you done and what are your experiences?

 

5. Similarly, how do we get a scooter like this onto the ship?  Do we just take it on, past security, and go on in?  Do we need to notify the cruise company?

 

6.  On the ship, if we go to a dinner or the theater etc., what do we do with the scooter?  She can walk a short distance if needed, but if needed, what do we do with the scooter?

 

7.  I followed earlier threads where people objected to those who leave scooters in hallways, or who bump into others.  This may seem silly of us, but if we behave well, don't make these errors, are we nonetheless risking the scorn of fellow cruisers now?  I don't want DW to feel intimidated by taking this step.  We love cruising in part because we like being a part of the gang at sea -- will we now feel like pariahs?  I'm curious what people have experienced.

 

Thanks in advance for any responses,

 

- Joel

in my opinion $5 is on the cheap side to be tipping. especially if you are on the hefty side and a little skinny someone is pushing you thru the airport. these people are making minimum wage. you splurged on your cruise dont you think they deserve something for pushing you around and getting you to your destination w/o hassell.

On 1/1/2020 at 7:25 PM, Babyjax12 said:

Husband and I have done 10+ cruises, but always to warm climates. 

How will our June NCL cruise to Alaska differ? What should we expect?

i really think you should do a bit more research if you cant differentiate difference between the two vacations.

if im spending all that money to go on a cruise to alaska, i dont think im goin go worry about having a crab lunch/dinner someplace. enjoy yourself. whats another hundred.

we booked jerry metchum out of ketchikam. he guaranteed catching salmon. my husband and granddaughter went and had the time of their lives. they caught something like 9 or 10 salmon.  its not cheap something like $600 for the two of them; but they did catch salmon.  also, the cleaning and sending the fish home was not cheap at all. but that a whole other subject. here is jerry's number. i cant remember the name of his website. 

 907 723 2399

On 12/22/2019 at 1:47 PM, mom22frogs said:

I need to call Carnival. I don't even know basic things, like whether a steward can return the scooter to the cabin while we're off the ship or whether we need to do that. 

 

Hold it, when we did the tenders before there were STAIRS to get down there, weren't there??? How does that work? They have a secret elevator for people on wheels?

i was on norwegian and told stewards not allowed to return the scooters

i am of size and travel w/scooter. i however, do not rent a scooter til im on the ship. i tell the airport that i need assistance. they provide a wheelchair and wheel me to whatever gate i need. they take my luggage from the time the limo pulls up to the airport. thats why i do not bring my own scooter. because i go right thru customs, get to the gate w/them.

have you thought about SMARTSCOOT - LIGHTEST SCOOTER

16 hours ago, 1threadshort said:

im glad you had a good time inspite of the scooter. i guess you were in the right place for the scooter to break down considering vn has thousands of scooters. i bet the cost was half of what the u.s. would be. i purchased a triaxe sport today for $1,000 on craigslist. its suppose to be 1 yr old . came w/the bigger sized battery and larger seat. the mans wife did not like the scooter. too fast for her. anyway, right now its in the garage being charged. hope it works for me. im excited.

my husband took the battery off and is charging it now. the rear wheel was not moving so he unjammed that. seems it had something to do with the brake. your vacation sounds wonderful.  a true trip of a lifetime. i paid 1,000 vs 2,095 plus tax + shipping. i was annoyed it didnt work properly and am anxious to use it. but if my husband cannot fix it, i'll bring it to a shop and have they look at it. i will look at emobility. tx.

9 hours ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

Oh my!   I had a total of 3 flat tires, and one tire falloff!!!   I’m a firm believer now of non pneumatic tires. 

 

The repairs got easier and cheaper, but finding repair shops was problematic.  The last flat was a broken stem in Vietnam where there were thousands of motor scooters.  In a market area about a block from where I had the flat there was a tire guy who patched the tube and replaced the stem in about 10 minutes!   The fall off happened aboard ship.  I nut had gone missing, which we couldn’t find a replacement about the time of the last flat.  The other nut was slowly coming undone and did as the scooter was being lifted!  The nut and lock washer were right there and a quick Assembly was preformed, but a wrench was nowhere to be found! 

 

On the flight home my headlight was broken by the airlines too.

 

all in all I didn’t miss any of the trip except a chance togo out on a transition day.  

 

Would i I recommend the scooter again?  With some caveats yes.  There just aren’t that many scooters that hold over 250lbs, including your carryon luggage.  AND we met someone that had a scooter that the airlines had broken the toggle control that allows you to go forward and backwards.  It was not repairable in Hong Kong and was thus shipped back home, by the airlines.  He had a walker but clearly had difficulties walking at all.  I assume he didn’t do any tours.  

 

I have become more cautious of the terrain even though i travelled European cobblestones with little problems other than a bent tip caster.  We’ve also decided to find more tools and spare parts to carry in the future, which is a pain.   

 

Meanwhile im still able to use my scooter and enjoy being more mobile.

im glad you had a good time inspite of the scooter. i guess you were in the right place for the scooter to break down considering vn has thousands of scooters. i bet the cost was half of what the u.s. would be. i purchased a triaxe sport today for $1,000 on craigslist. its suppose to be 1 yr old . came w/the bigger sized battery and larger seat. the mans wife did not like the scooter. too fast for her. anyway, right now its in the garage being charged. hope it works for me. im excited.

surprised there was no conversation on this topic. i know i had millions of questions. hope you all enjoy your trips

On 9/1/2019 at 2:16 PM, Benthayer Gonbak said:

First day in Tokyo went well.  One of the stations, however, has a long slope that was technically too steep for the scooter.  With the help of my guide and my husband they were able to apply enough push power to my back to keep me moving up the slope.   Since the seat folds down there is no way to push on the chair, but we didn’t test that here, we already knew it.  As a solo, in general, one would not be able to get out alone in Winter Park.  There are some sidewalks in the area that have short sections of steep, but I made those because of the length of the slope was quite short. 

 

As for looking for scooters, yes they do all run together!  I would note that my husband found the ability to drag the transformer like luggage was a bit uncomfortable as it was a bit short and he is under 6 ft!   The Triaxe Tour and Sport are a bit longer and don’t fold in half so they are not as compact.  Both are also three wheelers so they have tighter turning radiuses.  The guide was amazed at how tight I could turn.  

 

It’s worth noting too that the subway gap in one station was a step up but all were a bit wide.  The station people will help with a ramp, but it takes time to do that getting on.  To get off they ask where you want to get off and meet you there with the ramp.   Since I can walk short distances I would have just rolled the scooter over the threshold being sure to lift the front wheel over the gap.  Since I was alone others did it.  

how was the rest of your vacation. and how did the scooter hold up.

anyone travel to greece with a mobility scooter if so which one. tx.

my friends and i are looking at greece for our next trip. however, from what i've read/seen since greece is built into a mountain will i be able to use a mobility scooter to get around. tx.

first let me say have a wonderful time tokyo. did you take a scooter or rent one? will take a look at the transformer. ive looked at so many after a while it all jells together. have a great time. tell us about your trip when you come back.

thank you for all the info. especially the triaxe. i do not have a hatchback probably never will. and i really, really do not like the idea of taking the scooter apart. but i will look into the triaxe sport @ 44#'s. tx.

when we went on some excursions there were people that had scooters that didnt fold and the bus driver would not take these people on the bus. also a lot easier when you go onto a tender when you have a folding scooter. chances are the crew will help you get onto the tender. how are you goin to manage a non-foldable scooter on a tender? i think not!