Boozebabe

2 weeks ago there were porters who would have taken our luggage out and down the side of the terminal to the waiting shuttle busses. My husband and I have no problem with our stuff but our friends were to stubborn (cheap) to pay the guy a few bucks for the convenience It's the price one needs to pay when they have mobility issues. They were miserable trying to schlep their stuff along. One day they will learn to take my advice about travel.

So yes there are porters to help at both the airport and the ships in FLL.

I know what accessible cabins are like. I'm trying to learn what suites and Haven (which ALL lack the "accessible" designation) are like, to evaluate whether I could use one or not.

2 weeks ago we were on the Conquest in a Ocean Suite The room size is perfect with a scooter. Although it will only accommodate 3, we would have had plenty room for 4. But that bathroom was a killer. There was a step up. Thet doesn't give me a problem at this point. But I'm sure I would win the $10,000 prize on Funniest Home Videos if they saw me trying to climb in the tub. I took a small plastic and metal foldable seat to use in the shower. It fit perfectly and using the hand held shower unit I was able to shower daily. Getting back out would have won me another $10,000.

I would keep the room you have. Accessable rooms are never available when we book because we always book at the last minute. Good luck with your decision.

I just remembered at St Maarten they had electric golf carts to take you from the ships to the tenders. It cost us $1 each person each way. Some of the carts held 6 or 8 people. These are all independent of the cruise lines. So I suppose the cruise lines are co-operating.

I was just in Key West last week and did not see anyone to transport people the 100-150 feet to where the shops are. Everything in KW is so close.

Just a question...Can you fit a scooter in a regular cabin or do you need a wheelchair accessible cabin?

I have a Pride Victory 10 and it fits thru the regular cabin door. It would be very crowded so we get a suite which has the same size door. We just returned from a Carnival cruise with mine. Its the second time I took it on a cruise.

You could have the cabin steward remove the coffee table which will give you more room.

Only things I buy on a cruise ship are drinks. My watches I get on overstock. I buy Skagen watches for half the retail price. Never had a problem. And I get the real deal not knock offs.

So we just returned from the Carnival Conquest. I forgot my luggage scale which also has a tape measure so I couldn't measure door widths. But our friend rented a scooter from Care Vacations. It was the smaller of the two scooters available. He weighs 280 and it had planty of power for him. He also rode it thru the doorway much easier than my larger model. I still rode it in and out but it was a tight fit.

In Key West we took the 1 1/2 hour trolley ride all around the island ($20. per person)Both scooters fit on the trolley at the same time. That was nice.

In Cozumel we got a van that had a lift for both scooters to fit in at once.

We could not get off ship at Grand Cayman. Scooters not permitted on the tenders.

I hope this info helps you.

Cozumel has rick-shaws for hire to get from the ship to the plaza of shops. Beyond that you are on your own. We had 2 scooters and had no problems. We even got a shuttle that took both scooters at once to Paradise Beach. It was only a 15-20 minute wait for that shuttle.

Key West also had trolleys that would acommodate both scooters.

For anyones interest in this subject I now have first hand experience. I took a small stool that fit perfectly inside our tub in a suite room. I don't remember where I bought it but it still had the $7.00 price tag on it. I've had it a couple years. It has metal legs and a plastic seat and folded flat and fit perfectly in my large piece of luggage. It is about toilet height. That seat along with the safety rails allowed me to have a safe shower.

I have an upcoming cruise with Princess in Feb17 and it is the first time I am bringing a 4 wheel Pride Victory 10 scooter. It is a full size scooter although I have seen larger. My questions are: Is there enough space in a handicap accessible room to park the scooter and move around comfortably? Is there anything I should be aware of beyond the potential for MDR staff mixing scooters up? In port at Maui a tender that is 'limited wheelchair accessible' is noted on the itinerary. What the heck does that mean?

 

Thanks in advance.

Have you contacted the special needs office at Princess to let them know about your scooter? Carnival required it. They want to know the size and weight etc about the scooter. I bet Princess wants to know too.

