Disabled cabin

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Been asked to help a cruise virgin pick a ship and a cruise,

 

they are confined to a wheel chair, so folks with experience

 

what advise would you give.

 

They thought fixed dining at a small table rather than anytime.

 

For the shows are there any spaces near the front rather than the back of the theatre

 

What assistance does Princess offer, any photos of cabins.

 

 

yours Shogun

[1025cruise]

Shogun, I'd suggest checking the Disabled Cruisers thread for more info. However, from my recollection in the theater, I believe the wheelchair spaces are only in the back by the door.

[Comeoncruisin]

The Accessible Cabins are very large, they are 1 1/2 times the size of a regular cabin. The bathrooms are huge and have a roll-in shower.

My sister is confined to a wheelchair and she prefers to stay in the inside cabin on the Lido Deck. This way, they do not have to worry about getting an elevator up to the pool deck. You would not believe the number of rude people who run in front of her to get into an elevator before her.

Also, if they want to go somewhere on the ship, she can always get an elevator quickly as people are always getting off on the Lido deck.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Pia1913]

 

 

 

For the shows are there any spaces near the front rather than the back of the theatre

 

yours Shogun

 

They would need a ship where you can roll in on deck 6. That's the only way you can be up front.

[Comeoncruisin]

We have gone with set dining and anytime dining and it didn't make any difference. The only advantage with set dining, it they will already have the chair removed before you arrive for dinner.

Princess are very helpful getting on and off the ship, but otherwise you are on your own.

I hope I have answered all you questions, please feel free post other questions.

[jlp20]

Because of a mobility issue we now have to book “wheelchair” cabins. The issue of what cruise or ship to pick is not the issue. Since there are so few of these cabins on each ship, trying to find an available cabin on ANY ship is the issue.

 

In February I started looking for a Panama cruise for October. Two weeks into the search a “WC” cabin became available only due to a cancelation. I reserved the cabin ASAP.

 

Unfortunately, cruise lines do not restrict who books these cabins based on need. If you request a specific cabin and it’s available you can make any booking you wish. A friend of my wife, a physically healthy MEDICAL DOCTOR, regularly books handicapped cabins due to the larger bathroom.

[Nanatravel]

Hi All

 

Been asked to help a cruise virgin pick a ship and a cruise,

 

they are confined to a wheel chair, so folks with experience

 

what advise would you give.

 

They thought fixed dining at a small table rather than anytime.

 

For the shows are there any spaces near the front rather than the back of the theatre

 

What assistance does Princess offer, any photos of cabins.

 

 

yours Shogun

 

Just had first hand experience on the Crown Princess:

Cabin - booked A304 last minute as it came available to the general public. Mid-ship with a larger longer balcony. Although they said you could not turn around in a wheelchair in the Bathroom, with the shower space, I believe you could turn around completely. There are no raised thresholds. Bathroom counter is wheelchair accesible; 2 shelves near sink & 2 in the shower area which has a hand held spray. All door handles are ''push" down style. There were 4 draws in the double sized end tables on each side of our "Queen+" bed. There is a ramp for rolling out onto the balcony.

 

Theatre: entry on the lower deck by the conference room is HA. A wheelchair can be positioned at the end of several roows near this public entry way and the stage is only about 6-8 rows away. We sat nearby.

 

Dining: sounds like a good plan for Traditional dining time. Only issue is on the Crown (I can't speak for other Princess ships but many are similar) the Botticelli for the Traditional is aft and only directly available by the set of Aft elevators. There are other ways to get there, but it may take a little effort. You can walk via the Piazza area toward the Explorere's Lounge, Photo area, Club Fusion area and take the elevator down from deck 7.

 

Help them pick an itinerary that does NOT have tender ports. Staff is very helpbul, but docking would be so much easier for a wheelchair dependent guest. Sorry, of 1400 pictures, I forgot to take shots of the Cabin!

[Nanatravel]

Shogun you have been so helpful to many, I thought I would try to find some photos. Although this cabin is in the same block as A304 on the Crown, the Dawn is older and my room appeared much larger: vanity was straight and had one small lower closet with 2 lower shelves next to the mini-fridge, closets were as pictured in the room but there was lots of space between the end of the closets and the doorway. Also lots of wall space between the bathroom wall and the bed. Check this out:

[AndyTheK]

Adding a few things to the post by Nanatravel about the Crown:

 

DW is a scooter user on board (rented) and has her own manual wheelchair. We book HCc abins always. Usually book at opening day to e sure we get what we need.

 

The handicapped theater seating at the rear on deck 7 was not well policed. Often badly (and unsafely) blocked by people standing. The area on deck 6 suggested by Pia is excellent. I've attached a shot I took from there so you can see what the proximity to the stage is.

 

The easy solution to getting to Botticelli dining room without problems with the crowd is to simply show up 5-10 minutes after the posted dining time. By that time the crowds are already inside and you're not really holding the sable back.

 

Princess crew is fantastic with helping those who need assistance. Buffet staff will help carry plates and will find seats.

 

A couple of downsides: public restrooms and some of the doors to the open decks lack automatic operation. DW says the public ladies' rooms are not really well designed with respect to wheelchair use. Luckily she can manage the restroom without her scooter when needed.

