We have been put in a handicapped room . . .

[Zorbar]

I just wanted to let you all know that today, my friends received a call from the TA, stating Carnival called and they need your Handicap room. Of course my friends were willing to do what ever to let the room go. I just want to let you know Carnival is aware and are in contact with the TA in regards to handicap rooms:cool:

[luvz2cruz637]

and are wondering the advantages and/or disadvantages to this! We are on the Lido Deck of the Valor - Room 9292 - anyone out there with info on this type of room!

 

usually when booking a guarentee room carnival wont give a handicap room if they need it. also dont be set with that room as carnival can and prob will change it before you leave for your cruise.

[luvz2cruz637]

Also, I am curious about your wording. On this thread you say you were "put in" a handicapped room but in an other thread you say you "booked" this room. Which is it. Did you request it or did Carnival give it to you?

 

Please, I am not flaming anyone or being rude. I am just trying to educate abled bodied people.

 

Handicapped cabins can not be flaged that pax will move if a disabled person needs this room. It would be nice if they would. Maybe in a perfect world. Once the cabin is booked it is taken out of the inventory. Period. End of story.

 

Please try to understand the difficulties of handicapped people. There are around 15 disabled cabins on the ship. Handicapped poeple must choose one of these, however, you have hundred of cabins to choose from.

 

carnival will change the room if you are not handicap... it happened to a friend of mine once. there TA booked them in a handicap room and they were swtiched without being notified because they did not have the need for it. just wanted to let you know this.

[luvz2cruz637]

The cabin will not sail empty at Final Payment time any unsold HC cabins are released to the general public. By that time any HC that need the cabin will have booked it. My last cruise I had to book a year in advance to get a HC cabin.

 

Thymcruisers, what if they do move you and you are not on the Lido deck. What then? I think you will raise a royal stink.

 

PVP's dont know everything. In fact they are very low paid employees. Ask a handicapped person we know. Carnival will not move you. If you care at all please go to the disabled forum and read what a hard time handicapped people have.

 

I hope you never HAVE to book a handicapped room. I would love to book a regular room.

 

Remember what goes around comes around.

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

 

 

 

how much do they make?? How do u know?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

how much do they make?? How do u know?

 

this is from an article I read earlier this year in a Palm Beach newspaper.

 

"The center's base salary is $16,500, plus about $50 for every cruise

sold. Becker's top seller took home $99,000 last year.

 

"If they don't make $40,000, I fire them," he said."

 

I just wanted to let you all know that today, my friends received a call from the TA, stating Carnival called and they need your Handicap room. Of course my friends were willing to do what ever to let the room go. I just want to let you know Carnival is aware and are in contact with the TA in regards to handicap rooms

 

That's impossible! CCL has no way of knowing if your friends were handicapped, they just know the cabin was booked. I read it right here.:rolleyes:

 

Bill

[Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN]

That's impossible! CCL has no way of knowing if your friends were handicapped, they just know the cabin was booked. I read it right here.:rolleyes:

 

Bill

 

Of course they know whether or not the friends were handicapped. They ask at the time of booking if there are any special needs.

 

Let's face it, there are times that the various cruiselines make the conscious decision not to honor a request for a handicapped cabin. Even if every abled bodied person made sure not to book a handicapped cabin, there is no guarantee that the cruiselines would not then assign these cabins to the people who booked a "guaranteed room".

 

Who knows why. Maybe the bean counters have determined that the physically challenged do not drink enough or gamble enough and are less likely to take the pricier, over the top ship excursions. Who know. I have never seen anyone in a wheelchair, with a walker or crutches falling down drunk. However, I have seen them in the casino - so go figure.

[Harleycat]

to book a larger cabin than you may need because someone else may come along later who would need that cabin and you took it?

 

I don't get the blame the passenger mentality.

 

I agree with the last poster. It is up to the person needing the handicapped room to book their cruise far enough in advance and to be flexible enough to be assured that this type of cabin is available. When there is such a physical requirement' date=' they cannot behave as a passenger who can be comfortable in any of the ship's cabins.

 

Personal responsibility has to also come into play.[/quote']

 

I have to ask, why should a disabled person have to plan that far in advance just to get the cabin they need? The main issue here is not so much that AB people are booked into HC cabins but are booked into them so many months prior to sailing. Those cabins should be held until final payment and then released into inventory unless required by someone who is handicapped.

 

Disabled people have lives just like AB people. Some of us are not able to plan that far ahead. My husband is an electrical foreman and does not always know when a particular job will end. Sometimes he just can't take off in the middle of a job. If I required a HC cabin, (I don't need one right now) do I have to take the risk of booking so far in advance and then losing my money if I can't take the cruise?

