Benthayer Gonbak

There are quite a few people who have jobs where they burn calories as if they were teens! Right now I have a friend in a physical rehab center that was losing weight on their calorie count, and he actually needs to gain weight from being I’ll. what I’d prefer is that we not be given such huge portions but be allowed a second entree if we are still hungry. Granted I don’t remember MSC having too big of servings but it’s been a while. if I’m charged for a second entree because the first was inedible there will be a very long discussion. And yes, my very first steak on MSC had a gravy on it that wasn’t cooked: it tasted like raw flour!!!

Thats neat but the port still matters. Some have steps to get up to the pier. Others there is a nice dock/pier but then you are in soft sand!

There are getting to be more and more ships that not only have openers on the cabin, but also on public restrooms. Getting out to the promenade deck is near impossible without and aid! The doors are heavy and supposedly water tight. its been a while since I’ve seen a ship with the kitchen in the middle of a deck which used to be the main cause of the up and over routine!

The Triaxe is 19 inches wide, holds up to 300# and fold to stand on end, it’s tail! Less space than a carry on suitcase, weight is about 50#. My wheelchair is about 24 inches wide and doesn’t do through most cabin doors. triaxe_tour_spec_sheet.pdf

Hopefully all the desks now have mirrors! I was surprised that the plug by the bed was European. Not a big deal it just surprised me, we always have adapters. Personally, I like those outlets better as they hold the plugs better.

One of the problems I remember from a previous cruise, I think the quest, was that there was no mirror over the desk where the hair dryer was. There was a huge mirror next to the bed and even an outlet near the bed but of course it was a 220v outlet while their hair dryer was 110v. Love, love, loved that mirror.

we were in the Journey 4047 recently. The sofa was reasonable in that hubby sat on it to read at times. Like most ships so many chairs etc are uncomfortable that I think he wasnt constantly complaining!

The scooter is a Triaxe. Mine is a Tour. I believe it has been replaced with another name. Do NOT get one with pneumatic no flat tires! That “feature” has changed to solid tires now. The other model I believe is a Sport, it has handbrakes, front wheel drive I believe, and does have a lead battery available but it won’t make it on planes I’m told. I think the tour has a better place to put your feet too. You can find them listed on Amazon but I bought mine from a dealer. For what it is worth hubby is about 5’10” and finds the length comfortable to pull. He is strong enough to pick it up, folded by grabbing near the rear of the seat, with one hand, and carry it up a flight of stair. It’s listed at about 50lbs. if you fly with any of these devices it’s a good idea to carry the specs to help the airline, especially overseas, fill out their paperwork correctly. We carry a few extras copies for people who stop us on cruises nd ask about it. also, the battery is carried like an old school lunch box. Please note too that Lithium batteries are not cheap! That and the quick folding makes these more expensive than those that can be purchased for home use. hth

In fact they insist! Hubby picked up both mine and his mothers and started down the metal narrow stairs and they nearly panicked! When we got back they were waiting for us! Actually at the bottom boarding he got fussed at! For what it is worth, a few ships have steps inside and a floater loading area. Last May I discovered that Oceania Riveria had an elevator to the lower area. It’s very small but works.

we were on a tender where the sea were a bit rough. A 89 woman we’d seen mostly in a wheelchair was having trouble maneuvering to the opening to get off. I got hubby to help her because I was taller and could hang onto things overhead. I had a rollator at the time. so far I’ve not been told no for any tender. The biggest problems is there can be stairs on either end. My scooter is designed to be drug from the fron bumper, like a suitcase. At one port the crew just lifted it straight up while I walked the stairs. At that time hubby could have carried it up in one hand as it folds nicely. i’d think as long as the seas aren’t really too rough you shouldn’t have any trouble with a rollator on a tender. They will normally seat you really close and they help everyone on and off by offering a hand, or two! Hint take a strap to tie the rollator onto various things. Mine is a 1” wide strap with a quick release type connector. I’d say it’s about a meter long. I’ve needed it in some smaller vans to keep it from bouncing around. And on a hop on hop off in Dubai to keep it in place. —- that driver was nuts as we were thrown forward Nearly hitting the glass when he regularly slammed on the brakes at speed bumps!

Those are so heavy you really need help. And my scooter would bottom out on one ship. When I had my rollator I could walk well enough that I cough open the door sideways and hanging onto the door just flip the rollator out with one hand and I was off. I think I’ve now been on one ship that had automatic doors. Most have them on the pool deck.

They do help with getting you down a Ganges especially if there is a wooden box or larger platform that is stairs! i can tell you I’ve seen people on large scooters actually carried up gangways when necessary. Both I believe were steps. Best I can tell if the ramp is flat they will elg push you up a gangway as most scooters aren’t powerful enough. However, I’ve found one cruise line that has idles in their gangway. Think 1x2 strips across the walking area, although they are metal. That line uses it for in and the flat one for out. If you approach the bumpy one they will just tell you to drive to the other one where they will stop the traffic and let you go up the downstairs case so to speak! hope you have a great time! BTw, on the ship end of some of those skyways the last area is pretty steep but there are people there helping you not go down or turn over.

