Splinter

Supershuttle.

The time required will vary widely with the time of day. Even on a Saturday, often there is construction along the 405 on the weekends, which can cause significant delays. You would most likely need to plan on at least a hour for the trip from LAX to Buena Park (Friday afternoon/evening is the worst!), and 45 minutes for the trip from Buena Park to San Pedro. Supershuttle will tell you the estimated time when you book your trip with them on-line.

If your ship arrives at 9AM, most likely you will not be able to disembark sooner than 10:30 or even 11AM. With LAX, you need to be at the airport no later than 2 hours prior to your flight, so you really don't have any free time at all.

There is usually a separate line for those with disabilities. When you arrive at the port, you need to tell the porter you need wheelchair assistance (either with your own or a port wheelchair) and they will escort you to the proper line.

While the airport is very close, San Diego cruise port is notorious for long delays in disembarkation, often due to foreign guests not following directions for on-board immigration check the morning of arrival. This has resulted in us not being able to disembark earlier than 10AM on some cruises. In addition, the TSA checkpoints at Lindbergh field can be very crowded (not enough stations).  I would hesitate to book a flight earlier than noon.

I agree. I would consider instead going to Catalina AFTER your cruise to avoid that date.

Traveled with my mother on many cruises (she was a full-time wheelchair user), and our favorite cruise lines were Crystal, HAL, and Princess, although we also did well on Celebrity and a couple of RCCL cruises. One reason we like HAL is the option for traditional dining, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, in the dining room, with crew who are adept at meeting the special needs of a person with a disability. We avoided going to buffets if at all possible because although most often a crew member assisted my mother with her tray, that was not always the best experience for her.  Room service varies on the different lines, and often has a limited menu or incurs an extra charge, especially on the cheaper cruise lines.

Keep in mind the regular cabins may not have sufficient room for maneuvering wheelchairs around the beds nor have ramps to access the balcony, and may have such narrow doorways that getting through the door to the bathroom or even the room can be difficult unless you carry her through out of her wheelchair.

The Rite Aide is close to the port. If you want a little more selection, you can walk or take the Trolley or pedicab to the San Pasqual Winery shop in Seaport Village, or walk or take a pedicab to the Wine Bank on 5th & J, or the Ralph's supermarket on 1st & Market.

There is a definition of a service dog (only dogs are included) in the ADA regulations. Certification is NOT required, but the dog must provide physical assistance to the handler. Emotional support animals have no standing under the ADA, and should not be brought on cruises.

You cannot check your luggage earlier than 4 hours prior to your flight at the San Diego airport. There is no locker service at the airport either. If you have a late flight, you might see about checking your luggage at a hotel near the port (you can tell them you are checking in later; a good tip will smooth this over).  You should be at the airport 2 hours prior to your flight. TSA check-in there can be a long line.

What are you planning on doing downtown?  There is not a lot to do or see unless you are wanting to eat or go clubbing.  Little Italy is a good place to eat, and is about 4 blocks from the pier, so an easy walk. Balboa Park and the Zoo are not "downtown", and a far walk (3 miles from the pier), but you can easily take a cab or Uber/Lyft there. Of course there are also the boats that are part of the Maritime Museum right by the cruise ship pier, or the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum which is at the next pier.

With all your luggage, people and equipment, I would opt for a shuttle from the airport (Supershuttle has wheelchair accessible shuttles) rather than take Uber or Lyft. Reserve ahead of time. With 5 people and need for wheelchair transport, you are likely to get a private shuttle van at the shared van price.

Personally, I prefer traditional dining (late seating) and always request to be seated at a larger table (6-8) when booking. I like having the same wait staff for the duration of the cruise, and have nearly always ended up with nice people to talk with about what we saw that day, and what we were all going to do the next day. Only one time, on a Hurtigruten cruise, did I end up at a table with unfriendly people, and when I requested a table change after the first night, I was again accommodated, and shared a dinner table for the rest of the cruise with some very nice people.

Even when going to the main DR for open seating breakfast and lunch (which I prefer; buffets are difficult for me due to a minor disability I have) I ask to be seated with other people, and rarely is this not accommodated.

There is no "right" way to do this. Just decide what your expectations and preferences are and make your booking with these issue in mind.

San Diego is notorious for delays related to Immigration (not Customs). There always seems to be some non-USA passengers who don't follow the directions for doing their Customs check on-board, and until all those people are cleared, no one is let off the ship. 11AM might be workable, but I have not been allowed off the ship in San Diego a number of times prior to 10AM, which would result in you missing your flight.

