shadow 123

I have a question about rising from the chairs  in the dining room and the buffet. I have a lot of difficulty getting out of a chair. I do have a walker that I've never used because I really do prefer the cane and so far it has  serviced me well. This next cruise though I believe I am going to take the walker for I think I may need it. 

My question is this. Does the ship provide anything that will help me get up and down from a chair? A pillow of some sort or a cushion? I'd be willing to purchase something but I don't know what to buy. Any suggestions?

Also, how would a walker   work getting on a bus for a an excursion and going up and down the ramp to get  on and off the ship? Is it very difficult?

Thank you

You guys out there are the best! So many people that need help getting around need this information. I'm glad you're out there to help! Thank you

Just now, sandrajean123 said:

That scares me. I felt such confidence when Holland  America told me that they would take me from the pier to my room and back again when it was time to leave. I'm gonna call them again just to be sure.

Ps... How did you end up getting to your cabin?

3 hours ago, VirginiaIsForCruisers said:

My experience with Royal was very different. They dumped me in the elevator lobby that is right by the gangway entrance. When I asked to be taken to my cabin, I was told no. And at the end of the cruise, I was told where to wait for assistance (it was a bar near one of the elevator lobbies).

That scares me. I felt such confidence when Holland  America told me that they would take me from the pier to my room and back again when it was time to leave. I'm gonna call them again just to be sure.

16 hours ago, Steddiguy said:

My partner and I travel solo for 2 reasons. We each have elderly widowed parents with health issues we don't want to leave with no one to call on for help,plus we have a rescue dog with issues that we can't expect a kennel or dog sitter to deal with. So if we didn't travel solo we'd never go anywhere. 

I would never leave my cat in a kennel. That's why it's great that I can travel and  my husband stays home.

21 hours ago, kokopelli-az said:

I'm pretty sure you have to go to a designed area when disembarking if you want wheelchair assistance.   So you  have to get from your room to the meeting area.

Okay, I'm pretty sure you're right but I'm just telling you what holland America told me.

2 hours ago, audome78 said:

I am cruising with my 92 year old father and my 90 year old mother, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. We have arranged, thru, Royal's Special Needs department, for wheelchair assistance at the terminal in Long Beach. 

 

Does anyone have experience on WHERE the assistance begins and where it ends? Does it start at the curb, with luggage drop off and continue thru check in? Our does it start after check-in and only for going up the gang way?

 

I'm trying to plan for our arrival. Mom uses a walker at home, but  getting on Navigator and to her room is going to be a challenge. I have rented a wheelchair for the cruise, which will be in her room. Getting to the room from the car is the issue.

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

I am posting this on the Royal Caribbean forum also

I was told it starts at the Pier. They will take you to your room And at the end of the cruise they will take you from your room to the Pier.

On 10/30/2022 at 10:01 PM, Cruise Kay said:

I think cruising is one of the safest ways to travel alone. You're in a state room which is checked on and cleaned twice a day by your attendant, who will certainly notice if you fail to return to your room or if you don't come out of your room all day. There's a medical staff on board, which obviously would not be the same situation in a hotel. All of your meals are at hand so you're not wandering the streets looking for an Uber to go find food or groceries. You're not exposed to countless rounds of strangers every time you go out to eat. The scenery comes to you, you just walk off the ship and there you are. I do feel that the danger escalates anytime you leave the ship and explore port on your own, but of course to each his own. There are plenty of safe ports to wander, and of course there are always group excursions to join. Common sense goes a long way, obviously.
 

But a cruise ship is so much better than drifting from hotel room to hotel room as you see the world. The staff can become a little family and look after you. And if you need something, guest services will certainly try their best to accommodate.

 

I was on a 12 day transatlantic last month, and developed an eye emergency. I was seeing a big black spot in my vision and had flashes of light in my eye, which can signal a torn retina. And a torn retina needs immediate surgery. This happened right at dinner time. The medical staff on board the ship arranged for me to see an eye doctor the next day in Spain, which was our last stop at land for five days. I was very upset and scared, since I was traveling alone. I had visions of being dumped in Spain with all my bags to go have eye surgery by myself. But the silver lining was that the medical staff took care of everything. All I had to do was go back to my room and wait for a phone call letting me know what time my appointment was the next day.