 

People with disabilities are not asking for any special treatment. The number of cabins available to them on each ship is relatively small. Is it too much to ask that they be held for those who truly need them?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I have to ask, why should a disabled person have to plan that far in advance just to get the cabin they need? The main issue here is not so much that AB people are booked into HC cabins but are booked into them so many months prior to sailing. Those cabins should be held until final payment and then released into inventory unless required by someone who is handicapped.

 

Disabled people have lives just like AB people. Some of us are not able to plan that far ahead. My husband is an electrical foreman and does not always know when a particular job will end. Sometimes he just can't take off in the middle of a job. If I required a HC cabin, (I don't need one right now) do I have to take the risk of booking so far in advance and then losing my money if I can't take the cruise?

 

People with disabilities are not asking for any special treatment. The number of cabins available to them on each ship is relatively small. Is it too much to ask that they be held for those who truly need them?

 

 

I think that leaving the HC cabins open until final payment is a good idea and would be fair to everybody involved.

 

There is no risk involved in booking a HC cabin ahead of time. If your husband couldn't get off simply cancel by final payment and receive your deposit back.

 

Bill

[Sashalanda]

I agree leaving Hc rooms free until final payments is a great idea..fair to all. With a good majority of HC ppl...often our health doesn't make it easy to plan real far in advance much as we would like to. In my case, I made reservations 7 months in advance...simply because that was when we had the funds available. I, however, so far don't require a HC room and refused one. My wheelchair folds so can fit through any door and I can walk with a cane short distances. I wish I could afford the nice suites but with not being able to work...I can't now nor in the future without saving for a much longer time and have to admit, with two school age kids thats not looking too promising lol. I can imagine for many handicapped ppl that they are probably in the same financial situation. It would be nice if they had two inner rooms that were handicapped accessable for the lesser cost so maybe would include a few more.

I'm glad many ppl learned a bit in this thread that wasn't known before and I hope between us, we can get all the cruise lines to have a standard of how they give away these rooms, including TA's education. :) I hope everyones cruise is fantastic!

[vlnovak]

I am not handicaped but a room beame avaiable for the Jan 27th sailing. I booked the room in Aug. not having read this board and since it was ava. I took it. Since reading the board I called rcl and told them I had the room and I would give it up to a hc person if needed. If anyone has a hc room, just cal the line and in it special needs dept. and let them know that you are in this room and if they needs arises you will give it up. When I called rcl was very grateful and they did not know I was not hc. They took my name and put me on call for the room. In the mean time a sr citizen rate has been listed so for a d1 cat you pay $909. I changed my room to a d1 non hc and took the $400 saving per person. So the cruise line DOES NOT know until you call them that you are holding a hc roo. I checked the list of ava rooms and it is not showing up. maybe they are holding it incase anyone needs it.

[mom2tcdx2]

I wonder how the ship knows whether or not someone in the room has a disability or not. Someone stated they know of your special needs so does that mean only people that use a wheelchair or walker get a handicapped room or anyone that would happen to have a disability. My son is 11 and is classified as disabled and my mother has handicapped plates and such on her vehicle. When I booked my cruise we didn't notify the cruise ship of any special needs but technically both are handicapped. So if enough passengers aren't booked that state they have a wheelchair do you then leave these rooms empty till when?????

[Sashalanda]

I wonder how the ship knows whether or not someone in the room has a disability or not. Someone stated they know of your special needs so does that mean only people that use a wheelchair or walker get a handicapped room or anyone that would happen to have a disability. My son is 11 and is classified as disabled and my mother has handicapped plates and such on her vehicle. When I booked my cruise we didn't notify the cruise ship of any special needs but technically both are handicapped. So if enough passengers aren't booked that state they have a wheelchair do you then leave these rooms empty till when?????

 

The handicap rooms are intended for ppl with wheelchairs, electric scooters or chairs. The idea is wider door opening, raised commode and bars in the shower. These are physical handicaps that require these services. I use a wheelchair for longer distances and on ships because my balance on land is real bad much less on a ship but turned down the handicap room since i can walk short distances. Hubby was able to fold up my wc to get it in the room. Please do not book a handicap room unless they have physical handicaps requiring wc or electric mobility to move around. I talked to one elderly lady that had waited two years to go on a cruise because she couldnt get a handicap room out of NO and since she lived there...that is where she wanted to sail out of. Her daughter found out on one cruise that able bodied ppl had been given 6 of the HC rooms on her cruise..one that her mother had tried to get but was told they were taken. The able bodied ppl were in a group and had wanted rooms close...they didn't have any disabilities whatsoever but paid total fare on the day of booking. Not sure if that makes difference or not. She said her daughter was going to contact AARP about it. Its just sad that she had to wait 2 years while able bodied ppl could of been in any cabin :(

[MHF]

My aunt and I booked a handicapped cabin this past May. I had a back problem which made the handrails in the bathroom helpful.

