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Question re: boarding at Pier 91 in Seattle ...


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Hi folks --

 

I'm booked on my first ever cruise: Holland America Amsterdam, September 11, 2017, 14 days, r/t Seattle --> Alaska.

 

I also have a few physical issues that have made traveling more challenging in the past, and when I fly, I always ask for help (either cart of wheelchair) to get from check-in to the gate. The biggest problem is severe COPD which results in shortness of breath if I have to walk very far -- like over 50 yrs or so. I'm not on oxygen, nor do I use any aids. I just have to go slow and stop when I feel things getting out of whack.

 

I HATE asking for help, but I'm aware that not doing so can lead to even more problems (also, my pulmonary made me promise to ask for help at the airport). I've also taken the train cross country (in a bedroom compartment) and did just fine getting to/from the dining room on my own.

 

I'll be boarding at Pier 91 in Seattle. How far is it from the terminal to the ship? I'll have a rolling carry-on plus a purse. I've looked at photos -- but it's hard to see how far it is. It appears to be a "zig-zag" series of walkways. I've booked a Neptune Suite, so I think I board a little earlier or something -- is it a huge problem to ask for help boarding? I live in Bellingham, WA -- driving to Seattle the night before, staying with a friend, then taking Lyft to the cruise terminal who I assume can deliver me right to the door, so I think I'm covered there.

 

Anything else I need to be aware of in terms of getting around the ship? My cabin is directly across the hall from the aft elevators, just below the Lido deck, and 2 floors above the MDR. I figured that would be a good location to reduce walking.

 

Any advice would be great! Thanks ...

Lana in Bellingham

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The Special Needs Form Easyboy attached in post# 2 should definitely be completed but if really doesn't help with embarkation as that information does not get passed onto the port representatives. The following information will benefit you more.

 

Embarkation Day

  • Have the Lyft driver get as close to the entrance as possible. There will be people directing traffic and if they try to direct differently ask the Lyft Driver to stop and roll the window down to let know them know there's passenger with a mobility issue that needs to get as close as possible. You probably won't have to do this but it's helpful to know.
  • Once you've been dropped off at the curb locate the first HAL representative and advise them that you need wheelchair assistance through check-in and boarding. The HAL rep will direct you to a seated waiting area. Wheelchair assistance is provided on a first come first served basis so it can be wait. After check-in if boarding hasn't been begun you will than be taken by wheelchair to another waiting area. Again wheelchair is done on a first come first served basis. HAL Loyalty Star rank as well as cabin type doesn't always get you priority boarding when requiring wheelchair assistance as there a limited number of wheelchairs/pushers available. However wheelchair boarding is given priority.
  • This whole process goes a lot easier and faster you do not show up early at port as passengers are not allowed into the terminal until the prior cruise has been totally cleared. If the prior cruise hasn't been closed out you'll have to wait outside in a long line and there is no assistance for wheelchair passengers until you get inside the terminal.

Disembarkation Day :

  • The news letter left in you room the night before will have the location on the ship as to where to go for wheelchair assistance.
  • Upon arrival at that location find the HAL person with the clip board. He/She will take you name / luggage tag number and will direct you to an open seat.
  • Wheelchair assistance is again done on a first come first served basis as to when your luggage tag number is called for disembarking.
  • You will be given assistance though the whole disembarkation process and will be taken out to the curb for your ride pick-up

Wheelchair assistance is not provided during the cruise and or getting off /on the ship in port. If that's something you require than you need to wither bring a wheelchair or rent one through HAL's approved vendors. www.Scootaround.com ( formerly Carevacations) or www.SpecialNeedsatSea.com

Edited by xxoocruiser
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The Special Needs Form Easyboy attached in post# 2 should definitely be completed but if really doesn't help with embarkation as that information does not get passed onto the port representatives. The following information will benefit you more.

... [ snip ]

Wheelchair assistance is not provided during the cruise and or getting off /on the ship in port. If that's something you require than you need to wither bring a wheelchair or rent one through HAL's approved vendors. www.Scootaround.com ( formerly Carevacations) or www.SpecialNeedsatSea.com

 

Thanks so much for this -- very helpful.

 

I should be OK once on the ship. I can walk a block (in my neighborhood, that's about 80 yds or so) as long as I don't rush it, so getting around onboard shouldn't pose too many problems. I've checked the stats on the Amsterdam, and it's only 33 yds wide, 260 yds long (interior dimensions would be less). I should be able to manage that with no problems.

 

I'm traveling solo, and I'm fiercely independent, but I'm also realistic about what I can and can't do. It's really hard for me to ask for help, but it makes sense and I'm sure my pulmonary doc will recommend it as well.

 

I'm currently booked on a longer cruise next year July 2018: 38 days, HAL's "Voyage of the Vikings" on the Rotterdam -- sister ship to the Amsterdam and the same size -- starting and ending in Boston, which is a major bucket list trip, so I want to make sure this is going to work.

