cruise on Sunday I'm on crutches

[abqmommyof4]

Long story short i was put in a knee brace and on crutches on Monday. We board on Sunday the 14th.. Any suggestions to make my life ( and hubby's) easier Seattle on the ruby

thanks in advance

Edited June 11, 2015 by abqmommyof4

[Colo Cruiser]

Long story short i was put in a brace and on crutches on Monday. We board on Sunday the 14th.. Any suggestions to make my life ( and hubby's) easier

thanks in advance

 

 

 

Don't know what ship or port.........

At the terminal ask for assistance in boarding.

[Nan_Sea]

When you arrive at the port ask for a wheel chair for embarkation. Wheelchairs or scooters can be rented for the duration of the cruise. We use Special needs at Sea.

[BratDet]

a folding travel wheelchair

 

http://www.costco.com/Elite-Aluminum-Transport-Wheelchair-by-Medline%C2%AE.product.100144447.html is an example of one....

 

I own one and took it when I was on chemo for disney World and we took it on a cruise with my then 82 year old MIL to save her a lot of long tiring walks...

 

Bernadette

[Jay_NH]

Purchase the drink package!

Have a great cruise;)

[Jo and Rob]

Purchase the drink package!

Have a great cruise;)

 

I love this suggestion! Maybe not a good idea with pain killers though. Contact the port and let them know that you will need assisted boarding. Hopefully the ship can provide you with a wheel chair for excursions if needed? Just watch out for pickpockets if you are on crutches. In Venice I had my handbag over my head but it moved round to my back without me realising as I was on crutches and my purse was stolen from my handbag. (purse is English for wallet, handbag is English for purse). I was very mobile on crutches however so don't panic. DH will just have to carry all the bags! I wrapped bandages around the handles of my crutches (sponges would also work) which made them less painful on the hands.

[Nan_Sea]

The ships wheelchairs are not available for anything but embarkation and debarkation. I would rent.

[paul929207]

I would definitely get a wheel chair. It is along way to get around the ship. You will be exhausted just getting thru boarding with crutches

[Nan_Sea]

I wanted to mention that scooters are available for rental but only allowed in handicap cabins. A folding wheelchair is probably the way to go. I don't know what your injury is but if it is lower leg or ankle how about the small scooter that you kneel on? That would easily fit in the cabin and go ashore as well.

[abqmommyof4]

Thank you all for the suggestions, wont be getting the drink package. A) dont drink that much alcohol we do have the ultimate kids package though

 

Most likely I wont be going too far on the ship, once on board think I will find a lounger out on deck and park my self there and watch the world go by. DH and BIL will take good care of me. With any luck things will start to clear up and I can shed the crutches for a bit..

 

Ah the adventures and challenges of travel

[catwoman6226]

Actually, not true that scooters are only allowed in handicapped accessible cabins - but the issue is having one narrow enough to fit through the door of a cabin, and of course it takes up space.

 

I agree with others who have suggested renting a scooter or wheelchair. Special Needs at Sea has always done a great job for us.

[Nan_Sea]

Cat woman, have you been able to rent a scooter from Special needs that fits through he regular cabin door?

[skf]

av you tried calling Princess? It is possible they have HP cabin .

[Corinda]

as a member of the frequent crutch club (genetically a klutz on both sides of the family shrubbery) I would suggest getting bike gloves with gel. They will alleviate some of the pressure your hands will be taking.

 

Lounging is also good.

 

have fun! Glad you aren't letting this get in your way

[SadieN]

Cat woman, have you been able to rent a scooter from Special needs that fits through he regular cabin door?

 

 

The Disabled Cruising board has lots of info.

[atdahop]

I brought my own mobility scooter onboard for 3 cruises. No issue getting it through the door of the cabin. We were in a mini on each cruise and the scooter was the Go Go Traveler.

 

In February, we were on the Crown staying in the Port of Spain Suite and the scooter would not have fit through that cabin doorway. It was a very narrow door. If you are taking a scooter you must be able to fit it through the door.

 

Good luck...you will have a great time no matter. Everyone goes out of their way to help.

[Nan_Sea]

Thanks everyone. My husband will be using a scooter onboard for the first time in Oct. We bought one which he uses at home but decided it would be easier to rent for the ship. We have a handicap cabin booked so no problem there. My concern is that when looking ahead to winter cruises there are very few HC cabins available. Options are few and booking at the last minute seems impossible.

