Advice Require - Pax with Newly Broken Leg

[Chip and Dale]

My wife broke her ankle mid-cruise in Cozumel on the Oasis in November. The ship's medical department lent us a wheelchair since a rental was impossible at that point. The staff did offer assistance during debarkation which worked out well. Our biggest issue while on board was getting into the bathroom as there is about a 4" step in non-handicap cabins. Be sure you can navigate the step with crutches or a walker.

 

In summary, you have to bring or rent your own wheelchair. You will receive crew assistance only during embarkation and debarkation.

 

We have been on two more subsequent cruises with my wife in a cast. For us, a knee scooter worked well that we purchased. Since we drove to the port it was no issue. Good luck!

 

 

Thanks so much!!! Love to hear about the good positive experiences!!!

Dee

[Chip and Dale]

I'm sorry to hear about your injury, and I hope that you mend quickly. I'm curious about your comment that "They [wheelchairs] wind up looking like a pretzel after a flight!!!" I'm just wondering where you got that idea. I know a number of people who regularly fly with their wheelchairs and have experienced no mishandling or damage. Renting at home offers another option and might make life a little easier in airports.

 

I tried to rent a wheel chair to take with me from a local dispenser and was told that NO it would be damaged, therefore, they would not rent it to me.

 

I live in a rural area in Ontario, Canada. I am going to try another company tomorrow to see what I can figure out.

Thanks for your input!

Dee

[Chip and Dale]

I don't see that the complaint being made here is a fair one.

 

Royal facilitates a solution to the issue that you have - they work with rental companies that have available the type of equipment you desire and additionally they allow you to bring your own equipment if you prefer.

 

The rental company will have a lower cost of capital than the Royal and so will be able to supply what you want at a lower price than if Royal did so directly.

 

Of course you will have to pay yourself for equipment since it would be entirely unreasonable to expect others to help cover your special costs. There is a cost here. There is a provider available. You were told this both times you asked. There's no real issue here that I can see.

 

I didn't understand that either.

 

 

Fortunately many posters offered exactly what I was looking for. Information regarding successful experiences with a similar injury and subsequent rental.

 

I deal with the horrible things that happen to people on a daily basis as an Insurance Broker. Death, injury and all types of life altering problems. I would NEVER tell a client "that is YOUR PROBLEM" as I was told by Special Needs and also C and A.

 

I was also told that had I sailed on Celebrity, this would not be my problem because they do offer wheel chair rentals! SAD!!!!

 

Hopefully I have cleared things up for you!

Dee

[happy traveler69]

I share in the apologies about your injury. I hope it all works out in your favor. I'll also be on the same sailing, so I'll see you onboard! Take care!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[musik07]

I cruised with an almost healed stress fracture this summer on MSC. I was in a boot so we didn't even contact the cruise line, but we did contact the airlines about seating with extra room and they bent over backwards to help me. We had priority boarding and disembarking from each flight. We also had extra room for my leg. They offered wheelchair service in the airport but I didn't want it (I taught the end of the school year and part of summer school in the boot!). Just some advice, you may swell in the airplane and if your splint can be inflated it will blow up during the flight! I ended up loosening mine for the flight. My foot doctor gave me great advice about taking pain killers and making sure to move my ankle during the flights and to walk around to make sure I didn't have any problems!

[Grandma Dazzles]

Thanks for coming back, Dee, and sincerely hope you are doing better, and how awful to happen when your family is already having to deal with your sister 's death - my sympathy.

 

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but posting just in case.

 

I sailed about two weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery. Doctor cleared me but warned I might have trouble with the heat in the Caribbean, swelling, etc. He highly recommended rest and ice, especially in the evening.

 

After explaining to the room steward, he was wonderful! Brought me several extra pillows to elevate my leg in the cabin, and also a bucket of ice (like you see them taking to the bars on the ship - a real bucket!) extra small plastic bags to make ice packs, and plenty of towels.

 

Steward was really helpful and so kind. All the staff I encountered were very nice. Hopefully you will find the same and have a more limited, but enjoyable cruise.