 

Thanks again -- this helps a lot.

Lana in Bellingham

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Thanks so much for this -- very helpful.

 

I should be OK once on the ship. I can walk a block (in my neighborhood, that's about 80 yds or so) as long as I don't rush it, so getting around onboard shouldn't pose too many problems. I've checked the stats on the Amsterdam, and it's only 33 yds wide, 260 yds long (interior dimensions would be less). I should be able to manage that with no problems.

 

I'm traveling solo, and I'm fiercely independent, but I'm also realistic about what I can and can't do. It's really hard for me to ask for help, but it makes sense and I'm sure my pulmonary doc will recommend it as well.

 

I'm currently booked on a longer cruise next year July 2018: 38 days, HAL's "Voyage of the Vikings" on the Rotterdam -- sister ship to the Amsterdam and the same size -- starting and ending in Boston, which is a major bucket list trip, so I want to make sure this is going to work.

 

Thanks again -- this helps a lot.

Lana in Bellingham

 

Also travel solo and am fiercely independent. Don't think of asking for assistance as giving up your independence but instead as it being "energy management" so you get the maximum enjoyment out of the cruise.

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I, too, am fiercely independent but I have had mobility issues that have gotten progressively worse lately. I also suffered a heart attack in February and some of the meds I am now on really zap my energy. So instead of being exhausted and in pain, I decided to rent a mobility scooter for my last cruise in April. Changed my life!!! I was actually able to enjoy the cruise which I had really not been able to for the last couple of years. Going on another cruise next month and I am now the owner of my very own scooter!

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I, too, am fiercely independent but I have had mobility issues that have gotten progressively worse lately. I also suffered a heart attack in February and some of the meds I am now on really zap my energy. So instead of being exhausted and in pain, I decided to rent a mobility scooter for my last cruise in April. Changed my life!!! I was actually able to enjoy the cruise which I had really not been able to for the last couple of years. Going on another cruise next month and I am now the owner of my very own scooter!

 

I'm probably looking at that in the not-too-distant future, too. I want to try this time by myself with minimal help and see how it goes.

 

I figure the worst that can happen on my upcoming Alaska trip is I'll end up spending most of my time in the room or moving among a few close-by areas of the ship -- which I don't see as necessarily a terrible thing. I'm really looking to relax, "go with the flow," and enjoy the scenery from the veranda -- and do shore excursions to see more up close and personal if it looks manageable. And I'll have a better idea for the next cruise what's reasonable.

 

I never realized that scooters were allowed on cruise ships until my HAL Personal Cruise Consultant offered to order one for me when I mentioned my mobility issues the first time we talked. I'm willing to give it a try without one on this trip. But in the future, if it makes the difference between traveling and not traveling, I'll gladly use one.

 

Thanks, everyone -- for everything. I'm really looking forward to this new adventure.

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ArtsyCraftsy,

This is from the bureau of stupid questions by the cat with which curiosity killed. Why would you "test" your mettle on something that's supposed be enjoyably pleasurable by leaving yourself vulnerable. NOTE: This is not a criticism.

 

I have mobility issues and I have MG, which is muscle weakness. But I wouldn't take a cruise without a scooter. And the reason being is that I don't want to be in a situation where I walk someplace and don't have the energy to walk back. I know you had said "I want to try this time by myself with minimal help and see how it goes. " What happens if it doesn't go so swell? Just playing Devil's advocate.

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ArtsyCraftsy,

 

This is from the bureau of stupid questions by the cat with which curiosity killed. Why would you "test" your mettle on something that's supposed be enjoyably pleasurable by leaving yourself vulnerable. NOTE: This is not a criticism.

 

I have mobility issues and I have MG, which is muscle weakness. But I wouldn't take a cruise without a scooter. And the reason being is that I don't want to be in a situation where I walk someplace and don't have the energy to walk back. I know you had said "I want to try this time by myself with minimal help and see how it goes. " What happens if it doesn't go so swell? Just playing Devil's advocate.

 

I don't mind Devil's advocate -- those are all good questions. Here's my line of thinking:

 

I've never had to use any aids before for normal day-to-day activities. No cane, no walker, not even a handicapped placard for my car. I've never even seen a scooter up close and personal (seen a few from a distance). So far, I've been able to take care of myself, drive, get around the grocery store, walk around my neighborhood, etc. -- I may move a tad slower than others with occasional fits and starts, but I generally do fine.

 

The only exception I've made is to ask for assistance at the airport getting to/from the gate, and that was at the behest of my pulmonary doc. I've traveled fairly often by air, and I've done several train trips (Seattle --> St. Louis) over various routes, and I do fine. I get tired, but I'm OK.