 

The laundromats are another thing altogether. It was impossible for her to get into there with her scooter: there are waste cans chained to the wall (can't move out of the way) in a tight space. Solution? I did the wash :)

 

Using a tender to get to port nay not be as bad as some suggested. If your friend is in a manual (not electric) chair and can manage the few steps to get in and out of the tender, the crew will fold the chair and take it aboard. Choose shoreside activities carefully: the tour sales people on board may not be as familiar with the tours that they sell as they might be.

 

A final observation: all the card table games in the casino are low level - chair user can roll right up and play. The one exception is one blackjack table - it's a "standard" table. That is the one they use as the only $5 table. DW's solution is to play at a $10 tale! She would be permitted to sit at the craps table (usually players are required to stand) but then she can't see over the rail... oh, well. Don't know about roulette. Slot machines, of course, are accessible.

 

In sum, cruising is a great way to vacation in a wheelchair.

 

Shalom, Andy.

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Thanks for info

 

This is a new area for me so learning lot, as to where to cruise I was thinking may be northern Europe, Norway, Sweden etc as I thought these places better for a wheel chair, or may be US coast New York etc

 

yours Shogun

[Coral]

Hi All

 

Thanks for info

 

This is a new area for me so learning lot, as to where to cruise I was thinking may be northern Europe, Norway, Sweden etc as I thought these places better for a wheel chair, or may be US coast New York etc

 

yours Shogun

 

The US is going to be far more wheel chair friendly compared to Northern Europe.

[Kinkacruiser]

We saw one of the disabled cabins on the Star and was very surprised at the size. You can't book one unless you are disabled, but I have heard that if there are any disabled cabins vacant closer to final payment time, you can ask your TA to organise one for you.

Not only do they have a larger bathroom and more space around the bed, but also very close to the elevator.

[Megsdad]

The cabin is not disabled. It is a wheelchair accessible cabin.

[Treven]

Shogun, as many times I've booked handicapped accessible cabins, I've never taken pix of it nor the bathroom area:p

[keep on cruising]

Shogun, we had a handicapped mini suite on the Emerald in March. This was our first cruise with DH in a wheelchair. We did a 10 day cruise round trip from Fort Lauderdale. Princess had wheelchair accessible excursions in 2 ports and I was able to find a couple of private tours in ports that would take us with a wheelchair.

 

The only tender port was Princess Cays; we didn't even try to get off the ship. At the other ports, whether DH was in the wheelchair or the scooter we rented on board, as soon as we got near the gangway, two crew members came to help. One would get in front and one in back to guide him down.

 

We had Anytime dining and had no issues. After a few nights, we reserved a table in a certain section and had great waiters. We also ate at Sabitinis and Crowne Grill and had a great experience at both.

 

The cabin was much larger than a regular cabin. The balcony was easily accessible and the bathroom as someone else mentioned, had a roll in shower. I have pictures somewhere of the room.

 

We went to the theater, MUTS and spent a lot of time in the International Cafe.

 

We found cruising was very accessible. As far as other places to go, New York is a very accessible city. Most of the US, is accessible by law. I have heard that Australia has many of the same type of laws and will find out later this year.

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Essiesmom]

If they can handle an inside cabin, the square HC cabins on emerald deck of most of the Grand class are really mini-suites. I booked an inside gty for a B2B on diamond to Alaska, and Princess assigned me this cabin (E714). I made sure they knew I did not need a HC cabin, but it seemed this was what was available for both weeks. It had an entry with the closets and desk, an alcove for the bed, and separate sitting area with wet bar and second TV.

[RickEk]

If they can handle an inside cabin, the square HC cabins on emerald deck of most of the Grand class are really mini-suites. I booked an inside gty for a B2B on diamond to Alaska, and Princess assigned me this cabin (E714). I made sure they knew I did not need a HC cabin, but it seemed this was what was available for both weeks. It had an entry with the closets and desk, an alcove for the bed, and separate sitting area with wet bar and second TV.

 

We've had the forward Emerald deck HC cabin on the Sapphire Princess.... it was a mansion.

[Umbarger]

Book very, very early. There are only around 20 HC cabins on each ship and able bodied people love to book them for the extra room.

 

Europe is not very HC accessible. Remember only the US has the ADA.

[caribill]

Unfortunately, cruise lines do not restrict who books these cabins based on need. If you request a specific cabin and it’s available you can make any booking you wish.

 

US laws prevent asking a passenger if they are disabled. Thus, the cruise lines cannot ask if a passenger really needs the cabin.

 

Theatre: entry on the lower deck by the conference room is HA. A wheelchair can be positioned at the end of several roows near this public entry way and the stage is only about 6-8 rows away. We sat nearby.

 

On many of the ships, there are steps leading to the theater on deck 6 and more steps once inside the theater before getting to a seat. Thus, the area at the rear on deck 7 are usually the only option for a wheelchair.

[Shogun]

Hi All;

 

Thanks for the info learning a lot

 

yours Shogun

[keep on cruising]

We are going to Australia later this year. My research indicates that they have many laws similiar to the US and a lot of their venues (at least in Sidney) are wheelchair accessible.

[emmtee]

Northern Europe is beautiful, and it's possible to get around, but it's not easy. Tallin is where I broke my ankle, and I spent the second half of my Baltic cruise in a wheelchair. Cobblestones are bumpy!