[Bogof1]

Long story short i was put in a knee brace and on crutches on Monday. We board on Sunday the 14th.. Any suggestions to make my life ( and hubby's) easier Seattle on the ruby

thanks in advance

 

Hi. Have just done a 4 day cruise 3 weeks out of coming out of plaster for broken leg. I only took one crutch but wish I'd taken the two for walking on the boat. That way I wouldn't have had to put so much weight on leg. I had a lot of swelling but was given extra pillows and lots of ice which helped. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

[Colo Cruiser]

I agree about the ships wheelchairs, they will not let them off the ship other then being escorted in the terminals. ;)

They normally will not let anyone use one throughout the cruise as they are limited.

It is best to rent one for the cruise, companies will deliver and pickup from the vessel. :)

[geocruiser]

If you are going on Regal/Royal these ships are huge. They are over 1,000 feet long, a little less than 1/5 of a mile. You might want to want to rent a scooter.

[SteveH2508]

DW uses the roller-skaters' wrist supports to help when using crutches. They support your wrists and protect the palms of your hands as well.

Edited June 11, 2015 by SteveH2508

[Orlando Vic]

I wanted to mention that scooters are available for rental but only allowed in handicap cabins.

 

No so!

 

I had a scooter in a regular cabin last April. I thought my travel agent had booked us an accessible cabin but, through an oversight, it was a regular cabin instead. The ship had no heartburn with my having a scooter there and actually worked with me to find a place outside to safely leave it for the night while recharging.

[Orlando Vic]

Cat woman, have you been able to rent a scooter from Special needs that fits through he regular cabin door?

 

I have! See my previous post.

I don't recommend it, however because the cabin is too cramped.

Edited June 11, 2015 by Orlando Vic

[Pierlesscruisers]

Long story short i was put in a knee brace and on crutches on Monday. We board on Sunday the 14th.. Any suggestions to make my life ( and hubby's) easier Seattle on the ruby

thanks in advance

 

Okay, it appears that you're going to be departing on the Ruby from Seattle on this coming Sunday so here's the info that you're going to need.

 

If you are going to need a wheelchair for shore excursions, you will have to rent one as the ship's chairs will not be able to leave the ship, so I'm going to assume that you will need one only to get you on the ship at the start and off the ship at the end.

 

On arrival at the pier for embarkation there will normally be chairs out in the arrival area for you. Sometimes the people pushing the chairs will not have been released from their morning duties yet or will already be moving passengers upstairs for check-in. If that is the case you will have to wait for one to return before you will have a chair available. If you are arriving by bus from the airport or hotel, just have a seat on one of the benches and relax a bit and you will be put into a wheelchair as soon as one arrives.

 

If you are arriving via taxi, you be handled the same was as if arriving by bus. Let someone who is greeting the buses know you need a wheelchair. The taxi arrival area is right beside the bus area so you'll be in the same general area.

 

If you are arriving via POV or limo, let one of the traffic control people in the bright yellow safety vests with silver stripes know that you need a wheelchair and they'll contact us over in the bus area and we'll get a chair to you as soon as possible. As with the bus/taxi area, there may be a delay in getting you a chair for the already mentioned reasons, but we'll get to you--promise! :)

 

In any event, once you get in a wheelchair you will be moved into the terminal building along with the person who is going to be in your cabin (any family members in other cabins will not be able to accompany you through security and check-in due to space limitations). You (and your cabinmate) will be taken upstairs by elevator and will bypass normal security and go through another (quicker) security check after which you will both be taken to the ADA processing area where you will be transferred to a ship's wheelchair which will actually take you on-board the ship. After being checked in, you will be taken on to the ship where you will (hopefully ;)) have a great 7 day cruise experience.

 

Upon your return to Seattle, you will be brought off the ship via a ship's wheelchair which will take you through the luggage hall, processed through customs and then out the front of the building to the POV, taxi, or bus area whichever way you are moving onward.

 

Hope this info helps and that you have a safe trip to/from Seattle and a great cruise! Any other questions let me know. Or check the Roll Call here on CC for your cruise for more information on your particular cruise.

 

Tom

 

P.S. If you like good cinnamon rolls, try the Lemon Rose Cafe in Skagway (2 blocks left of the main street on 6th Street) as they make great ones! (No, my cousin doesn't own the place and I don't get a kickback, I just love their cinnamon rolls! :D

[Near PDX]

I needed assistance walking last year and when we sailed from Seattle everyone was great in helping my DW and me. Upon getting near the entrance to the building my DW asked a Princess rep for a wheelchair for me. They then took our luggage for us and we were taken through security and check in and given priority boarding. After checking in a person from the ship came with a ship's wheel chair and took us to the head of the line to board. It was great service. I rented a scooter from Special Needs at Sea and had no problem getting it through the door of a standard balcony cabin.