 

So I'll be asking for assistance at Pier 91 to get aboard and again when I depart. Without knowing how far I'd have to walk, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

Which leaves the question of getting around the ship and any onshore excursions --

My cabin is directly across the hallway from the aft elevators. One floor above just outside the elevator doors is the Lido restaurant/cafe. Two floors below, the entrance to the La Fontaine (MDR) is likewise just outside the aft elevators. -- so getting out of the cabin and navigating to food shouldn't be a problem. Plus there's always room service if there are any issues. For specialty restaurants -- one is just beyond the Lido cafe; the other is about 1/3 of the way further forward than the main dining room on the same level. I think both of those will be doable. Then there's the Neptune Lounge -- same deck, but 12 cabins closer to the bow from my cabin -- again, I think that will be doable, but we'll see when I get onboard.

The only things onboard the ship that might be difficult are the casino and shows -- neither of which interest me.

 

The biggest question will be excursions -- specifically, getting off/on the ship. I've been doing a lot of online research on the various ports, finding pictures of the layout with cruise ships docked, and I'm getting a general feel for some of them. Honestly, if I can't get off the ship, it won't be the end of the world.

 

Even the worst case scenario -- I end up spending a lot of time in my room, using room service more than I planned, able to participate in only a couple of shore excursions -- is OK. I like quiet, peaceful, relaxing, no pressure experiences more than hectic, "gotta see everything!" experiences. I can still see a lot from my veranda as we travel among the ports, islands, and glaciers. That alone is worth the price of the ticket.

 

If, after this trip, I find that I would have enjoyed it even more if I had used a scooter, I'll definitely consider renting one for my next cruise (July 2018). And I'll definitely be talking to other passengers who use them to see what they like/etc., how it works to rent them, and so on. I'd just rather not go that route until it's clear that I have to. If using a scooter makes the difference between traveling and not traveling, I'll use a scooter.

 

Thanks again!

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I don't mind Devil's advocate -- those are all good questions. Here's my line of thinking:

 

I've never had to use any aids before for normal day-to-day activities. No cane, no walker, not even a handicapped placard for my car. I've never even seen a scooter up close and personal (seen a few from a distance). So far, I've been able to take care of myself, drive, get around the grocery store, walk around my neighborhood, etc. -- I may move a tad slower than others with occasional fits and starts, but I generally do fine.

 

The only exception I've made is to ask for assistance at the airport getting to/from the gate, and that was at the behest of my pulmonary doc. I've traveled fairly often by air, and I've done several train trips (Seattle --> St. Louis) over various routes, and I do fine. I get tired, but I'm OK.

 

So I'll be asking for assistance at Pier 91 to get aboard and again when I depart. Without knowing how far I'd have to walk, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

Which leaves the question of getting around the ship and any onshore excursions --

My cabin is directly across the hallway from the aft elevators. One floor above just outside the elevator doors is the Lido restaurant/cafe. Two floors below, the entrance to the La Fontaine (MDR) is likewise just outside the aft elevators. -- so getting out of the cabin and navigating to food shouldn't be a problem. Plus there's always room service if there are any issues. For specialty restaurants -- one is just beyond the Lido cafe; the other is about 1/3 of the way further forward than the main dining room on the same level. I think both of those will be doable. Then there's the Neptune Lounge -- same deck, but 12 cabins closer to the bow from my cabin -- again, I think that will be doable, but we'll see when I get onboard.

The only things onboard the ship that might be difficult are the casino and shows -- neither of which interest me.

 

The biggest question will be excursions -- specifically, getting off/on the ship. I've been doing a lot of online research on the various ports, finding pictures of the layout with cruise ships docked, and I'm getting a general feel for some of them. Honestly, if I can't get off the ship, it won't be the end of the world.

 

Even the worst case scenario -- I end up spending a lot of time in my room, using room service more than I planned, able to participate in only a couple of shore excursions -- is OK. I like quiet, peaceful, relaxing, no pressure experiences more than hectic, "gotta see everything!" experiences. I can still see a lot from my veranda as we travel among the ports, islands, and glaciers. That alone is worth the price of the ticket.

 

If, after this trip, I find that I would have enjoyed it even more if I had used a scooter, I'll definitely consider renting one for my next cruise (July 2018). And I'll definitely be talking to other passengers who use them to see what they like/etc., how it works to rent them, and so on. I'd just rather not go that route until it's clear that I have to. If using a scooter makes the difference between traveling and not traveling, I'll use a scooter.

 

Thanks again!

Totally agree with ProfessorEFFE. I'll even go further and say you're going about this the wrong way. Have MS and long before using a mobility aid not even a cane I always rented a scooter for any cruise or land trip.

