Signature Class – Accessible Signature Suite 5001

[kayakcove]

DW and I along with our adult son sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam before thanksgiving just to relax and get a break. We all did enjoy the cruise. Love BB Kings and enjoyed the dance troupe on the main stage.

This post is about an issue with our cabin which was a surprise and for a different mix in the room could be a real problem. Our son has mobility issues uses a walker. We have had an accessible Neptune suite in the past and Sky Suite on Celebrity. Son gets the pull-out couch, and they are pretty comfortable.

This time we were in an accessible Signature Suite (5001). There was good space in the room until the couch was pulled out for the night. The gap between the bed and the outside wall of the bathroom is not wide enough for a wheelchair or a walker. We would flip up the end of the bed when getting back to the room and put it back down as we went to bed. He had his walker on the side of the bed with access to the bathroom. Had there been three persons in the room and the person(s) with mobility issues needed the other bed they would not have access to the bathroom.

[trixiee]

Wow. I can see there is definitely an issue there!

[Cruise Suzy]

You might want to send these to halfacts.com   The pictures of 5001 that are already there don't show the couch pulled out.

[510picker]

There is definitely an issue with access having the couch made into a bed. From the sound of your post, I'm assuming you've stayed in cabins before where this worked ok.

 

I use a wheelchair full-time and always stay in accessible cabins. I can't think of any cabin we have been in that would have allowed me to get around in my wheelchair with the couch made into a bed. I believe my wife and I were on this same cruise with you. We were in cabin 7057 and if our couch had been pulled out into a bed, I would not have been able to get to the bathroom, as you can see from the photo below. 

 

 

Because it is just the two of us cruising, I have never given any thought to access with couch made into a bed. I can identify many other areas where they fail on accessibility, but I will say they have made accessibilty improvements on the Pinnacle Class ships. 

[highscar]

Would you know if you pay a premium for a balcony cabin. 

[kayakcove]

4 hours ago, 510picker said:

Because it is just the two of us cruising, I have never given any thought to access with couch made into a bed. I can identify many other areas where they fail on accessibility, but I will say they have made accessibilty improvements on the Pinnacle Class ships. 

I remember seeing you on board, recognized you from roll call posts. I am surprised that the Neptune Suite would have offered the same challenges. Our prior HAL sailing was on the Oosterdam (Vista Class) in an aft Neptune and lay out was different from yours. Similar layout on Celebrity Sky suite to yours but wider for space between the beds. On our sailing I noticed another family with an adult daughter who was in wheelchair all but one time I saw them and then Dad was helping her. Doubt she could have managed on her own without significant support. Wonder what challenges they faced in their cabin.

Our next sailing with our son is on Celebrity Edge (Barcelona to Rome in June) in the only 3-person accessible Sky Suite. YouTube video of the cabin would indicate no space problems but concerned the third bed may not be as comfortable.

FYI. Note a couple of things seen in the Celebrity Edge class accessible Sky Suites video reviews. On the Apex they raised the veranda deck to door sill height to get rid of the small ramp area, on the Edge it looks like the door sill is even and no small ramp but the whole veranda floor slopes out to the rail. Hopefully, no wobbling chairs with one leg on the ramp. The primary bed on Apex is lower than normal for easier transfers, not sure about the Edge. Those features may be in non-suite accessible cabins as well.

Note: 5001 is listed as roll in shower only on deck plan, but does have full tub and shower combo. 

Edited December 10, 2021 by kayakcove

[510picker]

This was our first time in a Neptune Suite and I was disappointed with the size of the room. Granted, I am accustomed to larger rooms since they are accessible, but this Neptune Suite was no larger than the accessible cabins we’ve had on the Koningsdam and the Nieuw Statendam. The amenities were nicer, but the room really wasn’t.  
 

Access to the verandahs has always been my number one complaint. The Pinnacle class ships have addressed the issue by using sliding doors with ramps that have a slope that actually allows me to easily go in and out independently. They still need to improve it by making the door automatic open/close. 
 

Rereading my post, I sound like I have nothing but complaints , but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We have found that cruising offers us the most enjoyable vacation out there because of the accessibility. 
 

 

[cruisn43]

First time posting!

 

Thank you for posting this accessible cabin information!  It is really difficult to find information about cabins for 3.  

We have taken 3 cruises with Princess, and are going to give HAL a try for an Alaskan cruise in September 2022.  We are booked on NA in 7057.  I appreciate the new pictures that have been recently posted.  I'm worried about access to the bathroom with a 3rd person sleeping on the couch.  The medical department told me the couch opened up more like a futon (therefore taking less space).  Has anyone opened the couch in this cabin, or actually stayed in this cabin with 3?

[oakridger]

3 hours ago, cruisn43 said:

First time posting!

 

 

Hello @cruisn43 and welcome to Cruise Critic!  If you haven't looked already, you should also check the Disabled Cruise Travel Forum below:

 

 Disabled Cruise Travel Cruises: Ask a Question - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

 

 

[510picker]

@cruisin43 We never expanded the couch into a bed, so I don’t have any photos that shows how much room that takes up. I do have plenty of other photos of the cabin at the link below. I hopes this helps!
 

https://pbase.com/510picker/2021_nov_cruises

[cruisn43]

@510picker Thanks so much for sharing your pictures!  It is really helpful to see 'what we are getting' before we actually arrive.  I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few more questions which aren't really on topic.  

 

Did you use the tender system?   Our Alaska cruise next September has one tender port, and we are hoping to get ashore (weather permitting) as we have a private tour booked.  I understand there is a special loading area closer to the water.  

