parmagal

I cruised on Anthem this past summer and I use a mobility scooter.  The port is easy to navigate. I suggest dropping your father off at the place where they take luggage from your car. Have him get into the wheelchair there and proceed with a companion directly into the terminal.  Then go park your car in the garage and join the rest of your party.  There will be a place for those in chairs and scooters to check-in.  Those in the cabin with him will be escorted with him to an elevator and then through the gangway to board the ship. It is quick and very easy to navigate.  If he requires assistance to leave the ship, schedule that at the guest services area.  But, if he is already in a chair you may not need additional assistance. 

As others have said, you may want to consider renting a scooter for the trip.  It will be in your cabin by the time the ship departs and it can be left there once the cruise has finished.  

I was able to get everywhere I wanted to go onboard Anthem.  The crew was very helpful to me when I wanted to transfer from the scooter to a chair in the dining room.  They parked the scooter for me, then returned it to me after the meal was completed.  Of course, they will be happy to move a chair so your father can stay in the wheelchair at meals, if he prefers.

There is usually designated seating for those in scooters and wheelchairs in the theaters for the shows.  I parked my scooter at the back of the theater, and was able to see and hear everything quite well.  I always waited for others to leave before attempting to do so myself--it was way too crowded and too rushed to attempt navigating through the crowd after a show concluded.  

I cannot offer advice about the ports or the Jacuzzi, except to say that the shore excursion desk might be helpful in finding accessible tours.  

I hope you all have a wonderful time.

I have never cruised on NCL, but I did the 5-night to Bermuda on Anthem this past summer.  I use a mobility scooter to get around, so I booked an accessible cabin. For me, an accessible cabin is necessary. Bermuda was easy to navigate.  I booked a private tour with a company that specializes in accessible transportation.  I drove my scooter up the ramp in the back of the van, and then had a several hour tour of the islands.  The next day, I was able to navigate the scooter all around the dock area, stopping in the various shops and eateries, as well as the museum nearby.  There was also plenty to see and do on-board the ship. I never felt like my lack of mobility limited my choices. 

I agree with what others have already posted, if he needs an accessible cabin, book immediately! They really do go fast.

I wish you luck and hope that you have a most enjoyable trip, regardless of your destination and/or cruise line.

I did this on Anthem this summer.  The entire event lasted about 40 minutes. We had 5 very small sips of wine, amounting to less than 1 normal glass in total, plus a community plate of various cheeses and dried fruit.  It was informative but too brief, in my opinion, to learn much about the different wines.  I enjoyed it. However, I won't do it again.

All of the above, plus the lamb chops!  Absolutely delicious!

It depends on the cruise line and ship. Some ships have muster drills inside lounges, theaters, or other venues.  Others require able-bodied to go out on deck near the lifeboats. My experience has been on Royal Caribbean ships. Since I have a scooter, those in charge of the muster drill direct me where to go.

Your best bet is to contact guest services upon boarding and explain your situation. They will most likely tell you to go to the location reserved for those with mobility and other challenges, and you will be able to sit for the duration of the drill.  

Just received the Glion Snap-n-Go this past weekend, so I haven't had it on a cruise yet. LOVE IT!!!! It is sturdy, easy to set up and take down, has a comfortable seat (with removable/adjustable arm rests), and it rides smoothly.  I am able to load it into my car by myself with ease. I purchased a large sleeve from a different company to hold my crutches.  The sleeve attaches to the back of the seat and keeps the crutches secure while I am riding the scooter.  I chose this one because it can be stored upright in a closet, if needed, so I could possibly use it in a standard room if the bathroom has grab bars. I am also a large person and the sturdy design is a plus. 

I had not given any thought to keeping it locked, but I will now!

My credit card provides substantial insurance against trip interruption and cancellation, provided I pay for the cruise with that particular credit card. I purchase medical/evacuation insurance from a 3rd party. Insuring my 9 day cruise to Canada and New England this past July cost me less than $50. It was money well spent for my peace of mind. I'd never travel without it.

I echo all the previous responses. I've sailed her 7 times and will do so again in July of this year. The crew is amazing! I love the small ship feel.

I will be sailing on the Harmony five weeks after breaking and spraining my right ankle! I will be in a walking boot and plan to have a knee scooter rented for getting around the ship, though I should be able to do a lot of walking with the boot by then. I contacted the cruise line, but they mentioned all the accessible rooms were booked. I'm very worried about how this injury will affect my vacation that I've saved so long for! Does anyone have any advice or any experience with something similar?

Bring along a few ziplock bags and ask your cabin attendant to keep you supplied with ice. At 5 weeks you should have pretty good mobility, but a change in activity combined with increased salt intake through your meals could result in your ankle swelling. Elevate whenever possible, ice it down if swelling sets in. Try not to worry -- you can still have a fabulous time if you take care of yourself while healing. Have a great vacation!