 

Apparently you are not aware of the Cruise Industries' "Fit to Travel" clause in all cruise line contracts. Long story short since you are traveling by yourself, if you have to ask for assistance due to not being able to get back to you room as a result of your COPD taking it's toll, it's not going to end well for you. If you have to ask for assistance routinely the staff does have to report that to the powers to be on board. Which does result in the Captain having to make the decision to call your emergency contact and tell them you will be disembarked at the next port and to come get you. The cruiseline/Captain is well with in its legal right to so . Reason being non compliance of the "Fit to Travel " Clause as well as you pose a liability to the cruiseline, yourself and other passengers. No refunds are given and the cost getting home ids your responsibility. Yes this happens regularly.

 

 

Therefore the way to ensure that this does not happen since you are traveling solo is to "manage your energy" by using a scooter. Oh by way if the Captain has to make the decision to disembark you early during the cruise you will be banned forever from booking on that cruise line as well as any sister cruise lines with the same company.

 

The deck plans are not drawn to scale so everything is and will be much further than you think regardless of well you thought you planned. You really want to spend the whole cruise in your cabin eating room service ? You can do that cheaper by checking into a hotel close to your home. Yes I get it that you're fiercely independent , yes I understand that there's even a bit of denial mixed in but you underestimate the how COPD will impact you on this trip. Have sister that has COPD and thought exactly as you did . However as a result her refusing to properly manage her energy so the COPD did not over power, she is now permanently in a nursing home . The same as our 92 year old mother ... now that's normal ... no ! Sorry for being so blunt but having watched my sister be in denial over the hold the COPD had her I just don't understand why someone wants to make it harder on themselves when it doesn't have to be that way.

Edited by xxoocruiser
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Totally agree with ProfessorEFFE. I'll even go further and say you're going about this the wrong way. Have MS and long before using a mobility aid not even a cane I always rented a scooter for any cruise or land trip.

 

Apparently you are not aware of the Cruise Industries' "Fit to Travel" clause in all cruise line contracts. Long story short since you are traveling by yourself, if you have to ask for assistance due to not being able to get back to you room as a result of your COPD taking it's toll, it's not going to end well for you. If you have to ask for assistance routinely the staff does have to report that to the powers to be on board. Which does result in the Captain having to make the decision to call your emergency contact and tell them you will be disembarked at the next port and to come get you. The cruiseline/Captain is well with in its legal right to so . Reason being non compliance of the "Fit to Travel " Clause as well as you pose a liability to the cruiseline, yourself and other passengers. No refunds are given and the cost getting home ids your responsibility. Yes this happens regularly.

 

 

Therefore the way to ensure that this does not happen since you are traveling solo is to "manage your energy" by using a scooter. Oh by way if the Captain has to make the decision to disembark you early during the cruise you will be banned forever from booking on that cruise line as well as any sister cruise lines with the same company.

 

The deck plans are not drawn to scale so everything is and will be much further than you think regardless of well you thought you planned. You really want to spend the whole cruise in your cabin eating room service ? You can do that cheaper by checking into a hotel close to your home. Yes I get it that you're fiercely independent , yes I understand that there's even a bit of denial mixed in but you underestimate the how COPD will impact you on this trip. Have sister that has COPD and thought exactly as you did . However as a result her refusing to properly manage her energy so the COPD did not over power, she is now permanently in a nursing home . The same as our 92 year old mother ... now that's normal ... no ! Sorry for being so blunt but having watched my sister be in denial over the hold the COPD had her I just don't understand why someone wants to make it harder on themselves when it doesn't have to be that way.

 

OK, first things first:

 

1) I'm well aware of the "fit to travel" clause in HAL's contract (it's Section 2(v) and all of Section 8). I read it when I first booked my trip, and discussed it at length with the Personal Cruise Consultant. I believe I'm clear on what is expected.

 

2) The only time I've asked for assistance when traveling in the past is to get from the ticketing counter to the boarding gate. I live near Seattle, so SeaTac is my "home" airport, and I fly Alaska Airlines usually twice a year. The distance from the ticketing counter to the departure gate can sometimes be the equivalent of 3 football fields. I can make it on my own -- and have many many times -- by walking some distance, stopping and catching my breath, then walking another segment, stopping, etc. My pulmonary doc suggested asking for help as away to speed up the process and so that I don't get so tired. That's it. If I have to change planes, I do it totally on my own, no help. And most of the time when I land, I find my own way to the "meet & greet" area to meet my brother and then walk to the luggage area if necessary.

 

My concern with boarding the ship is both distance and elevation -- "climbing" will make me have to stop more frequently. I've never boarded a ship before, let alone boarding at Pier 91. From photos, it appears to use a "zig zag" series of gangways. Asking for help to get onboard seems like a reasonable thing to do. That IS my way of managing my energy. Once on board, I'll be able to work out a routine that allows me stop and rest when needed as I move about the ship.

