okpaddy

I'm looking for help in locating an accessible hotel in Venice. I have found several hotels that advertise as accessible, however there doesn't appear to be anyway to get to the hotel due to the bridges. Any positive suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you and stay safe.

P.S. I know Italy is closed for now, this request would be for summer 2021 if the world has returned to something more normal.

On 5/1/2020 at 8:12 AM, Georgia_Peaches said:

Yes, this too shall pass and when it does, we will find our way back to the ships.  Sorry about your missed cruise...For our cancelled cruise lat month I made a different drink of the day and toasted each evening to the fun we would have had.

I think that your "drink of the day" idea is brilliant. I only wish that I had thought of it myself. However it's never to late to learn from others.

My B2B on May 1st was cancelled and I've already scheduled a new B2B for next April. Life is too short, and precious to be discouraged all of the time. I send best wishes and smooth sailings to all who are planning to continue their adventures when the world will once again allow for some normalcy and safer environments.  

11 hours ago, MrsTocko said:

Hi All - 

 

We are in serious need of help...we're addicted...to cruising.  About to book our next cruise....This will put us at 3 cruises booked at once (Nov 2020, July 2021, July 2022 and my head is planning the Nov 2022 cruise as well)....what is wrong with us?🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

In all seriousness - we cant wait to get back to cruising, and this next one im booking will be our 10th anniversary cruise, and a couple bucket list items.  We are very excited.  Im trying to be patient and let me PCC return my call, because she is wonderful...but now that we have decided, I want to get it BOOKED....THEN i can relax about it, and start my research, what to do, where to go, make sure pre-cruise hotel/transportation is booked. As well as post cruise hotel.

 

Just switched to an online HR Platform at work...I think I am going to do put my request in now....do you think it is too soon for July 2022?  and I might as well do the Nov 2022 request as well while I'm at it dont you think?

 

Happy cruising

 

 

I agree that the research and planning can be enjoyable. It also helps me to have a goal, or future adventure to look forward towards, while I'm in quarantine and getting a little cabin crazy. I'm lucky if I'm allowed out once every two weeks to drive through the Post Office to drop off bills in the parking lot box...

Keep safe, keep sane, and help out in whatever capacity you are able. 

Dear BlueFlower,

My May 1st cruise was cancelled by NCL in mid March. The information provided in the cancellation notice explained the date when I could apply for a refund, or do nothing and automatically receive the FCC. I actually waited a day or two past the opening day for refund applications before submitting my request. I then received a follow up automated email response a few days later acknowledging my refund request.  Of course no money has been returned yet, but I am still early in the 90 window.

Good luck, and best wishes for your refund and future adventures.

17 minutes ago, Heavy's wife said:

New to NCL.  We were supposed to cruise this past March on the Pearl, Western Caribbean itinerary.

Looking at  the Jade ("club suite") or Breakaway "Large Balcony" next March.  We are a family of 3 (daughter will be 17 at the time of the cruise).

Which is your favourite? Pros? Cons?  Any info would be appreciated. 

Stay well everyone.

 

I believe it is a matter of personal preference. I am not a fan of the mega ships. Too many people for me and too many crowds. I generally try to book ships with 2K or fewer passengers. The Breakaway carries 3900 or so passengers and the Jade is at 2400. I have been on the Jade several years ago and enjoyed it very much. I'm not interested in rock climbing, or go-cart tracks while sailing, but I understand that those things appeal to others. NCL probably wont wow you with extraordinary dining, or production shows. NCL does offer flexible dining, and that is helpful for me, even if a little under whelming. The shows and entertainment are okay, but vary greatly from ship to ship. Best wishes in finding a format that works well for you.   

This is sad, but not unexpected. I am supposed to be in Florence now for a week of wonderful meals and museums. My B2B  retirement cruise was scheduled out of Rome on May first. That has obviously been cancelled, and I feel awful for the suffering in Italy, and throughout the rest of the world. 

Please stay safe and use good judgement wherever you maybe weathering this storm. 

Jim 

Joteacher,

I also feel your disappointment in losing an adventure opportunity. I was scheduled to leave Friday for beautiful Florence. I was going to follow up a week in Italy with a B2B cruise to Amsterdam. This was to be my retirement cruise/trip. Compounding the disappointment is the knowledge that I am also aggravating my DW with this extended quarantine. She was definitely looking forward to the distraction of traveling to help transition into our next chapter...

I am looking forward to planning and traveling again. Please stay safe until we are all able to venture out again, and try to contribute anyway that you can to the recovery.   

10 hours ago, julian30 said:

Probably an unusual question, if I requested a refund (about 85 days to go before it gets paid) can I change my mind and take the FCC (+bonus) instead or am I now locked in to the cash refund? 

