teajak

We have encountered rudeness onboard but then again, DH and I work in industries where we literally encounter those types of people EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!

 

It sucks when we come across it while on vacation but them's the breaks and I guess we've built up a tolerance to it or maybe we are both such a couple of smartasses that we've built up an arsenal of witty comebacks for those situations...

 

But I have to say that the rudest encounter we have had onboard was while sitting in the solarium and a Blue Hair started dragging a lounger across the deck... the lounger got caught on my DH's foot (he's tall so his feet tend to hang over the edge a bit)... she literally kept pulling on her lounger (and subsequently, DH's foot) until he yelled quite loudly, "OUCH, DAMMIT B**** my foot's not coming with you"...

 

She actually had the nerve to be offended, offered NO apology... rolled her eyes, huffed and puffed and acted all irritated by the incident...

 

The least she could have done was offered to buy him a drink after trying to take off his foot with her stupid lounger... :rolleyes:

Please excuse my ignorance as I am 82 and have been called a lot of things in my life, but exactly what is a bluehair? I wouldn't want to leave this life not knowing.

I have been keeping up with this thread and need help from fellow posters. We cruise a lot and love doing it. I am 82 and my DH is 84. I must use a walker due to a problem with back surgery. After reading your posts I need help in deciding what type of euthanasia I should choose. It seems that from the majority of posts you would be happy if we stayed home and vegetated never to be seen again. Go back and reread just the posts on this page alone, I really like the comment about HAL,"I don't think I have seen anyone under 75 on one of these." I certainly am not condoning the rude behavior mentioned, these few instances were rude and uncalled for, but really to group all elderly people together is ludicrous. Smell the roses and look for the rainbow, I do each day. See you in the casino.

I'm disabled and use a scooter, so I'm a bit concerned when AB passengers book accessible cabins. It's not anyone's fault when Celebrity changes cabins to give an AB person an accessible cabin, but for anyone to ever purposely book one just for the larger cabin is not right.

 

As for the amenities in AQ, the accessible shower is much smaller with the seat taking up a lot of the space. It's a hand-held shower head. Not all that comfortable for an able bodied person. No bath tub as a physically handicapped person usually cannot use a tub without a tub lift.

Since Celebrity will not keep a waiting list for HC people that need an accessable room when they are released they go to anyone that wants it.It is not that persons fault, just the luck of the draw and no reason to refuse it because it wouldn't go to a HC person anyway.A very poor system that we have tried to get them to change.Since they don't have a list there is no way to know if someone needs it.

The couch in 1522 is a small loveseat,very small.

Thank you for your timely reply. Our cruise sets sail in 4 weeks, May 9th, and we just upgraded to Aqua from a 2b category. They put us in a Accessible room, which we don't need and told them as much, and they said that was all that was available. I tried to find another room, but according to celebrity website, aqua is sold out. Concierge is still available.

 

The extra space is important for people who need it, but not a big deal for me. But I am stuck now, as I can't go back to my old room for the same cost as when I booked 3 months ago.

 

So from a selfish standpoint, would an able bodied person prefer an Aqua Class stateroom or Aqua class Accessible room? I don't want to downgrade to concierge class (looking forward to Blu) for about the same costs, but....

 

P.S. right word, wrong spelling: doable

The room is much larger and so is the balcony in 1522, so you might as well enjoy it since Celebrity refuses to keep a waiting list for handicapped people.The perks are nice, free water,iced tea, flowers,access to Persian Gardens if you want.We did not care for Blu, much prefer the MDR but that is just our opinion. It was not the crew but the quality of the food we were very disappointed in.Great room steward also.

I appreciate the information you have posted so far. We have a AQ accessible room and I was hoping you could tell me a few more things. Mostly regarding the bathroom. Does the shower have a curtain or door? If I understood you correctly, it does not have the water jets? Basically, is there anything that is provided for normal AQ rooms that the accessible rooms do not have?

