Stevi

I was really looking forward to visiting Victoria and I was very disappointed with it. The main problem was that true there wasn’t enough time or the right time of day to do anything. It was well after 7pm by the time we got set free and it wasn’t enough daylight to see the sights. In fact I turned around and went back to the ship on the first bus back after doing a bit of a walk on the main downtown street. My traveling companions decided to find some where for a drink but were faced with high cover charges to access any of the bars. They decided that for one drink it wasn’t worth it and they came back to the ship about an hour later. If I could do it all over again I’d stay on the ship and take part in the amenities I hadn’t tried. I’m sorry I don’t have a suggestion for you in Victoria.

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I forgot to mention the other thing I use is MedicAlert bracelet. It identifies my ailments and I have a printout from them with my list of medications. It serves 2 purposes as it speaks for me in a medical emergency should I be unable to do so and it’s another source of officialness confirming my medical mess. Finally good friends of mine say it says toxic ingredients do not cremate :).

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My mum uses a wheelchair and I know they did Venice without any problems that I recall. I will try and remember to ask them for some details when I see them next.

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I’m a Canadian and I rarely carry any cash. It is extremely rare for anyone to need cash as almost every store takes credit cards or debit cards. I have 2 local places that I use that don’t take credit but I can use interact which electronically debits from my bank account. Even between friends and home based businesses money moves electronically now, so it really is a rare situation that requires some cash. I’ll be honest that I carry $20 for those few times when I need cash and it hardly ever needs replacing.

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As long as it is in pharmacy labeled bottles you will be fine. If it makes you feel more comfortable have a copy of the prescription with you. I have traveled all over the world with some pretty heavy narcotics, needles and needle ends and have never had a problem.

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I use multiple medications that use a pen style delivery system and needle ends and I had no trouble bring it aboard. I wasn’t even questioned about it when I boarded.

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When booking with my Princess agent I had to declare my disability as in I had to agree I am disabled and need the room(done to prevent people booking the room when they didn’t actually have a disability). Once I had paid for the cruise I was asked to self declare my disability on a Princess form. No medical personnel were required to fill it out. Basically they needed to know the nature of my disability and what medical equipment I was bringing. If my memory is correct in some circumstances you need to have a certificate identifying your fitness to travel. I didn’t need one.

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I used a scooter the whole time I cruised Alaska however I was able to store the scooter on the bus for example so it wasn’t with me at all times. So when we took the White Pass train excursion the train stored the scooter one way and the bus another. It can be quite the walk for some ports and having the wheelchair might prove to be a blessing rather than an annoyance. When we took the bus to the whale watching trip my scooter was stored somewhere until we headed back to port. At every port in was made to feel as comfortable as possible and never once did I feel a burden or that I was slowing people down. I would prefer not to need my scooter but if it the difference between having an experience or missing out I’ll swallow my pride and opt for the experience every time. I do hope your lovely wife decides to see all she can see and that you all have a great time.

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Another recommendation for layers. We visited in mid August so it would be a little warmer than September but not by a whole bunch. Bring your waterproof jacket as it is a rainforest area albeit a cold one as opposed to a tropical rain forest. We had one wet day and it was very wet and even though we had good waterproof jackets we still were soaked to the bone. We did find our day in Glacier National Park cold (and I’m a former Brit living in Canada) so I am used to some pretty cold weather but it was very cold when compared to the other days in the cruise. So a hat and gloves are something we used on that day, we didn’t need them on any other day. I guess the way I packed was for a little of everything. Something for warm days, something for cold days and something for wet days. On the wet day my shoes got really wet and needed time to dry out. Luckily I had 2 pairs of similar shoes. A heavier hiking/running shoe (the pair that got wet) and a light weight running shoe so I used the lighter pair while the others dried out. One thing to remember is something that I used to joke with my parents about when they traveled (they seemed to take everything with them) and is that there are shops where they were going. And definitely there shops in Alaska and on the cruise ship. Certainly prices can be higher (than the mainland but probably better than UK prices) but if you are a savvy shopper and patient you can get some good deals. Midway though our cruise the cruise line dropped the prices on a lot of things and I bought a lovely fleece jacket on the ship. It was very reasonably priced and a lovely souvenir too.