I spoke with my NCL consultant this afternoon with a question about a TA next spring. During our conversation it came up that even though I had submitted a refund request form on-line for a recently cancelled sailing, I could change it back to FCC prior to receiving the refund. I declined, but said I would consider the FCC for my soon to be cancelled May 16 cruise from Amsterdam. If you have a PCC with NCL, I believe you should contact them. If you don't have a cruise consultant with NCL, contact them and make a connection with one. I hope you can find a helpful contact at NCL. I've been very pleased with my NCL contact and always get a call back whenever I reach out and leave a message. 

Good luck, best wishes and stay safe.

My current plan is to sail again in April 2021. Fingers crossed that cruising will have resumed and Europe will be open for visitors. Please stay safe and contribute to the recovery in whatever capacity you are able.

6 hours ago, complawyer said:

after the other replies, i just thought i'd add an additional comment. yes its true consultants work for the cruise line and they are sales people.  that being said, however, i'll admit i'm rather anal when it  comes to booking cruises, so whenever i call my consultant, it's usually to see if the figures she gives me are consistent with the ones i have worked out for myself. i give her the dates, ship and cabin and she merely just puts in the reservation, and thensends me an email confirmation. shes not selling me anything, ive already told her exactly what i want. if you do your homework aheadof time, know what you want, you shouldhave no problem. if  your consultant consistently will not call back, get another one asap

This sounds like the same arraignment I have with my consultant. I call when I have a reservation to make and check prices versus what I've found elsewhere. My consultant has been very helpful whenever I've wanted to re-book after a price drop. I have used travel agents in the past, and booked on my own and don't find much difference. 

Looking forward to a healthier tomorrow, and sending best wishes to everyone doing their best to carry on. 

On 4/5/2020 at 12:39 PM, Dutch_Travelgirl said:

If you check the websites of museums like the Rijksmuseum https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/from-home and the Van Gogh Museum https://vangoghmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/we-bring-the-museum-to-you you wil find all kinds of photos, videos, app, podcasts etc etc to enjoy the museums from your home.

Thank you for the information and links. I was booked from Rome to Amsterdam on May 1st, and was looking forward to my first visit to the Netherlands. I was booked into a B&B in Amsterdam for a week post cruise and was excited to explore the city and surrounding areas. Please stay safe, and hopefully I will be able to visit next spring.

5 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

LOL, I can picture Nathan sitting at that desk writing those checks! Great analogy! 

All I really need is my thermos...

My B2B retirement cruises for May have gone away. NCL has cancelled the first, and I am awaiting word on the second leg also being cancelled. I am enjoying researching a replacement for next year. Hopefully a nice TA and a B2B in Europe. Hopefully April 2021 will be a more normal environment around the globe.

Please stay safe and remember to contribute within your community. 

Thank you, I needed something uplifting today. The video was the most cheerful item I've seen in quite a while. Stay safe and please keep your sense of humor. That is often the first thing to go when everything goes haywire. 

9 hours ago, tjbarney said:

 

Thank you.  I am not one to complain and call people out.  I tried for the last week and a half to get NCL to make this right, or at least acknowledge this situation.  They haven't, so I have resorted to posting this so everyone will know how they are treating their customers.  

 

Thank goodness you made it home. I am grateful for your posts and the information shared. Please continue to stay safe in Oklahoma and look forward to your next adventure, although hopefully it will be smoother sailing next time.

Hello to my neighbors around the globe. I am staying home with my beautiful bride here in Oklahoma. I was scheduled to be in Las Vegas this weekend for the sweet sixteen round of the college basketball tournament. Of course that was cancelled, due to travel restrictions, social distancing recommendations and no more sporting events. My retirement B2B cruise was scheduled for May 1st, but that has also gone by the wayside. My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this pandemic. I look forward to visiting Spain next summer and continuing my search for the perfect liter of Sangria. My bride prefers the Sangria made with Cava and I prefer bubble free, but extra fruit.

Please stay safe and remember that the most important issue is protecting your family and surviving the hurdles to come. 

Respectfully, Jim

Hello fellow knee sufferers,

I am one week post TKR on the left. The first TKR on the right was August 2018. I very much agree on pool therapy. Once my staples are removed and the incision is healed I will be headed back to the Y for PT in the pool. I found that walking 45 minutes, or so in the lap lane is a pretty good work out for range of motion. It helps me build endurance and allows me to move in an almost weightless environment. Best wishes to all of you for speedy recoveries and future adventures.

Jim

Thank you for the thoughtful and well written review. 

Best wishes, and keep the reviews coming.

Jim

Congratulations Lois,

I send you wishes for many wonderful adventures in your next chapter. I am also about to join the ranks of the retired. February 1st will be my first day of freedom and my first time without a job in over 48 years. I am excited and a little concerned about what the future will bring.