 

Thanks

Do not have the shower jets,only a hand held adjustable shower head,curtain.I can't think of anything else except the large room, no over the bed storage, (I couldn't use that anyway). Bed is in the center.Tight in the shower with the seat but doabel( Is that a word?), just don't drop anything.1522 is a great room.

We are in Aqua class HA room. I am a T5 para and use a manuel wheelchair. I would like to know what you did not care for about Aqua class and why it is not worth it if you are in an accessible cabin?

 

Thanks

1.perks not worth it to us,didn't use Persian Gardens or relaxation room,didn't have canapes(early dinner,Michaels club elite),bottled water and iced tea nice.

2. Handicapped room does not have shower with jets.

3. We know we are in minority but we did not care for Blu, the food presentation was nice but the quality of the food was poor,very tough steak and lobster, etc. Many people disagree with this and we know it so I won't debate this.

Regular balcony handicapped rooms are just as spacious, Aqua class rooms are not larger.We tried this because the price dropped to below the price of a regular balcony.I would not pay extra for Aqua.JMHO.

Deck - Penthouse

Cabin # - 1522-Handicapped

Class – Aqua

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Bed near?(balcony or bath) –Center

 

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – yes

 

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. –Great-fun watchin activity on the bridge.

 

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - oversize

 

Was wind a problem? no

 

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? na

 

Any specific problems with this cabin? small seat in shower, couldn't bend over or you hit your head on the rail.

 

Any other comments? Ample room for use of walker,no overbed storage which is good for handicapped. Very small seating area couch,extra bedding put on couch at night left no seating, we moved it to the table,not a good system. No other complaints great room for us that need it.

Was the room considerably larger than a normal room? Were the beds available either as twins or king? Did the bathroom have a bathtub? Was there a separate shower and did the water from the shower stay contained in the shower (we've been in some handicapped rooms where the water was all over the floor)? Were there loungers on the balcony or just chairs? Any problems with the room?

Thanks so much for input-if you have any pictures, I'd love to see them-you can email them to cruiserdoc at aol dot com. Thanks!

1.Much larger,big help using a walker all of the time.

2.No bathtub in H rooms

3.No seperate shower, we banked the rug mat but water gets around it.

4.Great loungers with seperate foot stools.

5.Beds can be seperate, next time we are asking for that.

6.Seat in shower is small, you can't bend over or your head hits the rail,take my word for it,it hurts.No shaving for the previous reason.LOL

7. No pictures sorry, the room was great,didn't care for Aqua class, not worth extra if you have a handicapped room, will stay with just a balcony next time.The couch in the room is very small barely room for one person.The room steward puts all of the extra bedding on it at night.We kept the small table clear and moved the bedding to that so there was a place to sit.

My only complaint about Celebrity is they release the handicapped rooms to the general public 60 days out and they will not keep a waiting list.We had to book only 3 weeks out bcause of DH emergency surgery and were just lucky I saw this opening on a different web site, it was such a big help. Someone must have cancelled , my TA really had to fight to get it, many phone calls and different answers every time.I really will never understand how an able bodied person would not give up a handicapped room if needed.Off my soapbox now.Any other questions,just ask.

Does anyone have personal experience with the handicapped accessible cabins in Aqua class on the Solstice class ships? These would be cabins 1522,1524,1526 and 1538 on Penthouse Deck?

Any information would be appreciated.

We just had cabin 1522, what would you like to know?

Earlier today it was working fine but Webcam down again! I was so looking forward to seeing the ship sail today! Has anyone gotten anything on any of the web cams?

We saw it pull out on the web cam.Will be on the ship Aug. 30.

I don't think so - just the family staterooms. If this has changed, then I'd love to know! :)

Just my DH and myself in a promenade room and it was tight. Couldn't pass each other.Hated the room,very small.

Please,please,please do not suggest that people who do not need them book handicapped rooms. It is a terrible problem already without encouragement from anyone on this board.

Are you sure you are talking about 6388? I love aft cabins but this one should be listed as obstructed view.

