Guindalf Posted September 19 #1 Share Posted September 19 We're flying to San Juan, PR in a few weeks and our cruise visits St. Martin, Antigua, St Lucia, Barbados and Dominica. We have found one accessible tour in Antigua and something we think will work in Barbados. Anyone have any recommendations? Should we just book what we think will work, see someone on board and cancel if they won't at that time? We're happy to book direct, so it doesn't have to be through the ship. TIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokopelli-az Posted September 19 #2 Share Posted September 19 What cruise line are you going to be on? Are you able to break down the scooter so it would fit in a van (for instance) or do you need a vehicle with a lift? Check with your cruise line's Access Dept and ask about accessible excursions. Some cruise lines have accessible excursions that are not necessarily listed on their shore excursion page. If you are looking at the ship's excursions, they will state whether the excursions are accessible (most are not and the ones that are get booked quickly). My experience is the shore excursion desk on board ships is not very knowledgeable about accessible excursions. So I wouldn't rely on getting much information from them... PS: Not shore excursion related, but have you already contacted your cruise line's Access Dept? They need to know you will have a scooter. Lastly, do you have an accessible stateroom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guindalf Posted September 19 Author #3 Share Posted September 19 Yes,we have an accessible stateroom and I've filled in the special needs form for me and the DW's CPAP. This is not our first rodeo, but thanks for the reminders. We'll be on Celebrity Summit in the Retreat, so maybe the concierge will be a little more knowledgeable. DW has found excursions for each port (except ST Martin, where we're going to just take it easy as we've been there a few times) . We'll hope they'll work, either by taking the scooter or being a short walk with somewhere I can leave it for the duration. Oh, and yes, it does come apart. It's a Pride Revo 2.0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOPMan Posted September 20 #4 Share Posted September 20 You may have variable luck with curb cuts and navigable paths. Many stores in Antigua and St. Lucia have significant steps to enter the store or get onto the sidewalk (and ramps/curb cuts are not plentiful. If walking/standing is an issue, I’d strongly suggest taking a rollator and using that instead of a scooter in some environments. Rollators may be more easily accommodated than a scooter, especially when considering the volume of space each takes up. While you’re likely to see Greyhound-like buses on Barbados, vans/mini vans are more prevalent for group transit on St. Lucia, Antigua, Saint Martin, and Dominica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted September 20 #5 Share Posted September 20 If the excursion is not listed as "accessible", odds are there will be no place to put your scooter on the transport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOPMan Posted September 20 #6 Share Posted September 20 To add in- there is often no extra space available in the vans/minivans. Often, the tour guide has a cooler under or behind the rear seats for drinks for guests. As a result, there is no or little free space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokopelli-az Posted September 20 #7 Share Posted September 20 You know, if you're not going on an excursion in St Maarten, there is quite a bit to look at right off the ship. Here's a link that might be of interest: https://spintheglobe.net/dir/2019/10/02/cruise-port-of-call-wheelchair-accessibility-review-philipsburg-sint-maarten-st-martin/ PS: We're going to be on the Summit in April (out of Fort Lauderdale), also in an accessible Retreat stateroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guindalf Posted September 21 Author #8 Share Posted September 21 A rollator is not an option, unfortunately, because I need the scooter for around the ship and in other ports and flying in would make it difficult to transport both. I guess that, as I can get on a bus or in a van, I'll be leaving the scooter behind and relying on a cane for the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOPMan Posted September 21 #9 Share Posted September 21 You will not usually be able to “leave the scooter.” Vans and buses pick passengers up in various locations, and often on the street. When in Amber Cove a couple of years ago (Amber Cove’s dock is similar to Grand Turk, with a cruise company built secure “village.”) I contacted the village manager and got permission to lock my scooter to a light pole for several hours while we took a rental car. We’ve found the rollator helpful in the airport as a luggage cart. It will fly free as well as your scooter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokopelli-az Posted September 21 #10 Share Posted September 21 If you're bringing the scooter from home and it sounds like you will not be traveling alone, possibly have another person in charge of the rollator. Like @FOPMan said, they make a dandy luggage cart at the airport. (I would not check the rollator at the front counter but instead have it gate checked when you get to your gate, along with the scooter.) No charge to fly the scooter or the rollator (or any other mobility device). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoHuskies! Posted Tuesday at 05:03 PM #11 Share Posted Tuesday at 05:03 PM I can attest to the rollator's abilities as a luggage cart. I am in a big band where I have to use a rollator to get to rehearsals. I pull my folded rollator from the back of the car, unfold it and load it with my instrument in its case, a gig bag holding mutes and other stuff, and a folding stand. Works great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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