 

I have no intention of putting myself into a position where I would need to ask anyone -- crew or otherwise -- for help onboard. Based on the lengthy discussion I had with the HAL PCC, we determined that my chosen cabin would work nicely -- literally across the hall from the elevators. I've seen video of this EXACT cabin on Youtube: Someone booked it a year ago -- Amsterdam, cabin 7040 -- and shot a video showing the proximity to the elevators as well as a detailed look at the interior space. It's literally a few feet from the elevator. I think it took her 3 steps to exit the elevator and get to the door.

 

So while I appreciate the concern, I'm just a little confused. How did we get from "I may need some help getting on the ship, but once onboard, I'll be OK" to getting kicked off the ship for routinely asking for help from the crew?

 

3) Spending the whole time in my cabin eating room service -- I may have been unclear. Given the close proximity of my room to the elevators, and the proximity of the elevators to the MDR and the Lido, I doubt that I'll have to eat room service for the whole cruise. My intention is to "eat out" most meals. When I've traveled to conferences and conventions (as recently as a year ago), and stayed in hotels, that's how I do things. I might skip breakfast occasionally and opt for room service (staying up and singing Welsh hymns in original Welsh in 4-part harmony in the hotel lobby with 150 other Welsh descendants until midnight takes its toll ... ). But usually I head to the hotel's restaurant or an outside restaurant within a block or so.

 

I have no interest in casinos or floor shows, so I'm more likely to attend cooking demos or find a nice quiet spot to curl up with a book or some needlework, or find the place where they play classical music and chill with a glass of wine. And my cabin has a wonderful large veranda from which I assume I'll be able to see ... things: islands, critters, icebergs, etc. Things I obviously can't see if I stay in a hotel or at home. Which is why I'm doing this in the first place. And port excursions -- I'm very interested in history and culture (not ziplines, kayaks, helicopters, ice climbing, etc.). The only area where I have some concern is getting off the ship and into sightseeing busses or whatever. And I can play that by ear. I will NOT put myself in a situation where I endanger myself or anyone else. I seriously do not mind staying on board the ship. Even the "fit to travel" language indicates that not all passengers will be able to participate in all activities on shore or even leave the ship in certain ports (and you can't sue over that). I'm fine with that.

 

4) I've discussed this with my pulmonary doc as well. In April, shortly after I'd booked the trip, I had my "every 6 months visit" and full pulmonary function test. My COPD is well controlled with meds, and I've gone through pulmonary rehabilitation so I understand what's happening when shortness of breath happens and how to get things back in line. He doesn't think there will be a problem. I've scheduled another PFT & doc visit in late August for the sole purpose of getting a final reading before the trip and make any adjustments in meds that might be necessary. My meds haven't changed in 3 yrs, so I'm probably good to go, but I want to make sure that I have everything I need for the trip. I'm perfectly willing to get a letter from my doctor attesting to my fitness to travel if that will help -- I'll ask my PCC if she thinks that would be necessary.

 

Thanks for the concern -- honestly, I do appreciate where you're coming from. But I'm trying to be as realistic as I can. I've never been on a scooter and I'm frankly more nervous about renting one sight unseen and having to deal with it on the ship than I am about having to stop once in awhile and catch my breath for 30 seconds or so. But I'll definitely check out the scooters on the ship as a possibility for my next trip.

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It might be of interest to you to stop by a medical mobility shop near your home and check out the scooters. The people there would be glad to show you how to use one and what type would be best for you. You could also try out the ones in the grocery store. They are built a bit differently and are slower than the travel ones, but you could check out the motion. It might even be good to have that knowledge in case you are having a bad day one day and need one.

Also, ships move, and passéngers move. Even though you have done very well situating yourself near elevators, you may be standing there for some time waiting. The buffet is larger than you might think and after you hike around getting your food, you are going to have to find a place to sit. The crew members, think busboys and girls, always volunteer to carry your tray/plate to a table for you and that's a help.

Sometimes the gangways change angles between your getting off and getting back on the ship in port due to the tides.

When you embark at the beginning of your cruise you may wish to find the maitre d of your dining room and see if you can be accommodated near the entrance of the dining room.

Do carry a bunch of dollars for tips to the folks that push your wheelchair in the airport, the porters at the port, room service wait people and anyone else you might like to recognize along the way.

Please don't think any of us are criticizing you, we just want to help........we've all been there.

Have a great cruise and please come back and tell us how you did!

 

 

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Lana,

Adagio (the classical duet) will probably play in the Explorer's Lounge, just forward of the entrance to the upper MDR on the starboard side of ship. Confirm this (and the time) in your "Daily" newsletter!

 

This is right up my alley, for sure. I'll keep an eye on the Daily newsletter. Thanks!

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It might be of interest to you to stop by a medical mobility shop near your home and check out the scooters. The people there would be glad to show you how to use one and what type would be best for you. You could also try out the ones in the grocery store. They are built a bit differently and are slower than the travel ones, but you could check out the motion. It might even be good to have that knowledge in case you are having a bad day one day and need one.