Thank you. I tell private guides they have to have a sense of humor because something will definitely go wrong!

l’ve been in rooms on the fourth deck where you need to be careful of the windows too! Our cruise was a last minute add on to our subsequent repositioning. It was actually less than an interior as I recall. And yes for that cruise I’d have been happy with an interior cabin. i agree I liked the location but I’ve not been in any rooms that were particularly bad. 4004 was a bit of an adventure in high seas, gala 8 as I recall. We were told 8-9 meter seas. For most of the time we had a underwater window or so it seemed! Only once did I hear the show rehearsal. I don’t recall the veranda numbers we had but neither was particularly noisy, one on aft starboard deck 6 one on mid to forward port deck 7. Deck 6 had more engine noises but they could be pushed to the background as they droned on.

we could see through the life boats which meant we could see the weather at least. The walls were also thinner than I’ve experienced since and honestly we kept forgetting it was 3 am — jetlag! For that room the window was nearest the head of the bed so you could only see out sitting on the bed. I don’t recall where the desk was if there was one but the only place for it would have been next to the window. there are 3/4 beds you an see them mostly in model homes! There are also actually two widths for twins too. It seemed to me that there was quite a bit of floor space as it was all together, with no halls needed. But you really needed to be careful that after a shower you didn’t hit someone in the closet. ultimately, I do think that they need just single occupants. Then there are no voices through the walls and more space than many other lines have for their solo rooms. I’m also told that the new rooms where shore and the sitting areas used to be are less square footage though I’ve not seen them. (My cruise on the pursuit, Dec 2021, would have had me in one of those rooms. The cruise was cancelled.)

That sounds like a reasonable solution although it seems many cruiselines are giving singles the least desirable rooms! By that I mostly mean no real outside light!

I always found the Window room storage more/bigger than most. The area however seemed small at times but once you got to the open area it felt like we had ore space at the bottom of the bed than most. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a regular Oceanview but I doubt much has changed. I can say, for sure, that the lateral rooms, think obstruct view wider than deeper, barely have enough room for one person! Because all the walls have doors on them or are too close to the window to do much more than walk by, figuring out what to do with suitcase, etc is difficult. (and no my suitcase will not go under the bed.) The room was okay for 7 days as we were in port most days and we moved to a balcony for the next 24 days, planned.

you are reminding me on a trip years ago where I had crutches as I’d just injured an ankle. In the St Louis airport my husband pushed me, I pushed the luggage cart and the crutches sat on my shoulder and on top of the luggage! I’m still not sure how we did as well as we did but we made all the turns first try, as we went to the rental car. We still laugh about how silly we looked and how well we did!

The rollator isn’t always available at connecting gates. And sometimes only at baggage on international flights. But you are right carrying a cpap etc adds to clutter. If I get my rollator at a connecting gate I would fold it and hold it in my lap while the skycap had the cpap over their shoulder. When my hubby was made to walk he would take the rollator and place his carry On and cpap on the seat and push it in the corridors! We now have 2 CPAPs and batteries and charges for my wheelchair so I made a bag that they would fit in and just meet overhead requirements. The problem is that it is heavy to carry. Be creative, I wore my carryon, it has hidden straps, while I walked with my rollator. The bag was heavy but I needed the seat for another bag! Also, there is a lot more storage on some airport chairs than there looks to be!

There is also a 3 post stool, think camp stool like, that will carry more weight than the cane chairs do. I first saw it a Magellan which sells travel cases and clothes.

I've had good luck with people not wanting explanations except whether I can transfer! I have been on a few tours, mostly Germany where the guide I think trained by running up the alps! And no, I wasn’t the last straggler! The people on the gangways are pretty good at knowing how much power you need and that some electric wheelchairs need to be pushed a bit. Their help with the walker used to trip me! My hubby was stronger but they didn’t want him helping me. I found it easier to hold the handrail and just give them the walker. But ultimately, they will try to help you in a manner that you say is actually helpful —- remember they don’t want to fill out paperwork either! I’ve seen the gangway help go farther away from the gangway to help someone with a dead scooter battery being pushed. Several people had helped off and on but the crew had the strength to do it quickly! There are a lot of people who will comment, but mostly to say they are glad to see you aren’t letting things slow you down and that you are getting out and doing what you want to do.

On my first Azamara cruise I met a solo gentlemen that always got a locker for the jim. That gave him access to be able to shower there! He claimed that that was the best way to deal with wanting more space but cautioned that space can fill pretty quickly. I do not recall if there was a cost but I think he said he found it minimal and well worth it.

i was going to mention the old flimsy curtains! The bathroom also had a vent that helped blow it into you! Even with clothes pins it was hard not to feel Saran wrapped at times. The newer curtains I don’t think are heavy enough but given that they need to dry in a reasonable amount of time when being washed on the ship it’s not a bad solution! I’ve been in some of those three piece curved door showers and they are claustrophobic to me! I’ve forgotten which ship I knocked the soap container off the wall, with my elbow every time I tried to shower and not get water all over the floor! I remember the sides being angled but it didn’t help as much as one might hope! After being in handicap cabins in heavy seas, I now have more tolerance for water all over the floor simply because it’s inevitable. I think if I ever had to deal with the old shower curtains again I’d just remove the curtain. After all many hotels are using a short glass wall and no curtain and many work nicely.

We were on the meraviglia pre COVID but in the US. There were places on some halls/floors where we could smell smoke as if it was being pulled from a crew smoking area. more recently we were on the Divina and found that the area near the smoking/ciga room could be over powering as the room isn’t negative pressure and cigarettes were allow. The other side of that courtyard area was a bit more tolerable but wasn’t always smoke free. And, by tolerable I mean It didn’t trigger an asthma attack before quickly traversing the area.

Hubby helped an elderly woman push a chair in the carpeted terminal in Quebec. The crew was limited to just barely in the terminal and the elevator was at least half the length of the terminal! She never would have made it! Fortunately there were crew members at the gangway to push, but she was having trouble even getting that far! Quebec was a port stop not embarkation. The wheelchair ramp for RCL is at pier level, if has an awning only part of the way. The ramp itself is fairly short and not very steep, there is also help there!