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Wanting to do a whale watching excursion. I have been in contact with Captain Steve and we can go on his 6 passenger boat or we can go on one of the larger 26-49 passenger boats with one of the other operators or an 18 passenger one. My husband is afraid that there is more chance of seasickness on the smaller boat. What are your thoughts on pros and cons of the different size vessels? On the larger one we also could do the combo to Mendenhall glacier which we are interested in.

I’m prone to seasickness but I had no problem on our small boat. We had a great experience and we were not out in open water where rough seas are more likely. I would recommend a smaller boat as it gave us a more intimate experience. I’ve dolphin watched on small and larger vessels and whale watched on a small boat and I prefer the smaller boat experience.

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I’m the OP and I did take both my scooter and walker and honestly I only used the scooter for the whole week. I used my scooter in every port and didn’t have any trouble getting around. Often the ports required quite a bit of walking just to get into the tourist area. It might have been ok for someone without a walking problem but it would have worn me out had I tried walking it.

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Looking to book for 2 adults/2 kids (ages 12 and 9) - would like a small boat but don't want to pay for 6 passengers. What do people recommend for companies? Harv and Marv won't take under 13 without paying for the full boat...

Another vote for Gastineau Guiding. They did an excellent job of including all passengers on our trip in all ages including a few middle aged “children”. We were all made to feel a part of the crew and both the captain and our tour guide where focused on giving us the experience of a lifetime. I think they delivered. It wasn’t a private tour but it sure felt like one and while we didn’t know our traveling companions when we boarded we sure felt like we did when we disembarked.

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I am looking at purchasing a travel scooter and never realized that there were so many different suppliers and models out there. I would be using it for other travel besides cruising and also shopping when at home as I am very limited in the amount of walking I am able. I am 6ft 2in and approximately 215bs. Any suggestions and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I forgot to mention if you have a specific question about my travelscoot experience please feel free to ask me. I don’t mind sharing my experience.

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I am looking at purchasing a travel scooter and never realized that there were so many different suppliers and models out there. I would be using it for other travel besides cruising and also shopping when at home as I am very limited in the amount of walking I am able. I am 6ft 2in and approximately 215bs. Any suggestions and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

In 2016 I bought a travelscoot. I was lucky my insurance almost completely covered the cost and I have been very happy with it. I can lift it in and out of my car and manage to disassemble and reassemble when needed. It doesn’t like deep snow (but unless you’re a skier, who does). I bought 2 of its largest batteries and I have never run one down completely in a day. I never tried it before I used it so I wasn’t sure what to expect when it arrived but it has met and exceeded my expectations. I think you will find there are fans of every type. What I would do is decide what is important for you from a travel scooter and then see which brands meet those needs.

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http://www.traveljuneau.com has listings.

 

But it is also simple to just link these 2 options yourself. Huge benefit with YOU deciding what you want to see and do at Mendenhall and how long you want to stay. All you have to do, is book the whale watch tour you want, then call a cab, to meet you when you get of the whale tour, go directly to Mendenhall, pay the small admission. You can then just call for a cab pick up about 30 minutes priority to you wanting to go. Efficient and works excellent. :) Alternative is a car rental and shuttle bus.

I haven’t done Mendenhall Glacier but we did do a small boat tour to see the Whales with Gastineau Guiding. Apparently they are only bookable through the cruise lines and carry a maximum of 20 passengers. We had excellent viewing to see the whales and thoroughly enjoyed our trip.

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When I looked into renting I found out my existing insurance covered the cost of a Travelscoot scooter so I purchased it outright and have the added benefit of having at my disposal anytime I need it. Since I am a medical mess I found that not a single insurance company would cover me. I’m in Canada so how it affects you might be different. In the end I traveled without any additional insurance. Regardless please make sure you read through the exclusions as it would be really disappointing to find out you’ve paid for a policy that won’t pay up.

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Can you only book through this company through the cruise line?

To be honest I don't know. We booked through the cruise line mainly because I was the arranger of everything for our party and it was easier to keep it with the cruise line rather than try and keep track of bookings from all different sources. I had their business card somewhere but I am not sure where. I can try and see if I can find it if you need it.

I also recommend Gastineau Guiding. Small groups with guaranteed access to a clear view of the whales. Excellent guides and we even got to help out with some data gathering for some university studies. It was pretty simple stuff but that was the beauty of it, as it was suitable for all ages.

