Dreading standing in line for security

[The Viking]

Wife has difficult walking and standing so we rented a wheelchair on the ship.

 

We also notified Royal Caribbean that we need wheel chair assistance in Fort Lauderdale.

 

We were informed to ask an agent for wheelchair assistance. 

 

Is there a special security line for disabled or are wheelchair assistance available before security? 

 

Thank you for any help.

[Splinter]

There is usually a separate line for those with disabilities. When you arrive at the port, you need to tell the porter you need wheelchair assistance (either with your own or a port wheelchair) and they will escort you to the proper line.

[The Viking]

37 minutes ago, Splinter said:

There is usually a separate line for those with disabilities. When you arrive at the port, you need to tell the porter you need wheelchair assistance (either with your own or a port wheelchair) and they will escort you to the proper line.

Do you refer to the porter who handles our luggage?

[Essiesmom]

No, the porter who takes your luggage is outside the terminal.  the person to ask for assistance should be just outside the door, or just inside.  EM

[kokopelli-az]

There will be many Royal employers inside the terminal to guide passengers.   Tell them you need a wheelchair. There is a special line for those who need extra help.   

Will your rented wheelchair be waiting for you in your room or outside the terminal?

[jmspls72]

Just ask for assistance when you get airport. You can ask at outside or inside the airport. When you get to gate tell the counter person you will need a wheel chair when you land. The airport will have a wheel chair waiting fot you at the gate.

[GeezerCouple]

15 minutes ago, jmspls72 said:

Just ask for assistance when you get airport. You can ask at outside or inside the airport. When you get to gate tell the counter person you will need a wheel chair when you land. The airport will have a wheel chair waiting fot you at the gate.

 

OP is asking about help at the Port area, not the airport.

 

GC

[The Viking]

20 hours ago, kokopelli-az said:

There will be many Royal employers inside the terminal to guide passengers.   Tell them you need a wheelchair. There is a special line for those who need extra help.   

Will your rented wheelchair be waiting for you in your room or outside the terminal?

Did not know the chair can be available at the entrance to the terminal. Will see if I can change that instead of having it waiting in storeroom.

[GUT2407]

2 hours ago, The Viking said:

Did not know the chair can be available at the entrance to the terminal. Will see if I can change that instead of having it waiting in storeroom.

not all companies offer it, and not at all ports or all lines.

 

But there have always been wheelchairs, and pushers available as soon as I get out of the car.

[kokopelli-az]

2 hours ago, The Viking said:

Did not know the chair can be available at the entrance to the terminal. Will see if I can change that instead of having it waiting in storeroom.

Ask the company you are renting it from where to pick it up.  Or look on the confirmation documentation they sent.    It all depends on what port and what ship you are on.  I love it when you can pick it up outside the terminal,  but that doesn't happen as often.  

[lenquixote66]

At the cruise port for my RCI cruise last month I was taken to an area for people with disabilities . 

[gerif]

This might vary by cruise line/terminal, but you should be taken to a waiting area for those requiring wheelchair assistance to board. How long you will have to wait there depends on how many others require assistance as there are only so many wheelchairs available. You will be pushed through security and onto the ship. If cabins are available, you will be taken there. If you arrive prior to that time, you will be left in a public area. 

[GUT2407]

2 hours ago, gerif said:

This might vary by cruise line/terminal, but you should be taken to a waiting area for those requiring wheelchair assistance to board. How long you will have to wait there depends on how many others require assistance as there are only so many wheelchairs available. You will be pushed through security and onto the ship. If cabins are available, you will be taken there. If you arrive prior to that time, you will be left in a public area. 

Usually they have seats in the waiting area for wheelchair assisted boarding, n my experience.

[gerif]

23 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

Usually they have seats in the waiting area for wheelchair assisted boarding, n my experience.

Yes, definitely. For those awaiting assistance and those waiting with them. 