 

Yes, the room was bigger. However, it opened onto the atrium where, every night, there was a band until after midnight. We could clearly hear all the lyrics. While I like staying out sometimes, we were a bit tired after walking Key West and then Cozumel the next day and thus would have preferred some quiet.

 

So check the location of the cabin to make sure you like the location if you think you need the cabin. I probably could have dealt with a regular bathroom had I known about the band.

 

M

[DNCButler]

Here is something that happened to us this year. We were told by PCL that the doorways are wide enough to drive a scooter through and therefore we wouldn't need a disabled cabin. When I was on Crown in June (without my hubby) I saw that no way on earth would a scooter fit through. So as we were at the airport waiting to fly home, I called PCL and asked for a disabled cabin, was told they were booked and then I got mad. I explained what I was told by their special needs dept., and then asked them if the passengers IN THE CABINS CURRENTLY were disabled and if not that they needed to do something about it now. She put me on hold and as they were calling our flight she came back on to tell me that the passengers that WERE in a disabled cabin have now been moved and we were accomodated. Sometimes you need to be aggresive in order to get what you need. And NEED is the operative word. Not just because you need to be in a cabin with a bigger balcony!

[Sashalanda]

Exactly DNC. Hopefully down the road ships will be made with the small increase in door width that would accomodate wheelchairs..wouldnt take much increase really except for over sized wheelchairs. I think it would be easy enough for them to add a grab bar in all showers (hehe lets face it, if ship is really rocking and rolling that day, all of us could use that) and maybe even add to showers the fold down seat..everything would be cherry for everyone. With only 8 HC rooms on the current ships..some may have more or less...that is very few rooms indeed when there are so many for the able bodied to choose from. Hopefully organizations like AARP etc can encourage cruise lines to make these changes in the future :). These services would also be helpful to ppl who have arthritis and back problems like the above poster. Maybe then handicap stated rooms can have oxygen outlets in wall for those who use oxygen, built in suction devices etc for ppl with more challenges than wheelchair or scooter. I think it would be fantastic for ppl with these problems can cruise too. or atleast cruise much easier.

[DesrtDrmr]

When we were booking friends on the Liberty-- who needed a handicapped cabin-- the person who was booked into the oceanview on the front was moved to a 6B on the side.

 

We had to show need= with a drs letter faxed over.

 

Carnival does move people out of handicapped cabins if there is no cause for them to have it.

 

Serene, I love your avatar! :)

I think with your post you have sort of shown a problem for H/C people booking a cabin. Your friends were able to get into a H/C cabin ONLY after they had a "drs letter faxed over" while the able bodied passengers first booked into that cabin did not have to show any such "proof" that they needed that cabin. It is my understanding that cruiselines cannot ask for medical "proof" because that would be discriminatory.

I do agree, however, that H/C cabins should be available to anyone, but ONLY after final payment.

[silverfoxcruiser]

Before I took my recent cruise in the Med., I was commissioned by AARP magazine to write an artice on how disabled persons are treated by both crew and other passengers aboard commercial cruise liners. Believe me, I took copious notes!

I will include posts from this board to depict the wide range of attitudes regarding the right/wrong of booking accessable cabins by the able-bodied.

The article will appear in a publication due out in the late spring of next year.

My husband does not need a w/c. He lost his right foot due to an MRSA and now has a prosthetic. We did not ask for a H/C cabin, although we did request a shower chair. He does have a handicapped sticker for parking, and I have never used it unless he was also coming into the store. It is incredible to me how selfish and self-concerned people can be!! My mother used to have a saying..."I cried because I had no shoes, before I met a man who had no legs." It makes me sad that people have so little concern with thier fellow human beings. What a sad outlook for our country. :cool:

[richnorto]

I think Carnival/ HAL/ Princess have solved the communication problem. Princess at least has gone all internet for boarding passes/info. I'm assumming the other lines owned by this company have done the same. Anybody know for sure? In any case, all special needs/passport info must be in the computer 2 weeks before the cruise. I think this must be when they redistribute the handicapped cabins. I think they are trying to make sure all passengers are where they should be with minimal effort. If not, they have the info and it is not too much trouble to rearrange with everything sitting in front of them! If you need a HC room and are booked without, call 2 weeks before and make them check and fix it!

[Sashalanda]

Since not everyone has internet access...my guess is they can't be 100% internet. It could be that they need to go with ppl faxing/mailing letters of need for HC accessable room. I highly doubt anyone would write a false letter of need and therefore, the cruiseline could atleast show that they are following a HC friendly cruiseline. I don't think they need to go as far as having doctors proof but that is a possibility too. Having need for dr proof does not show discrimination, as long as they assign the room if the person has any of the physical needs on their list. I would however think they would be liable for discrimination if a person of such needs was denied a HC room and could prove an able bodied person took that room, whether with or without the cruiselines knowledge. Courts would consider that the cruiselines responsibility to know who was occupying those rooms. I think so far it hs just been a case of going through red tape to change policies and educate pvps, TA's..hoping it clears up in the near future.

