Amy from Delaware

I don't know if this would apply for a cruise emergency, but years ago my kids were out of the country and got quarantined for 5 days (starting the day they were supposed to fly back to the US). Trip insurance covered ALL of the related expenses, including our rather hefty international cell phone bills (none of us had international plans activated). At the time we were making the calls, cost was the furthest thing from our minds, we were focused on getting appropriate lodging and medical attention for them.

So I would recommend that anyone who has an emergency contact their trip insurance carrier for assistance - with making arrangements for quick travel, reserving accommodations, or finding medical care, and to establish the validity of your claim.

We have been on the High Seas Rally (formerly Hogs on the High Seas) cruise every year since 2006. It is always the end of October/beginning of November and you don't see a lot of kids on the cruise. If you are looking for a cruise with more kids then definitely go during spring break. But don't be nervous about cruising with us bikers! We have so much fun (you would too) and we raise enough money to pay for the cruise plus dialysis for 15 patients that come with us! BTW the fireworks on last year's WC cruise were courtesy of High Seas Rally! First time for RCCL.

You sound like a great group! I bet the 15 patients were able to have a fantastic time thanks to your efforts.

What does WC stand for?

Thanks for checking it out for us. We did consider it but it is too long - my husband would not like being on the ship for that long and with my kids heavy load of Honors and AP classes and college essays and applications it is just too much. Bayonne is only 45 min away - my husband is from Bayonne :)

He'll just have to either stay well enough long enough or go through treatment early and go into remission so we can go on a cruise :)

Yes, I'm kind of surprised given the whole "Jersey Week" phenomenon, that RC doesn't have a 5 or 7 night cruise out of Bayonne during that time.

Ah, I remember those years when my kids were in high school. What was I thinking suggesting they miss a few days!? :eek: ;) (There needs to be a forehead-slap smiley!) Are you a member of the "other" CC yet? (CollegeConfidential.com)

I wish all the best for your husband and the rest of your family. Enjoy your Florida vacation!!

A couple of clothespins or binder clips. I use them to keep the balcony curtains closed tightly so I can nap in the afternoon. Also good if you're going to put a bathing suit on the balcony to dry, so it won't blow away.

A corkscrew - if you'll need it for wine. Don't bother bringing a corkscrew if your wine has a screw top, or if you're not bringing wine. :rolleyes: ;)

Have you considered going on a cruise from Bayonne? There's one leaving on November 3 (11 nights might be too long though), that goes to Southern Caribbean. There are bound to be a lot of Jersey kids on that one.

Driving to port has some advantages....it's faster and easier than flying, and you don't have to weigh your luggage.

Given the circumstances with your husband's health, and that you really wanted to do a family cruise, I think it's worth considering even if your kids need to miss a few days from school.

I'll second what jackretired said. Listen to your doctor and your PT!

My mom turned 84 a few days after her TKR, 2 months ago. She's doing great and was given clearance to drive at her 6-week follow-up. She had in-patient rehab for a few weeks, then at-home PT, and is now doing outpatient PT. I think in-patient made a big difference because she had 2 hours of PT a day, plus "the machine" to keep her knee moving.

She also did something I haven't heard of a lot, but it helped her out. She had PT prior to surgery to help get her leg muscles ready for the replacement. She'd been walking very little prior to the surgery because of pain, so this really gave her a leg up ;) for her post-op PT.

As far as the cruise and your time in London are concerned, I would think about taking a rollator (a walker with a seat). Most likely you'll be just fine on the ship since there are plenty of places to sit and rest if you need to, but a rollator will be good for excursions. They're not very expensive, and they're easy to transport. But wait to see how you're doing. Hopefully you'll be feeling so well you won't want or need any help.

Thanks for posting your review, Michellehs. Glad you had such a good experience. It made me even more excited to go to the Bahamas this winter, and hopefully get linked up with someone from People to People.

I've got my thinking cap on for what goodies I can bring from my home state as a gift to my future host(ess).

Cool idea! I love when people find clever solutions. Thanks for sharing.

I hope the magnets aren't strong enough to disturb credit cards or computers of the people on the other side of your walls/ceiling. I'm assuming the ship's structure would be enough to block magnetic interference.

I would love to hear how it went! I've signed up for January, 2014. Still waiting to hear something, but I know it won't be for a while.

