on conquest, is there help to push for wc cruiser?

[angelrmt]

I am taking a cruise on 7/23/06on conquest. Mother will be on a wheelchair and possib ly myself too depending how my bad back is. My question: is there someone on the cruiseship that we can call to push us on the wheelchair? Will tip but also need to know how much to tip? Thanks in advance for a response.

[Splinter]

No, the cruise ships make it very clear that if you need any physical assistance, you are expected to have someone with you who can provide this assistance. They will push a wheelchair for embarkation and de-embarkation only.

 

You might want to include some other AB people in your group who will be willing to push your wheelchairs. Consider getting a scooter for your mother at least. A scooter can be a little risky for someone with impaired vision, but if your vision is good enough, I would get one for yourself too. Of course you will need an accessible cabin that is big enough to accomodate two scooters.

[TinAngel]

Hello you can try and post messages on a specific cruise and unlikley you may get lucky and find group that will have someone to assist at times "respite care" as we call it. Doubtful but not impossible. I cruise often with a medical team and we always try and assist but that is just luck but again getting to the cruise "Roll call" may find you a teenager who would love to do such for a few dollars?? My wife and are career rehabilitation professionsals: Physical Therapist and Nurse, I am now disabled, Best of luck! Joe

[Splinter]

Tin, I am also a working rehabilitation clinical nurse specialist. Have worked in rehab for over 30 years, the last 25 exclusively with persons with SCI.

 

I go on cruises primarily with my parents. My mother has MS (PPMS, EDSS 8.5), uses a power wheelchair full time and her home attendant cannot travel due to another job, so I am the designated attendant for these trips. My dad can't do her care anymore (although he did until he was 78 years old...he is 84 now). It gives my mother's attendant a vacation at home too.

 

Angel, it would probably be easier to find someone at home who would be interested in going on the cruise with you if you pay their fare and who would be willing to be your and your mother's attendant. Trying to find someone else on vacation who would give up their free time to help you and be at your beck and call is highly unlikely, even if you offer pay.

[Queenie2]

I agree with Splinter.

 

Best bet is to travel with your own attendant (it can be a family member, like Splinter). If you try and find somebody who may want to "pick up a few dollars" most likely it's not going to be at the time you need them (as other things are happening). And yes, the employees will give you embarkation and de-embarkation assistance, but other than that you are on your own (and the cruise lines want you to sign a form saying you are traveling with an AB that can assist you.)

 

Plus I always say that when you pay for something, you get more. So if you pay for your own attendant to travel with you, then you can pretty much tell them when and where you want them to assist you. Not so in the case of those folks who are just "looking to pick up a few dollars".

 

 

 

Candy

[angelrmt]

thanks. I have a best friend taht I am taking with me to this cruise and she is willing to ush me but the one I need for his for mother. Mother insists she can walk she is 87 years old and she can walk but she does have arthritis and I do not know how much walking is involved to get to point a to point b. I have my daugther that can push her but once my daughter starts partying forget it I can't deoebd ib ger, She is going with a punch of friends. Angel

[kitty9]

Angel, if you look carefully at your cruise documents and brochures, you will see that every cruise line is very specific that they will NOT provide assistance to disabled passengers. This is done for a variety of reasons, but primarily for liability concerns and the fact that they do not have enough crew members to provide that kind of service. You really need to find other solutions to your problem. For someone who has problems walking, regardless of their age or situation, cruise ships are huge and getting from point A to point B can be a very long walk, especially in rough seas. They will push wheelchairs when embarking and disembarking the ship, but once you're on the ship, you're on your own.

 

So, what I'm saying is, no, cruise lines do not ever provide crew members to assist disabled passengers with wheelchairs or anything else. That is the responsibility of the passenger.