Handicap boarding?

[racetech]

First time cruisers, my g/f is handicap, not terribly she just gets fatigued standing or walking for to long due to lyme disease, and we may board with her using a wheel chair so that we dont have to have her wearing herself out before we even get on board. Would we get thru the lines any faster this way with our group of 4 people, or would just me and her get thru quicker or none of us? She doesnt want to do it if we have to leave our friends behind lol Thanks in advance.

[don't-use-real-name]

Talk with the NCL people - arrangements can be made for your entire party to board with the WC passenger.

You may be requested to wait until there is a gap in the boarding of groups platinum suites CAS priority etc.

Some gangways are narrow enough that a wait is best to proceed directly on the ship without jamming things.

Frequently NCL will have you wait until enough folks with WCs and scooters are present to make things flow

easier. Also note some cruise terminals may need to use elevators instead of the steep gangways.

 

In any event contact the NCL people at or near Registration.

[tef43]

It's not like an airport where special assistance boards first, ahead of EVERYONE else.

[racetech]

It's not like an airport where special assistance boards first, ahead of EVERYONE else.

 

I did not ask if it was similar to an airport. Thank you.

[racetech]

Talk with the NCL people - arrangements can be made for your entire party to board with the WC passenger.

You may be requested to wait until there is a gap in the boarding of groups platinum suites CAS priority etc.

Some gangways are narrow enough that a wait is best to proceed directly on the ship without jamming things.

Frequently NCL will have you wait until enough folks with WCs and scooters are present to make things flow

easier. Also note some cruise terminals may need to use elevators instead of the steep gangways.

 

In any event contact the NCL people at or near Registration.

 

Thank you for your info, I will just talk to NCL next time I speak to them about my cruise.

[loveaftcabins]

Hi! I use a wheelchair and rent a scooter for cruises (Special Needs at Sea). You need to contact the Access Desk so that they are aware of your GF situation. You and your friends will check in and then wait in a special area both downstairs and upstairs. You can board together.

 

Please remember that these ships are huge. Your GF might want a scooter. She can try one out at a supermarket, Target, etc. However, if you go to a tender port, you would want to take the wheelchair. Also ask soon about an accessible cabin as they are larger.

 

There is a Traveling with Disabilities board. Lots of info there. Have a wonderful time!!

[racetech]

Hi! I use a wheelchair and rent a scooter for cruises (Special Needs at Sea). You need to contact the Access Desk so that they are aware of your GF situation. You and your friends will check in and then wait in a special area both downstairs and upstairs. You can board together.

 

Please remember that these ships are huge. Your GF might want a scooter. She can try one out at a supermarket, Target, etc. However, if you go to a tender port, you would want to take the wheelchair. Also ask soon about an accessible cabin as they are larger.

 

There is a Traveling with Disabilities board. Lots of info there. Have a wonderful time!!

 

Thank you so much! Very useful info I appreciate it. I just found the special needs at sea info on NCL website also:)

[loveaftcabins]

There is another rental company. My brain does not recall the name. One company incudes insurance in.their rates. The other adds it on. You do want insurance. Also remember that all scooter keys are the same. Tie a bow on yours.so no one takes it by mistake!

[NMLady]

It's not like an airport where special assistance boards first, ahead of EVERYONE else.

 

Actually, wheelchairs do board first, same time as suites.

[purpletequila]

First time cruisers, my g/f is handicap, not terribly she just gets fatigued standing or walking for to long due to lyme disease, and we may board with her using a wheel chair so that we dont have to have her wearing herself out before we even get on board. Would we get thru the lines any faster this way with our group of 4 people, or would just me and her get thru quicker or none of us? She doesnt want to do it if we have to leave our friends behind lol Thanks in advance.

 

Actually it is like an airport. Ignore the rudeness. I've boarded with a handicap relative. They will let your whole party board together and the HP crew absolutely gets priority boarding.

 

Have a great cruise.

[purpletequila]

I've also rented through Special Needs at Sea and recommend them. If your gf gets easily fatigued, get one. It's pretty reasonable, price wise, and as someone pointed out, the ships are huge and these NCL ships only have aft and forward elevators where most other lines have 3 bays. In other words, depending on where your cabin is and what you do during the day/evening, you could be logging miles and you don't want her to be exhausted. have fun

[BirdTravels]

First time cruisers, my g/f is handicap, not terribly she just gets fatigued standing or walking for to long due to lyme disease, and we may board with her using a wheel chair so that we dont have to have her wearing herself out before we even get on board. Would we get thru the lines any faster this way with our group of 4 people, or would just me and her get thru quicker or none of us? She doesnt want to do it if we have to leave our friends behind lol Thanks in advance.

Review the information on this page, and contact the access desk https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising

[mking8288]

OP, it would be helpful to all and useful to you in identifying the embarkation port, ship and sailing - some of the ports/cruise terminals do it better & more organized than others. First & foremost, contact/notify/inform/work with NCL's Access Desk ahead of sailing.

 

It is to your advantage to plan to arrive early & check-in so that crew assigned for special duties can assist and do what they can for boarding help ... following Haven guests, once the ship is ready. There is usually a roped off, dedicated waiting area with seating set aside for Special Needs ... similar to what one might experience at the airport's boarding gates.

