Magic - Balcony room with 4 people and scooter

[thewynn]

We are cruising in a Balcony room on the Magic with our 2 daughters (13 and 16).We have been on several cruises so I do generally know the size of the cabins. My wife is to the point she would greatly benefit from an electric scooter. I am thinking that it is going to be entirely too crowded with 4 of us and a scooter. I know it will be cramped if we do it but I’m wondering if it is even doable.  Thanks in advance.

[nwcruiselover]

It would be way too crowded and probably not even do-able.  The scooter may not even fit through the cabin door. Have you looked into an accessible cabin?

[thewynn]

5 minutes ago, nwcruiselover said:

It would be way too crowded and probably not even do-able.  The scooter may not even fit through the cabin door. Have you looked into an accessible cabin?

unfortunately it doesn’t seem Carnival has accessible that accommodates 4 people, at least not that I have found, I have started looking for them. I know the scooter would fit in the door, I’ve checked the dimensions. Just not sure it would be really workable in the cabin. 

[ableman]

Doable? Yeah.... probably. Advisable?.... not really. If it were just you and your wife I'd say sure, go for it, but with [2] teenage girls along it would be brutal.

Most scooters are at or around 20-21" wide. Most cruise cabin doors are 23-24" wide, so theoretically it would fit. However, I think it would be a HUGE inconvenience with the amount of space it would take up. Maybe an accessible cabin would offer more in the way of manuvering it out of the way, but even then..........

Bottom line...................I'd say no.

[nwcruiselover]

You might benefit from a call to the Special Assess Department.  Phone number is 1-800-438-6744 extension 70025, or email access@carnival.com.  There are often accessible cabins that don’t show on the website, and they should be able to help.  They’re open Monday through Friday.

[nwcruiselover]

I’d say either get an accessible cabin that accommodates 4, or look at having 2 cabins.

[ableman]

BTW, we were on the Magic last year. Beautiful ship, but it's big. It was the biggest ship we had sailed to date. My wife isn't at the point of needing a scooter (yet), but she only has so many steps in her each day. There were a few evenings we were back in the cabin right after dinner so she could elevate her legs.

We have since gone to the smaller CCL ships (Spirit Class) to conserve her steps.

[Guest BasicSailor]

You're going to need to park the Harley in the hall 🙃

[nwcruiselover]

7 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

You're going to need to park the Harley in the hall 🙃

Not allowed.

[Guest BasicSailor]

1 minute ago, nwcruiselover said:

Not allowed.

Yes, it is. Either that or I'm going blind.😁

[mz-s]

4 minutes ago, nwcruiselover said:

Not allowed.

 

It is, like so many other things on Carnival, allowed de facto because they're not doing anything about it.

[mz-s]

Definitely call Carnival's special needs department. They do not allow all the accessible cabins to be booked online, particularly the fully accessible cabins.

[EngIceDave]

Can you? Sure.

Should you? I wouldn't.

 

Is all the in-cabin discomfort and misery really worth it? 

 

[thewynn]

6 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

Can you? Sure.

Should you? I wouldn't.

 

Is all the in-cabin discomfort and misery really worth it? 

 

For her freedom to get out around the ship, maybe. 
 

26 minutes ago, mz-s said:

Definitely call Carnival's special needs department. They do not allow all the accessible cabins to be booked online, particularly the fully accessible cabins.

I will keep this in mind and will check for our future cruises. Unfortunately I didn’t know this fact and our Magic cruise is in 2 weeks. I’m sure I’m a little late for that. 

[EngIceDave]

3 minutes ago, thewynn said:

For her freedom to get out around the ship, maybe. 

IMO, I'd put the kids in an interior.

[jsglow]

40 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

Yes, it is. Either that or I'm going blind.😁

We've been through this before.  NO, it is not allowed.  Now some do get away with it due to enforcement issues but that's taking a big chance.  We have heard that enforcement can take the form of 'We'll park it off-site. Call the front desk and we'll bring it to you when we get a chance.'  OP, don't risk that.

 

Here's what I'd do.  Get 2 adjoining cabins, or even 2 Interiors near each other.  It can actually be done quite reasonably.

[mz-s]

Well even if it's too late to move people to a different room you need to contact special needs so they can let the ship know you need scooter parking. There is no way you're getting a scooter in a balcony that is sleeping 4 people, and still expecting room to move around. Even if the scooter fits through the door - There is no more turn-down service so the couch is going to be made into a bed all cruise, and upper pulman will be brought down all cruise, with the ladder. So there's not going to be any room to walk around, let alone fit a scooter.

