Wheelchair rental options

[disneypapa]

Sail HAL Ryndam NB from Vancouver in late May.

 

My wife has some mobility issues. Can walk short distances with cane. She likes the security of having a chair when she tires, etc. I understand that HAL does not provide wheelchair loaners. So what are my options? Has anyone rented a chair at the port and taken the chair on the cruise? If you're sailing one way, how do you get it back to the owner?

[iamaqt2]

This is taken directly from HAL's website:

 

Wheelchairs

For persons not capable of walking on their own, the use of a wheelchair will be the primary mobility assistance aid for getting on and off the ship. Holland America Line has a limited supply of wheelchairs onboard. In order to accommodate our guests, wheelchairs are reserved exclusively for embarkation and disembarkation situations. If you will require regular use of a wheelchair, we recommend that you bring your own wheelchair with you. You may also make advanced rental arrangements prior to your sailing and have a wheelchair delivered directly to the ship. Situations may occur in which mobility-impaired guests may not be able to go ashore at the time they desire or are unable to go ashore at all in certain ports. For the safety of all concerned, the Captain shall make the final determination regarding the carrying of mobility-impaired guests and their mobility assistance device (wheelchair, scooter, walker, etc.), taking into account all appropriate matters including, but not limited to, weather conditions, ship's location, weight of the guest, etc.

Holland America Line is no longer able to provide complimentary wheelchair assistance for any purpose other than embarkation, disembarkation, and emergency situations. Holland America Line wheelchairs are also not available for shore excursions.

For additional details on the prearranged rental program, please contact one of the below companies:

Special Needs at Sea

Phone: 800-513-4515

Fax: 800-513-4516

E-mail: info@specialneedsgroup.com

www.specialneedsatsea.com

 

CareVacations/CruiseShipAssist

Phone: 877-478-7827

Fax: 780-986-8332

E-mail: res@carevacations.com

www.cruiseshipassist.com

 

 

Guests must be aware that certain third party transfer and shore excursion facilities may not be fully accessible to guests with disabilities. Although we endeavor to make sure these companies comply with legal requirements, we cannot guarantee all are able to provide facilities that are accessible to persons with disabilities. For detailed, up-to-date information on accessibility issues involving shore excursions, we strongly recommend visiting the Shore Excursion Office on board.

In limited situations (either on board or ashore), we may find it necessary to ask the individual to make alternative travel arrangements, such as if an individual with a disability is unable to satisfy certain specified safety and other criteria, even when provided with appropriate auxiliary aids and services. Guests who are unable to care for their basic needs (e.g. dressing, eating, and attending safety drills) MUST have a capable traveling companion. It is essential that we be notified of any special medical, physical, or other requirements you may have as soon as possible, including whether you intend to bring a scooter with you.

 

Hope it helps!

[Putterdude]

Care Vacations have a location at the Canada Place pier.

[GrandmaHofmann]

I sailed from Barcelona a couple months ago. We contacted cruiseassist about borrowing a chair. It was $500-$600. As we were going to end up in Barcelona, we were able to rent a wheelchair for 39 euros "for as long as we wanted it." If you are not going and coming from the same port, your only option would be to pay the exorbitant fee or take your own.

[IRL_Joanie]

I've rented a scooter all 3 of our cruises and will rent again from Special Needs at Sea out of Seattle and Ft Lauderdale. With Special Needs at Sea and CareVacations both you can do one way pick up and drop offs. The pricing is per week and is not that expensive. Our 1st trip in May 2008 cost us $275.00 for 1 week our last trip to the Caribbean cost us $218.00 for 14 days. (the last trip was February 2010)

 

Special Needs at Sea

Phone: 800-513-4515

Fax: 800-513-4516

E-mail: info@specialneedsgroup.com

www.specialneedsatsea.com

 

You pick the scooter up at the port and return it to the same place. It is amazing the worlds that open up to those of us who are mobility challenged bot on board the ship and on excursions!!

 

Just contact Special Needs at Sea and they will assist you in the paperwork and requirements for HAL.

 

Joanie

[GRBlizz]

My DH uses a wheelchair, and we have taken 3 cruises so far with a manual chair. It's really very easy to have a folding manual wheelchair. If you don't have an accessible cabin, then you will have to fold the chair to get it through the cabin door. But it sounds like that will be fine for you.

 

My advice - buy a used wheelchair locally and take it with you. If you have a Craigslist where you live, you can probably find a perfectly good manual (folding) wheelchair for about $50-$75.

 

If you're flying to the port, you can gate-check the chair, it's very easy. A manual chair can go in the trunk of a taxi if you decide to take one.

 

After the cruise, you can either sell it yourself - getting back most of what you paid - or keep it as security for when needed.

 

Have fun!

[disneypapa]

If you're flying to the port, you can gate-check the chair, it's very easy. A manual chair can go in the trunk of a taxi if you decide to take one.

 

What does the airline charge to take the chair with you on vacations? Is the chair counted like a piece of luggage? If they do, then a rental with one of the providers above isn't going to be much more and you don't have the hassel of hauling the chair around.

[GRBlizz]

If you're flying to the port, you can gate-check the chair, it's very easy. A manual chair can go in the trunk of a taxi if you decide to take one.

 

What does the airline charge to take the chair with you on vacations? Is the chair counted like a piece of luggage? If they do, then a rental with one of the providers above isn't going to be much more and you don't have the hassel of hauling the chair around.

 

Airlines do not charge for the chair, nor does it count as a piece of luggage - this is true for all medical assistive devices. We have found that having our own chair in the airport makes things a gazillion times easier, even back when my DH could walk some. The distances in airports can be staggering, and there isn't always a wheelchair around when you need one. Also, you can put the carry-on's on your wife's lap and it's like your own luggage cart!

 

With your own chair, you get on the plane first, and they will help with anything you need.