HC cabin: just sent a complaint email to princess

[clyde3]

DW and I wanted to take a cruise to China. Princess does the cruise we wanted but it was too far in advanced to book. We watched everyday for weeks for it to open. The morning it opened we called our TA to book. An hour later she called back and said she was sorry but all HC cabins were booked. I asked how that could be, the cruise just opened this morning. She said she would call Princess back. About an hour later she called back and said we got the cabin we requested. I asked what the problem was and she said some unscrupulous TA had blocked all HC cabins so they could sell them to their clients. She talked a supervisor into unblocking the cabin we wanted. After that we always have her check to see if the cabin we want is actually booked.

[Putterdude]

We have done 15 cruises with Princess and have never been asked for any information re DW's need for an HC cabin, the same with HAL and Celebrity. We try to book as soon as the itinerary is released so as to get an HC cabin. Now there is some possibility that our TA does this for us but not to our knowledge.

[MilVet913]

The cruise lines NOT asking for documents IS the problem.

[teegee16]

when i finally did get my cabin the cruiseline handicapped office contacted me via email and specifically asked me to verify the type of scooter i was bringing. maybe that is their way of assuring i really needed the cabin.

[DizzyDallasDi]

I am AB but really feel for all of you who are disabled and can't get HC cabins because AB people may have booked them because they want/need more space. It's a real thorn in my side that there are people who aren't truly disabled but think they are entitled to these cabins because of their large size and they feel entitled to scoop up the HC cabins so they can fit in the bathroom. It's a sad reflection of humanity and extraordinarily selfish.

 

I truly empathize with those who are wheelchair bound or otherwise handicapped and need these special cabins to accommodate their needs and for which these cabins were designed. I have a friend who is a quadruple amputee and if she was unable to get a HC cabin because a "fluffy" was in it, I would be livid. It's simply wrong.

[Annabell111]

I was able to book a Handicap room Nov. of 2011 for Dec. 25, 2011 on an 7 night cruise through Carnival on the Pride. I was emailed a paper to fill out by CC wanting to know the dimensions of my wheelchair, if I was bringing a scooter, if I could walk at all and if I had any dietary needs. I filled out the sheet and scanned it to the address and got a conformation a day later thanking me for emailing back the document in a timely manner.

 

I hope our first cruise goes as easy as reserving our room did. After reading some of these threads I feel lucky that it went soo smooth...

[Chunky2219]

I've noticed that with all the lines we have used (or looked at using), the HC cabins seem to book up very quickly as soon as the brochure comes on line and booking opens. This includes Princess, although to be honest we've never booked with them in the end.

 

Now as some have suggested, it might be that because of the increased cabin space, they get booked up by the same sort of low-lifes who always seem to be blocking up disabled parking spaces. Able bodied people flouting the system. But I doubt it.

 

If you read the small print in the back of most brochures, it says that if you don't have a genuine need for the cabin they reserve the right to eject you from it. I don't know if it has ever been done and of course, I'd love to be the first person at the purser's desk to complain and get it put into action. I'd love to hear from someone who has actually raised a stink. I confess that because there are so few HC cabins on every ship, I've been particularly vigilant about looking who had them whenever I've been passing on the corridor. Universally, it has been someone who's need has been at least as great as my own.

 

The bottom line is that there are just too few HC cabins, too many HC cruisers and we get the poor end of the deal by having to book up early at full prices.

 

I come to this conclusion after my own experience with Cunard. The two smaller queens have only one QG HC suite on board, but it is invariably booked up very quickly at full price. It can't be for extra room, because the Q7 has plenty of it and a Q7 HC doesn't have any extra, just no tub and a walk-in shower. Anyone with an ounce of sense would know that eventually the price drops by a big chunk later on. To be blunt, you can book a much larger cabin, for a much lower price than you'd pay for a HC, if only you play the game.

 

We've taken the opposite approach. Because I can get away with using a tub and I can walk a few steps, we tend to wait for the good offers and then book a suite. The rooms are much bigger, the doors wide enough to take a wheelchair and the other benefits are good too. Earlier this year we did this and got a suite for 24 days at 1/3 of the original price - less than a simple HC cabin would have cost on day 1.

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[Erex]

 

We've taken the opposite approach. Because I can get away with using a tub and I can walk a few steps, we tend to wait for the good offers and then book a suite. The rooms are much bigger, the doors wide enough to take a wheelchair and the other benefits are good too. Earlier this year we did this and got a suite for 24 days at 1/3 of the original price - less than a simple HC cabin would have cost on day 1.

.

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Chunky, do you have (or know) information about the size of the doors on the different companies?

We have only been cruising RCI and trying to get a sensible answer from RCCL in Norway has proved difficult. They only answer with the size of a standard door. Last time on Adventure we did visit an Owner Suite and we can at least use that.

