docsievers

Newbies and kids - the bane for us long time cruisers. We have to face the fact that we are a dying breed and the cruise lines are all adding new ships that are much larger and getting rid of their smaller ships. This equates to having to sell a whole bunch more state rooms every year to make their target profit margins. They need new passengers and families. Those new passengers are not coming from our ranks. New blood is needed so these new ships offer more activities and opportunities that appeal to a broader demographic. It is really hard for us cruisers to ride the waves on our mobility scooters. Food service and quality can be reduced with little impact - after all, these new passengers are used to McDonalds. They can label the food with fancy French sounding names with exotic seasonings and these new passengers will think they have died and gone to heaven. Perhaps all that is left for us are the small ship luxury cruise lines. If we still went to enjoy life at sea, we are going to have to pay the price. Of course, there is always the opportunity to take a cruise with your grandchildren.

On the general issue of access for mobility challenged passengers, my experience, as a challenged person, is most cruise lines, as a company, don't care. Many of the crew on most ships care very much as it is part of their nature to care and to be helpful - which is why they chose crewing on a cruise ship in the first place. Perhaps there is an issue with ships being designed and built overseas. The designers are free to ignore the US based ADA requirements, even though the corporation may be a US corporation. My wife and I have to use scooters now (either rented or our own) and have found it very difficult or impossible to get on or off the ship at some ports. On a recent cruise, their were very few crew staffing the gangplank and most were very reluctant to try and help us. This may come from corporate as the are fearful of liability if the passenger or crew person is hurt or injured. If the port requires tenders, we are confined to the ship for the day. Having cruised as much as we have, a quiet day on board, at a port we have already visited, is kind of nice. It is easier to use the pool and internet service is much better with so few people using it, and the eating venues are less crowded. I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a cruiser - not a vacationer on a cruise ship. I enjoy the tranquil sound of the water against the hull of the ship, watching the sea life and reading a good book in an old fashion deck chair.

I too use a CPAP and have for a couple of decades. I did order distilled water on a HAL Grand Voyage many years ago and do not recall paying for it. I found, however, that I used very little water due to the humidity at sea on a cruise ship. Since that cruise, I have left my tank at home and done fine. My bigger issue with the cruise lines (and most hotel, as well) is getting power for the CPAP from an accessible 120V outlet next to the bed. On some ships I stretched an extension cord across the room from the vanity - then they started forbidding extension cords. My room steward was able to get an "approved" one so I could plug in. Since that time, I found Amazon has some excellent 240V-120V converters so I can use that 240V outlet next to the bed for my CPAP. The one I have also has USB ports so I can charge my phone, reader, and camera batteries while sleeping. But I am sure most experienced cruisers already have 2 or 3 converters for use on cruise ships. If you do not have one yet, be sure you get one that converts the power and not just enables using your "American" plugs in the European outlets.