[Guest BasicSailor]

49 minutes ago, jsglow said:

We've been through this before.  NO, it is not allowed.  Now some do get away with it due to enforcement issues but that's taking a big chance

I'll assure you that you and I have never danced to this tune before 🤣. Not that we would, just saying 😉. My Mother in-law made it a habit of parking that horse by her cabin with no (problems). Whatever was supposed to be enforced was not of any concern to anyone.

[rellersi]

we are on the Magic in 2 weeks, have a balcony, wife uses a scooter. No problem getting into and out of the room, leave the scooter in the hallway during the day. have not tried to leave it out at night lately because we charge it at night. Not sure how crowded it would be with the 2 extra people in the room. Would probably be easier if the beds were the bunks that drop down, because even if they are open all day you can move the ladders. Our biggest problem with the scooter is in the casino the machines are soo close together its hard to park the scooter where it is not in someones way. Been on the Magic 3 or 4 times before and love the ship enjoy the cruise

[BoozinCroozin]

First, it is not likely to fit through a regular cabin door. You would need an accessible room. With 4 people, it will be extremely crowded. As for leaving them in the hall, Carnival should 100% be policing this issue. It is a safety issue. Fire, smoke, water, etc coming onboard, a scooter would be an impediment. I am surprised they don't police this, force the people in the cabin to keep it there or have it moved to storage where they can get it at the end of the cruise. 

[thewynn]

I have no intention of parking it in the hall overnight, maybe for periods during the day. 
 

Does anyone know if I took it to Guest Services in the evening if they would be able to store it overnight and I pick it up in the morning?

I’ll probably call special needs today and ask them. 

[pe4all]

1 hour ago, thewynn said:

I have no intention of parking it in the hall overnight, maybe for periods during the day. 
 

Does anyone know if I took it to Guest Services in the evening if they would be able to store it overnight and I pick it up in the morning?

I’ll probably call special needs today and ask them. 

Definitely call Special Needs.  If you leave the scooter in the cabin of 4 you will be climbing over it - not to mention a lot of bruises going to the bathroom at night.  We love the Magic but she is a big ship compared to some of the other CCL ships.  Tell Special Needs you know this is late notice, but this just came up, and what are the options.  We definitely saw scooters parked in the hallways at all hours- the cabin of 2 next to us on the Spirit needed a scooter, and it was always parked outside, and another was down the hall.  Other option is a wheelchair - that can fold and fit in cabin easier than a scooter.  They make "travel wheelchairs" that take up very little space.  CCL has wheelchairs you can reserve for the duration of the cruise, and there are also companies that rent wheelchairs and have them waiting for you wherever/whenever you need them.  Did that for my mom when she needed one.

Edited March 13, 2023 by pe4all

[Bostwick girl]

Speaking from experience as we’ve had a scooter for several years and several cruises with it in a balcony cabin. The scooter will fit thru the door of a regular cabin, especially if the arm rests are off. We never take them. Standard cabin on all ships except the new ones is 22” wide. Our scooter is 21.5, so a skillful driver can get it in, turn it around and park it up close to the sofa. In your case with the sofa being used as a bed, I don’t know if it would be in the way. I do know the way we park it, if I want to sit on the sofa I have to climb over the scooter! I’m really thinking the wheel chair might be your best bet. We did have to rent one from carnival in February for a few days because the scooter wasn’t working. Only problem with that is availability. They may or may not have one available. I would check with Scootaround to see about renting one. Since your wife is somewhat mobile, between you and the girls you should be able to handle the pushing duties ok. Whatever you do, call Special Needs, you never know if there may be a modified cabin available.  Good luck and hope you have a wonderful cruise!

 

And I doubt very seriously if you will be able to store the scooter with guest services. I do know when I rented the wheel chair, it was brought to us by room service, and that’s who you call for any assistance with it.

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by Bostwick girl
Additional info

[Drazil65]

Not sure you can change now but in future if DW is using scooter and there are 3 or 4 of you in a cabin, you may want to choose the ocean view category.  The balcony of course gives you the extra space outside but the OV gives it to you inside the cabin (220 sq ft vs.185 inside) where it would probably meet your needs better with using and parking a scooter.  Of course a suite would be even better (extra room inside and a balcony) if that is something your family wants to explore but obviously the OV would be more cost effective.   

Edited March 13, 2023 by Drazil65

[jsglow]

17 hours ago, BasicSailor said:

I'll assure you that you and I have never danced to this tune before 🤣. Not that we would, just saying 😉. My Mother in-law made it a habit of parking that horse by her cabin with no (problems). Whatever was supposed to be enforced was not of any concern to anyone.

Please report back when your MIL gets it parked all week in storage.  Of course it happens.  And it doesn't matter that nobody is 'concerned' about it when the freakin' Coast Guard issues CCL a hefty fine.  The bottom line is that it IS a violation that in theory is non-negotiable because of emergency procedure requirements as previously well documented in this forum.