Firt timer with urgent questions - 16 days

[cruise-aholicRN]

I am sorry to hear about your mother. A cruise will build special memories that just don't fade.

 

My very first cruise was taking my mother who was in end stage cancer. I made arrangements for my mother's doctor and the the ship doctor to communicate in advance. Then when my mother needed medication, I was able to go to the infirmary and pick it up. The doctor was already aware of my mother's situation, provided the needed medication and reassured us that he was there for any further needs.

 

I would suggest not planning too much. She may tire easily with medication. Since she does not ask for much, you may want to schedule in some rest times so she doesn't feel like she is slowing every one else down.

 

My mother had never been in a casino before.....and then she found the nickel slots.....I smile everytime I think about it.

 

Have a beautiful, memorable trip!!!

[madelinerose]

Sorry, skipped a post the first time. Best of everything to you.

[jmf123]

Blessings to you and your mother in this situation.

 

Just a few suggestions:

 

Definitely contact RCCL's Special Needs department (or have your TA do it for you). (866) 592-7225 or special_needs@rccl.com They should have some recommendations of companies where you can rent a wheelchair for the cruise.

 

Definitely contact whomever you booked through (either your TA or RCCL), and see if by some chance there happens to be an accessible stateroom available. It is unlikely as they usually are reserved months in advance, but you might get lucky. The reason I recommend this is a wheelchair will not fit through the door of a regular stateroom. Also, there is a step up into the bathroom in a regular stateroom, which can be a problem if she is having balance or strength issues.

 

Not knowing exactly how the cancer is affecting your mother, you may also need a shower chair which you would want to request in advance (you would do that through the Special Needs department).

 

I also recommend posting your question on the Disabled Cruisers board as there are several wonderful posters there that may be able to give you specific tips and help. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=190

 

My heart goes out to you, to your mother and your family...

 

copnlpn is correct- wheelchairs are for pier assistance only, other than for emergencies on board. You can rent wheelchairs/scooters from scootaround dot com, and they'll deliver it right to the ship for you.

 

As usual wrp96, you have provided a knowledgeable and thoughtful post, thank you. Great suggestion for checking on an accessible stateroom. I believe that cruiselines may move someone if they are booked into an accessible stateroom and don't require one.

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, first1.

[Artemis]

Hi, first1,

 

What a coincidence: We'll be on the Liberty OTS the week before you with my MIL on what we call "Last Cruise II." We took her on the original "Last Cruise" in March. She had so much fun, she said she wished it didn't have to be the last one! Fortunately, she's held her own these past few months, so we're doing it again before the anticipated deterioration of her condition this fall.

 

I think you will be amazed and gratified by how nicely most people will treat your mom and family group. We got all the assistance we needed and more. This is the one time when you shouldn't hesitate to ask for special accommodations when needed, e.g., when you arrive to embark, if the check-in lines are long, let someone know she's ill, and they will move you to a priority position so she can board quickly and get comfortable.

 

You've received a lot of terrific advice. Here are a few more tips:

1. When you arrive, take the cabin steward aside, tell him/her your mom's ill and to keep an eye out for her. We've had the best luck with sweet, attentive cabin stewards; I hope you get lucky that way, too. Ask your cabin steward for anything that she might need. It is surprising how many "supplemental" goodies they have to make you comfortable, e.g., robes, more pillows, softer/harder pillows & even mattresses and egg crate or other mattress toppers, more blankets, ice, fruit, help with meds and medical devices, etc. Don't forget, those folks live on board ship, so have devised all sorts of ingenious solutions to every challenge and are happy to share tips/tricks with pax.
   
2. Room service food is free, except a cash tip to the person who delivers it is always appreciated (a dollar is fine for something simple like coffee/tea service or late-night cookies & milk, you'll want to extend 2+ dollars as appropriate for a meal or multiple guest orders).
   