Sorry guys I missed the cabin you were talking about.I will look before I leap next time.

This is one of the most coveted cabins of all abs'ers (aft balcony snob's) Congratulations have a great cruise

Are you sure you are talking about 6388? I love aft cabins but this one should be listed as obstructed view.

Um, if that's the ceiling to the crew deck, is it strong enough to walk on?

As the rail isn't all that high, I'm thinking that a little hop-over would vastly improve both your view and the available room.

 

And if it is walkable area, does anyone go by? I'm on deck 6 in an aft cabin, but a different one. From the looks of it, my situation will be the same, though.

You are not supposed to go out there,and they do have security cameras. I can tell you a little hop for you would be a major hop for me,LOL

We had 6388 on the Mariner and hated it. You cannot see down to the water,there is just a large grey deck in front of you,the superstructure spoils the view from above, you cannot see anything out of that large porthole window except wall, they leave a light on all night on deck 5 that shines up so you cannot leave your balcony curtains open.We were booked in another balcony and I saw this aft open and grabbed it, boy was I sorry.I have written RCI that it should be listed as an obstructed view cabin.It doesn't do any good to have a large balcony if you can't see anything.

Wonderful tips! I'll be on the same trip at the end of February. Question...what limo company did you get that quote from? I'd love to look into it. Also...can you just use the spa whirlpools/saunas without booking a treatment? Thanks!!! Great thread!

Yes you can use the spa facilities without booking a treatment.There was a thread on here a couple weeks ago about airport transportation in NO. Shuttle to hotels is $13.00 each but they stop at a lot of hotels, taxi is supposed to be $28.00 for 2, some spoke of problems with them, limo is $35.00 for two. I went into NO site and airport transportation,limo is walk up when you get there, no reservations needed and that was the price they quoted.Sounds good to me. We will be on Grandeur 2/24.

tazmzncruiser: Great tips, I had forgotten all about those hot tubs back of the spa. When we got on early they had the hall doors locked so you could not get to the rooms. Was there a name for the beach in Costa Maya and how much was the cab. We can get a limo in NO for $35.00 for 2, that seems the best way as we are coming in the day before and going to the Marriott on Convention Drive block and 1/2 from the docks got it on Priceline for $65.00!!!!!Thanks for the tips

Handicapped parking is free at the port of Miami amd at Miami international airport.

 

Also by act of our Florida legistlature it is legal to park by any meter with a handicapped placard or plate free for double the posted maximum time or if no maximum time is posted then you can park forever. This is any where in the state of Florida

 

Al :D (A senior Handicapped person)

Free parking is provided on government property. The parking facility in Miami is county owned thus the free handicapped parking. The parking facility in Ft.Lauderdale is a private business so they are not required to offer free parking. I sure don't know why a person that needs hanicapped parking would feel insulted by this, why not just say thank you and accept the gesture.

NO they do not.

We have had cabin 9201 on 3 different cruises and have the same cabin booked on 2 more. We love that cabin and deck 9. When its windy or the ship is moving along at a fast pace, you don't have any problems in an aft cabin. On occassion we hear chairs mmoving around from deck 10, but not enough for us to think of moving to a deck 7 or 8 cabin.

Enjoy your aft cabin to Alaska.

Dave and Elaine

It is our favorite cabin also, we just got off the Hawaii Infinity and have the Connie booked for 2007 with that cabin, will take it whenever. Noise or overhang not a problem, wind strong on rest of ship while we were comfortable.

Grab it, fast. We just returned from 14 days on the Infinity in aft cabin 9201 and we loved it. That large balcony is great, we had breakfast there every morning and the CC perks are so much fun. Not to mention sitting out there and watching the wake. There was some noise from moving chairs but not much.At night the guitar player was out on deck 10 and we could sit on our balcony and listen. Don't forget only on the CC breakfast menu can you get fresh squeezed orange juice or carrot juice.Have fun, we did.