MedicKen

Check the other thread you posted this question on for your answer.

We've rented from Care Vacations and Special Needs at Sea when we fly to a cruise port. Both will have a new(er) but excellent condition scooter waiting in your cabin for you. You just leave it there at the end of the the cruise. Cost varies on port, ship, duration of cruise, scooter requirements etc. It is best to call them for a quote. Numbers can be found by searching them in the internet. We are very peleased with both of the companies. Have a great cruise.

I love Osso Bucco and try to order it any chance I get. Giovanni's does not disappoint. I get it every time we are on a ship that has it.

Radio,

Your sojourn is coming to an end so I would like to personally thank you for you great reporting. I especially liked your pictures and can't wait to see more on your site. Your photography makes me feel like I was there with you and the rest of our sailing friends.

Have a safe "tail end" of your voyage and a safe trip home.

The DW and I have an unwritten rule, If we fly, we rent. That being said, when we do rent, we use Care Vacations (search for the web site). They will deliver the chair, or scooter to the cabin and you are to leave it there for pick up. Royal Caribbean, at least, will offer wheelchair assistance, with chair, on and off the ship at the port, and the airports will offer wheelchairs as well. This leaves the time not in either of those places as being "walk time" for your FIL. Like the above poster, we are not happy with the way the airlines handle our scooter hence the rental. BUT they will accomodate your need and at no extra cost.

There is another company approved by most cruise lines for rental and they are Special Needs at Sea (another site look up.

Have a great cruise. Your father-in-law will find cruising a very w/c friendly way to travel.

Radio,

I see they docked my yacht behind you.

Last time we were in St. Maarten we did a whirlwind motor tour of the island as well. Hope you never have to do one of those types of excursions.

I've seen seats like you describe on ships in the past. As far as getting one I would suggest getting in touch with a reputable dealer of mobility deices. We have a great dealer in the Pittsburgh area that handles Pride and Golden scooters.You may consider searching manufacturers web sites for more clarity.

Radio, I can't wait. Wish we were able to enjoy it along with you and our other cruising friends BUT, well you know.

I am so glad you are on the RCI board, it is much easier to find and subscribe here. It seems that the Quantum forum is a Quantum only area where the RCI is one where all folks who enjoy the entire fleet can find the results of your experiences. I know you have a vast following who anxiously look forward to your next report, as do I.

I shall be glued to the web in rapt anticipation of your next great report.

FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS to all on this sailing. Don't FDGB.

Fair Winds and Following Seas my friend. And to all those who will sail with you. Wish we could join you.

The call of KSC was just too strong, glad you got to one of your "happy places".

To answer a question from a prior poster, if I may, Radio relaxes by sharing his travels on his many cruises. He loves to take pictures and write commentary. He is not compensated by any cruise line nor does he work for Cruise Critic, or any other on-line service. How do I know this, I count him among one of my close friends. We have shared a few cruises together and truly enjoy each others company, as well as that of some other avid cruisers. It is real easy, at least for me, to form relationships with folks that share similar interests.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming. Thanks for reading.

Good morning, almost afternoon, my friend. Took a second to watch you slowly approach the dock at Port Canaveral.

Do you plan a trip to NASA during your stay in the Space Coast? Spent many a great hour there.

Hope the ice bar didn't give you brain freeze.

Have a safe, and fun cruise my friend. I hope you and your DA have a great time.

Fair Winds and Following Seas.

Have a fun, and safe trip my friend. Hope to see some GoPro videos of the water slides etc. And PLEASE do not do what we did on our last sailing.

Fair Winds and Following Seas.

I have had great luck in the past having the DW dropped at one of the public areas and then going to the cabin, with no luggage. Once there, I have opened the fire door, gone to the cabin to retrieve the scooter and drive it to her. If I run into the staff I simply tell them what I am doing and have never had an issue. Again, I take NO LUGGAGE with me so as to not let it get in the way of clearing the cabins,

Neat, Pinball bumper cars. Not only can you hit other cars but you can do a bank shot off a fixed bumper.

#1 The Boss (read my wife) actually now owns 2 scooters, When we drive to ports we take hers. When we fly, which isn't too often, we rent. We had a bad experience with the scooter on the way to, and from, The Dominican Republic. Living in Pittsburgh gives us access to Cape Liberty and Baltimore. We seriously doubt we will go other places to cruise.

The last time we flew to Port Canaveral the RCI personnel let her off at the front door and went back for more.

SO, to sum it up, We fly, we Rent/ We drive,we take.

A few more comments, if I may. If you need an extension cord, and you may not with the rental, just ask your Cabin Steward as well as asking them for a doorstop. Just less stuff to pack. We have #1) not needed a cord, with our own or a rental, #2 Always got the door stop. I'm not always with The Boss to hold the door for her.

Both of our doctors give us a prescription for antibiotics to fill and take with us on a cruise.

Not to be a total jerk, but antibiotics will not work on a virus (like Norovirus) only on bacterial issues. If you have the ability to differentiate between the two then this may be a prudent move.

A few pointers if I may; Go to the Disabled Travel Thread and do some reading, Get a handicapped cabin, If you have not driven a scooter go to Wal Mart or another store with scooters and drive them all over the store to get an idea of how they operate. Contact Special Needs at Sea or Care Vacations for info on renting a scooter for use on the ship. We travel with our own scooter (belongs to DW) but have rented from both companies with no negative comments.

Hopes this helps a bit.

We love Baltimore but, unfortunately, are not happy with Grandeur. Not for the reasons you may think. She is probably the most handicapped UN-friendly ship in the fleet and my DW requires those adaptations for normal day to day living. Although accommodations were made. She just can't hold a candle to the rest of the fleet in this department. Other than that, she is a pretty ship with a great crew. We miss the Enchantment but understand why she was re-deployed to the 3-4 day schedule.

Royal, we will be back in Baltimore in a heartbeat if a more accessible ship is deployed to this great port. But, for now, I guess we drive 2 extra hours to Cape Liberty.

If your Aunt has never operated a scooter before might I suggest you take her to a grocery or other store that has scooters and let her get used to them. One point here. The scooters at the stores go at "turtle" speed and non-store scooters have a speed control that can get the scooter going a a pretty good clip. She needs to feel confident driving the scooter before you are in a small space like a cruise ship. Have a great and safe cruise.

Realizing it was Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas, our 3 person inside had a sleeper sofa for our 6'2" son that worked quite well. Even with the scooter.

If you check the home improvement stores they have work gloves that have silicone padded palms for use with power tools.

He sounds like a great one to follow, we feel, the best Captain in the fleet, Captain Olaf who has retired.

They will make sure he can play at any of the tables. If I remember correctly, they may have a low table for those in scooters and wheelchairs.