3. You will dine at the same table, same time, same waiter, same tablemates every night. A great dining experience can make your cruise very special! If you have early seating, shows will be after dinner. If you have late seating, shows will be before dinner. If you got a late assignment and really need early to accommodate your mom, go see the dining staff the afternoon you embark, if possible. A time and location for "dining changes" will be published in that day's announcements. Whether you take care of a dining change that first day or perhaps after your first meal, the point is, if you discover something about your assignment is just not right, whether time, location of table, waiter, tablemates or other, don't hesitate to make a polite appeal to the dining management staff. It is crazy to suffer an unfavorable dining arrangement the entirety of your vacation--they are happy to help as long as you are respectful and reasonable in your approach (some people get nasty and demanding on this point, so the staff may seem resistant at first, just be calm, courteous and explain your situation).
   
4. As has been suggested, it is better to plan on handling all of her medical needs yourself and just using the onboard medical facility as an emergency backup. As long as her doctors work with you before you leave, you should be in good shape unless her condition takes an unexpected turn. Be sure to get good contact numbers and, ideally, an email contact for her doctor so you can communicate any changes and get updated advice, prescriptions, etc., if needed. The onboard Rx may/may not be able to fill all prescriptions. You may want to do some online research for pharmacies in port so you have that information at hand.
   
5. I think you left out some words in the sentence where you describe your travel insurance coverage. You seem confident it will be there for your family if you need it. Just make sure you double-check all of the provisions and are clear on what you'd do if something comes up.
   
6. Similarly, if anyone in your party doesn't have a passport, make sure you research re: what you'd do in case of emergency requiring air return to the states.
   

 

Best wishes to your entire family for a smooth, fun cruise together!

[Artemis]

First1,

 

I finally did my pre-cruise research yesterday, and I was reminded of two more things to share:

 

1. My MIL probably won't be able to stay up late enough for the parades (there will be two during the week, around 11- 11:30 p.m. on the promenade), but if your mom likes that sort of thing, she should try to see at least one. Very creative, quite a spectacle! It gets very crowded, and beware of staking out a place only to discover folks will squeeze in front of you. Here's an instance where you find a friendly staff member, explain she needs to sit and get them to recommend a primo viewing spot for her.

 

2. On our itinerary, we will tender at Labadee, and my MIL is really too unsteady on her feet/frail to attempt using tenders. If you have any tender stops on your itinerary, you may want to think this through--your mom may be better off staying aboard ship. If you're unfamiliar with the tender process, you will exit the cruise ship on a gangplank of sorts and step into a small tender boat. There are staffers there to physically guide/assist you in making the transfer, but it usually involves some big steps down into the boat (and stepping up when getting out of the boat) and a bit of "rocking boat" movement. If the weather or other factors cause the seas to be rougher than usual, tender operations can get dicey (and sometimes dangerous, in which case the captain will call off all tender operations).

 

Have fun getting ready to go!

[grammax3]

First1,

 

Your mother sounds like a very special person. I am a cancer survivor, and after going through 6 months of chemo and 36 radiation treatments, I was cruising 2 weeks after my last treatment. Just remember to bring a whole bunch of wipes with you for sanitation reasons, and a whole bunch of masks for her since she will be suseptible to everything. You will find the staff, as well as other cruisers, will go out of their way to assist you. Don't discourage your Mom from doing this cruise, if she felt she wasn't able to, I am sure she wouldn't do it. Just pray that she will be strong enough to enjoy her cruise, and try not to constantly remind her of her "cancer". Let this vacation be as normal as possible. Just remember to let her relax, whether in the stateroom or poolside, but let her tell you when she needs a rest. It may be a few times a day, then again other days may be only once a day. GO, ENJOY AND ABOVE ALL, LET YOUR MOM ENJOY THIS CRUISE - it maybe her last, but one never knows as a previous poster said.:cool:

 

Just bring along hats, sunscreen and try to find as much shade as possible. I know I was told by my doctor not to take the cruise when I did, but my determination got me through, and fortunately my d/h never tried to stop me from doing the things I wanted to do any time after my diagnosis. I am sure the doctor would not release her to go if there was an immediate danger to her. Just have your cell phone, and be able to contact him at any given time. If you need to contact her physician, I am sure the price of the phone call will not matter.:cool: Good luck and "HAPPY SAILING".