Unfortunately my cancer is getting worse and I'm not going to be able to get from the carnival triumph to a taxi on my own in Cozumel. Does anyone know if there are people with wheelchairs or shuttles available directly by the ship? I'm going to rent a scooter for the ship but I'm assuming there isn't a taxi that can take me and the scooter to Nachi Cocom. Only getting off the ship once and I would like it to go smoothly. Thanks for your help!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We just returned Saturday with a stop in Cozumel. We both rode our scooters off the ship and along that LOOOONG pier then thru the little plaza to the taxi stop. They were so accomodating to us and polite. They have a van that held both of our scooters. We did have a 15 minute wait for the van to return from a trip in Cozumel. A lift came out of the back and we rode it right up and into the van. The cost of the van for 4 of us and 2 scooters was $30 one way to Paradise Beach. He returned and was waiting at precisely the time we told him we wanted to return. Paradise Beach has a pool with pretty easy entry. there were a few steps but also a handrail to help guide us in. It was one of our best days. We also got both scooters on a trolley ride in Key West. no extra charge for scooters.

I didn't notice the charge for service to Nachi Cocum but you will have absolutely no problem.

My mom is joining us for a cruise in a few weeks. She is renting a scooter to be delivered at terminal. They are offering insurance, $5 a day for damage or $10 a day for loss theft and breakage. Does anyone have experience with this and if it is worth it just for piece of mind? Any input would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!

We just returned from a cruise where my friends hubby got a scooter rental from care vacations. She got the insurance for it but I don't know why it was necessary. It was with him all the time. In the dining room it was parked just inside the doors but he took the key with him. I take my own scooter so we used my large cable lock to lock them to a lounge chair at a beach stop which was totally unnecessary. I felt 100% safe letting it sit alone once I took the key out but our friends did not.

One issue they did have was that the scooter was NOT in his cabin upon arrival. The rental company said it had been delivered to his room but no one on the ship had seen it and couldn't find it. After SEVERAL calls to the company they did bring a replacement scooter just before we sailed. WHEW. It would have been miserable for him without it.

Sounds great! Wouldn't work for us because DH couldn't find his way out of a paper bag. lol

 

Sent from my SM-G550T2 using Forums mobile app

Oh believe me my hubby lost the needle on his compass, if he ever had one. The scenario I described was at Miami and the parking garage is directly across the street from the port. I was amazed he did it alone.

My hubby and I will be cruising with Peritoneal Dialysis equipment in early March. I hope you had a pleasant trip. I am dreading this whole thing, because he is, also, diabetic and uses a sleep machine with mask. :( Our travel by car last summer was difficult, but manageable, because we were on land. I upgraded us to a mini-suite for more space because he uses a small scooter to get around. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to manage this situation........peritoneal dialysis, diabetic, sleep apnea machine, scooter???

You didn't say which ship you are sailing. A mini-suites size will vary on different ships. We sail on Carnival since I got a scooter and we get a suite. I think having enough room is your biggest challenge. There is room under beds to store empty luggage etc. If you have a sofa the are drawers under them a lot of the time. BTW they do not look like storage drawers.

You need to contact the cruise line and discuss your needs. They are quite co-operative. You'll also have to contact a company to supply the PD fluids. Ships have containers for sharps. Your cabin steward will be able to remove things like the coffee table etc. if thats in the way. On Carnival a gallon of distilled water is available for about $3 for the sleep apnea machine. Ask your cabin steward.

If you have not already contacted the cruise line I would do so immediately. There may be some medical forms to fill out and return. May I suggest you go to your cabin, get him situated then unpack and relax a bit. The first day will be your most hectic. Oh yeah.....have some well deserved fun.

Norwegian Pearl, RT Seattle. We live in the country so a "block" is about 5 miles. lol But we have to get from remote parking at Denver to the terminal, which will be a good test of how difficult it is and how well we do at managing it. (HAS to be easier than last time, which had DH pushing me in my wheelchair with his duffel slung across his back while I tried to maneuver my big rolling suitcase with my laptop bag on top. What a nightmare!)

Hubby drops me and my scooter and all the luggage off at the airport then goes and parks the car, and gets the shuttle back to the airport terminal. I wait and "guard" all the stuff. LOL.

When we return we claim our luggage and he takes me and all the luggage outside. He then goes and retrieves the car and back to pick me and all the luggage up. It really works well for us.