[bigbeergut]

Be careful if you decide to rent a scooter. They must be stored in your cabin and it will be a very tight fit. After renting a scooter once for My MIL, I would not do it again without an Accessible Cabin.

[mollyeilis]

 

We are flying Rouge Air Canada so indeed a 3.5 hour flight is a huge issue if someone decides to recline their seat . air Canada has been very helpful and not once was I told that this is "MY PROBLEM".

 

 

Well, you're not on the flight yet. I know of many who won't take rouge because of the atrocious flight attendants. So have fun.

 

I don't see the problem in being told the truth; that it's your issue or problem. They don't rent them. They don't stock them onboard. They do have providers to refer to. That's lovely.

 

I don't know if Celebrity does or not. If so that's nice.

 

If you rent at home my gosh don't tell them where you're going with it! But I wouldn't bother with that. Get assistance through the airport, rent from one of those agencies, have the least hassle.

[broberts]

... The first darling gentleman recommended that I bring my own wheelchair. Special!!!!! They wind up looking like a pretzel after a flight!!!! ...

 

We have flown with our own wheelchair for several years. When you check in at the AC Special Needs counter they will put a special tag on the wheelchair. You can then use the chair to get to the door of the aircraft. You can then lock the wheels and fold the chair. A handler will store it in a suitable cargo compartment. The chair will be waiting for you when you leave the plane. Although it will likely be very cold, there should be no damage. Certainly our chair has never been damaged when flying.

 

Of course you can rely on AC to provide wheeled transport from special needs to the gate. My experience with Royal Caribbean is that this sort of service to board the ship is rather haphazard. Besides, it only gets you from the check in counter to the ship hatch.

[LilBlackDress]

Fortunately many posters offered exactly what I was looking for. Information regarding successful experiences with a similar injury and subsequent rental.

 

I deal with the horrible things that happen to people on a daily basis as an Insurance Broker. Death, injury and all types of life altering problems. I would NEVER tell a client "that is YOUR PROBLEM" as I was told by Special Needs and also C and A.

 

I was also told that had I sailed on Celebrity, this would not be my problem because they do offer wheel chair rentals! SAD!!!!

 

Hopefully I have cleared things up for you!

Dee

 

I am sorry you feel like RCI and C&A were so unfeeling and unwilling to help you.

I spent the better part of 2 years in a wheelchair and on crutches. Medicare did not feel my disability warranted me having a scooter... I was NO Weight Bearing for 22 months! The next 6 months I was only allowed to do toe touches on the ground with crutches...

Rude were the people that would cut me off because I was moving too slow. Or the people who saw me rolling to a door and they wouldn't hold it open for me... That was rude, unfeeling and unwilling to help.

Personally I would ignore what people said to me on the phone, most the time they are reading from a script and have no understanding beyond that.

 

I have rented scooters (both on land and cruises) and I have traveled with my own wheelchair. Never have I seen one damaged.

 

I was curious about Celebrity Cruises because you mentioned it 2x that they have wheelchairs to rent...

This is copied from their website

"Every ship in the Celebrity fleet was designed with your every need in mind. You'll find wide, spacious corridors, to allow 180° turns for wheelchairs. Most decks are accessible through automatic doors, and all public rooms feature entrances with gradual inclines.

 

We provide complimentary wheelchair assistance for embarkation and disembarkation only.

 

If you would like to have a wheelchair during the cruise, we have a limited supply of wheelchairs available on our ships. Please contact our Access Department if you would like to make a reservation for a wheelchair. If you want to ensure you will have a wheelchair or scooter onboard, you are welcome to bring your own or rent one from of the companies below who will deliver it your stateroom on the ship:

 

CareVacations

Phone: 877-478-7827

Fax: 800-648-1116

E-mail: res@carevacations.com

On the web: CareVacations website

 

Special Needs at Sea

Phone: 800-513-4515

Fax: 800-513-4516

E-mail: info@specialneedsgroup.com

On the web: Special Needs at Sea website

 

You may bring and use wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other assistive devices onboard our ships. Due to safety regulations, Segways may not be used onboard.

