tigercat

We will e driving from Canada down to Miami for a cruise. Last cruise we were in Ft. Lauderdale and rented a car. We paid cash for all the tolls. However, someone said something about having to have a sun pass? for the tolls around Miami. What is this and how do you get it?

tigercat

I wouldn't be able to replace my clothes. Not only am a I plus sized person but also a little person. I can't find things here in my own home town never mind in a strange town, country. And there isn't anything on the ships that would fit.

tigercat

I usually order the lamb at the steakhouse but will now not do so on the carnival Conquest. For some reason the steakhouse on that ship has problems getting the lamb right. I have ordered it a couple of times now on that ship and not will only order the steak. The cowboy steak on the Conquest in Jan. was really good.

tigercat

To be fair to the store that I am getting it from they are really caring about helping people as it was started because of family members who had trouble with getting scooters. As well when I was asking them about getting around the ship we didn't talk about getting on and off the ship.

We thought about renting from a place near the cruise ship but I really do need it here. I believe the cost to me would be about $250.00 to rent. That is a lot of money. As well we are driving from Canada for this cruise so at this point I don't have to worry about the airlines. That was one of my concerns as well.

That is a good thought though to rent one. I will look into it.

tigercat

Thank you all for the tips. I have been thinking about the LX and have coverage for it but the height clearance is something that worries me. The problem I have is that I want it for cruises but I need it for around home.

I will be on the Carnival Conquest and then the Glory but the door clearance is the same so s far as I can see I will be able to get it through the door. Actually the place that I am buying it from rents them for people going on cruises and they haven't had a problem with them.

Also I had already decided to take the arms off of it to make it even easier to get through the door.

I have a walker right now and they regularly swab it so having the scooter looked at won't be a problem.

Things to think about. I really am interested in what others think and do with the scooters. The more information I have before I buy it the better. I have time because before the insurance will pay for it I had to apply for a government grant to help pay for it. What ever the grant doesn't pay for the insurance will.

So on that note are there other things I should think about in regards to a scooter? I need it here at home to take my grandkids out to the park for walks and if they want to use their bikes. I look after them all summer long. Last year was horrible as we ended up stuck at home the whole time as I was unable to do things. As well going to stores and other places will be good as right now there are so many places my husband and I can't go to because I am unable to walk.

tigercat

I am looking at buying a scooter and bringing it on my next cruise. however I was wondering if people had problems getting them on and off the ship when embarking and disembarking. It is a long ramp up.

I usually get a wheelchair so this will be a first for me. It will be a Go Go LX.

tigercat

I love the beef carpaccio and usually the lamb. However, the lamb on the Conquest is really hit and miss and the last 2 times a miss. I now order the cowboy steak. However, there is really nothing on the dessert menu that I want to order or can order. The sides are okay, I like the wasabi mashed and the creamed spinach.

tigercat

I am a Canadian and from Ontario as well. I wasn't offended by the OP. Loud people of any nationality can be had. We had neighbours once who brought loudspeakers on board just so that their music could really be heard and the movies they wanted to watch would be loud enough for them to hear. I finally asked them that the movie sounded interesting could they move the computer a little so that I could see the screen. They turned it off. Now this was after we had listened to them for several days and had politely asked them to turn things down a little. I figured if you can't beat them, join them. I never did see the end of the movie.

tigercat

We have done a couple of B2B's and if I could make all of our cruises B2B I would. I love doing them. The shortest cruise was a 6 and 9 day cruise. They usually are 2 7 day cruises. But then we have also done a couple of longer cruises as well. A 14 day and a 12 day cruise that weren't B2B's.

tigercat

I have in the past used a walker. I could fold it up a little to get around all the trays. However, in the future I will have to bring a scooter and I have no idea how I will be able to get around them.

tigercat

Add Canada to that list.

tigercat

Carnival Chefs are always so good if you can't or don't eat a specific thing. The Chef has come to our table a night or two from the dinner and talked with us. My son is fine with everything but I have trouble with some things including sea food of any kind. I told him to just not worry about it and I would just give my portion to my son but he has made something for me. One Chef told me it gives him a chance to try out something new.

Princess cruises will not change a thing so we haven't tried the Table on that line.

tigercat

I always have my HC sign in the van. I am going to look into getting one for traveling. I thought I saw on the web site that if you are traveling you can get one just for that. That way my permanent one will be okay. I'll see. I might also be wrong about that. It would still be a valid sign though.

tigercat

Thanks Cruisewithh. I will remember that, although in all the times I have been to the States I have never come across parking meters where I am. I probably wouldn't have thought I didn't have to pay. I should look up the rules here in Canada for that.

tigercat

Funny thing about the washcloths. When we went to England, France and Israel the hotels there didn't have wash cloths. It seems that they don't provide them or use them over there. We ended up in England at a dollar store buying some as my husband uses them all the time.

tigercat

We were on a B2B on the Conquest in Jan. First week the wait staff were great. Apps came out one at a time if you ordered more than one. Then the main course in a timely manner. Cutlery was replaced and the food was great.