 

How did you find the seating in the dining room.  As I mentioned, we have only cruised Princess, and have had Club Class dining where there is more space between tables.  I have booked early dining as I thought it would be easier to be able to request the same table and servers each night.  My husband uses a portable, folding power wheelchair, but usually transfers to a dining chair for eating.  

[luvteaching]

Welcome to CC cruisn43. We've done close to 20 Alaska cruises with 4 of those on Princess and all to Alaska. Over 50% of them have been in handicapped accessible cabins. Which port is a tender port? If it's Sitka they are now docking outside of town and shuttling to town. DH uses a mobility scooter and we have no problems with the shuttle. In the dining room we had fixed early seating on both of our Nieuw Amsterdam sailings (August and Sept. 2021). DH rode scooter to the table and the waiters took it to a parking spot and brought it back when needed. This was also done with several wheelchair users who were able to transfer to a dining room chair. There are photos of your cabin at halfacts.com but they are from 2013. 

 

Karen

[510picker]

@cruisn43 We did not use the tenders on our trip. Half Moon Cay was the only tender port on our trip, but we did not go ashore as we have been there many times. Half Moon Cay has it’s own tenders which are wheelchair accessible. I know you aren’t going there, but just an FYI. It sounds like luvteaching answered your question about going ashore in Alaska. 
 

As far as the dining room goes, luvteaching answered your question as well as I can. Our cruise was half full and it appeared they were trying to seat all guests on the outer perimeter of the dining room. They seated the two of us at a window table for four, but I had to squeeze between a waiter station and a table for eight to get to our table. I hated interrupting others in order for my wheelchair to fit. I stay in my chair during dinner, but they will take the wheelchair/scooter away if you transfer into a chair. 

[cruisn43]

Thanks @luvteaching!  Sitka is the port, however there are two ships in port that day, NA and Eurodam.  NA is listed as tender on our itinerary.  I have heard that I need to talk to the people on board a few days ahead to let them know we will need an accessible tender.  Have you tendered from NA with DH's scooter?

 

Thanks also for the dining information.  I probably worry too much, but knowing as much as possible ahead of time helps me let my husband know what to expect.  Mobility issues only started 8 years ago, travelling since 2018, and we are fairly new to cruising.

 

I followed all of the NA Alaska cruises so must have read about your cruises.

 

 

Thanks also @510picker.   We tendered at Princess Cays in Feb. 2020.  They also have their own accessible tenders where you can just wheel right on.

 

Appreciate your help!

 

Melanie

[510picker]

@cruisn43 Anyone that deals with mobility issues know you can never plan too much. Unfortunately, that is the nature of the beast. Thought and planning are required anywhere we go. 
 

We’ve turned to cruises as vacations because they are so accessible and accommodating. Are they perfect…..no, but they are close to perfect for us.

 

You can view my complete cruise photo gallery at the link below. The majority of the cruises have been with Holland America, with a few Carnival and Royal Caribbean sprinkled in as well. 
 

https://pbase.com/510picker/cruise_gallery

[luvteaching]

Hi Crusin43, 

 

Two ships in port at Sitka is fine - the dock handles both. I haven't tendered with his scooter in years as we haven't had a tender port. A number of years ago we were on the Amsterdam and had to tender in Sitka. They had us and a lady in a wheelchair meet at guest services. We were escorted out to the promenade deck and loaded from there. We were dropped down to water level and taken to the dock. We were told to be back at a certain time and we were. The process was reversed and we stayed on the tender after others unloaded and we were hoisted up to the promenade deck and off-loaded. However that was before the docks were done in Sitka. The docks are about 6 miles from town and you do need to shuttle in. You are dropped at the Centennial Hall area and Sitka is fairly accessible. We walk/scooter out  to the Totem Pole park and do a number of surface roads. 

 

If your cruise has Icy Strait Point/Hoonah as a stop they are very accessible as well. They also have a new gondola system and DH can drive his scooter right on the gondola and off we went! It was awesome!!

 

Karen

[cruisn43]

Hi @luvteaching

 

Thanks for all of your help.  I just checked our itinerary and it still says tender.  I will have to contact HA as we have made arrangements for a private tour.  Are the shuttles in Sitka wheelchair accessible (with a lift) or do you have to climb up the steps?

 

ISP is not on this itinerary.  Too bad, as the gondola is accessible.

[cruisn43]

@510pickerThanks again!

We have enjoyed our 3 cruises so far (and have also had to postpone another 2 due to the pandemic).  It's nice having dining and entertainment so easily available. I also feel that we are becoming pretty comfortable with air travel.  Now to perfect the taxi / hotel shuttle experience.  We've had taxis refuse us due to my husband's chair (which folds to the size of a large suitcase and only weighs 60 lbs), or try to charge us a premium once we are in the cab.  Shuttles have wanted to stack his portable power chair on top of all of the other luggage.  Oh well.  A work in progress.

 

2022 will hopefully be a good year with one road trip and 2 cruises planned.  Fingers crossed!!!

 

If you ever want input about Princess please reach out.  We have a much easier time finding accessible cabins for 3 on Princess, but their ships are getting bigger.

 

We are looking forward to a smaller ship experience with HA to Alaska next September.

[luvteaching]

Hi Cruisn43, 

 

In Sitka there are shuttles that are totally accessible. You may have to wait a rotation or two for one but they are there and usually pretty fast. DH can climb stairs (so far) so his scooter gets stored in the luggage bay and that works. Our two cruises say "tender required" as well but they haven't tendered in Sitka for several years. Your private tour operator should be able to tell you where you will be picked up and that will tell you as well. 

 

Karen

[510picker]

@cruisin43 Your struggles with transportation remind me of why I love cruising out of Ft Lauderdale. Accessible taxis are easy to get and it’s a short ride from the airport to the port.