Where to park scooters?

[SantaFeFan]

I understand what you are saying, but I don't think they were planning to remain in the cabin. What are the scooters to be used for? Going to the WC?

 

A person will be using that room 1/3 of the day, and perhaps even more. This is where a person sleeps, gets ready for bed, gets ready for the day, etc. The one single space on a ship that a person will spend the most time in.

 

We have always gotten a balcony room. In the mornings, we open the curtains and maybe the door, and listen to the waves against the ship if moving, or enjoy the view if docked. We will always go out on the balcony to see what the weather is like. During the day, we will be in our room to change, to relax, to get something. Having a view outside and easy access to see what is out there is a bonus. In the evening while getting ready for bed, we will always go out an enjoy the moon and stars just before turning the lights off and bundling up in bed. Often we leave the curtains open during the night so if we wake up we can see the stars, and enjoy the day beginning as the sun comes up.

 

Having a connection to the outside is important to us, even when we are in our room. We are sailing the world's oceans with wonderful, ever changing views, so why not make the best of such a great opportunity. After all, we are on a cruise ship, not in a Motel 6 where the view is a parking lot full of cars. ;p

[JMorris271]

A person will be using that room 1/3 of the day, and perhaps even more. This is where a person sleeps, gets ready for bed, gets ready for the day, etc. The one single space on a ship that a person will spend the most time in.

 

We have always gotten a balcony room. In the mornings, we open the curtains and maybe the door, and listen to the waves against the ship if moving, or enjoy the view if docked. We will always go out on the balcony to see what the weather is like. uring the day, we will be in our room to change, to relax, to get something. Having a view outside and easy access to see what is out there is a bonus. In the evening while getting ready for bed, we will always go out an enjoy the moon and stars just before turning the lights off and bundling up in bed. Often we leave the curtains open during the night so if we wake up we can see the stars, and enjoy the day beginning as the sun comes up.

 

Having a connection to the outside is important to us, even when we are in our room. We are sailing the world's oceans with wonderful, ever changing views, so why not make the best of such a great opportunity. After all, we are on a cruise ship, not in a Motel 6 where the view is a parking lot full of cars. ;p

 

I understand your view and always enjoy my balcony as well.

People that have physical limitations, out of necessity learn to settle for less than what they were once accustomed to before they lost some of their faculties. Extra funding will not mitigate that.

I'm pretty sure they would much rather have the ability to enjoy their cruise doing the things that most others take for granted. But as they can't, they can enjoy what they are able within the scope of ability and find their own level of pleasure though it will not have the same possibilities as those in better health.

If they feel they can muster up enough to do a cruise, power to them.

Edited May 1, 2018 by JMorris271

[SantaFeFan]

I understand your view and always enjoy my balcony as well.

People that have physical limitations, out of necessity learn to settle for less than what they were once accustomed to before they lost some of their faculties. Extra funding will not mitigate that.

I'm pretty sure they would much rather have the ability to enjoy their cruise doing the things that most others take for granted. But as they can't, they can enjoy what they are able within the scope of ability and find their own level of pleasure though it will not have the same possibilities as those in better health.

If they feel they can muster up enough to do a cruise, power to them.

 

I agree with most of your comments. However, many cruise lines have a variety of accessible cabins, including some with balconies. If a person has a need for an accessible cabin, they don't have to avoid balcony cabins on those cruise ships if they want to enjoy the benefits of a balcony cabin. Being handicapped doesn't mean they must "settle for less".

 

For instance, Celebrity's Solstice class ships have 30 accessible cabins including four Sky Suites with butler service, 4 Concierge Class with balconies, and 4 Aqua Class with balconies. Their Millennium class ships have 26 accessible cabins, including 11 balconies and 6 suites.

 

Some of the others that also have accessible balcony cabins are Royal, Princess, Disney, Holland, and Norwegian.

 

Cruise Critic recently posted an article on the best ships for cruisers with disabilities. Here is the link:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=105

[mom says]

The original question asked by the OP seems to be in danger of being lost to extraneous conversation. He clearly said that only OV and interior cabins remain available at this time, so discussions on the merits of balconies is moot.

 

And it is true that the doorway of most regular cabins are too narrow for scooters to enter, except for the small, foldable ones. Getting 2 scooters into a cabin, even if they are foldable, still leaves the problem of the OP and spouse, with their impaired mobility, being able to safely move around these obstacles. The answer is undoubtedly an accessible cabin. Perhaps the OP can phone the cruiseline directly to see if any such cabins (of any category) are available. If an able-bodied party is currently booked into an accessible cabin, a cabin switch may be possible.

[retired cruzer]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I should have stated in my original post that we are already booked in a grand suite. After our last cruise (Saturday) my wife received a pretty good casino offer. I thought maybe I could save more than a few thousand dollars if it was doable. We have stayed in grand suites before, so I know there is enough room for storage. As I said before this is for our 50th anniversary and we will only have one. If I can afford it ,then I can do it. I can't take it with me and the kids will just fight over it. We have learned over the years how to adjust to our circumstances. I too have MS for the last 30 + years. We don't cruise today for the same reasons we did when we started. We have been to most of the caribbean ports and taken all of the excursions that interest us. Last December we took a b2b on the Dream for 14 days and never got off the ship because of our mobility issues and it was one of the best cruises we have been on. I did a lot of people watching and made friends with a lot of crew, and we were treated wonderfully. I have learned over the years when life hands me lemons I will make lemon aid. When someone hands me a glass that is half empty, I choose to look at it as half full. Life happens it is what it is. We are going on this cruise and we will enjoy it as we always have. Who knows, this might be our last cruise and I would hate to ruin it with my negative thoughts, even if we have to sleep in a closet.

[jlp20]

A couple of facts you need to know and correct wording when asking questions. Hands on knowledge of Princess and Royal Caribbean. Cabin doorjambs have opening 23 inches, but since doors only open 90 degrees you have to take another 1 1/2 inches off. Scooters wider than 21 1/2" won't fit. Mini suite or suite, you have to ask about doors. "Travel" scooters are made that are smaller, lighter and even fold. As a trade off battery charge is less and not designed for everyday use at home. Companies exist that rent scooters that deliver to the ships. Transporting scooters via a car is a major pain.