Seniors! Beware if you have limited mobility or are in a wheelchair!

We both walk with a canes (have limited mobility but still can get into a tour bus) and at times I need a wheelchair to take me through the huge port terminals or even the airport. Well, not one person was assigned to help us or get us a wheelchair on our recent Silversea sailing (on the Spirit). We went to the guest services manager and asked her to help us obtain a wheelchair, when needed (such as when you need one to get you from the ship to the excursion bus parked miles away). She haughtily replied, "That is not my job!" "But I am a guest and you are responsible for the guests, aren't you? " She refused to answer. No one at the front desk, except 1 person, would help us. To get this done, we had to tip heavily. Not ONE person was assigned to help the handicapped or those limited mobility. We found most of the staff management had what is called the socialist-communist work ethic (just give me my paycheck--that is all I care about and I will do nothing extra). We felt, with our limited mobility, that management could have cared LESS to help the guest, especially if you asked for most anything (they were hostile as if you were bothering them and looked down on the handicapped, we felt). Seniors and people like us should know this! Beware!

I'm sorry for you experience but had you made your physical limitations known before you embarked to either your travel agent or the cruise line you would have saved yourself a lot of trouble, If a guest requires a wheel chair, even for parts of a trip, they are expected to supply that wheel chair. let's just say 1/2 of the passengers required wheel chairs to get from the ship to whe the tour buses are. Do you expect the cruise line to have wheelchairs for all those people and staff to push them? It is not the responsibility of the cruise line to supply a staff person to push you in your wheel chair. they have to have ramps and accessible suites but even the ADA does not say they need to supply a wheelchair and a staff member for you.

Wheelchairs onboard are not to be lent out. They are kept onboard for emergencies. If someone twists an ankle and needs one that is what they are for, If you were able to get one count yourself fortunate.

Many many many seniors and people with disabilities cruise all over the world on all different cruise lines My own dear Mother had to be in a wheelchair for parts of her later cruises and she and my father brought a portable wheel chair with them and when she needed the chair, he pushed her. That's the way it's done.

If you had communicated your needs you would have been advised your expectations would not have been met and could have made alternate plans,

Very sorry to hear of your experience. Mine has been completely opposite. Maybe it is a function of who is crew. Difficult.

Very sorry to hear of your experience. Mine has been completely opposite. Maybe it is a function of who is crew. Difficult.

With respect, DuctTape, you travel on Silversea so much of the year that your treatment is a bit more preferential.

Hmmm, not sure how I feel about that!

Well I don't travel Silverseas as much as Ducttape but last year I broke both my ankles - one really badly. On our cruise last September, I was walking with a walking stick, and could not do stairs, all the crew on the Explorer was exceptionally helpful. If I needed any assistance I got it. I find you experience hard to accept as the Silverseas people we have met have be most helpful. We have never been on the big Spirit - so I can only put it down to that.

I'm sorry for you experience but had you made your physical limitations known before you embarked to either your travel agent or the cruise line you would have saved yourself a lot of trouble, If a guest requires a wheel chair, even for parts of a trip, they are expected to supply that wheel chair. let's just say 1/2 of the passengers required wheel chairs to get from the ship to whe the tour buses are. Do you expect the cruise line to have wheelchairs for all those people and staff to push them? It is not the responsibility of the cruise line to supply a staff person to push you in your wheel chair. they have to have ramps and accessible suites but even the ADA does not say they need to supply a wheelchair and a staff member for you.

 

Wheelchairs onboard are not to be lent out. They are kept onboard for emergencies. If someone twists an ankle and needs one that is what they are for, If you were able to get one count yourself fortunate.

 

Many many many seniors and people with disabilities cruise all over the world on all different cruise lines My own dear Mother had to be in a wheelchair for parts of her later cruises and she and my father brought a portable wheel chair with them and when she needed the chair, he pushed her. That's the way it's done.

 

If you had communicated your needs you would have been advised your expectations would not have been met and could have made alternate plans,

We DID tell them of our needs. Our agent did so. They lacked empathy and you do too! We said in our comment we tipped heavily---my husband is handicapped too so he could not push me. You are wrong about this. You must work for Silversea or are a travel agent.

You will need to avoid Cunard as well. On inquiry last year, prior to a TA, I was informed that they do not supply WCs, nor pushers. On that line you need to bring your own WC and pusher!

We DID tell them of our needs. Our agent did so. They lacked empathy and you do too! We said in our comment we tipped heavily---my husband is handicapped too so he could not push me. You are wrong about this. You must work for Silversea or are a travel agent.

Put me down as lacking empathy, too. Try Holland America next time.

Put me down as lacking empathy, too. Try Holland America next time.

And me too. Call me intuitive but you aggressive approach to people offering thoughts on your post just might explain the problem.