My credit card provides some travel benefits, provided I purchase tickets with it. So I look for the things the card does not cover plus medical and evacuation benefits.

I went whale watching in Bar Harbor when I sailed aboard Grandeur in July. At least in Bar Harbor, whale watching is seasonal because of migration patterns. Tours did not begin until very late June or early July. I would imagine it is the same in the other ports. When are you sailing?

I was on Anthem in July 2017 and the process worked extremely well. I required wheelchair assistance to board the ship, so I was directed to a waiting area to be seated and a roving agent with an IPad came to check me in. Even though I had uploaded my photo ahead of time, the agent took my picture again. Perhaps there was a problem with my uploaded file. The entire process took less than a minute and I was provided boarding assistance as soon as someone was available. We decided to hang out in 270 until our cabin was ready. It was a great place to hang out and grab a bite to eat.

It used to be only after you were onboard but Royal changed it to where the OBC is available for purchases prior to your cruise.

 

The OBC will NOT show up under the Payment tab. After you log into your cruise dashboard, you have to click and go to CRUISE PLANNER.

 

Once it's posted, you should see your OBC at the top of Cruise Planner (and may also get a pop-up window about applying them to your Cruise Planner purchases). If you don't make any pre-cruise purchases with it, the OBC will be available to spend onboard.

 

FYI, I redeemed points on October 23rd for my November 18th cruise. The next time I checked my Cruise Planner was on October 25th and the OBC was already there.

 

~ Judy

Ditto. It worked this way for my Anthem cruise this past July. I used some of the OBC to purchase a dinner package prior to the cruise and the balance was used onboard. I had no problems whatsoever.

I booked an accessible junior suite on RC Grandeur of the Seas. For our group of three, the beds were separated and a folding bed was brought in for the third person. The folding bed was more comfortable than a pull out or pullman. We had ample room for the three of us and the scooter. I was not charged extra for the folding bed.

I was on Anthem this past July and enjoyed the trip. The food was good. I had My Time Dining and also went to Jamie Oliver's and Chops. I found the Windjammer to be surprisingly good, too. Of all the dining venues, I liked Jamie Oliver's the best.

However, when compared to Grandeur, I must say that the food on Grandeur is superior in terms of preparation, taste and service. I have some dietary limitations and it was much easier to address those needs on Grandeur. The personalized service and attention to my needs was amazing. Personally, I think there is much to be said for the intimacy of smaller ships. I would cruise on either ship again in a heartbeat, but given a choice and all other things being equal, Grandeur wins without question.

I had a picture taken with Shrek. I saw Po, Fiona, and Puss. I am sure there were others, but I cannot recall them specifically.

Loved my last cruise on Anthem. They do the safety drill inside in the different clubs and show venues. Got a seat, so no long standing. Was early December in NJ, so cold weather might of played into that. No fun standing for a hour in the cold.

 

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The same thing happened on Anthem during my cruise this past July. My muster station was in the wine bar. Great way to handle the drill.

When I was onboard in July 2017, the times the characters would be out and about would be posted in Cruise Compass. Characters were usually out for about 30 minutes each time. All were easily accessible for pictures. Sorry, I cannot help with the breakfast question -- I didn't go!

Scooter rental prices vary depending upon port, type of scooter, whether or not you get insurance, and so on.

Halifax has a waterfront boardwalk that I was able to travel with my scooter. It has a Maritime museum and other attractions.

I noted my need for a low sodium diet on my reservation. I checked in with the head waiter upon boarding to ensure that the request was received. The head waiter brought the next evening's menu at the conclusion of dinner each night and I made my selections. Main dishes were prepared with no salt, and I was advised of which items were "pre-packaged" and could not be made salt-free. It worked perfectly!

Small first aid kit with bandages, tylenol, tums, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, etc. I also pack a sun hat and shower shoes.

Recharge it every night while you sleep, even if the indicator shows that you still have plenty of power. You never know how much power you might need the next day, especially if you go on an excursion off of the ship. I think it is best to start each day with a full charge on the battery.

I hope your DH will also find that the scooter will save him from exhaustion and enable him to have much greater freedom on your trip. He may wonder why he didn't start using one long before this.Enjoy your cruise - I hope you both have a wonderful time!

Freestyle machines are found outside the Windjammer buffet and next to Cafe Latitudes.

As of right now, for cruises that begin and end at the same US port (known as closed-loop cruises), you can use an official copy of your birth certificate plus a government issued photo ID. The birth certificate cannot be the memo copy you received at the hospital, it must have the seal or stamp showing it is an official or certified document. This documentation should suffice, provided that current regulations do not change prior to your cruise or you do not have an emergency that requires you to return home quickly from a foreign port while on the cruise.

As you already stated, getting a passport for everyone is the safest thing to do. You have to weigh for yourself how much risk you are willing to take.

Personally, I have a passport and would never travel without one.