Wheelchair Question

[A Little Pixie Dust]

We will be on Summit in a few short weeks and I have a question. My Mom is mobile but will be using a wheelchair for a lot of the cruise due to only being able to walk short distances with a cane.

 

I was reading on the X website that some of their ships have a "lift" for easier boarding on tenders. Does anyone know if Summit is equipped with one of these?

 

Mom is pretty easy going about things but the tendering is what has me concerned. I am concerend that the ramp will be to steep for her to walk down it.

 

Any suggestions on how to make her trip more comfortable would be greatly appreciated! Our TA knows she will be traveling with a wheelchair but now I am starting to wonder if I should call X and confirm they know or if it really matters. We do not need an accessible stateroom as she can walk short distances so she can walk through the door and her chair folds up etc.

 

Thanks again!

 

Desiree

[aussiedisneyfan]

I can't help with the tenders as our travelling companion didn't get off at the tender port. I do know that although they had a regular cabin you could actually just fit the chair through the door, which was a bonus for them.

[RLM77]

I have Multiple sclerosis and also can walk only short distances with a cane. We also had a "non-accessible" cabin and the chair fit fine.

 

On Summit in October, I opted to go down the steps to the tender in Lahaina and wait on shore while DH picked up a rental car and then me. I however I witnessed a lovely young woman with MD brought down to the tender in her chair.

 

The staircase down to the tender has metal "flaps" that fold over the treads on both sides to accomodate the wheels. A Celebrity person backs down the stairs controlling the chair frome the front, with another controlling it behind.

 

At the bottom of the stairs, the men co-ordinated things in much the same way, with one on the tender and one on the dock. ONe, two, three...and away.

 

I will say that if the sea is very choppy I personally would be very concerned about this part of the procedure. I also weigh more than the woman in the chair. For your Mom however I would imagine as she can manage a few steps, she would step on to the tender with the assistance of the men, followed by her chair.

 

Hope this helped.

[judyfssw]

My mom was in a wheelchair for her cruises and seemed to be somewhat like your mom. She was also on Oxygen carrying a tank. My husband needs a wheelchair/scooter also. Celebrity is the best when handling people whether at ports or on tenders. They carried (3-4 men) Mom and my nusband down the stairs and helped them in the tender. They are wonderful. I don't feel that you'll have any problems.

By the way, have you considered using a scooter while on board. It will give your mom a feeling of independence and make it easier on you. Of course, you might need an accessible cabin then which your TA could check and see if there's still one available. Good luck and enjoy your cruise.

[DancerOT]

A few more experiences of note:

- With my grandmother in a w/c, X was wonderful, always helping - even her butler would help her get in and out of the chair, stored the chair for her, everything!...the grandchildren always came up to her room before dinner to "wheel" her down, but the one night we ran 1 minute late the butler was helping her out

- however, my mother is 95% mobile but is unable to do ramps of certain degrees as her ankle does not bend that way. She can do stairs. In Alaska, on Infinity there was a ramp to get back on board (we had taken steps down) - the angle of the ramp was too much for her to walk it. It took over 30 minutes and several discussions to get her a w/c to come back up the ramp. The odd thing was that there were steps set up and we told them she can do those, but they wouldnt let her even with escorting her back to where you swipe in - we came up with all different ideas and the staff was not willing to utilize any of them - he kept saying "she has to walk the ramp". Finally, my dad had to go get somebody from guest services to assist

 

It was such a strange experience! Now, does it deter us from sailing X? No, but we were very upset by it.

[A Little Pixie Dust]

Thanks for the information. It does help. I think I am more worried about it then my mom is but I just want to make sure that her drea trip is everything she hopes for.

 

Thanks again,

 

Desiree

[aussiedisneyfan]

DancerOT. You experience was kind of like one of ours. The ship was late for a port where we were booked on an independent helicoptour tour leaving in 2 minutes. Can't remember the exact details but we were trying to get of the ship and they didn't wan't the wheelchair going this way and told us we had to go back through the crowd - yeah right - to go another way. We trying to tell the chair wouldn't get down. My friend just grabbed the chair and off bouncing it down the ramp/steps she went to the amazement of the staff.