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I did the Bennett Lake tour this past summer and we as in I and the rest of my party really enjoyed it. You spend more time on the train and are taken to a deserted mining town and given the chance to explore it. We weren’t originally booked on that tour. We actually were booked on the shorter train ride and were offered this while we were cruising. We booked through the tour office on the ship. Unlike the cheaper tour we got a box lunch that we ate on the train on the way to Bennett Lake. If I were to do it again I would without hesitation. We were a small group and that was really nice too. I’m not a fan of feeling like cattle being herded from one place to another. What you don’t get to see is the wildlife exhibit or the huskies. We had awesome tour guides for both parts of the trip. On the way home in the bus the driver/guide made many stops for photo ops and was very happy to take photos of people and really made sure that everyone had a great time. He was probably the best bus driver/ tour guide that I have had in a long time. He felt that he wasn’t doing his job if you didn’t learn something about Alaska and have a great time doing it. He did a great job of connecting what you saw from the train and what you were seeing from the bus. While I can’t compare the tow I can certainly recommend the Bennett Lake tour.

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I don’t have experience with airports and scooters (yet) but I have had experience with my walker both good and good in the end. It has never been a hassle and airlines in all kinds of places have been respectful and very helpful. I have used my walker to the gate and I have checked in and with all but one instance it worked well. The one time it didn’t I am happy to report that the airline did everything they could to repair the problem and were gracious throughout the process. In hindsight I was probably as much at fault for the part that broke but at the time I didn’t know. I had left my folding basket on the walker and the attachment point broke. Rough handling broke it, but if I had removed the basket then it wouldn’t have broken. So although it happened I don’t hold the airline totally responsible. Anyway, I now use a scooter and I would bring my own any day over renting. I know what it can and can’t do with it how the battery lasts and how it charges. I know it warts and all and when I travel it will travel too. If the rental rate is as much as the scooter then I would take it and if you have to replace it then you are not too far out of pocket (unless you are talking about out of pocket after insurance costs the that is different). Speaking of insurance would your home insurance cover it if it were damaged? If it were me in your position and based on how I was treated when my walker was damaged I wouldn’t hesitate to take it flying with me. Have a wonderful trip!

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I have multiple chronic pain conditions and used a scooter on my last cruise and have used wheelchairs in airports on multiple occasions. I always gently tell the agent that I have multiple chronic pain conditions and can react poorly to being touched and have never had an issue. They have always been respectful and gentle. Sometimes I am asked if I can stand and I have when able other times they have checked me while seated in my chair. In all cases while you never know what to expect it has always been a smooth and a pain free process. I make sure to empty all my pockets and to make their job as easy as possible I don’t wear metal on my clothes so the only thing that can set off the metal detector.

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What I forget to mention is the train does have a lift to “lift” passengers in wheelchairs onto the train. I managed the stairs so I never tried it.

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Does such a thing exist? We are sailing in August in RCCL Radiance of the Seas. The only accessible option they have is the round trip White Pass train ride. Are there any private companies that do the train and coach bus/van that can accommodate wheelchair? Our daughter can transfer but we need the WC to accompany her. If they exist, please share the info! My internet searching is driving me batty.:rolleyes:

The trip I took this summer was organized by the cruise line and I was on it this past summer. They offered one, one way by train and one way by coach. Depending on the trip you take you will either take the train first then the coach or the coach first and return by train. If the wheelchair passenger can manage the steps onto a coach, a folding wheelchair can be stored under the coach (which is where they stored my folding electric scooter). I don’t think the literature is terribly clear on the actual details of the trip but they do look after disabled passengers very well.

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I took my scooter - I have a travelscoot scooter and took off the seat back so it would fit under the coach. The driver was great making sure I was able to get off and on for pictures when the coach stopped. I managed all the excursions I chose and was very happy with my experiences at each port.

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I use a walker or scooter to get around and I did this tour this past summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since you can get on and off the coach you’ll do fine. They seated me at the front of the coach so I didn’t need to walk down the coach. They are great at giving assistance when you need it. I did the extended tour to Bennet Lake and while it was beautiful it wasn’t really designed for handicapped people. You could access the train station and see the exhibits there but you couldn’t go into the old abandoned townsite. Carcross in the Yukon was quite accessible and you shouldn’t have any problems there. It was a very enjoyable tour and I would do it again without any hesitation.

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