Also, ships move, and passéngers move. Even though you have done very well situating yourself near elevators, you may be standing there for some time waiting. The buffet is larger than you might think and after you hike around getting your food, you are going to have to find a place to sit. The crew members, think busboys and girls, always volunteer to carry your tray/plate to a table for you and that's a help.

Sometimes the gangways change angles between your getting off and getting back on the ship in port due to the tides.

When you embark at the beginning of your cruise you may wish to find the maitre d of your dining room and see if you can be accommodated near the entrance of the dining room.

Do carry a bunch of dollars for tips to the folks that push your wheelchair in the airport, the porters at the port, room service wait people and anyone else you might like to recognize along the way.

Please don't think any of us are criticizing you, we just want to help........we've all been there.

Have a great cruise and please come back and tell us how you did!

 

Thanks - I'll try to get a little more "scooter education" before the trip. I've made a note to ask the maitre d in the main dining room to get a table near the door. I'm doing "open seating," so I think that will work just fine.

 

I live about 125 miles north of Pier 91, so I won't have to deal with airlines this trip. I'm planning to drive down the day before and stay with a friend overnight, leaving my car there, and taking a service like Already There or Lyft to the terminal the morning of departure. I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible as I tend to "overthink" things sometimes.

 

I hope I don't appear ungrateful -- I honestly appreciate all the tips and advice I've gotten and I've really thought a lot about it and even discussed it with some cruise-veteran friends who know me "up close and personal" and have seen me in action. And I will absolutely be putting a lot of the suggestions into practice. I understand that I'm taking some risk by not securing the use of a scooter for this trip, but based on the experiences I've had traveling, I honestly feel the risk is minimal. If I'm wrong, based on prior experience, the worst that can happen is that I'll end up spending a little more time in/around my room/veranda, and either grazing in the Neptune Lounge or getting room service, and frankly, I can think of worse ways to spend 2 weeks than cruising among incredible scenery, watching the vast array of mountains/glaciers/critters/towns, partaking of superb cuisine. I plan to take a lot of notes and will definitely report back as to how things went -- what things worked and what didn't, where I had the biggest challenges, what were the biggest surprises, etc. I don't know -- maybe my experience can help someone else who struggles with the decision. At worst, it can serve as a sort of "don't do what *I* did -- here's what can go wrong ... "

 

And if it looks like I really should use a scooter onboard in order to enjoy more of the cruise experience, I will gladly arrange to rent one for my next trip: July 18, 2018, 38 days, Holland America, Voyage of the Vikings on the Rotterdam. I'll have plenty of time to get more comfortable with the scooter machinery and with the idea that I need that level of "help." I know for certain that it will eventually become obvious even to pig-headed me that I need to use mobility aids -- I'm just not "there" yet.

 

Thanks again ...

 

Lana in Bellingham

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Thanks - I'll try to get a little more "scooter education" before the trip. I've made a note to ask the maitre d in the main dining room to get a table near the door. I'm doing "open seating," so I think that will work just fine.

 

 

 

I live about 125 miles north of Pier 91, so I won't have to deal with airlines this trip. I'm planning to drive down the day before and stay with a friend overnight, leaving my car there, and taking a service like Already There or Lyft to the terminal the morning of departure. I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible as I tend to "overthink" things sometimes.

 

 

 

I hope I don't appear ungrateful -- I honestly appreciate all the tips and advice I've gotten and I've really thought a lot about it and even discussed it with some cruise-veteran friends who know me "up close and personal" and have seen me in action. And I will absolutely be putting a lot of the suggestions into practice. I understand that I'm taking some risk by not securing the use of a scooter for this trip, but based on the experiences I've had traveling, I honestly feel the risk is minimal. If I'm wrong, based on prior experience, the worst that can happen is that I'll end up spending a little more time in/around my room/veranda, and either grazing in the Neptune Lounge or getting room service, and frankly, I can think of worse ways to spend 2 weeks than cruising among incredible scenery, watching the vast array of mountains/glaciers/critters/towns, partaking of superb cuisine. I plan to take a lot of notes and will definitely report back as to how things went -- what things worked and what didn't, where I had the biggest challenges, what were the biggest surprises, etc. I don't know -- maybe my experience can help someone else who struggles with the decision. At worst, it can serve as a sort of "don't do what *I* did -- here's what can go wrong ... "

 

 

 

And if it looks like I really should use a scooter onboard in order to enjoy more of the cruise experience, I will gladly arrange to rent one for my next trip: July 18, 2018, 38 days, Holland America, Voyage of the Vikings on the Rotterdam. I'll have plenty of time to get more comfortable with the scooter machinery and with the idea that I need that level of "help." I know for certain that it will eventually become obvious even to pig-headed me that I need to use mobility aids -- I'm just not "there" yet.