 

Some of the deck's specific corridor sections are rather narrow, especially when the Room Stewards have their service carts out there ... working, getting thru with a scooter and/or wheelchair do require a little logistics, using the recessed doorways. Mega-ships - the elevators are smaller but there are more of them to use ... it's typically jammed pack on turnaround days, if it is nearly empty - get in and ride up/down the other "direction" if necessary, or else, you can be waiting a long time.

 

Check most if not all of the heavier luggage with the porters outside but keep all essentials, medications, passports & travel documents, electronics & gadgets, wallets & purses, and at least one change of clothes as "carry-on" for easier boarding. Those ramps, depending on tides, can be long AND steep, not fun struggling with several "oversized" & heavy bags when someone in the party already faced other challenges.

 

(Someone on our last sailing "checked" a small bag with nebulizer & what not ... and it went AWOL/missing, all points bulletin was issued subsequently asking guests to help locate & return to Guest Services, no questions asked ... not sure if it was ever recovered & how the guests "managed" without the inhaling machine)

[johnrich]

Actually, wheelchairs do board first, same time as suites.

 

 

 

I have to respectfully disagree to an extent. On our last two cruises with my MIL who is in a wheelchair, they made us wait until our group number was called. Wheelchairs we corralled in an area near the entrance to the gangway and were the first to board in their respective group. On another cruise (Getaway out of Miami) we did board early right after the Suites. I’m not sure if the port workers decide or if it is entirely NCL.

 

 

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[racetech]

I have to respectfully disagree to an extent. On our last two cruises with my MIL who is in a wheelchair, they made us wait until our group number was called. Wheelchairs we corralled in an area near the entrance to the gangway and were the first to board in their respective group. On another cruise (Getaway out of Miami) we did board early right after the Suites. I’m not sure if the port workers decide or if it is entirely NCL.

 

 

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Sounds like its hit or miss. Our concern really isnt boarding first or before anyone else, we just want to make sure we can all board together as far as our group of 4. I have found out that we can, so anything else is just trivial at this point I guess. Thanks for your reply!

[loveaftcabins]

I wonder what tef43 meant when "EVERYONE else" was in caps. That represents that he is yelling. Hmmm.

[racetech]

I wonder what tef43 meant when "EVERYONE else" was in caps. That represents that he is yelling. Hmmm.

 

Beats me. Takes all kinds to make a message board go round lol

[NMLady]

I have to respectfully disagree to an extent. On our last two cruises with my MIL who is in a wheelchair, they made us wait until our group number was called. Wheelchairs we corralled in an area near the entrance to the gangway and were the first to board in their respective group. On another cruise (Getaway out of Miami) we did board early right after the Suites. I’m not sure if the port workers decide or if it is entirely NCL.

 

 

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Was your MIL in a ship-provided boarding wheelchair pushed by a crew member or was she in her own wheelchair pushed by family member? That might explain the difference.

 

Our Last three NCL cruises, 2015 & 2016, wheelchairs pushed by crew members were boarded the same time as suites. Handicapped check-in was to far left as usual. We then waited in that area and when boarding started, the escorts pushed the wheelchairs from there to the elevators. We then were walking next to suites passengers, all boarding at same time.

[johnrich]

Was your MIL in a ship-provided boarding wheelchair pushed by a crew member or was she in her own wheelchair pushed by family member? That might explain the difference.

 

Our Last three NCL cruises, 2015 & 2016, wheelchairs pushed by crew members were boarded the same time as suites. Handicapped check-in was to far left as usual. We then waited in that area and when boarding started, the escorts pushed the wheelchairs from there to the elevators. We then were walking next to suites passengers, all boarding at same time.

 

 

 

We rented the wheelchairs thru Special Needs at Sea. They were placed in our stateroom so the crew members used port/ship wheelchairs to push her on the ship. This last time was just in Nov 2017.

 

 

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[racetech]

OP, it would be helpful to all and useful to you in identifying the embarkation port, ship and sailing - some of the ports/cruise terminals do it better & more organized than others. First & foremost, contact/notify/inform/work with NCL's Access Desk ahead of sailing.

 

It is to your advantage to plan to arrive early & check-in so that crew assigned for special duties can assist and do what they can for boarding help ... following Haven guests, once the ship is ready. There is usually a roped off, dedicated waiting area with seating set aside for Special Needs ... similar to what one might experience at the airport's boarding gates.

 

Some of the deck's specific corridor sections are rather narrow, especially when the Room Stewards have their service carts out there ... working, getting thru with a scooter and/or wheelchair do require a little logistics, using the recessed doorways. Mega-ships - the elevators are smaller but there are more of them to use ... it's typically jammed pack on turnaround days, if it is nearly empty - get in and ride up/down the other "direction" if necessary, or else, you can be waiting a long time.

 

Check most if not all of the heavier luggage with the porters outside but keep all essentials, medications, passports & travel documents, electronics & gadgets, wallets & purses, and at least one change of clothes as "carry-on" for easier boarding. Those ramps, depending on tides, can be long AND steep, not fun struggling with several "oversized" & heavy bags when someone in the party already faced other challenges.

 

(Someone on our last sailing "checked" a small bag with nebulizer & what not ... and it went AWOL/missing, all points bulletin was issued subsequently asking guests to help locate & return to Guest Services, no questions asked ... not sure if it was ever recovered & how the guests "managed" without the inhaling machine)

 

Thank you for your info. We will be sailing on the Getaway from port of New Orleans julia street terminal.