 

They gave me a card with the address of the eye doctor on it and called the cab for me the next morning. none of this would've happened at a hotel of course, since they do not have medical staff. The eye doctor did a great job and thankfully everything was fine. The eye doctor staff called a cab for me which took me back to the ship. My attendant and waiter and assistant waiter were on pins and needles waiting to hear if I was OK. My attendant cheered in relief. He told me he was so worried about me that he had spoken to his supervisor about the situation. It was very touching.  anyway, two things I learned from that was, always buy medical insurance. and make sure you're on a ship with a great staff and always take time to get to know your staff since you're traveling alone especially. They care.  Good luck on your travels and enjoy.  

It sounds wonderful that you were treated with respect and dignity at a very scary time. Great great great

On 10/27/2022 at 5:34 AM, Zipp2105 said:

I’m happy married and 50 years old I love travelling but my hubby is not keen on long haul, but I want to see South America etc. Did recently cruise Japan in 2019 with my daughter and due to cruise to New Zealand in November on Eclipse with my son, they are getting older and don’t want to be dragged to places by Mum and want to holiday with partners and friends etc.  Are single cruises safe as I’d love to see so much of the world but I’m scared to go alone. My friends hate the thought of cruising but I love it. 

I'd be careful of a singles cruise. You want to go solo And that means any cruise ship.

On 5/29/2022 at 12:46 AM, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

 

Good comeback! 👍  Still, how do you handle social situations with members of the opposite sex?  The kind usually done with one's partner or trusted friends, like dancing.  For instance, there's a band playing, and someone asks to dance with you.  (Meaning classy swing or Latin, not trashy grinding.)  Or conversely, you're in the mood to hit the dance floor, and ask someone yourself.  Cruising and dancing go together like macaroni and cheese, after all.

 

Do you accept the dance invites and/or initiate them yourself?  If yes, how do you vet new people, to make sure they know that a dance is just that, and will under no circumstances lead to the horizontal kind?  (I'm sure the vetting is more relevant for women than for men.)

I don't dance and frankly no 1 asked me. I still like to sit and listen to the music and have a soda but that's it. I'm just not interested.

On 5/27/2022 at 8:52 PM, billslowsky said:

I enjoy getting some intrusive question like "your spouse trusts you on a cruise alone?"  Answer is always, of course, doesn't yours?

I am shocked at the amount of people, especially women, who are Shocked that I travel without my husband! They can't understand that he trust's me and that I trust him.

6 hours ago, MusicManSC said:

Hi folks! We retired at the start of the pandemic. Cruising for the first time since 2019 next week. (Mariner to the the Bahamas.) Booked on another Bahamas cruise in September on Independence. We are so excited to be back at sea! Retirement has been great so far but we've missed cruising. Look for me on board. I'll be the fat, old guy with the bald head, the aloha shirt and a drink in his hand!

Enjoy. Now is the time! We work long and hard for this.

20 hours ago, islandwoman said:

cooncat_mom,  What was your "Boardwalk Balcony"? 

I royal Caribbean I think it's a balcony that overlooks the atrium. Not sure

On 8/12/2021 at 4:33 PM, NuisanceLuke said:

My husband and I have been married 40+ years--one reason I think our marriage has lasted so long is because we respect each other's need for "alone time."  He goes on solo motorcycle trips, and I go on solo cruises.  We take both cruises and motorcycle trips together, too, and have a lot of fun together, but for our personal "sanity" sometimes we just need to get away from each other.