[ILoveScotland]

First 1, my heart and prayers go out to you and all your family. You are to be commended for giving your mom this last wish. You'll be glad you did.

 

My husband is not ill but due to past illnesses and back surgeries he's been in a wheelchair a couple of years so we have racked up a bit of travel experience which I can share.

 

You've already been told that the ship will have a chair available for boarding and disembarking only. Depending on whether or not you think she'll need it at home you might want to consider buying a light weight full size wheel chair.

 

We bought one last summer and have gotten proficient. At airports I push my husband to the gate where we get a tag. After we're on the plane the chair is put in the luggage area and then brought up for us to have when we land.

 

We now rent an electric scooter for him to have on the ship. This gives him a lot more mobility and freedom--and gives me freedom, too. We rent from Care Vacations - http://www.cruiseshipassist.com/. The scooter is in the cabin when we arrive, and we leave it there. They also rent wheel chairs.

 

We've had experience with a couple of cruise lines since DH became disabled, and I have to say that all of the crew have been wonderful in assisting us. We usually take the wheelchair off the ship, and someone always helps with that. They simply couldn't be nicer.

 

Yes, you will have some limitations placed on what you can do and not do, but you'll find they're worth it given the pleasure your mom will have.

[pcur]

We went on a cruise shortly after DH had foot surgery, so I am familiar with using a wheelchair on RCCL.

 

First of all, I highly recommend you take your own transport chair. They are narrower and lighter, and very easy to handle. They will gate check it for you at the airplane. We got ours from 1800wheelchair.com. Cost $99 with free shipping.

 

When you show up for ANYTHING in a wheelchair with RCCL, you go to the head of the line: boarding, tenders, disembarkation: anything.

 

I just lost my Mom a month ago, and I say take Mom and show her a good time. It will be a wonderful memory, even if you sit on Deck 5 and look at the water the whole time. Nothing more relaxing.

 

Good luck to you!

[fridaythe13th]

First1,

 

I finally did my pre-cruise research yesterday, and I was reminded of two more things to share:

 

1. My MIL probably won't be able to stay up late enough for the parades (there will be two during the week, around 11- 11:30 p.m. on the promenade), but if your mom likes that sort of thing, she should try to see at least one. Very creative, quite a spectacle! It gets very crowded, and beware of staking out a place only to discover folks will squeeze in front of you. Here's an instance where you find a friendly staff member, explain she needs to sit and get them to recommend a primo viewing spot for her.

 

2. On our itinerary, we will tender at Labadee, and my MIL is really too unsteady on her feet/frail to attempt using tenders. If you have any tender stops on your itinerary, you may want to think this through--your mom may be better off staying aboard ship. If you're unfamiliar with the tender process, you will exit the cruise ship on a gangplank of sorts and step into a small tender boat. There are staffers there to physically guide/assist you in making the transfer, but it usually involves some big steps down into the boat (and stepping up when getting out of the boat) and a bit of "rocking boat" movement. If the weather or other factors cause the seas to be rougher than usual, tender operations can get dicey (and sometimes dangerous, in which case the captain will call off all tender operations).

 

Have fun getting ready to go!

 

We did Labadee and Grand Cayman with my mom in a WC. They got her on and off the tender no problem and then we transferred her into a beach wheelchair at Labadee. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1234914558046023440DOBftm If your MIL is unsteady on her feet take her off in a WC if she's up to it.

 

First1 - the best to you and your family.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

MY thoughts and prayers to you and your mom.

Have a wonderful cruise.

Please come back and give us your review and how everything turned out!

 

***

[njoyndride]

first1 - So sorry to hear about your mom, our thoughts are with you and your family.

 

Looks like you are on our sailing, please come over to the roll call and introduce yourself (link below). There are some posters that have alot of cruise experience along with some that have been on Liberty in the past and might be able to answer some specific questions about the ship. If nothing else you'll have a support system once onboard.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=15774465#post15774465