kokopelli-az

Just got back Nov 21 from a 9 day cruise on the Equinox. We stopped at two of the ABC islands (Aruba and Bon Aire). No pre-cruise testing required.

We've taken a taxi from the Fort Lauderdale airport to the cruise ship port (and vice versa) many times, including last month. On nearly all our taxi rides, the drivers did not want to take a credit card and will say that their credit card machine is broken. If you tell them all you have it a credit card, they will miraculously fix the credit card machine. I know that the ride should cost about $15 (rates are posted on the taxi window). I ask the driver how much the ride is and it's been anywhere from $20-30. I tell them I have a $20 bill. Period. Take it or leave it. They always take it. At broward.org, it says: Taxi Service Taxi cabs charge an estimated $18-$21 based on the meter reading. Cabs accept up to five people for the fare stated on the taxi’s meter. They accept cash or credit cards. Taxi rates are subject to change due to the current fuel surcharge. Please note: Taxi fares are regulated by law in Broward County.

We've used Scootaround many, many times and never had any issues. We've also used Special Needs several times with no issues. I always get a price from both companies and Scootaround has nearly always been less expensive for us. Just a note, if you book from Scootaround on-line, equipment protection and cancellation coverage is added to your price and (assuming you don't want it) you have to remove it to not be charged. Scootaround also has some good promo codes (such as USCRUISE from United Spinal Association) to bring your cost down (if you can't get the promo code to work booking on-line, just give them a call and they will add the code).

Royal Caribbean's website says they use Terminals 2 and 3 at the Port of Tampa. Here is a view of Terminal 3 FYI: https://www.google.com/maps/place/815+Channelside+Dr,+Tampa,+FL+33602/@27.9459911,-82.4445586,3a,75y,52.91h,92.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s87o9ErE8t8oH_Kij7QgGlw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x88c2c4f0c9c89b7b:0xd1d0fd95b4341c0e!8m2!3d27.9454167!4d-82.4442159 If your scooter is in your stateroom, definitely request wheelchair assistance from Royal. If you haven't already done so, also advise their Access Department about the scooter and any other special needs. 866-592-7225 PS: You have an accessible stateroom, correct?

I think a rollator is far better than a regular walker, but you know your DW's abilities. Is this going to be a Caribbean cruise? My experience on most sea days is that the ship is just sitting or is going relatively slow. They pick up the speed at night.

You might also post your question on the Viking board: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/689-viking-ocean/

Your scooter rental place will tell you where to pick up your scooter. It depends on where exactly the ship will be docked. If your ship's dock location changes, where you pick you your scooter may change too (ie, from outside the terminal to inside your stateroom or vice versa). On Scootaround's website, it states (always subject to change, of course): In Tampa, there’s something for everyone. And remember, if you struggle with mobility issues, call Scootaround or visit us online to rent a scooter or wheelchair in advance of your trip. We’ll deliver the mobility device directly to your hotel, residence, or cruise ship cabin – whatever is most convenient. The scooter or wheelchair will be waiting for you when you arrive, so you’re good to go as soon as you check in.

Maybe someone on this board who was on a MSC cruise and had wheelchair assistance at Port Canaveral might be able to answer whether the port personnel provided wheelchair pushing outside of the terminal (from where you drop off your luggage with the porters) to inside the terminal where the MSC pusher takes over. @Essiesmom is correct. There is some invisible line at many terminals that the port personnel are not allowed to cross over and vice versa (ship personnel do not cross over). This is how passengers often end up with two different wheelchair pushers (the port personnel and the ship personnel). PS: The pushers appreciate a tip. And Plan B, as@Silver Sweetheartsmentioned, would be to take your own wheelchair. Ships are huge and there is a lot of walking so your wife might appreciate using it on the ship occasionally. They really don't take up much room in your stateroom when folded up. If you are flying, wheelchairs fly for free. Since you're leaving so soon, you might post this question on the MSC board.

Many, many passengers will be using mobility devices on and off the ship. There is wheelchair accessible seating at all the eating venues. Employees watch for passengers who might need additional assistance (like by yourself in the buffet) and can offer help. Take a look here: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ports/printAccessibilityInformation.do?pagename=accessible_features_FR And here is some more information in case you haven't already seen it: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/topics/accessibility-disability-needs If you get off the ship at one of your port stops, the ship's personnel will be right there to assist you down the ramp and back up. You might consider using the ship's wheelchair pushing assistance (available on Day One when embarking the ship and on the last day of your cruise for disembarking). Personnel can push you (in your wheelchair or the ship's wheelchair) from where you drop off your luggage with the porters, through security, check-in and to the inside of the ship (to your room, the buffet, etc). After the pusher takes you to your drop-off location inside the ship, they will at this point leave you. Actually, you might have two wheelchair pushers. The first one (from where you drop off your luggage curbside with the porters) would be one of the port employees who will take you as far as they are allowed. Then the ship's wheelchair pusher will take over until they drop you off inside the ship. Even if you have someone with you who will be pushing your wheelchair (or if you will be navigating it yourself), the wheelchair pushers know all the short-cuts and how to get you through lines as quickly as possible. Tips are appreciated. Make sure you contact Royal's Access Department and advise them you will be bringing a wheelchair. (866) 592-7225 or send an e-mail to special_needs@rccl.com

First of all, what ship/cruise line are you going to be in? Look for a chair with arms in the buffet/dining room to help you get up. You might grab several of the folded beach towels they have by the pool. Stack them in your chair so you are higher. If there are pillows, ask for or grab one/some. Especially in the dining room, employees are on the lookout for people needing assistance. Check with your cruise line's Access Department and ask about any cushions they might provide. You can probably take your walker on a tour bus (they would stow it in the luggage compartment below the bus) but you need to be able to go up the bus steps to get inside the bus. Your cruise may have some accessible tours to consider. Again, check with your cruise line's Access Department. Ask for wheelchair assistance for embarking and disembarking the ship. A wheelchair pusher (using the ship's wheelchair) will push you from dropping your luggage off, through security and check-in and on to the ship. They can load your walker on the back of wheelchair. You may have two pushers. On embarking the first one might be one of the port employees. They can only push you so far and then a ship employee takes over. Tips are appreciated. As far as going up/down the ramp at port stops, the ship personnel will help you. If you don't feel comfortable with the ramp, make sure to wait for someone to help you. They are right there to help. The ship personnel are excellent when it comes to watching out for those who need help.