Best wishes, Jim

Hello to all of my fellow cruisers with hearing loss. I also lost my hearing suddenly, literally overnight during the summer of 2014. I had my first CI surgery two months after the hearing loss and was both pleased and dismayed at the same time. It was amazing to hear again, but it was frustrating to not understand what I was hearing. I worked very hard at my therapy and was making progress. Unfortunately I developed a bad infection and had to have the CI removed. The follow up surgery nine months later was much more painful and life changing. The CI was replaced, but in the process a lot of nerve damage was done, that created the loss of smell and taste. It has been four years since the second surgery and many of those senses have still not returned.

I am especially thankful for finding a really helpful Audiologist. I have progressed from everyone sounding like a computer, to something closer to normal sounding speech. I have made great progress with lip reading and often rely on having my DW repeating whenever I cannot understand what people are saying.

What I hope to pass along to others is that after my struggles and setbacks, I have learned to embrace the "quiet".  I really enjoy cruising, and don't feel as though I am missing out because I don't hear whats going on around me. I guess it could be a concern if you were traveling solo, but there are phone apps, and pagers provided by the major cruise lines to inform you of important announcements. Please don't let hearing loss prevent you from experiencing the wonderful joys of travel. There are phone apps that will convert speech to text, and even translate while traveling abroad. 

Bon Voyage, happy sailing.

Jim 

P.S. Has anyone else had negative reaction from their wearing CI's from the "Deaf" community ?

The solution that works best for me and my DW, is that i will escort her inside and park her as nearby security check-in as possible. I then return to the line and work my way through the maze. Once I arrive at security, I collect DW and get her through security check in and then repeat the process by parking her nearby the check in to receive cards and present documents. I then return to the line and run the gauntlet all over again. When Its my turn at check in, I present my documents and collect DW to present passports. This delays us a little, but it prevents her from having to be inline for any real period of time. She always has her kindle to read, or a bit of hand sewing to work on while waiting on her slow husband...

She has rented a scooter previously for use on ship, so that she has freedom of movement and to prevent having to bring her lesser half with her all the time.

We don't let mobility issues prevent us from enjoying the wonder of travel and I encourage everyone to find a solution that works best for them and to see the most of the world as you can.

Best wishes, Jim 

6 hours ago, SeaBurd said:

As the population ages more people will find themselves with physical challenges and need some of the accommodations provided in a fully accessible cabin.  While ADA regulations prevent asking for details about one's disability, it seems to me there could be a checklist asking if each of the accessible elements are necessary.  Necessary meaning the person would not be able to function without it.  Example: a person who is unable to stand and step into a shower or tub with a transfer bench would require the roll in shower.  Then, with ships having different levels of accessible cabins, a person could be assigned to the level that would accommodate his/her needs.

 

Holland America and Carnival (at least) have addressed this issue, in part, by providing 3 different levels of accessible cabins.  The definitions that follow are from Carnival.  HAL has the same designations.

 

1. Fully Accessible Cabins (FAC): These staterooms are designed for use by guests with highly limited mobility, who require the regular use of a wheelchair, scooter or other similar assistive devices. Fully Accessible Cabins contain accessible elements including turning space, accessible routes throughout the stateroom and an accessible bathroom. Additionally, the bathrooms contain grab bars and shower seats.
    
2. Fully Accessible Cabins - Single Side Approach (FAC-SSA): These staterooms are designed for use by guests with highly limited or no mobility, who require the regular use of a wheelchair, scooter or other similar assistive devices. Fully Accessible Cabins - Single Side Approach are a type of FAC that provide an accessible route and clear floor space on only one side of the bed, in staterooms configured to provide only one bed. In a stateroom configured to provide two beds, the clear floor space will be between the beds, with one side of each bed getting an accessible route. Additionally, these staterooms have an accessible bathroom that contains grab bars and shower seats.
    
3. Ambulatory Accessible Cabins (AAC): These staterooms are designed for use by guests with mobility limitations, who do not require the regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices. For example, Ambulatory Accessible Cabins are ideal for guests who only use an assistive device (like a cane or a walker) for traversing longer distances, and who may benefit from certain accessible features like grab bars, to assist with balance.

As someone whose husband is an above the knee right leg amputee, we have no option other than a fully accessible cabin.  In my opinion, most people who may not need them are currently booking fully accessible cabins because there is no other option available for them.  I believe they would be more than willing to be accommodated in anther cabin that suits their needs, freeing the FAC for someone who truly needs it.

 

Hopefully all cruise lines will do more to address the needs of this growing segment of the cruising population.

