iuki

On 8/11/2022 at 6:01 AM, Cthulhu_Awakens said:

Was looking through the site and couldn't find anything for disabilities and then visited the support page and this is on there for booking online with disabilities. 😕

 

Q. Is it possible to book online tickets for disabled visitors?

A. No, tickets for the disabled and accompanying person are issued directly at the Special Permits Desk. Kindly approach the Special Permits Desk and present required documents testifying the disability.

I was totally lost on the website.  🙄

On 4/23/2024 at 9:42 AM, Izzywiz said:

Unfortunately, I can’t help with your scooter rental question but just a little information about Santorini. I use either a wheelchair or mobility scooter (I bring my own) for longer distances so I’m speaking from experience in 2022.
I don’t know if you are aware that you need to use a cable car to get from the tender dock to Fira Town. Luckily, both cable car stations (quayside and the town) provide special access for disabled people.

One of the cable car stewards spotted me being wheeled along the quayside and took me and my family group under his wing and escorted us to the disability access area where he organised our journey up and later, he organised our return trip.

We have been to Santorini many times when I was more mobile so didn’t realise how difficult it was to move through the very narrow, cobbled streets in the wheelchair. 
We will be there again in May and I plan to go up to Fira but find a cafe within a short ‘hobbling’ distance of the cable car station where I can sit and enjoy a Greek coffee and the fabulous view while my DH wanders the streets.

it is a long time since we were in Mykonos but I’m sure that the streets there will be narrow and probably many of them will be cobbled too.

Sadly, having mobility issues and visiting these glorious, ancient destinations are not always compatible so I wish you luck in finding a suitable appliance.

santorini

 

 

Santorini streets

 

Thank you for sharing.  I have my personal foldable lightweight electric wheelchair.  Wish I had taken these cruises when I was physically able to walk without pain.  This will be my one and only European cruise since I know I’ll remain on the ship,  Going our cruise with my family - happy for them.

On 4/8/2024 at 5:50 PM, GraC said:

Hello,

Anyone have experience with an electric wheelchair at any of the following ports (below)? I know there is a lot of cobblestone,  but can an electric wheelchair get off the ship and explore.

Are their required shuttles in the port? 

I'm interested in the Mediterranean Odyssey Cruise and I know in older cities it might be tricky, but is it possible I can get to the port towns? After some googling it looked like some ports required non-accessible shuttles to get out of the port, but wondering if private tours can access where we disembark the ship?  Or if a shuttle is required to get out of the port?  Or if it's possible to roll/walk out.

Any other tips for electric wheelchair users on Viking cruise or other ones at these ports?

 

Marseille, France
Monte Carlo, Monaco 
Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Naples, Italy
Corfu (Kérkyra), Greece
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Split, Croatia

Venice,  Italy 

 

Thanks so much.  I appreciate it! 

Did you get any response?  We’re sailing on the Odyssey OTS in October on a B2B.  The first 12 nights to Italy, Greece, and Turkey, to be continued on a TA to Spain and Madeira, for 14 nights, disembarking in NJ.  I have a foldable electric wheelchair because I cannot walk without chronic pain despite pain medication.  The 12-night cruise was originally booked as a Holy Land Cruise.  RCI didn’t give us the option to cancel or switch to another cruise, which I know they have the right to change the itinerary.  It is what it is.

On 3/31/2024 at 7:38 AM, Ashland said:

I'm fine with staff serving the soft serve. However they need to do it correctly. The round & round method isn't correct and why you see many times it falls off the cone cause it's just sitting on top.. They need to do the up/down method which fills the inside of the cone first...no spillage this way and it makes a nice serving.

 

Whatever the product that Celebrity uses tastes much better than the one RCI uses.

We were just on both cruiselines and could tell the difference in taste.

That’s how I do it.

On 3/31/2024 at 12:17 AM, Cruise a holic said:

I prefer that it is served.  Some people do not was their hands after using bathroom.  Don't want them touching the machine.  Yuk.  Feel the same about buffet utensils- 

That’s why we avoid the Windjammer.

On 3/23/2024 at 7:35 PM, PhillyFan33579 said:

What is wrong with the ship? I sailed on Grandeur twice last year and thought the ship was in great shape for its age. I have another cruise on her this July. Super Mario was on Grandeur the first time I cruised on her last year. I figure if it’s good enough for RCI’s number one passenger, it’s good enough for me. 

See the photos posted by Big Papi 21 with the topic Grandeur OTS Be Wary 12/17-12/27.

On 3/23/2024 at 7:35 PM, PhillyFan33579 said:

What is wrong with the ship? I sailed on Grandeur twice last year and thought the ship was in great shape for its age. I have another cruise on her this July. Super Mario was on Grandeur the first time I cruised on her last year. I figure if it’s good enough for RCI’s number one passenger, it’s good enough for me. 

Maybe it’s been refurbished.  We sailed in May/June last year on a B2B.  Someone also posted recently with photos how bad the ship was.  Table linens were stained, and the bed skirt was torn, the shower had mold stains, etc.  If I find the post of photos from the other member, I’ll let you know.

On 3/17/2024 at 5:19 AM, shipgeeks said:

See the post "what are light cards?"

Chief Engineer confirms that not using anything like this will NOT turn off the AC.  In other words, just another unneeded product.

Actually, the lights in our stateroom wouldn’t work.  I can’t remember what ship.  We called the front desk.  Our stateroom attendant came to our room and told us we had to put our card in the slot.  BINGO!  We had lights.