 

 

 

Thanks again ...

 

 

 

Lana in Bellingham

 

 

 

Have a great trip, Lana,and enjoy all that beautiful scenery!

Laine

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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Lana,

Adagio (the classical duet) will probably play in the Explorer's Lounge, just forward of the entrance to the upper MDR on the starboard side of ship. Confirm this (and the time) in your "Daily" newsletter!

Adagio is gone....replaced by "Lincoln Center" and half of the Explorers Lounge has become movable theater seating for better enjoyment. They were excellent on the Oosterdam!

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Adagio is gone....replaced by "Lincoln Center" and half of the Explorers Lounge has become movable theater seating for better enjoyment. They were excellent on the Oosterdam!

 

Huh, I thought Lincoln Center was the name for the 'new' place -- half the lounge fitted with stadium seating -- and that Adagio along with other performers used the location.

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Huh, I thought Lincoln Center was the name for the 'new' place -- half the lounge fitted with stadium seating -- and that Adagio along with other performers used the location.

 

From the HAL website.....

 

"Lincoln Center Stage

 

In an exclusive partnership with the world’s leading center for the performing arts, Lincoln Center Stage showcases outstanding live chamber music performances."

No one else performed in that location while I was aboard the Oosterdam. The Lincoln Center troupe was extremely talented! You will love them.

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Adagio is gone....replaced by "Lincoln Center" and half of the Explorers Lounge has become movable theater seating for better enjoyment. They were excellent on the Oosterdam!

 

I'll definitely check it out. Sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  • 1 month later...

I thought I'd come back and report on how my trip went. In short -- FANTASTIC!!

 

Recap of the details: Holland America, Amsterdam, 14-day Great Alaska Explorer, R/T Seattle, September 11-25. I have Stage 3 emphysema that's well-controlled with medication but I have some mobility issues mostly related to shortness of breath. Not on oxygen, and I currently use no mobility aids. The question was: to scooter, or not to scooter? I decided for this trip NOT to scooter for a variety of reasons which I talked about above.

 

I did request assistance for embarkation and disembarkation via HAL's special needs form in early August. Everything went smoothly -- no problems, no hiccups. Getting through the Pier 91 terminal was easy and fast. I was deposited in my cabin by 12:45pm.

 

I had no issues getting to/from the safety drill -- the muster station was 4 decks down and halfway "up" the port side of the ship from my cabin, but "traffic" moved slowly enough that I didn't get out of breath. I did use the elevator, however.

 

The Amsterdam is a smaller ship -- ~1300 passengers -- and my cabin was directly across the hall from the aft elevators, which open into the Main Dining Room two decks below, and the Lido one deck above. I did use room service 3 times: for a light supper the first night after leaving Seattle, and breakfast the next two days. Otherwise, I ate in the MDR for all meals except the two that I had in one of the specialty restaurants located midship. I did not request a table near the entrance since the main dining room is a manageable size for me -- I could walk easily to the rear (after windows) without getting out of breath. I had requested "open" seating/willing to share a table, so I was usually seated at a table for 6 or 8. Because a lot of us ate around the same time everyday, I ended up eating with the same folks several times in changing rotations. I liked that a lot!

 

I was able to get around the ship just fine. Yes, I had to move a little slower, but given that I was one of the younger people onboard, I sort of blended in with the crowd. ;) As I said earlier, I'm not really into "entertainment," but I did attend a talk on Future Cruises in the main showroom (in the "bow" end of the ship) the second day. Also, the specialty restaurants were located in the middle of the ship, and again I had no problems getting to the midship elevators. As long as I took my time and didn't try to rush, I was just fine.

 

I visited the Explorer's Lounge several times to hear Adagio -- a nice ending to the day with a glass of wine, and again, easy to get to from the aft elevators. The Explorer's Lounge will be redesigned next year, and after mid-May 2018 will include Lincoln Center Stage (in answer to an earlier comment about it being gone ... ).

 

I chose not to do shore excursions on this trip mainly because I couldn't be sure until we docked how things looked for ease of disembarking/reboarding and by that time, it was too late to sign up for excursions. I know, for example, at one port, the exit/reboarding from the ship was easy, but then there was a l-o-n-g walk (close to 1/4 mile) to get to the pick-up area for excursions. It was only after we left that port that I learned that HAL provided golf carts to assist folks who needed help walking that far. It would have been nice if they'd mentioned it somewhere, but now I know to ask. I did disembark and walked around where the distance allowed and got some good photos. But my primary focus on this trip was to see how I could manage onboard on a ship the size of the Amsterdam, and I think I did fine. I plan to take this same Alaska cruise again in a couple of years (providing it's still available), and will focus more on excursions then.