We DID tell them of our needs. Our agent did so. They lacked empathy and you do too! We said in our comment we tipped heavily---my husband is handicapped too so he could not push me. You are wrong about this. You must work for Silversea or are a travel agent.

I do not lack empathy nor do I work for Silversea nor am I a travel agent. I am realistic in what should be expected and not expected when one books a cruise. it is not an assisted living center with wheel chairs and staff waiting to be assigned as pushers.

Again, I ask my question, if 1/2 of the guests needed wheelchairs and pushers is Silversea to provide that to everyone, or only you?

If you booked Silversea anticipating you would have wheel chairs at your disposal with staff to push you were misinformed. Don't know if you explained your needs fully to your TA or if your TA explained it fully to Silversea but I can guarantee that had it been explained you and your TA would have known before you boarded what to expect and what not to expect.

I am sorry for your experience but I think it could have been avoided. There are many seniors and people with disability who cruise Silversea and will disagree with your broad brush thread title.

We DID tell them of our needs. Our agent did so. They lacked empathy and you do too! We said in our comment we tipped heavily---my husband is handicapped too so he could not push me. You are wrong about this. You must work for Silversea or are a travel agent.

This is a very rude response to someone who is a fellow CC member.

I can only imagine how unpleasant your interactions with the SS crew were.

I do not lack empathy nor do I work for Silversea nor am I a travel agent. I am realistic in what should be expected and not expected when one books a cruise. it is not an assisted living center with wheel chairs and staff waiting to be assigned as pushers.

 

Again, I ask my question, if 1/2 of the guests needed wheelchairs and pushers is Silversea to provide that to everyone, or only you?

 

If you booked Silversea anticipating you would have wheel chairs at your disposal with staff to push you were misinformed. Don't know if you explained your needs fully to your TA or if your TA explained it fully to Silversea but I can guarantee that had it been explained you and your TA would have known before you boarded what to expect and what not to expect.

 

I am sorry for your experience but I think it could have been avoided. There are many seniors and people with disability who cruise Silversea and will disagree with your broad brush thread title.

I agree with your comments.

If someone with limited mobility is travelling alone, or with another person who also has limited mobility and therefore is unable to push a wheelchair, they should take a motorised scooter onto the ship. I've been on Silver Spirit several times and have seen lots of guests using these. A couple of times I've seen solo travellers who have taken a nurse onboard to help them too.

As a side note, I find it interesting how many first time posters join CC just to air their entitled 'complaints' in a couple of posts and then disappear after their rant.

Have to say it does seem to happen on the SS board more than others that I frequent. ;)

NIGELLA, I agree with you and the others who tried to offer help to this angry poster. I can only imagine the poor crew trying to help someone who would not be placated and felt it necessary to throw money around to try to get attention. I find it hard to believe that any guest relations manager would start by saying "it's not my job". Possibly after being berated for a while, that was the outburst, but I would be very surprised.

I do hope that this person will find another cruise line more to their liking very quickly.

Well, not one person was assigned to help us or get us a wheelchair on our recent Silversea sailing (on the Spirit).

"Expectations" seems to be the "villain" here. On a large part of our Silver Cloud trip earlier this year, there was a wonderful gentleman from the UK who had been confined to a wheelchair due to an accident during his student days. He had a person traveling with him to assist with the various "tasks" that can be challenging for those in a wheelchair. All seemed to work reasonably well under these circumstances as we observed. The staff was very nice and helpful to him and others needing basic "assistance" from time to time. His travel companion was doing most of the "work" during this overall process/situation. BUT, I do not think that the crew "assigns" an individual staff member to be with each person exclusively as stated above in the original post. Clearly those in need with travel around in all of the public areas of the ship, within the cabin, bathrooms, etc., must have some help. But, who does how much, when and where?

When searching the Silversea website, the "details" for what they do and do not provide in these cases seems missing. Maybe things should be clearer on the SS website. BUT, for all of the various trip excursions, SS is very good in stating up-front the circumstances, limits and challenges associated with each different, potential tour. Some tours are very clear that wheelchair access cannot be provided due to the limits at certain older homes, tour locations/sites, etc.

It seems that a good travel agent was missing in the "process" to communicate BEFORE the cruise what was needed, what could be provided on a daily basis, who had what responsibilities, etc.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 22,809 views for these postings.

Well, it is unfortunate that the OP has received such an unwelcome response to their experience, regardless of whether they are new to CC or not, or whether they appear to be angry, frustrated or otheriwse. I do agree that if you need a wheelchair and cannot wheel it yourself or do not have someone to push you then it is not the fault of the cruise line. But I would have expected SS to work with this guest and find them a reasonable solution....whether they had arrived well or ill prepared for their cruise.