 

 

So true

On 11/29/2021 at 1:30 PM, sandrajean123 said:

I cruise solo to get   away from my husband. The last thing I wanna do is hook up with another man! This is all about me time

I agree I agree I agree! It's all about me time

52 minutes ago, Nvstg8 said:

I read you helped another person with an extended cruise. I’m going on a transatlantic cruise for 14 days then land time for another 14-21 days. Could you give me an idea of what I’ll need. Never been on a ship that long so I’m not 100% sure. Thanks. 

Honestly, just take what you usually take. You can wash clothes on the ship. On the port that you visit there's going to be small stores there so if you need something like toothpaste anything like that you can always buy it while you're in port. I did watch YouTube That said you should take a dental repair kit. Which I thought was very interesting. And I will do that, I'm going on a trip 25 days next year and that's 1 thing that I will take. I'm wondering where you're going?

On 11/23/2021 at 7:00 PM, Airborne Spoon said:

I am on the 6 day Carnival Panorama to Mexico on 18 Dec and I have an interior room booked and paid for and it was only $300 not per person, total.

 

Today carnival sent me an offer to upgrade to a balcony for an extra $180.

 

Is it worth it? Like its just me nobody, with me and it seems like it would be a nicer room all fancy with a balcony and whatnot, but I dono how much time I'll even be spending in the room to bother with it.

 

It seems like a pretty good deal which is why I ask y'all as people that have been on more cruises than myself.

I know it's kind of late. But I wouldn't do it.

On 3/18/2020 at 12:01 AM, Izena said:

Just found interesting info .    Same for Carnival,  Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.  ( I’m sure others but only interested in those).  New criteria for guests 70 and older must get a Dr,  release that they are healthy enough to sail.  Not sure if this is temporary.

I'm looked on 3 cruises. No 1 asked me for anything. I'm 73

When I got out of college and started my 1st job.

I cruise solo to get   away from my husband. The last thing I wanna do is hook up with another man! This is all about me time

4 minutes ago, sandrajean123 said:

 I'm 73 and I feel the Same way.It's the beauty of being sea  of being alone ,being able to do what you want. I still love to go on shore excursions if it's a country I've never been to before. And I like to go out during the day to a  movie on  board or in the evening at night to the show.  I love the afternoon tea. But that's it Pretty much it. I love to read. ps..I love Rainy days. That's what I like to be on deck.

7 hours ago, travellady said:

…leave the cabin on rainy days.  40 cruises and much of what I cruise for at this point is time to read a good book or watch a good movie.  And meet interesting people.  But on nasty weather days I have no issue curling up in my cabin for long periods of 

 I'm 73 and I feel the Same way.It's the beauty of being sea  of being alone ,being able to do what you want. I still love to go on shore excursions if it's a country I've never been to before. And I like to go out during the day to a  movie on  board or in the evening at night to the show.  I love the afternoon tea. But that's it Pretty much it. I love to read as well.

I'm booked for April 22 to Bermuda and July 2022 to Iceland.

2 hours ago, Sixtytwo said:

Booked for TA April 2022 NY to Rome! Counting down!!

What cruise ship?

On 8/11/2021 at 4:44 PM, Cruise Related said:

Alright, so I’ve been on about 15 cruises, always with someone. Just recently off the Horizon in July, have Mardi Gras booked in September. Yet I want more!! The wife only has so much PTO, so obviously she can only do so much cruising. I on the other hand am self employed and can pretty much do my bidness from anywhere. If you fine folks don’t mind answering a few questions about solo cruising I’d totally appreciate it! 
 

1. What draws you to it? 
2. What are the benefits for you personally?

3. Do you ever feel lonely and wish you had someone ya knew with you?

4. Do you still do excursions or mainly stick to the ship? 
5. Is there a solo cruiser club or something so you can meet up on ship and have a drink or whatever? 
 

I know! Lots of questions. Would definitely appreciate some feedback if possible. Thank you! 

I travel solo. My husband stays home with the cat. I go on my excursions alone I do everything alone and I love it. I am finally at a point in my life where I don't need an entourage .I do what I wanna do when I wanna do it. Never thought I could but once I did it I wouldn't travel with anyone again