The second week however they put us in a different section and it was horrible. The head waiter decided that I didn't want any seasoning on my meal. It was ordered the night before because of allergies but I am fine with spices and herbs. I kept telling him that the food was tasteless and very dry. He kept insisting that I didn't want anything. I had never said anything about not wanting any seasoning. As well if you ordered more than one app they were all delivered at the same time. We were at a four top and the couple that we were dining with would order several apps and just kept putting their dirty dishes under the one they were eating.

If the second week had of been the only week on the ship I would have thought that was how the whole dining room was like. We thought of asking for a different wait staff but really liked the couple we were with. And the second couple were on a B2B as well but this was their first week. They let me know later that they were moved to a different section their second week and got great service.

tigercat

I really liked the better tea bags that they had. I don't like Lipton tea at all. But I always bring my own tea bags to the States anyway as there just isn't any good tea in the States. So I will just make sure I have enough for the cruise.

tigercat

Thanks I will. If it is free for me that's good but if not we will pay. What kind of scooter do you have? I don't have mine yet. I am still looking and waiting for the insurance to decide if they will pay for it or not.

tigercat

I won't have a lift but I will have an attachment on the back of my van to carry my scooter so I will end up having to pay. That's okay.

tigercat

Thanks for the quick answer.

tigercat

I live in Ontario Canada and have a handicapped card. I do need it. The only way to get it is to have it certified by a Dr. that you need it. But I assume that some people manage to get it without being handicapped but I do need it. We will be driving to Ft. Lauderdale for our cruise and will need to use it on the way down as well as at the port. I will be bringing a scooter and will have something in the car to get it out of the car but figure on paying for parking.

Do I need to get a different card for my car for the States? Where would I find out the information for that?

Any help would be appreciated.

tigercat

How do you find out if there are any accessible cabins? I booked this past Feb. for a cruise next Feb. and there were no accessible cabins left. I have a cruise in Oct. as well and figured that there was no way one was available. The other problem I have in Oct. is that there are 3 of us and my understanding is that the accessible cabins only hold 2 people. I will be bringing a scooter for the first time in Oct. so am unsure how that is going to work in a regular balcony cabin. Both cruises are on Carnival.

tigercat

First of all my seat is somewhat adjustable up and down. The foot board of mine is flat then it curves upward toward the front. I find myself adjusting my feet often to stay comfortable. Also the tiller (the steering column) can be adjusted closer to you by loosening the knob and lowering it to get it closer to you. I feel you really need to go to a medical supply place and try them all. That way you can drive them around and see exactly what works for you. They will know whats best for your size and condition. They let me take them out in the parking lot etc. In the long run a 4 wheeler would do you no good if you couldn't get it into your cabin. Not sure what they will say if you can't get it in the room.

Going to a medical supply place is where I have gone to see about the scooter. Around here no store sells them in their store. I think you can go on line to see them but then you don't get to try them out.

The scooters have adjustable seats however they are all still too high for me. The one 4 wheeler (which can also be a 3 wheeler) will need they said a rubber tile or something put on the bottom to raise it up enough for me.

The 4 wheel really worked out well outside. Now I have only been able to take it outside once because of the weather although I have been back a couple of times and have been able to use it at the supply store. They have made the store up so that you can take their scooters or any other equipment they have around the store.

Having the tiler move is great and does make it nice to drive.

I have used the ones at Disney World though and at Wal Mart and because of that this one was so easy to use compared to them.

We have been going back and forth about the 3 vs. the 4. They have suggested the 4 (and the 4 and 3 are the same price so pushing for the 4 doesn't benefit them) wheeler because of the length of my legs and the problems with my legs. I can move my legs from being down to being up a little.

As for getting it in the cabin I can push it when the gears are off so I can move it easily. The other thing is that it can be taken apart really easy and I am able to do that. Once in the cabin I can have my two boys move it. I would prefer to be able to get it in and out without doing that but if that is what I have to do I will.

I am going to go back to the store and drive a 3 wheeler outside when the weather permits it. I don't have to buy it until Oct. for our cruise. However, I would like it by the time summer comes when I have the 3 young grandkids to look after, so I can take them places.

I will have time to really become comfortable with the scooter and maybe even set up an practice hall and doorway.

tigercat

It looked really nice but it was such a waste of food. I am glad that they don't have them anymore. I am sure prices would be much higher if they kept them up as so much of it went into the garbage.

I would go and look and take pictures and then wait in line to go get something but not much. So many people would come to look but that was it. There really wasn't a lot of other options but now there are a couple of different options. I did like the Mexican buffet on one of my cruises but the last one there really wasn't much there.

tigercat

I do realize that the 3 wheeler can turn sharper and we are looking at it as well. The big problem with a 3 wheeler for me is where my legs go. I am very short and they would have to do something to build up the bottom so my feet touch. Also, because of my disability if I leave my legs in one position for any length of time my legs seize up and are really painful. That is the biggest thing that the 4 wheel has. I could move my feet from straight down to up on the top of the wheels. I tried doing that with a 3 wheel and you can't do it. I am worried that if I can't move my legs than the scooter is really not going to help me much at all. For those of you that have 3 wheelers can you put your feet up? I hate being short sometimes.

tigercat