 

Assistive devices including mobility scooters must be stored and recharged in your stateroom so fire doors, corridors and elevator lobbies are kept clear for emergency evacuation. When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers.

 

Assistive devices should fit through a standard stateroom entry doorway which is at least 23 inches wide. We offer accessible staterooms which have wider doors which are at least 32 inches wide and may accommodate larger devices. If you have an assistive device larger than 32 inches wide, please contact our Access Department for assistance.

 

Note: Crewmembers are not permitted to lift assistive devices."

 

It is nice that they say they have LIMITED available but I am not sure if you may have been too late for that...

 

It's never easy to deal with so much in such a short amount of time. Take a deep breath, call a rental company and have an awesome cruise. Happy Anniversary!

[Chip and Dale]

I share in the apologies about your injury. I hope it all works out in your favor. I'll also be on the same sailing, so I'll see you onboard! Take care!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Thanks so much, you are very kind and it is greatly appreciated! Look forward to meeting you.

Dee

[Chip and Dale]

I cruised with an almost healed stress fracture this summer on MSC. I was in a boot so we didn't even contact the cruise line, but we did contact the airlines about seating with extra room and they bent over backwards to help me. We had priority boarding and disembarking from each flight. We also had extra room for my leg. They offered wheelchair service in the airport but I didn't want it (I taught the end of the school year and part of summer school in the boot!). Just some advice, you may swell in the airplane and if your splint can be inflated it will blow up during the flight! I ended up loosening mine for the flight. My foot doctor gave me great advice about taking pain killers and making sure to move my ankle during the flights and to walk around to make sure I didn't have any problems!

 

This is so very helpful, thanks so much!

 

I am so incredibly fortunate that I did not need surgery. The fracture is not displaced, so although a real pain in the butt (knee :)) it is just something that will slowly heal and I have received excellent info from my surgeon about traveling. By his assessment, I am a "can do" kind of person, so he was very explicit about the can and more importantly as he put it, the cannot do for the next 6 weeks. Such a wonderful kind man!

 

I am allowed to remove the splint and bend my knee when necessary. However, I absolutely MUST NOT fall or have my leg banged. My greatest fear with Rouge Air C was someone reclining their seat. We are now in the bulk head seat so that won't be a problem. I have traveled after surgery on my arm and it is amazing how pushy people can be. This is really scaring my poor husband.

 

We are still determining whether or not to go on the cruise. Your post was very hopeful and helpful thank you!

Dee

[Chip and Dale]

Thanks for coming back, Dee, and sincerely hope you are doing better, and how awful to happen when your family is already having to deal with your sister 's death - my sympathy.

 

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but posting just in case.

 

I sailed about two weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery. Doctor cleared me but warned I might have trouble with the heat in the Caribbean, swelling, etc. He highly recommended rest and ice, especially in the evening.

 

After explaining to the room steward, he was wonderful! Brought me several extra pillows to elevate my leg in the cabin, and also a bucket of ice (like you see them taking to the bars on the ship - a real bucket!) extra small plastic bags to make ice packs, and plenty of towels.

 

Steward was really helpful and so kind. All the staff I encountered were very nice. Hopefully you will find the same and have a more limited, but enjoyable cruise.

 

 

Thank you so much for your post!!! This is extremely positive and helpful!!!! :) Thanks so much for the condolences.

 

You are absolutely right about swelling in the Caribbean. Very good advice. We have many friends who will be traveling with us. Actually right next door. They have offered to push me around if need be ;). Everyone is being so sweet.

 

The other thing we will do is check on flights back home from every port just in case. We have always gone by "plan for the worst and hope for the best" and this is definitely one of those situations.

 

Thanks again!

Dee

[Chip and Dale]

We have flown with our own wheelchair for several years. When you check in at the AC Special Needs counter they will put a special tag on the wheelchair. You can then use the chair to get to the door of the aircraft. You can then lock the wheels and fold the chair. A handler will store it in a suitable cargo compartment. The chair will be waiting for you when you leave the plane. Although it will likely be very cold, there should be no damage. Certainly our chair has never been damaged when flying.

