Tsdcruiser

40 minutes ago, Chipster2 said:

Will not look for handicapped cabin. Could assign ANY cabin in the category you are bidding on. If you need handicapped cabin might not be worth bidding.

Thanks. I just cancelled my bids. 

Anyone get upgrade notice for This Saturday.  My bids both still show pending.  I will be on Pride of America.  Only bid min. So prob. Won’t get, but we leave on Wednesday for Hawaii and hope to know then for luggage tags. 
 

Also, I have a handicapped cabin, will they only consider handicapped for upgrades since I need one?

I bought this one for my cruise and the airport.  It can be used as a rollator and a transport chair. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Function-Transport-Wheelchair/dp/B001FWY1JI/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Drive+rollator+transport&qid=1580942098&sr=8-2

On 12/20/2019 at 5:57 PM, GUT2407 said:

I think it is only on ships that don’t have any accessible cabins of that class that they offer that. Not just that it is sold out

No. I just booked for January 2021 and July 2021, chose Oceanview for both and got free upgrade to balcony on both.  
 

On 2 of my last 3 princess bookings online, I have tried to book ocean view accessible cabins.  Since all ocean view were sold out, so they upgraded me to a balcony accessible for the same price.  My friends are paying the same price for a much smaller ocean view that I am for an accessible balcony.  It can work both ways.  Even if I didn’t need accessible, I wouldn’t ever book a guaranteed cabin.  I wouldn’t risk ending up in a cabin under the pool deck or something.   I like to choose. 

Thanks you for the info. Mary Ann. Let me know how it goes in August. 

On 6/3/2019 at 5:18 PM, jr8934 said:

Thank you Maxmann65 and Katisdale for your responses. I was on this tour several years ago and am familiar with the school bus they use. I'm hoping the rollator can be stored by the back door. Maybe there will be an empty seat in back. I'll cross my fingers. Joyce

Have you considered using trekking poles (walking sticks) for the bus?  I am able to use these almost as well as a walker and they fold up to nothing.

Thank you so much ginnynj

I totally understand.  I too am planning my first cruise since my autoimmune disease has worsened and caused mobility issues.  I have been on a cane for 2 years and even with that, I struggle to go any distance at all.  The cane itself also causes a lot of pain to use as I have hand and wrist issues.  I am planning to take a transfer folding wheelchair for the airport and also for the tender port and renting a scooter for the rest of the cruise.  I have reserved an accessible cabin because of the scooter and the fact that I need all the grab bars in the bath room as well as the seat in the shower.  Also, by the time the cruise comes (2 years), I may be totally wheelchair bound.  That was a very hard decision for me.  My family insisted I need it and I finally realize they are correct.

I am on the younger side, so I understand your reluctance.  I will tell you, I did Universal Studios a couple years ago when I was in better condition.  I rented a wheelchair and would have never been able to enjoy it without the wheelchair.  For me it comes down to staying home or not worrying about what others think and enjoying my life as much as I can.  Get the assistance you need so you can enjoy yourself.  

Makes sense.  I will be cruising on Pride of America out of Honolulu.  

Thank you both.  Guess I will have to wait and see.  

If I get someone to push my wheelchair onto the ship, will I be going in the same entrance or some other entrance?  I really enjoy boarding the first time into the main lobby, it is exciting to start your cruise that way.  Not sure I would enjoy coming in at the entrance they usually use at port as much so hoping they take you up an elevator and you are able to enter the ship the same way as everyone else.

Got it, thanks.

Thanks Slugsta.  I don’t see the thread.  Did I miss the link?

11 minutes ago, Slugsta said:

I haven't really done many organised excursions yet. I am lucky that my chair folds up to the size of a suitcase and weighs less than 30kg (66lbs) so OH can lift it. I think it would be more difficult if I had to manage it on my own. You have the benefit of travelling to one of the 50 United States, so the ADA will apply in Hawaii.

 

Could you manage to get up the steps onto a coach for an excursion? You could possibly have your mobility device put into the trunk - or even leave it on the ship if the excursion didn't involve any walking.

I could get up a couple steps with some help from family.  I am going to check out excursions and try to get some with limited walking.  Maybe leave on ship or just take off folding manual chair.  If not a lot of walking, maybe I can just use the cane.  As long as there isn’t a long walk to pick up the excursion vehicle.  I know we have 1 tender also.

Thanks for all your help.  I found a scooter/power chair store about an hour from here.  I am going to go check it out.

Thank you slugsta.  I will try to find a rental agency in the area and see if I can try some.  

This is quite the adjustment.  I do feel like I am stepping backwards.  I appreciate your saying that.  I keep trying to say to myself that I can do without it and the disabled cabin.  I was surprised when my friends suggested I needed to get a handicapped cabin.  I know I’m fooling myself.  I went to the mall the other day with my cane and was in so much pain just walking for 20 minutes.  I do want independence on the cruise.  

Have you had any problem finding excursions that you can use your chair on?  I am going to Hawaii and am afraid I will miss out on everything. 

18 minutes ago, rfkeith10 said:

Tsdcruiser--------Since you specifically mentioned NCL in your last post, I making an assumption that you are cruising on NCL.  If I'm incorrect then disregard the rest of this post.  I think most cruise lines have "special needs" departments.  If you are not cruising with NCL then might check with your cruise line.

 

If you are cruising with NCL, I am attaching a link to their special needs function.  It might contain some helpful information for you.  I have cruised NCL with a scooter several times and I have found them very accommodating.

 

https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising

 

Ray

Yes, I do have a cruise booked with NCL.  Thank you for the link.

Thanks Slugsta.  I do have bad hands due to the RA.  I can drive a car, but my hands and fingers start to ache after about 45 minutes.  

I would love to try many, but I don’t know of anywhere locally to try them.  

Do you take your electric wheelchair with you or rent one at the ship?  I see NCL only accepts scooters or electric wheelchairs with gel cell batteries.  

I haven’t travelled with a wheelchair yet, but have been researching.  I know you can rent a lift for your cabin from http://specialneedsatsea.com/ and they will deliver it to your ship.  

Also look at https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/pre_cruise/prepare.jsp#Passengers_Special_Needs for more information..

Thanks so much for the information.  At least I will be prepared next time. 

I will be flying delta out of Hartsfield.  The first time I just put I needed a pusher on the app.  When I arrived, I was sent to special needs check-in.  It was a mess, no one met me and I stood in line for a while and finally a travel companion pushed me and our luggage.   

I think I didn’t do it right.  Who do you call to confirm?  Where did they meet you?   I always arrive a couple hours early.  

Thanks Virginia.  Looks like we have similar issues, so this really helps.  I haven’t cruised since my RA got to this point.  I too can walk a short distance with a cane, so good to know about the cane holder in the scooter.

Luckily for me, I will be traveling with 3 other people, so someone can get me to the tender in the transfer chair.  

You have to plan so much more when disabled, and so much more expensive.  I am concerned about the airport also, since our airport is very large and very crowded.  Last time I took a trip, I tried to use assistance, but waited over 30 minutes and a pusher was still not available.  We had to make sue without one and trying to handle our luggage (luckily 4 wheeled so I could push it.  Next time we will take the transfer chair and check the bags. 

Thanks for your thoughts VirginialsForCruisers.  Just what I am looking for.  I never thought about leg position.  My knees and hips get very stiff if I don’t move them regularly.  I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and really stiffen up. I will try to find a medical supply store and try them out.  

They have a lot of them on Amazon, just search rollator/wheelchair combo.

Thank you katisdale.  I will talk to my rheumatologist.