We can also use suite as long as it has space enough for a wheel chair. But it seems that most suites do not have a proper shower.

 

Cheers, Atle

[Treven]

I've been on 2 Princess cruises. Each time they've asked for verification of my disability. Your post isn't real clear but it sounds like all the handicap cabins were filled when you tried to book, and none opened up. Perhaps if one had, then you would have been asked for documentation?

I've never been asked for proof of my disability, by Princess nor any of the other lines I've cruised with.

I've made a booking on the Princess Grand for Jan '13, and all their accessible cabins are booked. According to my TA, I'm #1 on their wait list for an accessible cabin, so I guess I'll have to wait until final pymt date to see if I get a handicapped cabin or keep the standard cabin I presently have.

[teegee16]

I've never been asked for proof of my disability, by Princess nor any of the other lines I've cruised with.

I've made a booking on the Princess Grand for Jan '13, and all their accessible cabins are booked. According to my TA, I'm #1 on their wait list for an accessible cabin, so I guess I'll have to wait until final pymt date to see if I get a handicapped cabin or keep the standard cabin I presently have.

 

I would definitely follow up with them after final payment. it seems like the squeekey wheel gets the grease. call access office princess and be a pain. that's how it worked for me. i believe that if i didn't start to get aggressive after final payment i would still be waiting!

 

by the way, i have a westie too! sweetest breed ever! he's snoozing on the couch next to me as we speak...

[guardhouse]

We have always been very fortunate and have been able to book H/A cabins on all cruises we have taken (my wife has progressive MS).

 

That said, it is obviously a problem for travelers who need these rooms. I am thinking of starting a lobbying effort through the Congress to get the Sec. of Transportation or whoever else would be the best agency to so enforce.

 

Cannot think it would be that much of a nuisance to require that a statndard form be filled out and faxed to the cruise line from an appropriate doctor stating that there is a physical condition that requires the H/A cabin.

 

May also need to note on the form, CLEARLY, that there would be consequences for the Dr. if the information were not correct. And require letterhead or other such info that will assist with confirming validity of who filled out the form.

 

Maybe too simple of an idea?

[guardhouse]

And I need to do a shout out to Princess. As you can see, our last few cruises were with Princess. Their staff could not have been more accomodating. From helping my wife up the boarding ramps to helping around decks and doorways to the decks to helping her and storing her wheelchair in the main dining rooms so she could be seated like all the rest of our party.

 

I can also say that our cabin stewards and dining room waiters have done additional small gestures to show that they care and in some way understand some of the difficulties.

 

Thank you, Princess. You earned our loyality from all of the acts of kindness you have shown.

[Chunky2219]

Chunky, do you have (or know) information about the size of the doors on the different companies?

We have only been cruising RCI and trying to get a sensible answer from RCCL in Norway has proved difficult. They only answer with the size of a standard door. Last time on Adventure we did visit an Owner Suite and we can at least use that.

We can also use suite as long as it has space enough for a wheel chair. But it seems that most suites do not have a proper shower.

 

Cheers, Atle

Sorry for the delayed reply.

 

I don't have a full list for everyone, but I can tell you that suites on Celebrity and Cunard (QG), plus P&O and Princess all have wider doors that will take an unfolded chair. I don't know if this applies to the new mega ships like Ventura and Azura but see no reason why it shouldn't. The mini-suites on P&O are the standard smaller size so a chair has to be folded or dismantled.

 

I'm fortunate to have a very good TA (cruise specialist) to find out anything I want. It takes a few days, but they always come back with an answer. We've never looked at RCI, but they managed to get the details for a RS with Celebrity, which as you know is owned by RCI. It might be worth you finding a cruise specialist and asking "I'm thinking of booking, can you tell me ................?"

 

Every suite we have been in has had a reasonable sized shower and a tub, so I have been able to play the tunes. Unfortunately, the bathroom door can be a little narrow and there is always a step of a couple of inches. So overall, it isn't going to work for a permanent chair user. Having said that, I've seen pictures of owner's suites and penthouses with very wide doors and lots of floor space, so if you could manage the "bump" it might be workable. However, if I were a permanent chair user I would reluctantly book a HC suite and pay the daft up-front, full brochure price.

 

I always book a shower stool. That way, I can walk into the bathroom using the walls for support and enter the shower using the handrail they usually have. The chair comes out when my DW wants to shower.

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[Erex]

Sorry for the delayed reply.

 

I don't have a full list for everyone, but I can tell you that suites on Celebrity and Cunard (QG), plus P&O and Princess all have wider door...............................................

.

 

Thank you for a lot of good information.

 

Cheers Atle

[Rowena]

This topic simply aggravates me to no end. There are a couple of old sayings that apply here:

 

1. Lack of preparation on your part, does not make an emergency on my part.

 

2. He who snoozes, loses.

 

Not to mention, that there are a whole host of 'invisible' disabilities out there, that frequently are overlooked by the general populous. Such as: Lupus, Rheumatiod Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Heart and/or Lung disease. Can we say 'stability issues', where folks with these issues have difficulty simply standing up, they NEED the hand rails and ADA accessible modifications that are in HC rooms.

 

A little compassion is in order here. Just because you don't SEE the disability doesn't mean that a person is not disabled. They can be functioning perfectly normally on day 1 and then on day 2 their legs won't function at all. The following day they can be almost back to normal, but not quite there and still need the handrails. Yes, this DOES happen. These people have a tough enough time in life, and the chance of going on a very nice vacation is slim to not at all. The simple fact that they CAN go is a major accomplishment for these people.

 

Simply because you fail to prepare and they booked early does not mean that you get to bellyache.

 

Yes, a 'hot button' issue for me. My dad had polio and he REFUSED to use the handicapped parking spaces because there COULD be a person with heart issues who might need it. If he could have compassion while having polio, so can everybody else. Which leads me to another old saying: Ya can't fix stupid, and in some cases, you can't fix selfish!

[luv2sweat]

I am AB but really feel for all of you who are disabled and can't get HC cabins because AB people may have booked them because they want/need more space. It's a real thorn in my side that there are people who aren't truly disabled but think they are entitled to these cabins because of their large size and they feel entitled to scoop up the HC cabins so they can fit in the bathroom. It's a sad reflection of humanity and extraordinarily selfish.

 

I truly empathize with those who are wheelchair bound or otherwise handicapped and need these special cabins to accommodate their needs and for which these cabins were designed. I have a friend who is a quadruple amputee and if she was unable to get a HC cabin because a "fluffy" was in it, I would be livid. It's simply wrong.

 

So are you saying the overweight person who literally cannot fit in the shower or on the toilet stay home? I am totally against AB people booking HC cabins. It is wrong. But how do you define a handicap or disability? The severely overweight person may not be able to use the bathroom in a regular cabin. They lack the ability to use it and need the accommodation. And before someone jumps in to say that they are overweight by choice versus someone who is confined to a wheelchair, please realize that is not the case. There are many medical conditions that can cause obesity, so lets not judge. There are many legitimate needs for accessible cabins. The issue is making sure that they go to the people with the legitimate need and not to people or just want more space.

[luv2sweat]

This topic simply aggravates me to no end. There are a couple of old sayings that apply here:

 

1. Lack of preparation on your part, does not make an emergency on my part.

 

2. He who snoozes, loses.

 

Not to mention, that there are a whole host of 'invisible' disabilities out there, that frequently are overlooked by the general populous. Such as: Lupus, Rheumatiod Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Heart and/or Lung disease. Can we say 'stability issues', where folks with these issues have difficulty simply standing up, they NEED the hand rails and ADA accessible modifications that are in HC rooms.

 

A little compassion is in order here. Just because you don't SEE the disability doesn't mean that a person is not disabled. They can be functioning perfectly normally on day 1 and then on day 2 their legs won't function at all. The following day they can be almost back to normal, but not quite there and still need the handrails. Yes, this DOES happen. These people have a tough enough time in life, and the chance of going on a very nice vacation is slim to not at all. The simple fact that they CAN go is a major accomplishment for these people.

 

Simply because you fail to prepare and they booked early does not mean that you get to bellyache.

 

Yes, a 'hot button' issue for me. My dad had polio and he REFUSED to use the handicapped parking spaces because there COULD be a person with heart issues who might need it. If he could have compassion while having polio, so can everybody else. Which leads me to another old saying: Ya can't fix stupid, and in some cases, you can't fix selfish!

 

Thank you for mentioning the invisible disabilities. My son has severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. A few years ago we were on a cruise and he sat in the rear of the theater where the last few rows were reserved for those with mobility issues. He was 16 at the time. Two cruise staff members came over and told him he couldn't sit there. He told them that he had a handicap and they responded along the lines of "yeah right, sure you do kid." Ever prepared he whipped out his handicapped id card. He said he felt bad because the two staffers were so embarassed. He nicely explained to them that there are invisible disabilities. They apologized profusely and spent the rest of the week falling over themselves making sure he had a fantastic time.

 

Unfortunately he still runs into this all the time. He's in college now and he gets questioned by campus police frequently for parking in the handicapped spot near his dorm. I guess they think he bought his parking permit on e-bay or something.

 

As for cruising now, he has problems with the bathroom. The toilets are too low for him. He has a lot of difficulty getting up. But like your father with parking, he won't take a HC cabin from someone who needs it more. What does he do? When we travel we bring a toilet seat riser with us. Problem solved. He understands that people need the HC cabin more than he does and provides his own "reasonable accommodation." He's seen his grandmother, who needs an HC cabin, miss out on some cruises because the HC cabins were booked. Of course liking to think the best of people we both assume it's because other HC people got there first :)