 

Of course you can rely on AC to provide wheeled transport from special needs to the gate. My experience with Royal Caribbean is that this sort of service to board the ship is rather haphazard. Besides, it only gets you from the check in counter to the ship hatch.

 

Thanks so much for your post, very helpful!

 

Unfortunately it could be that we were given very bad information by the dispenser that I went to initially. I will try another one today. We aren't yet sure whether we will actually travel. I will contact another dispenser here at home today. Some people are just so incredibly kind and helpful when you have a problem like this and others are not.

 

Fortunately I can do partial weight bearing with crutches. Unfortunately the ship is large and full of people so navigating it is scary. I'm looking at a wheelchair so that I don't destroy the rest of my body trying to move around. We will figure out today whether to rent one in FLL or bring one from home.

Thanks again

Dee

[cruisinfanatic]

This is so very helpful, thanks so much!

 

I am so incredibly fortunate that I did not need surgery. The fracture is not displaced, so although a real pain in the butt (knee :)) it is just something that will slowly heal and I have received excellent info from my surgeon about traveling. By his assessment, I am a "can do" kind of person, so he was very explicit about the can and more importantly as he put it, the cannot do for the next 6 weeks. Such a wonderful kind man!

 

I am allowed to remove the splint and bend my knee when necessary. However, I absolutely MUST NOT fall or have my leg banged. My greatest fear with Rouge Air C was someone reclining their seat. We are now in the bulk head seat so that won't be a problem. I have traveled after surgery on my arm and it is amazing how pushy people can be. This is really scaring my poor husband.

 

We are still determining whether or not to go on the cruise. Your post was very hopeful and helpful thank you!

Dee

You can buy your own wheelchair on craigslist for very little. Then sell it a gain when you don't need it

 

you don't lose leg room because someone in front of you reclines the 2 or 3 inches

Edited December 29, 2016 by cruisinfanatic

[Chip and Dale]

You can buy your own wheelchair on craigslist for very little. Then sell it a gain when you don't need it

 

you don't lose leg room because someone in front of you reclines the 2 or 3 inches

 

You have never flown on Rouge Air Canada then!!!!! I have arthritis and had a person in front of me with her seat in my lap for an entire flight from FLL to Toronto last year. I could not move my legs AT ALL!!! We travel extensively, therefore, I know exactly what I'm dealing with flying.

 

I live in a small northern community, craigslist might work as an option in a larger centre, but definitely not here. There simply is not enough time.

Dee

[BillOh]

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Dee

 

While I am a "be the first person on board" type of person, in your case, I might delay getting to the terminal and on board till around 1pm. There were will be less crowds to deal with and your rooms will be available for dropping your stuff off and not having to carry it around till then.

[Kmangel]

I broke my foot three weeks before a Disney cruise. I immediately called to see if there were any accessible cabins available and there were. We were cruising with our son and family and the cabin was even just down the corridor from our son. So call and inquire of the available accessible rooms if you think it would help you to have one.

 

I rented a scooter to use on board the ship. Disney did not rent scooters or wheel chairs and the like. The company we used provided the scooter to me on board the ship to use on our cruise.

 

Having an accessible room allowed me to easily store the electric scooter every night and to charge it every night. I had a knee scooter at the time, but the electric scooter made it easier for me to get around. I liked the independence the scooter allowed me. I liked not having to rely on other people to push me in a wheel chair and I knew that I would tire using the knee walker (Disney Dream is a big ship).

 

People were very accommodating of me on the ship. People would part like the Red Sea to let me on elevators. It was incredible. The staff were always looking out for me as well. Hopefully RCCI will do the same for you.

 

One interesting experience while I was recuperating is a flight I had where my seat was in the back of the plane. The flight attendant when she saw me hobbling onto the airplane moved me from the back of the plane to the front. When the passenger originally assigned my seat got huffy with me for sitting in her seat, I told her I'd gladly exchange my broken foot with her! Most people that I met during my recovery were very accommodating, but there is always that "one" exception!