Thank you Seaburd for the informative updated cabin information. I haven't sailed Carnival, or Holland for at least a decade. I have read about different categories of accessible cabins and appreciate the opportunity to choose an appropriate level of cabin based on individual needs. I would like to think that many regular rooms could be modified to be more accessible without a complete retro fit. 

I am constantly amazed by all of the helpful and knowledgeable people who share their ideas and experiences here on CC.

If anything I have posted has in any way offended anyone, please accept my sincere apologies.  I would gladly sail with each and everyone of you and continue to learn from your collective wisdom.

Best wishes, Jim

Thank you Betty and Bloodgem,

It was never my intention to offend either of you, or the other wonderful posters here. I was trying to express that I believe the responsibility lies with us. If traveling is important, and you need certain accommodations then make certain that you are vigilant about checking when cruises are announced and vacancies are available to be booked. It can be difficult to plan eighteen to twenty four months in advance, but it is better to secure the type of cabin you require than to allow someone else to deny your trip because they were more proactive. I don't hesitate to make a booking a year, or two in advance but I don't make final payment until absolutely necessary which allows me the freedom to alter or cancel plans. I honestly believe that relying on other peoples judgement to determine whether someone is worthy, or deserving of a cabin category is fraught with room for even more abuse or poor decision making. I honestly don't feel it should be required for me to carry fifty plus years worth of medical records to convince a ships officer that I, or my DW require handrails, no raised doorsteps etc... I'm not confident that a ships hotel director, or other officers are competent to determine what is in my best interest for safe traveling accommodations. 

I certainly can agree that the current limited amount of accessible cabins reflects the lack of interest by the cruise industry in making their ships more inclusive. That's why I am preaching vigilance and checking availability early and often. Please believe me when I say that I would gladly prefer to travel in a regular cabin and have the luxury of last minute prices and plenty of availability and broader choices of sailings if only that was an option. Best wishes to all and hopefully plenty of opportunities for future smooth sailings.

Jim 

On 9/4/2019 at 12:57 AM, Bloodgem said:

Unfortunately I fall into the 'No accessible cabin. No sailing' group.  Fortunately for me I can book cruises as soon as they are released for sale. Although it did seem a bit surreal booking our two 2020 cruises in November 2018.

 

I don't think there is just 1 solution to the availability of accessible cabin for disabled people. I think you need multiple deterrents to stop people booking accessible cabins they don't need.

But at the end of the day unless cruise lines actively police who books accessible cabin there will always be people who abuse accessible cabins.  When I say " actively police who books accessible cabin" I mean get an officer on the ship to see if the people in the cabin are disabled or not. Ask the cabin steward how often they have seen the scooter moved. Things like that.     

 

Dear Bloodgem,

Perhaps I misunderstood your message, or the point you are wanting to make. I am aware that people like to judge and determine what others are entitled to. I would never subject, or allow myself to being "policed" by a ship's officer to see if my limitations meet their, or YOUR expectations of what may be needed to "qualify" for an accessible cabin. I do not use a handicap placard or handicap parking because I believe there is always someone who may need it more. I am not restricted to a chair, and I don't use a scooter. However without handrails and other accessible features I would not be able to cruise. I have endured snobbery from others who feel that I or my DW don't qualify, or deserve assistance, or accessible cabins. Apparently relying on canes instead of scooters causes others less informed to complain that we are not worthy in their estimation. I shouldn't have to explain to complete strangers (fellow passengers, or ship's officers) that my DW has had to endure three separate reconstructive surgeries just to be able to walk very limited distances. Or that I have bounced back from two separate brain surgeries in addition to  knee replacements and six additional major joint surgeries. 

I once was confronted by a woman in a scooter that  was going to "tell me off" for having an accessible cabin when I wasn't in a wheelchair. I didn't point out that she wasn't in a wheelchair, but I was tempted to drop trousers and explain that when you have that many miles of scars you get to book any damn cabin you like.

I believe I may have at least a partial solution for those having difficulty finding accommodations that will meet their needs and it doesn't involve letters from Doctor's or the ADA, or being approved by the hotel director on-board. If traveling is really important to you, then put in the time and effort to find and book the cabin you need before some inconsiderate able bodied person does. If the people complaining on here were putting the same effort into finding and securing what they need, the problem would be reduce greatly. I understand that there are many things beyond my understanding, or control. However you won't find me complaining that someone else should create rules, or laws to satisfy my wants. Do the best you can, put in the effort yourself and then learn to accept the results. I would like to wish smooth sailings to all of my  fellow travelers, whether they be disabled, or fit as a fiddle. 

Jim 

Thank you for the well versed review and insights. I have seventeen cruises under my belt, but very much enjoy hearing other perspectives. I don't have to agree with other opinions, but I can definitely learn from them. Every vacation reveals new information and experiences. Best wishes for your future travels, an please continue to share your insights.