I forgot to say that there are also locals there with a rickshaw type of bicycle that will pedal you from the ship to the middle of the pier where the shopping building is. BUT they go no farther than that. It is still a long walk thru the shopping building and more pier after that before you get to the plaza of shops. And then you have to still walk to the taxi stand. Its not doable if you are having issues. Please dont go that route it will be brutal for you. I am thouroughly convinced you can do it on the scooter.

I also use a scooter and going to Cozumel next week. 2 of us with scooters are planning to go to Paradise beach. I have heard that there are taxis that will accomodate a scooter. In our case we may need 2 taxis. I'll try to remember to post a report as to how we managed that feat. We decided on Paradise or mr Sanchos because they do not require reservations. If its not possible then we lose nothing and wander around the port for a while. I will return home on Feb 4th so I'll try to post something shortly after that. You do know that your scooter disasembles quite easily to go in the trunk of a taxi.

If you have tasted it and you still have to ask this question then you have no idea what tea is supposed to taste like. Carnivals tea is vile. It obviously comes fromeither a powdered or concentrated mix. You'd think that with a commisary the size that they have they could make a hundred gallons of tea from scratch.

But then again if you are drinking free tea you aren't spending $9 on a drink from the bar.

I've never seen the pool so empty at Grand Turk. Was the water cold, or what?

Our last 3 cruises I bought a plan (don't remember exactly what it was called) for $25 for the whole week. I was able to use my tablet and send messages on faceboook. I could read all the normal fb stuff and read my e-mails. It was all I need to stay in touch for my business. If someone messaged me I could read it and answer it back. It was perfect for non emergency use. I also told those at home that I would only check my messages a couple times per day so they weren't waiting for an immediate answer.

Exactly. We were on the cruise as well and every network and CNN had it on television. The staff mentioned it at the past guest party and the final show that night.

 

The situation was unfolding well past midnight as to the airport re-opening and it differed by airline. By the time Carnival disseminated news it would have changed and people would be just more frustrated.

 

We were delayed about an hour flying that afternoon of arrival back in port.

 

Fun cruise; the Conquest needs some refresh, but she's also in her fifteenth year at sea.

 

Here's a few from the GoPro during the cruise:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskLxwkkU

 

 

.

Thanks for the pictures. We sail on her in 2 weeks.

After seeing these photos, much of the ship looks pretty plain and boring.

 

Especially for a Carnival ship.

 

The atrium looks like an office building.

 

Main dining room looks like an old Bonanza Steakhouse.

 

Some of the other places look like Applebee's.

 

The Havana area is nice, but you have to pay for all that.......

Carnivals newer ships have a much more sleek and updated look. Gone is the old gaudy decorating of Farcus. They really are beautiful. I always hated the gaudy garish decorating of the older ships.

Doesn't common sense tell someone that there would be flight delays/cancellations? It shouldn't have fallen on Carnival to keep people aware of what had transpired at FLL.

Not if people don't watch news on the ship. Which is common with a lot of people. If they weren't told about what happened they would disembark to shocking news. Maybe with a little planning they could have made other arrangements to get home, such as renting a car and driving to another airport.

Really, was it that hard to make an announcement? You can bet your sweet bippy that the capatian knew exactly what was going on all the time.

Will try again, but will probably be deleted for some unknown reason, what should they have informed them specifically?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

How about the fact that their flights were cancelled for starters?

This just posted by John Heald.

"Well unfortunately The Port of Galveston remains closed due to heavy fog conditions. Consequently both the Carnival Valor and Carnival Freedom will have to remain at sea for the night, in anticipation of the port to open tomorrow, Sunday.

Furthermore, the Carnival Breeze will delay her arrival until Monday.

This is the kind of thing that we obviously have no control over yet I must again thank everyone that )despite the frustration this obviously causes ) for your patience and understanding.

Thank you all

John

Sent from my eye phone FFS"

I will be boarding the Breeze this coming April. I have a question regarding being handicap. I am able to walk on board the ship without assistance but am wondering if I will be able to board before general boarding. And if so, how do I prove I am handicap other than my physical appearance. All I have is a handicap tag for my vehicle. Thanks

My suggestion to you would be to get the wheelchair assistance for embarkation and debarkation You need to call Carnival special needs or contact them at 1-800-819-3902 ext. 70025. or specialneeds@carnival.com. I had to do that this week for an upcoming cruise. They will email you a form to fill out and send back or email it back.