Why are you all so quick and harsh to judge this person? I say great for them to at least get out and go on a cruise in the first place.

Well, it is unfortunate that the OP has received such an unwelcome response to their experience, regardless of whether they are new to CC or not, or whether they appear to be angry, frustrated or otheriwse. I do agree that if you need a wheelchair and cannot wheel it yourself or do not have someone to push you then it is not the fault of the cruise line. But I would have expected SS to work with this guest and find them a reasonable solution....whether they had arrived well or ill prepared for their cruise.

 

Why are you all so quick and harsh to judge this person? I say great for them to at least get out and go on a cruise in the first place.

I cant speak for others but I think the OP's thread title is inflammatory and inaccurate. Her narrative came across extremely negatively. I and others tried to explain, politely I think, that perhaps this situation could have been avoided with better communication and a different set of expectations. Her answer to my post speaks volumes. I am sure that Silversea worked with her. They are after all a luxury cruise line and that is what luxury cruise lines do. It may have not been what she wanted and there for she chose to come to CC to complain. IMHO it seems the motivation for the OP was to create a bad feeling and ill will for Silversea and she is upset that others offer expanations to help so this could be avoided in the future, no matter what cruise line.

I cant speak for others but I think the OP's thread title is inflammatory and inaccurate. Her narrative came across extremely negatively. I and others tried to explain, politely I think, that perhaps this situation could have been avoided with better communication and a different set of expectations. Her answer to my post speaks volumes. I am sure that Silversea worked with her. They are after all a luxury cruise line and that is what luxury cruise lines do. It may have not been what she wanted and there for she chose to come to CC to complain. IMHO it seems the motivation for the OP was to create a bad feeling and ill will for Silversea and she is upset that others offer expanations to help so this could be avoided in the future, no matter what cruise line.

I didn't realize that CC was only for happy people and positive postings!

I didn't realize that CC was only for happy people and positive postings!

Seriously? Of course anyone is free to post anything they want and readers are free to react to that.

Sunprince you will now be happy as I am moving on from this thread. Its pointless to continue.

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Old Today, 04:13 PM

duct tape duct tape is offline

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You will need to avoid Cunard as well. On inquiry last year, prior to a TA, I was informed that they do not supply WCs, nor pushers. On that line you need to bring your own WC and pusher!

Well, we are counting the hours before this thread and the OP disappear into the famous CC black hole.

Well, we are counting the hours before this thread and the OP disappear into the famous CC black hole.

Which would be a shame as the responses to the OP seem to contradict the initial premise and have isolated the story (assuming it is complete and accurate) as something of a one-off event.

It's interesting that OP thinks that it's only seniors who are in a wheelchair or have limited mobility.

It's interesting that OP thinks that it's only seniors who are in a wheelchair or have limited mobility.

Yes, especially since OP was born in 1968, according to her posted information. That sounds a bit young for "senior" status to me.

We were on the Spirit recently with many using mobility aids. We observed a very helpful crew in the public areas. Since there was no uniformity in the walkers, and various wheeled chairs I would guess each person provided their own. I actually suggested to a handicapped relative that they might enjoy a SS cruise!

I think that most ships that cater to pax from USA are ADA compliant, but I don't believe that means that they must have wheelchairs for pax use. I think it means there are a certain number of wheelchair accessible rooms and other facilities. I understand that there are many companies who provide wheelchairs for rent to use on a cruise. The pax or their TA could rent and arrange for the wheelchair to be delivered to the ship.

On a recent Spirit trip I recall watching several pax come aboard. The pax arrived by taxi, and one of the pax, was in a wheelchair. The accompanying pax actually left the man at the curb with luggage and went aboard. Sometime later the pax came back with a butler, who then pushed the man aboard. The remainder of the time aboard the pax was pushed by his accompanying pax.

I have also seen many other pax in wheelchairs, most of the wheelchairs look like they are customized to be light and maneuverable. These pax were either able to maneuver the wheelchair on their own, or had an accompanying pax who pushed.

I have also been on expedition cruises with pax who had limited mobility. The staff were very concerned about assisting those people into the zodiacs. There was one gentleman who was enormous and needed four people to help him get in and out of the zodiac. i have also seen those with canes get assisted into the zodiac.

I think tendering might be an issue for anyone with physical mobility issues, and I understand that if it's too rough it could pose a problem of safety.

As well, Silversea makes certain that the excursions are labeled according to what is expected of the pax, and how tough it might be.

I don't know what was experienced by Louvre12, but apparently they have very strong feelings about the experience.

They said their TA made it known to Silversea about their need for a wheelchair or a pusher. I wonder what assurances were given , if any, or what was said by Silversea. Would Louvre12 enlighten us?