[BLACKBELTBLONDE]

Why is it in order to "need" a handicap access. room you must be in a wheelchair? My daughter and I were in a bad car wreck, and need these facilities (now, hopefully not FOREVER) , yet to hear the people on here we should suffer without handbars to be stable, a way to safely take a shower, or hey...maybe pee without needing help off the toilet?????

Good grief people, closed minded much???

[Newbie_Cruiser_GA]

I just booked 3 rooms and I requested a handicapped room for my 93 year old grandmother...GO Me-Ma!!! She is such a good sport, but has been getting quite "wobbly" the last few years.

 

She does have a walker now and a cane that she uses for short walking distances. She is OK if she has something to touch like a table, wall, etc. to help her with her balance. But, I was worried that on a ship, she would need a wheelchair to get around. No way she could walk around all the time...plus (God bless her) it would take her most of the day to walk from one side of the ship to the other:p. My sister and I decided to get a wheelchair for the trip because we aren't sure she could even stand up if the ship is rockin'. I also worry about her slipping and falling in the shower so I definately wanted handles in the shower.

 

After reading posts about people who are wheelchair bound at all times, should we have booked the HC room? Does CCL have handles in showers in other rooms?

[DesrtDrmr]

If your grandmother needs the grab bars in the bathroom, and a wheelchair, you definitely should have booked a handicapped cabin for her. I think you were wise to get a wheelchair, just make sure it isn't a transport chair with tiny little wheels. They are exceedingly difficult to push, especially over ACRES of carpet. Also, your grandmother would not be able to move it at all by herself. If she's up to using a mobility scooter, that might be even better as she would have some independence and you wouldn't have to push her every minute. Either way, she would probably be exhausted trying to get herself around with a cane or walker. My Mom is also 93, and while she's quite active, she does need some mobility help. We went on one cruise where she KNEW she could get around just fine with her walker..........NOT!!! We ended up spending most of our time in our cabin, in the dining room at the bottom of the elevator, and the casino, which was opposite the dining room. She was just too exhausted to "hike" all over the ship.

Hope you all have a wonderful time.

[serene56]

I just booked 3 rooms and I requested a handicapped room for my 93 year old grandmother...GO Me-Ma!!! She is such a good sport, but has been getting quite "wobbly" the last few years.

 

She does have a walker now and a cane that she uses for short walking distances. She is OK if she has something to touch like a table, wall, etc. to help her with her balance. But, I was worried that on a ship, she would need a wheelchair to get around. No way she could walk around all the time...plus (God bless her) it would take her most of the day to walk from one side of the ship to the other:p. My sister and I decided to get a wheelchair for the trip because we aren't sure she could even stand up if the ship is rockin'. I also worry about her slipping and falling in the shower so I definately wanted handles in the shower.

 

After reading posts about people who are wheelchair bound at all times, should we have booked the HC room? Does CCL have handles in showers in other rooms?

 

Nope-- you were fine with this choice--but it also depends on the ship- Example-- an oceanview handicapped cabin on Liberty is all the way forward. So much going back and forth-.

Make sure you have a true handicpped cabin and not one that is only modified.-

[NCTribeFan]

When I boarded Carnival Elation for our December 2006 cruise, I realized that we had been booked into modified cabins (U52 & U56). I had no idea and we certainly didn't request them. They were assigned to us by our PVP.

 

When I booked Victory for this upcoming cruise in a couple of weeks, I did book a forward 4G cabin knowing it was HC. My PVP and I discussed it, and I was sure to tell him that I would HAPPILY move if it was needed by someone with a disability. He stated he would note that on my res.

 

I chose that cabin because I was eligible to book a 4G at a 4A price, and since I sail with my DD, I don't need beds that can be put together. I wanted to try that location and layout.

 

But - again - I would have absolutely NO problem with being moved IF it were for someone who truly needs it.

 

Had I know that we were being put in HC cabins on Elation, I would've asked that we be moved at that time. We just booked inside cabins. The deck plans didn't indicate that those cabins were any different than any of the others.

 

What Carnival should do is CLEARLY indicate on EVERY deck plan which cabins are HC or modified. They do not do this, so people look at the deck plan, see a cabin they want, and book it, without having any idea that they shouldn't. Unless the cruiseline restricts those cabins and stops making them available to everyone, they'll continue to be booked by unsuspecting cruisers.

[mrrugby]

I just booked the Freedom on Oct 5th and was told there were only 2 cabins left! Deck 2 or 9, I choose Deck 9 and it turns out to be a handicap cabin. I did not select this cabin, it was assigned to me! Not everyone tries to get into a HC Cabin.