Wheelchair Accessibility of NCL Star

[springrollz]

I just booked a cruise on NCL Star for October 19th....I asked for a wheelchair accessible room and was assigned to Deck 8, Room 8122.

I guess my question is, has anyone sailed in a wheelchair and what was your experience like on Star?

Are the doorways wide enough to accommodate most chairs? showers?

Are motorized scooters available?

 

[Twelvevman]

Scooters are available to rent but must be arranged prior to he cruise. http://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising#guestmob

[mdvlprof]

Haven't been on Star, but have been on sister-ship Dawn.

 

We've never had problem cruising - at least with crew and design of ship.

 

Main issue is elevators. Sometimes have to wait to get elevator with room for a wheelchair. Often, to get empty elevator, we go on elevator going opposite direction, and just wait for it to go the other direction.

[valleyvillage]

We sailed with Mom in a wheelchair and there were no significant problems. One thing we did encounter was the public wheelchair accessible rest rooms sometimes had the OCCUPIED light on when it was actually empty. People would just forget to turn it off.

[Gappleby]

Besides the elevator as stated above, our only issue was the scooters and walkers parked outside staterooms. We said something but ended up using other floors to get through. The linen carts also were difficult but they are narrower and we could squeeze by.

[swedish weave]

Besides the elevator as stated above, our only issue was the scooters and walkers parked outside staterooms. We said something but ended up using other floors to get through. The linen carts also were difficult but they are narrower and we could squeeze by.

 

Mobility scooters are not supposed to be parked in the hallways. We have been on cruises when the officer in charge moved them to a suitable location.

 

It is a safety issue.

Edited March 2, 2015 by swedish weave

[Budget Queen]

In January we were in a forward deck 8 cabin. This is an uneven deck with ramps near the front, also the hall zig zags. I tried to time our times to get out early and didn't usually come back to the cabin until after dinner, or after 9pm. IF you are going to have to go back and forth to your cabin, you are going to have to move carts in the hall. They are there approx until early afternoon, and are back by 6pm until about 9pm.

 

Elevators can have waits, as mentioned. Especially in ports, if only using one set of elevators. It may be of benefit to ride the elevator in the other direction, then staying on, if you find an open elevator.

 

Any scooter, is a rental by you, and actually the same with a wheelchair. Must be arranged in advance with various fees.

[don't-use-real-name]

Cabin 8122 is in the mid-aft section of the ship just forward of the aft most

elevators. There are 4 cabins on each side of the ship in that area. All are

side entry cabins in that when entering the cabin the cabin in not long and

narrow looking ahead but the space is split right and left - the doors to most

all HC cabins are 36 inches across to accommodate wheelchairs walkers and

scooters. I don't know the specifics to 8122 but for the most part the HC cabins

do not have a step over threshold to enter the shower bath area or interior

doors that inhibit moving in and out of the bath area.

 

Deck 8 is a maze of twists and 90 degree turns going forward -

Going forward and a bend in the passageway and you are at the Blue Lagoon

and what is yet to modified of the Moderno Brazilian restaurant elevators a

bit further ahead. From this point Deck 8 is not realistic to go any further

because of the kinks in the passageway - best to use the elevators here or

those in the aft of the ship to go up to Deck 12 the Buffet & Pool Deck - Library.

 

-OR- down one Deck to the Promenade Deck 7 - Spinnaker Lounge -

the Registration Desk - Dining Reservations - Future Cruises -

and forward to the Sushi Bar/Teppanaki -

gifts duty free shops and finally the Stardust Theatre.

 

Aft elevators down to Deck 6 is the Versallies MDR

To get to the Aqua get off at Deck 7 (Promenade Deck) and go forward to

the mid ship elevators and then down one Deck to the Aqua - going forward

from that point will be Le Bistro and La Cucina Gatsby's and the Casino and

the lower level of the Stardust Theatre.

 

Getting around on scooters walkers wheelchairs as one poster noted to go

down when you wanted to go up - possession of the elevator works best

when you have it pretty much to yourself or your party.

 

Getting to an outdoor deck (Deck 13) requires a bit of maneuvering either

take the midship elevator to Deck 13 (think Cagney's) and go out the starboard

door of Cagneys directly onto the jogging walking deck.

-OR- go to the forward elevators (think theatre) go up to Deck 13 and with

a bit of help from someone to open the doors out onto deck 13 there you are !

You can do an almost 1/3 mile transit on the outdoor deck getting plenty of

fresh whatever the weather throws your way.

 

All in all you should have very few problems getting out and about. If there

is an obstacle in your path (linen cabin service cart) give a shout the steward

will help you get by all the way to where you are going on the same deck.

 

So now you are free to move about the ship making waves as you go - ENJOY !

[kcfoxy]

The AC cabins are set up per ADA guidelines. Doors have 34 to 36" width with no threshholds. There is a small metal ramp that goes out to the balcony. Some of the balcony rooms are 50% larger than standard BC class, they took 3 regular BC cabins and turned them into 2 AC variety.

 

The sideways obstructed oceanview cabins on deck 8 are about 20% larger than non-AC in same category. The bathrooms for all are nice and roomy, like the cabin you will have a full turning circle possible with a wheelchair.

 

The lights and climate controls are set at WC height, the closet has a feature when you can bring down the hanging rod from the seated position to better access and hang your clothing. The desk area, like that bathroom sink, is hollow underneath so you may pull right up to it in a WC.

 

Some complain that the no threshold shower is a wet mess. It has a perimeter floor drain marking off 2 sides, grab bars, heavy duty pull down slatted shower chair, hand held shower head and privacy curtain if desired. You do not have as much counter space area for toiletries, one trade-off, but a hanging cosmetic bag is always an option.

 

The room steward will provide extra bath towels to soak up any extra water, as needed. They also will provide extension cords and distilled water for those pax needing them for CPAP type devices. When not in use we stored my folding WC (the sort rented from Special Needs At Sea) in the bathroom, there was plenty of room.

 

If any port stops require tendering vs pier docking, a folding WC can go with you while a scooter almost never can, due to weight restrictions.

 

 

Edited March 3, 2015 by kcfoxy

[NYNC]

Is the Bier Garten W/C accessible?

[don't-use-real-name]

Is the Bier Garten W/C accessible?

 

"NO" - unless there is a "CREW" elevator behind the bar that could be used.

From deck 13 to the Bier Garten there are only stairs port or starboard to deck 14.

The STARs sister ship the DAWN (Bimini Bar) is of the same design.

[NYNC]

Thanks, it didn't look like it on the deck plans but I thought that I'd ask. I guess they will have to carry in as well as out.

[supercruiser7070]

Thanks for the heads up, my parents will be traveling on her and I was wondering this, Ill pass on the info :)