 

Go on your cruise. Don't cancel. That's my opinion, of course, but you will still enjoy the experience. I was not comfortable leaving the ship at the ports of call, but I took a book and enjoyed the beautiful weather on deck. I was a bit bummed that I couldn't get in the pools (I was totally non weight bearing and the pools required my walking up and down stairs) but I enjoyed everything else.

[Margy23]

Thank you so much for your post!!! This is extremely positive and helpful!!!! :) Thanks so much for the condolences.

 

You are absolutely right about swelling in the Caribbean. Very good advice. We have many friends who will be traveling with us. Actually right next door. They have offered to push me around if need be ;). Everyone is being so sweet.

 

The other thing we will do is check on flights back home from every port just in case. We have always gone by "plan for the worst and hope for the best" and this is definitely one of those situations.

 

Thanks again!

Dee

I just read this thread and am happy about all the good advice you received. My husband fell and badly sprained his knee and broke his foot two weeks before our Brilliance B2B in November. Fortunately we live in Florida and didn't have to worry about flights, but we dealt with the other issues.

 

Our TA ordered him a scooter from Special Needs at Seas, and it was waiting in our cabin when we boarded (as someone suggested to you, we planned our arrival for a time when we could get in our cabin). He found it a little awkward the first couple of times he left the cabin to get up enough speed to get over the lip of the doorway and immediately turn into the hall. Fortunately, both times someone just appeared to help. He spent a little time practicing controlling the scooter so he wouldn't be a danger to others.

 

The advice you got about the heat and humidity was also good, especially since you'll be coming from the moderate temperatures of Canada.

 

My condolences on your sister's death - that certainly does make dealing with anything else much harder.

 

We had a great cruise, not exactly what we had planned, but still a great cruise. You're very wise in planning for the worst and hoping for the best. My husband's positive attitude was the most important thing in making this work, and it sounds as if you have yours out and dusted off for the occasion. Please let us know afterwards how it works out.

 

Margy

[spookwife]

Hi Everyone

 

I broke my knee cap a week ago. We are supposed to sail on Serenade of the Seas out of FLL on January 2nd. We contacted Air Canada and they were wonderful, so the flights are taken care of.

 

HOWEVER, I contacted RCI Special Needs and was told that they DO NOT loan/rent wheel chairs (we have an aft cabin) but they will assist getting me on and off the ship. The first darling gentleman recommended that I bring my own wheelchair. Special!!!!! They wind up looking like a pretzel after a flight!!!! Then he told me, and quite rudely, I might add, to contact two rental companies.

 

Next up, I contacted C and A and was told basically the same thing by an equally unfeeling, uncaring gentleman. I asked both Special Needs and C and A what is available to assist someone who is disabled while onboard and they said NOTHING! Colour me completely disillusioned and disgusted by the lack of caring for someone who has become disabled. What happens to those who are dealing with permanent disabilities????? How incredibly sad.

 

I'm hoping that someone who has been in a similar situation can offer some suggestions. This cruise was to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary with a group of friends and I would hate to have to cancel.

 

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Dee

 

 

as someone with a permanent disability( not a temporary one such as a broken kneecap..which BTW I have also had the great 'joy' of experiencing) the answer: it is ALWAYS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure YOUR needs are met. and yes that means arranging to rent a WC or ECV or other mobility aid. the two companies suggested by the cruise line are the only two that are cleared to bring their items to the pier/on board/in your cabin.

 

wheelchairs are gate checked and do not count against your baggage allowance or weight limit. furthermore I have never had one come out ' looking like a pretzel'

 

people who get hurt on board so badly that they need a wheelchair are subject to the old, broken down ones on board for emergencies only.

 

I was in one of those full braces that ACL patients get, with a cane for stability. I had almost zero pain, so while I wasn't up to long walks anywhere, on board there are a bazillion places you can stop to sit/rest if needs be.

[Chip and Dale]

While I am a "be the first person on board" type of person, in your case, I might delay getting to the terminal and on board till around 1pm. There were will be less crowds to deal with and your rooms will be available for dropping your stuff off and not having to carry it around till then.