I have had 2 emails and one phone conversation with our host. She seems great and I think she truly got a grasp of the things my husband and I are interested in. She seemed genuinely pleased that we were interested in the real island beyond the tourist things and I know she will be a great host. One thing in our phone conversation did kind of bother me. She mentioned more than once how she is going to take a whole day off work to spend with us. She kept interjecting that into the conversation and I kind of got the impression that she wants us to compensate her for that. It could have been something I inferred and she did not mean at all... but I have no idea. We were planning on bringing her a small gift from our hometown (was thinking some spices and a recipe book of local favorites) and then paying for things on the visit (gas, food) and then giving her a small cash tip (like 20 or 30 bucks). Now I am not sure If I should just give her cash or what.... I want to believe that I misunderstood her.... so I guess we will see next week. I will post how our day in Nassau went once we are back.

What are some simple modifications/features that could be added to an ordinary cabin (even retrofitted into an exisiting ship) that would allow 80% of people with disabilities to use that cabin as is? (The other 20% would need the fully accessible cabins).

Good question, and I'm surprised there weren't any replies. Here's mine:

Grab bars, and ADA-height toilets, and almost-no-barrier showers with fold-down seats should be in all cabins. And wide doors into the cabin so you can bring your mobility device in if you want.

I would love to see a "parking lot" area in the hallway for scooters and power wheelchairs for those who don't need them IN the cabin. If there was an area with extra power outlets, and a way to secure mobility devices that would be perfect. I use a power wheelchair for distance, but could manage inside a regular sized cabin just fine otherwise (with the modifications in my 2nd paragraph).

Just booked HAL Veendam cabin CA331, which is listed as wheelchair accessible. It's a cabin that opens onto the lower promenade. We have not cruised on HAL before, and looking for any info (good or bad) about accessibility for someone who uses a power wheelchair and cannot stand at all.

Also interested in whether HAL has a (non)smoking policy and if it is upheld by the staff.

I'll be looking at the HAL boards for other info, but of course accessibility is the main issue for us.

I recently had to purchase a rollator. I called a local medical supply store, and got a lot of information about different sizes and styles. I looked everything up online before I chose. Online you can easily see the size and weight limits for each one you're considering.

I wound up with an Invacare one. It has a wide seat, and also a cloth strap across as a backrest when sitting. (Some brands have just a metal bar there, which can be quite uncomfortable).

One more benefit of a rollator is that in the buffet line, you can put your tray on the seat.

We aren't going to change rude people...but we should be careful we don't change into rude people.

VERY well said!

I do love when an elevator full of ABs opens up to see the look on their faces, as they notice my sweet sister sitting there patiently waiting. It's like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar! :D But I have to watch it or I just glare at them and usually since no one even offers to get off to make room for her, I say, loudly, "No wonder people gain weight on a cruise, it's from swallowing all that consideration" or something to that effect. But normally, we just smile at them.

I may be misreading or misunderstanding.....

I don't understand this line of thinking. Are you saying able bodied people should feel *guilty* for using an elevator? Elevators aren't for the exclusive use of disabled people. I don't believe that being in a wheelchair means you should be able to displace people who are already on the elevator, or cut in line when people are waiting for an elevator.

I am not "disabled" but have a very difficult time with stairs. My DH is wheelchairbound, and cannot take stairs at all, but would never make anyone else feel badly for using an elevator! I think the only time when disabled people should get priority on elevators is during an emergency.

Three Rings,

Do you remember which vendors gave you samples? I don't know where to start.

Splinter gave you the URL for Uromed, which is the one I remember being very helpful. We used them for about 2 years until the insurance company stopped using them as a vendor. (We don't like our new company as much). So I'd definately recommend talking to Uromed.

BTW, nobody *wants* to wear a leg bag, but when it becomes inconvenient enough to find a bathroom quickly enough (ie, one or two "accidents") it becomes less an issue of *want*. :)

I suggest that if you have insurance coverage for such items, check with the insurance company to see who their preferred vendors are. Then contact those vendors, explain that you're just starting out and need samples of everything to figure out what works best. We've found that they typically have customer service reps who are very helpful.

When we first started, we got free samples from two different vendors. Then it was just a matter of trial and (luckily not too much) error.

Condom catheters are a wonderful thing. Don't wait.

It depends on which Medicare coverage they have. There is the "Original Medicare Plan" and there are "Medicare Advantage Plans".

http://www.medicare.gov/Choices/Overview.asp

I suggest contacting their insurance carrier(s) directly and get something in writing as to what is covered or not.