Lyft has WAV in San Diego, too. https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/all/articles/115013081668-WAV-rides#sandiego

Have you considered using Uber WAV? They have WAV vehicles out of San Diego. You would need to confirm that the driver would have access to the cruise ship ports. https://help.uber.com/riders/article/how-to-request-a-wav?nodeId=11de44da-51c9-4a03-8968-c947717386a1 Another company that is highly rated (and we have used this company many times) is Wingz. They operate out of major cities, including San Diego. Again you would have to confirm that they have a driver with a wheelchair accessible vehicle (and that the driver can enter the cruise ship ports). https://www.wingz.me/airport/san/

Here's a sample of the scooters waiting for passengers at Port Canaveral

You can double-check with Special Needs at Sea about where you pick up your scooter, but take a look at post #12 in this link: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2862885-walking-chair/

Maybe you can print this out and take it with you: https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/public-health-questionnaire-v2.pdf

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.

It begins where the luggage is dropped off and continues through security, check-in, boarding and finally to your stateroom or other public area (like the buffet). As soon as you get to the terminal where you drop off your luggage let the port employees know you need wheelchair assistance. You will probably have two different people pushing the wheelchair: the first one would be the port employee and they take you are far as they are allowed. Then a Royal Caribbean employee will take over from there. Tips are always appreciated. On your final day, there will be a designated area for people needing wheelchair assistance to meet and you will be taken off the ship from there. The information as to where you meet will be in your daily newsletter (toward the end of the cruise) or you can ask Guest Services. In case you haven't seen Royal's Accessible Seas Brochure, it is attached. Royal Caribbean Accessible_Seas_Brochure_2020.pdf

Our reservations were for 5:40pm every night

NCL provides transportation from the airport to the pier, and vice versa. You will be on your own for transportation to your hotel and from your hotel either to the pier or back to the airport. Many hotels near the airport offer transportation from the airport to the hotel. Hotels that already offer transporation from the airport to the hotel are supposed to accommodate guests who need a lift vehicle and charge them the same price (or free) that they charge their guests who take the hotel's usual van. You would have to contact the hotel and make arrangements for the lift vehicle. Hotels do not typically own their own lift vehicle so they have to reserve one from a third party. I have read mixed reviews with this process with guests ending up waiting a long time for the transportation or it never having been requested in the first place by the hotel. Personally, I would be tempted to use a private service and skip the hotel provided lift vehicle altogether. One taxi company I have read about that has several lift vans is Yellow Taxi. I would contact them to confirm their procedure for requesting a vehicle with a lift. https://seattleyellowcab.com/ After your cruise, returning to the airport could either be with NCL's transportation or again, with a private service like Yellow Cab. If you use NCL's transfer back to the airport, ask their Access Department about a transfer with a lift vehicle. Norwegian Cruise Lines has a dedicated toll free number, 866-584-9756, to speak with Access Coordinators for guests needing special accommodations. Guests can also reach the Norwegian Access Desk via email at accessdesk@ncl.com. Here is a photo of an example of one of Yellow Cab's accessible vehicles.

We were on the Caribbean Princess twice this year and ate 2-3 times in the Palm dining room. Even with one person using a mobility scooter, it wasn't that big of a deal to use the elevator that goes to the Palm. The rest of the time we were in the Coral dining room and since our stateroom happened to be on the same deck (deck 6) as the Coral, it worked out better for us.

What cruise line are you going to be on? Most cruise lines have wheelchair assistance (their wheelchair) for embarkation and disembarkation. There are personnel who push the wheelchairs for you. Such as, for embarkation you can get pushed, using the ship's wheelchair, from close to the entry to the terminal, through check-in and security, and to wherever you want to be dropped off on the ship (like your room if it's ready or the buffet, etc). These same wheelchair pushers will push someone who has their own wheelchair, too. Once they drop you off inside the ship, they will take the wheelchair (if it belongs to the ship) with them. If you rent a wheelchair from Scootaround or Special Needs at Sea, it will either be waiting for you outside the terminal or inside your stateroom (depending on where the ship departs from).

We book our accessible staterooms a year out. At least. There are not that many on most ships and they sell out early.

atexsix, please report back if you called your cruise line's Access Department and if they will provide bed rails for your cruise. PS If you are sailing from the right port, scootaround rents bed rails and will deliver them to your stateroom. If your departure port is not listed in this link, I'd contact them to double-check. https://scootaround.com/en/cruise-medical-equipment-rentals

For those who need special meals, contact Celebrity's Access Department. If you have special dietary needs, you will need to discuss these with the Celebrity Access Department. For special dietary needs, Celebrity Cruises asks that you give them 60 days of advance notice. For more information, contact the Celebrity Cruises Access Department at 1.866. 592.7225 or special_needs@rccl.com. They will probably also have you complete their Special Needs form. See last entry on form about food. CEL-Special-Needs-Form.pdf

You're talking about bed rails, right? Contact your cruise line's Access Department and ask if they can provide them. PS: Book your accessible room sooner rather than later. They sell out quickly.