[mamaofami]

I was with someone who needed wheel chair assistance at the port. He entered the terminal for RCI and had to wait a long time till there was someone available to push him.

Edited January 23, 2019 by mamaofami

[cb at sea]

If you need a wheelchair for the entire cruise, you will need to rent one from one of the companies that supplies to the cruise ships.  The wheelchair for boarding is not for your continued use.  They will let you use it during check in, and they will take you to your cabin to retrieve the chair/scooter that you rented.

Same for leaving the ship at the end of the cruise.  You leave the rented chair in the cabin, and they will bring a wheelchair to assist you off the ship.

[OVgirl]

We rent a scooter for a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale and we pick it up outside the terminal. It's nice to have it right away because of the issues discussed here. 

On our return, we also take it back outside and drop it off before getting a taxi.

[GeezerCouple]

8 minutes ago, OVgirl said:

We rent a scooter for a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale and we pick it up outside the terminal. It's nice to have it right away because of the issues discussed here. 

On our return, we also take it back outside and drop it off before getting a taxi.

 

THIS sounds good!

 

One time when I needed wheelchair assistance to board (could walk, but only very limited distances, there was a mob outside the Miami port terminal, and DH couldn't even find anyone to help us.  I sat  on the ground in the shade for a very long time, until DH worked his way inside to GET to someone who could even tell him where to find help.  It was a total mess.  Never again, unless we are able to arrange something in advance.  If we had any idea, we would have planned to show up almost at the last minute (of the proper timing, of course), and have most others already on board.

 

GC

 

[kokopelli-az]

4 hours ago, OVgirl said:

We rent a scooter for a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale and we pick it up outside the terminal. It's nice to have it right away because of the issues discussed here. 

On our return, we also take it back outside and drop it off before getting a taxi.

 

We have also had scooters available outside the terminal (which we love) but it all depends on which cruise line, which port and at which dock the ship is.   The "picking up the scooter outside the terminal" is not always available, even when using the same cruise line or port each time.   After choosing a cruise line, ship and date, check with the company you are renting the scooter from and they can usually advise where the scooter will be (inside your room or outside the terminal).  

[The Viking]

Do  not really want to write a review, but just thank you all for responding.

 

Normally we arrive between 10 and 11 for our cruises. This time, we did not arrive at terminal until around 1 PM and have never seen such an empty terminal.

 

Came inside terminal and someone was ready with a wheelchair and we were on board within minutes. 

Our rented chair was in stateroom.

 

When we came back from muster, I almost dropped my wife going over the water tight door treshold coming back and our  stateroom attendant laughed. The wheelchair was aa little too wide go drive it into the stateroom, but the attendant was very nice to help holding the door open so DW could get inside.

 

Was very surprised how considerate other passengers were even teens.

 

Disembarking was easy as well, and a police officer waved us through to the front cab.

 

 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 2/6/2019 at 11:33 AM, The Viking said:

Do  not really want to write a review, but just thank you all for responding.

 

Normally we arrive between 10 and 11 for our cruises. This time, we did not arrive at terminal until around 1 PM and have never seen such an empty terminal.

 

Came inside terminal and someone was ready with a wheelchair and we were on board within minutes. 

Our rented chair was in stateroom.

 

When we came back from muster, I almost dropped my wife going over the water tight door treshold coming back and our  stateroom attendant laughed. The wheelchair was aa little too wide go drive it into the stateroom, but the attendant was very nice to help holding the door open so DW could get inside.

 

Was very surprised how considerate other passengers were even teens.

 

Disembarking was easy as well, and a police officer waved us through to the front cab.

 

 

 

When I had a rollator I even held doors for wheelchairs and scooters.  Until you’ve pushed a wheelchair you don’t always recognize what’s else is a problem.  Like the front wheels catching on a threshold and the pusher not knowing owto tip the chair back!   And yes steep downhill with a catch at the bottom can land you both on the floor!