 

This is an excellent point!

Thanks so much for your post!!!!

Dee

[Chip and Dale]

I broke my foot three weeks before a Disney cruise. I immediately called to see if there were any accessible cabins available and there were. We were cruising with our son and family and the cabin was even just down the corridor from our son. So call and inquire of the available accessible rooms if you think it would help you to have one.

 

I rented a scooter to use on board the ship. Disney did not rent scooters or wheel chairs and the like. The company we used provided the scooter to me on board the ship to use on our cruise.

 

Having an accessible room allowed me to easily store the electric scooter every night and to charge it every night. I had a knee scooter at the time, but the electric scooter made it easier for me to get around. I liked the independence the scooter allowed me. I liked not having to rely on other people to push me in a wheel chair and I knew that I would tire using the knee walker (Disney Dream is a big ship).

 

People were very accommodating of me on the ship. People would part like the Red Sea to let me on elevators. It was incredible. The staff were always looking out for me as well. Hopefully RCCI will do the same for you.

 

One interesting experience while I was recuperating is a flight I had where my seat was in the back of the plane. The flight attendant when she saw me hobbling onto the airplane moved me from the back of the plane to the front. When the passenger originally assigned my seat got huffy with me for sitting in her seat, I told her I'd gladly exchange my broken foot with her! Most people that I met during my recovery were very accommodating, but there is always that "one" exception!

 

Go on your cruise. Don't cancel. That's my opinion, of course, but you will still enjoy the experience. I was not comfortable leaving the ship at the ports of call, but I took a book and enjoyed the beautiful weather on deck. I was a bit bummed that I couldn't get in the pools (I was totally non weight bearing and the pools required my walking up and down stairs) but I enjoyed everything else.

 

Thanks so much for posting your good experience. It is greatly appreciated! The information from the positive posts has been invaluable and quite heartwarming!

Dee

[Chip and Dale]

I just read this thread and am happy about all the good advice you received. My husband fell and badly sprained his knee and broke his foot two weeks before our Brilliance B2B in November. Fortunately we live in Florida and didn't have to worry about flights, but we dealt with the other issues.

 

Our TA ordered him a scooter from Special Needs at Seas, and it was waiting in our cabin when we boarded (as someone suggested to you, we planned our arrival for a time when we could get in our cabin). He found it a little awkward the first couple of times he left the cabin to get up enough speed to get over the lip of the doorway and immediately turn into the hall. Fortunately, both times someone just appeared to help. He spent a little time practicing controlling the scooter so he wouldn't be a danger to others.

 

The advice you got about the heat and humidity was also good, especially since you'll be coming from the moderate temperatures of Canada.

 

My condolences on your sister's death - that certainly does make dealing with anything else much harder.

 

We had a great cruise, not exactly what we had planned, but still a great cruise. You're very wise in planning for the worst and hoping for the best. My husband's positive attitude was the most important thing in making this work, and it sounds as if you have yours out and dusted off for the occasion. Please let us know afterwards how it works out.

 

Margy

 

Thanks Margy!

 

We are working on plans today to see if this is doable. Fingers crossed. At least there is no ice in the Caribbean to slip on other than in a glass ;)

Dee

[heartscontent]

I see you are from Georgian Bay, Ontario. If you are flying out of Toronto Pearson Airport, you can rent a wheelchair at very reasonable rates from Baby to Senior, 1035 Queensway East (Queensway and Cawthra Road) in Mississauga. 289-521-5003. I recently broke my ankle and rented crutches and a scooter from them as I recovered. We are cruising in January and I will be renting a wheelchair at that time because I am still wary of making my way through the airports, let alone the cruise ship. My plan is to bring my own rental wheelchair, and request disembarkation assistance from Royal Caribbean. May we both have wonderful cruises even with our injuries!

[Blake22]

My sincere condolences on the loss of your sister.

 

It looks like you've gotten some good advice on how to make the trip more manageable if you decide to go forward and take the cruise. No better way to start 2017.