On 11/4/2018 at 5:34 AM, kacurl said:

We are staying at the BW yacht hotel and will be celebrating our 40 th anniversary. Any restaurant suggestions for romantic dinner and maybe dancing?  We love seafood. And something not too expensive as we are taking 28 day cruise and will be eating alot!! Thanks

I don't know of any nearby places with dancing, but some places nearby that I can suggest for dining include these:

Old Venice (Italian)

Mitch's Seafood (casual)

Point Loma Seafood (very casual)

Pizza Nova

Supannee House of Thai

Miguel's Cocina (Mexican)

The Brigantine (Shelter Island location)

Fiddler's Green (Irish pub type food)

Humphrey's (a little further away, good food, more upscale)

I don't recommend the Bali Hai.  Great view, so good for drinks, but their food tends to be disappointing.

You are also not far from Liberty Station, which has a ton of restaurants. Check to see if your hotel has a shuttle here; if not, it is not an expensive Uber or even taxi there.

I took about $400 worth of NOK with me on my cruise, which included 2 days in Bergen and 4 days in Oslo. I did come home with NOK, which fortunately I was able to sell to a friend going to Norway after me. I used it mostly for small purchases from food stands, tips for tour guides/bus drivers, and for paid toilets (found in a lot of public places in Norway), and once for a cab ride in Bergen. I bought the Oslo Pass in Oslo, and rode public transportation using that, so didn't use much cash there. Never used cash on the ship. If I go again, I would probably take only about $100 worth of NOK.

15 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

Please note that what is shown above is not a CONVERTER PLUG; it is a PLUG ADAPTER. A CONVERTER converts current from one voltage to another; an adapter just adapts the prongs while passing through the voltage.

Yes, of course you are correct. My bad.

Most CPAP machines are dual current and can safely run on 110 or 220, but you may need a converter plug.  It willl be written either on your machine or listed in your user's manual (or both, as mine is). The converter plug pictured above is good for virtually all European countries. I take an extension cord and one of these converters for my CPAP in Europe, and also bring an extension cord as the outlet may not be right next to your bed. Better to buy one (they are cheap) and take it and not use it than to find you need one and have to buy one (for a lot more money) on the ship or a shop on shore. Also, if you have any hotel stays as part of your trip, you will need one of these converters as well.

No menus, but the food and wine was outstanding on my AMA trip in April 2017.

I purchased my air (RT LAX to Amsterdam) through AMA. They did ask if I had preferred airlines (usually those where you have a frequent flyer account). I wanted to go on Delta, and had a code-sharing flight with KLM (Delta partner). This includes your transfer by bus from/to the airport to the ship. Was offered an option for upgrading to business or first class, which I declined.

Your rigid frame chair is still considered "collapsible" as long as it has a folding back and quick release wheels. Are you also taking your FreeWheel?  As long as you can easily remove this, I don't see this as a problem.

Not looking for Viking. I don't cruise with them as they don't have single cabins or no single supplement cruises.

Testing for signature.

Can't find the old River Cruises Roll call forum anyplace. If it was eliminated, why? If I am missing it, can you post a link to where it was moved?

I would have a hard time choosing between the northbound and southbound trips. Although the ports are the same, the duration of stay and time of day visited differs. I was definitely not bored on either leg.

I would also endorse flying into Oslo, and taking the train to Bergen (and back at the end of your cruise). I did a mini-Norway in a Nutshell on my own upon my return, taking the train from Myrdal to Flam as a side trip on my train trip back to Oslo (I did not do the fjord cruise and bus trip part). I stayed 2 days in Bergen, and 3 days in Oslo (at the end of my trip). The train trip from Oslo to/from Bergen is one of the most beautiful train rides in the world; definitely do it during daylight hours.

If possible, be in Norway for May 17, which is Norwegian National Day and celebrated all around Norway with parades and parties. I was on the Trollfjord for this day in 2015, and we had our own parade with the Norwegian crew and passengers wearing their beautiful traditional costumes, and the ship all decorated with Norwegian flags and greenery. The parade in Oslo is the largest, with the King and Queen greeting the school children who parade in front of the palace.

I was solo on the Trollfjord when I went on the 11 days coastal cruise in 2015. I was very comfortable, and made feel welcome by the crew. I didn't hesitate to join others with an empty seat at their table for breakfast or lunch, and always was welcome. Met people from Norway, Sweden, the UK, Australia, the USA and Canada. Spent a lot of time with a woman from Trondheim who was traveling on business to Bodo and then staying on to Kirkenes for a bit of a vacation, and we are still e-mail and FB friends. I also spoke to people in the observation lounge and had some delightful conversations there, some until the early hours of the morning.

As far as dinner, going north I was assigned to a table with a couple from Canada and her sister, plus a couple from the USA. We hit it off and had a great time talking over dinner. Unfortunately they all left the ship at Kirkenes. I was then assigned to a table with 2 couples from Germany who were VERY unfriendly, and would not even respond to my attempts to strike up a conversation. I went to the maître d after the first night and asked to be moved, and they moved me to a table with a couple from Australia, and we had a very nice trip the rest of the way back to Bergen.

I did take few ship's excursions, and in some ports I walked around by myself to see the sights. I never felt lonely or isolated.