gptraveler

Please share your best and worst experiences with the ships you have sailed on as a person using a manual chair. Planning a first cruise for my 67 yo sister who is totally dependent on others for her care. We know we will need a fully accessible cabin and plenty of room to move her wheelchair around. We will be 3 to a room. Our budget is probably for a balcony cabin but those options go early and we are looking for a deal.

I have this exact question. Thanks for asking it. I'm looking at Anthem in November.

Here in Massachusetts we were doing poorly getting the vaccines out but now we're killing it! 

I think the vaccines are game changers for getting back to planning vacations. I will gladly get a booster whenever necessary if it will help.  I can protect myself and others with the utmost respect for their special health needs.  

Here's hoping that we'll be able to travel without masks and with improved handwashing stations. 

I am thrilled to look at cruises again! Currently I have my eye on Oasis of the Seas for a family cruise in late October.

We had a balcony suite on the Rotterdam and we were below the Windjammer. We heard chairs being dragged off and on throughout our stay. I will be checking what is going on above us in the future.

I loved our family cruise on the Freedom. The worst part was debarkation, literally hours standing in line and shuffling along. I wonder if there is a trick for that, maybe ask to get off early? How late can you stay in Windjammer if you have a late flight? I had the simple refreshment plan and really enjoyed the Starbucks coffees. Wonderful cruise on a really big (at least to me) ship.

Thank you everyone for the uplifting posts on solo cruising.

I love cruising and my husband doesn't. The idea of traveling alone is quite new to me as I've never done it and I'm a bit afraid.

Things that break my nerve are traveling to the port and handling all my own baggage. I usually take the 2 smaller suitcases and my husband the 2 bigger ones as well as a backpack. I'm also an introvert so I don't relish the idea of interacting with others and yet I'm afraid I will be lonely.

Still, I'm going to look at cruises out of Boston last minute since I don't need to fly there.

Thanks again all you positive solo cruisers.

On 2/14/2019 at 4:52 PM, DUTRAVEL said:

We also used Keith Simmons in November for a wheelchair accessible tour. We paid $300 for a 5-hour tour. The price is for the vehicle, not per person. I don't know if he has more than one vehicle, the van we were in was small - maybe would fit three adults besides the wheelchair. You can e-mail him with your questions at keithsimmons@logic.bm.

Sorry it took so long for me to see this and reply. You have been really helpful. Thank you. That is a more than reasonable price.

Was that $210 per person? How many people will the van take using a tall power chair and other family?

I love this thread! If I ever get the nerve to sail solo, I will be remembering all the great information and support shared here.

I have a few things to mull over though.

I am a senior woman who has never traveled alone happily.

I have a medical condition that can be life threatening but has never acted up on a ship.

I will miss my husband but he really doesn't care for cruising.

Getting myself to the port and back with all my stuff makes me nervous.

I am an introvert and can't do the small talk the way others can.

Okay, I'm a Nervous Nellie but I love cruising and can't wait to go back out.

I know this topic was addressed in 2011 but there are probably changes to itineraries so I'm asking for updated info.

My husband does not like sea days. He also doesn't like a new port every day. Yeah, he's a tough one. He did enjoy a couple of cruises to Bermuda because he had 3 nights in port and only "suffered" 4 days.

Are there any other cruises that spend a couple of nights in the same port, ideally 3 nights or more?

Increasing the challenge, he has no interest in European cruising.

:rolleyes: