Do handicap cruisers get priority embarkation?

[Cruisingzs]

My MIL recently had knee surgery and was just given the all clear to go on the Magic July 8th. My parents just got off last week and said the gangway was longer and curvier than other ships they have been on. My dad thought MIL may have a problem walking it.

Sooo. I was going to contact customer care to arrange a wheelchair. Would she get priority embarkation with this? Would she if she used her walker?

 

Just trying to be the good DIL and make this as easy on her as possible

 

TIA!

[RWolver672]

Yes on the wheelchair and yes on the walker. Just contact special services ahead of the cruise. They will escort her and one other person to their cabin. When you check in, they will contact a worker to escort her on.

 

The crew will also help her getting off and on the ship in ports too. If it's a tender port, I'd advise them to stay on the ship. Getting on a tender can be difficult for the handicap.

[TravisBickle]

My MIL recently had knee surgery and was just given the all clear to go on the Magic July 8th. My parents just got off last week and said the gangway was longer and curvier than other ships they have been on. My dad thought MIL may have a problem walking it.

Sooo. I was going to contact customer care to arrange a wheelchair. Would she get priority embarkation with this? Would she if she used her walker?

 

Just trying to be the good DIL and make this as easy on her as possible

 

TIA!

 

and is using some sort of walking assistance (wheelchair, cane, etc) she will be guided around the queue and receive priority boarding.

 

Having said the above, and since she is due to travel on July 8, I would still contact customer care just to make sure all the Is are dotted and all the Ts are crossed - that way there should be no question about receiving assistance.

[sharecruises]

Call ahead and order the wheelchair, they are very helpful to those who need special help

 

It may be a long walk/wait even with a walker...no harm or shame in getting the wheelchair (and yeah you can get it right at port but better to plan ahead)

 

call and speak to special needs

You also can have them put her in a cabin near the elevators (not a handicap cabin, just one near the elevators)

 

that will make it a lot easier on her if she has some mobility problems/uses walker

 

Have a good cruise

[LadyVolFan]

Get a wheelchair. I have MD and have had a terrible time walking on the ship. I am getting my w/c for the next cruise. I want to have fun, not worry about where I will fall.:p

[Cruisingzs]

She is very stubborn and will only use a walker <if needed> on board and would refuse a wheelchair once on board. Do you know, will they escort her off the peir? My main concern is in Key West. We dock at the Westin and I know that is a fairly long pier.

[Havingfun2010]

My MIL recently had knee surgery and was just given the all clear to go on the Magic July 8th. My parents just got off last week and said the gangway was longer and curvier than other ships they have been on. My dad thought MIL may have a problem walking it.

Sooo. I was going to contact customer care to arrange a wheelchair. Would she get priority embarkation with this? Would she if she used her walker?

 

Just trying to be the good DIL and make this as easy on her as possible

 

TIA!

 

Getting on the ship early, like one of the first ones is "priority" boarding. Having special VIP lines is priority boarding. However being disabled, with cane, walker, wheelchair etc is more or less, special handling to get the person on with the least amount of stress. I travel with a disabled cruiser. Walking the gang plank with hundreds of others is not only dangerous for the person that is in a walker, cane or chair, but it holds up the whole line for everyone else. So, to get a "group" on first, or at a different entrance, etc is not only good for the disabled passenger, but for everyone else.

 

When a disabled passenger gets to the check in line, most of the time, a staff member will ask if they would like assistance, and a wheel chair. No need to ask usually. Also, even once identified with a cane etc, after check in, they will be directed to a different seating area, and/or elevators and often times be escorted some of the way.

 

No need to contact customer care ahead of time. It wil be taken care of at the dock. Also, if she can walk, I have found it better to walk than to ride. Sometimes, you have to wait for a wheelchair, and could be frustrating. A employee must push and so you have to wait.

 

So, it's not priority, just special care and assistance. Hope that helps.

[Cruisingzs]

Totally helps! Thanks! Since we will have two kids with us, we just have to be prepared to let her go on her own with the rep. She's travelled many many times on her own. So She should be fine!