On 3/9/2024 at 6:33 AM, Harrisonkid said:

I just requested a certain dining room table for a family of 7. We booked from different sources . I was always told to do the request 14 days out...but I got an auto response saying they start setting up tables 30 days out...not really a question just a heads up ...

I had received an email response stating the same thing.  Two weeks before sailing I sent another request with ship sail date, our names, stateroom numbers, and dining time.

On 3/20/2024 at 2:00 AM, sdear said:

I didnt say they caused it...i said it affects them in an adverse way.   sheesh..chill out folks

I understand what you’re saying.  People allergic to strong perfume don’t suffer lung damage, but they can experience a reaction to the perfume, such as difficulty breathing, or, in my case, Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion perfume caused me to have a migraine and I had to go to the doctor’s office for a shot.  Fragrant flowers and candles make it difficult for me to breathe.  I just walk away from these situations.  Fortunately, I no longer suffer with migraines.

The MDR staff on Grandeur was the BEST of ALL the cruises we’ve been on.  However, the ship needs to be salvaged or sold.  The condition of the ship was awful.  We sailed on the Grandeur in 2022. Never been on the Rhapsody.

4 minutes ago, TheInnocentAge said:

Here's the link that was provided earlier in the thread...

 

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/royal-caribbean-crew-member-accused-of-installing-hidden-cameras-inside-guest-bathrooms/3249415/

While looking for the article I did discover that the guest in the stateroom found the camera and called security.  Sorry for the misinformation.

On 3/6/2024 at 12:42 PM, travelberlin said:

Apparently a passenger discovered the camera under her sink and reported it. It was not an inspection 

I’ll see if I can find the article.

Although it’s hard to imagine anyone small enough to fit under the bed, the crew member is from the Philippines, and most Filipinos are of small stature.  Since most of the information was provided by the person being charged, he could have embellished his statements “to brag”, thinking it makes him look smart. Remember, we’re dealing with a sick twisted mind.

13 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

I feel confident that this will not reoccur as I highly doubt if the cruise line will sit back with this or permit it to continue, and likely has already checked not only the many ships staterooms but has vetted any involved crew.  You really don't think this is - or ever was - a widespread ongoing issue at this point, do you?  And with the attention that has been focused on it, that the cruise line would continue to allow it to happen?  

It was RCI who turned him into the police and immediately terminated him.  RCI stated they have zero tolerance and are fully cooperating with the authorities. They discovered this during an inspection.

On 3/4/2024 at 2:39 PM, neverbeenhere said:

Under the bed? 
 

 

The stateroom attendant was hiding under the bed with his cell phone.  He also video recorded a 10 yo girl undressing and getting into the shower, including nude women in the bathroom.Hidden cameras in stateroom bathrooms of guests he liked, preferably 16 yo girls. Child pornography found in his electronic devices.

Just now, Biker19 said:

He's still on it, though not on CC.

@CSHS1979 may say aloha back.

Thank you for letting me know. Didn’t realize they were still on that cruise.

Judy

We were on the Grandeur in May.  I agree with the OP.  In fact, in our survey I mentioned the same things about the condition of the ship.  In fact, I said it should be totally renovated, sold, or salvaged.  Like the OP stated, the crew members were great, especially in the dining room.  They were the BEST of all the cruises we’ve taken, despite not liking most of food in the MDR.

On 3/6/2022 at 12:05 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

It appears that way as of now. 

 

 

Aloha John

How did you enjoy your world cruise?  Please send our aloha to Laura.

Judy

15 hours ago, GimmeOcean said:

Quantum class is a good deal larger than Solstice class, but having the same design pedigree makes sense. I like this class too! Looking forward to my TA on Odyssey next month.

Let us know how you like it.  We’re leaving on a B2B in Oct/Nov.

On 1/7/2024 at 9:09 AM, Another_Critic said:

Neither ... I picked the TA from Rome (Civitavecchia).  🙂

We’ll be on that sailing too.

The CDC just announced that the 5-day quarantine requirement for COVID has been changed.  They now say that if you no longer have a fever and test negative for COVID after having COVID, you are no longer contagious and do not need to be quarantined.

Do you think cruise lines will follow this new CDC guideline?

No.  But we’re doing less cruises than in the past.  We just cancelled a B2B on Wonder OTS this May.  We have a B2B in October, 12 days was supposed to be to the Holy Land followed by a TA for 14 days.  If our daughter and great grandson weren’t going, I would have canceled the first leg since the Holy Land itinerary was changed due to understandable reasons.

I once posted about that a few years ago.  When I spoke to Steve? With Insure Travel?  He told me to just say you don’t have other insurance.  I didn’t want to lie on the form if I had to file a claim.  Since then, I decided to just use my BC/BS insurance and RCI’s insurance and pay the difference for out-of-network prices and take my chances.  Most third party insurance will not cover after a certain age.  However, I have noticed a BIG price hike by RCI on certain ships and destinations.  In fact, outrageous costs.

On 1/31/2024 at 12:09 PM, summercruisin' said:

Hi Judy! I (OP) am just now seeing these responses, but I am so glad you reached out to get some suggestions for your upcoming trip! 

 

I saw on later posts you specifically mentioned signing in and out of the teen clubs. My kiddo said when he went to the teen areas, he did not have to sign in or out at all, and that that was the policy for the older teens on Carnival. My kid was 16 at the time. So, hopefully your great grandson won't have to worry about what name/nickname to put. 

Good to know.  Thank you.