 

So there it is -- I needed to do this to prove to myself that it was doable. Would a scooter have helped? Perhaps in some things, yes -- especially in some ports (not all, though). But I still was able to move around as much as I needed to enjoy the ship and get a sense of what shipboard life is like.

 

The only downside: almost exactly 24 hrs after I returned home, i came down with a WICKED bad cold! I've heard from several other people who did Alaska cruises recently that they ended up with exactly the same thing. Ugh. But it will pass.

 

Anyway, I enjoyed 14 days of relaxation and calm (except for the rough stuff we encounter in the Gulf of Alaska on the way from Hoonah to Anchorage), and here's the best part: I GET TO DO IT AGAIN IN JULY for ** 38 ** days. :D Yeah, I think I may be hooked.

 

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions and guidance. It really did help me frame the issues for me.

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I thought I'd come back and report on how my trip went. In short -- FANTASTIC!!

 

Recap of the details: Holland America, Amsterdam, 14-day Great Alaska Explorer, R/T Seattle, September 11-25. I have Stage 3 emphysema that's well-controlled with medication but I have some mobility issues mostly related to shortness of breath. Not on oxygen, and I currently use no mobility aids. The question was: to scooter, or not to scooter? I decided for this trip NOT to scooter for a variety of reasons which I talked about above.

 

I did request assistance for embarkation and disembarkation via HAL's special needs form in early August. Everything went smoothly -- no problems, no hiccups. Getting through the Pier 91 terminal was easy and fast. I was deposited in my cabin by 12:45pm.

 

I had no issues getting to/from the safety drill -- the muster station was 4 decks down and halfway "up" the port side of the ship from my cabin, but "traffic" moved slowly enough that I didn't get out of breath. I did use the elevator, however.

 

The Amsterdam is a smaller ship -- ~1300 passengers -- and my cabin was directly across the hall from the aft elevators, which open into the Main Dining Room two decks below, and the Lido one deck above. I did use room service 3 times: for a light supper the first night after leaving Seattle, and breakfast the next two days. Otherwise, I ate in the MDR for all meals except the two that I had in one of the specialty restaurants located midship. I did not request a table near the entrance since the main dining room is a manageable size for me -- I could walk easily to the rear (after windows) without getting out of breath. I had requested "open" seating/willing to share a table, so I was usually seated at a table for 6 or 8. Because a lot of us ate around the same time everyday, I ended up eating with the same folks several times in changing rotations. I liked that a lot!

 

I was able to get around the ship just fine. Yes, I had to move a little slower, but given that I was one of the younger people onboard, I sort of blended in with the crowd. ;) As I said earlier, I'm not really into "entertainment," but I did attend a talk on Future Cruises in the main showroom (in the "bow" end of the ship) the second day. Also, the specialty restaurants were located in the middle of the ship, and again I had no problems getting to the midship elevators. As long as I took my time and didn't try to rush, I was just fine.

 

I visited the Explorer's Lounge several times to hear Adagio -- a nice ending to the day with a glass of wine, and again, easy to get to from the aft elevators. The Explorer's Lounge will be redesigned next year, and after mid-May 2018 will include Lincoln Center Stage (in answer to an earlier comment about it being gone ... ).

 

I chose not to do shore excursions on this trip mainly because I couldn't be sure until we docked how things looked for ease of disembarking/reboarding and by that time, it was too late to sign up for excursions. I know, for example, at one port, the exit/reboarding from the ship was easy, but then there was a l-o-n-g walk (close to 1/4 mile) to get to the pick-up area for excursions. It was only after we left that port that I learned that HAL provided golf carts to assist folks who needed help walking that far. It would have been nice if they'd mentioned it somewhere, but now I know to ask. I did disembark and walked around where the distance allowed and got some good photos. But my primary focus on this trip was to see how I could manage onboard on a ship the size of the Amsterdam, and I think I did fine. I plan to take this same Alaska cruise again in a couple of years (providing it's still available), and will focus more on excursions then.

 

So there it is -- I needed to do this to prove to myself that it was doable. Would a scooter have helped? Perhaps in some things, yes -- especially in some ports (not all, though). But I still was able to move around as much as I needed to enjoy the ship and get a sense of what shipboard life is like.

 

The only downside: almost exactly 24 hrs after I returned home, i came down with a WICKED bad cold! I've heard from several other people who did Alaska cruises recently that they ended up with exactly the same thing. Ugh. But it will pass.

 

Anyway, I enjoyed 14 days of relaxation and calm (except for the rough stuff we encounter in the Gulf of Alaska on the way from Hoonah to Anchorage), and here's the best part: I GET TO DO IT AGAIN IN JULY for ** 38 ** days. :D Yeah, I think I may be hooked.

 

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions and guidance. It really did help me frame the issues for me.

 

Thanks for checking in. The Amsterdam is one of my favorite ships! My handicapped friend took his first cruise on her.

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