FOPMan

Airfare certainly is a consideration. Vancouver comes with international taxes. I love both cities. Vancouver is easier to get around, especially as a wheelchair user. You can take SkyTrain (light rail) from the airport to about 200 feet from the cruise ship. Trains run regularly. Fares are inexpensive. Vancouver is full of reasonable and very good restaurants that feature seafood. That makes me happy. Stanley Park is one of the world’s best urban parks. Be in Vancouver July 1 or for the fireworks festival and watch the night light up!

To add in- there is often no extra space available in the vans/minivans. Often, the tour guide has a cooler under or behind the rear seats for drinks for guests. As a result, there is no or little free space.

You may have variable luck with curb cuts and navigable paths. Many stores in Antigua and St. Lucia have significant steps to enter the store or get onto the sidewalk (and ramps/curb cuts are not plentiful. If walking/standing is an issue, I’d strongly suggest taking a rollator and using that instead of a scooter in some environments. Rollators may be more easily accommodated than a scooter, especially when considering the volume of space each takes up. While you’re likely to see Greyhound-like buses on Barbados, vans/mini vans are more prevalent for group transit on St. Lucia, Antigua, Saint Martin, and Dominica.

Airlifts from ships are not usual occurrences and are used primarily when there has been significant trauma. In those situations, the patient is likely to be at least somewhat sedated. Airlifts are generally to the closest ground facility that can provide care to the patient. Once ashore, the patient is placed in the care of the hospital. Medical repatriation may occur based on the individual patient’s condition, medical needs, and the capabilities of the local facilities. The patient is made as comfortable as possible for travel. There are some medical risks associated with sedation at altitude and respiration.

The fact that it’s a transatlantic may delay customs/immigration as it will be the first time the ship is entering the US. This typically can take extra time.

I am afraid you are setting yourself up for significant challenges. At MCO, you’ll need to get from the bus drop off to Uber/Lyft pickup. There is not likely to be luggage assistance at the Orlando Amtrak station. From a timing perspective, it should be OK if you’re efficient. It’s 12 mile/25 minutes’ ride between the two. A car departing MCO at 12 should get to the Amtrak station before 12:30.

It’s been a very long time since we’ve been in that cabin. NCL usually tries to keep extra furniture in the accessible cabins fairly light so that it can be easily moved to accommodate wheelchairs.

There aren’t surfing simulators (or rock walls) on HAL ships. There IS a surfing simulator at Margaritaville on Grand Turk. If you’re hitting Puerto Rico, the bioluminescence kayaking is pretty cool. I haven’t looked to see where the moon is going to be. HAL does not make a huge deal out of Christmas. The ships are decorated and the crew performs a Christmas concert.

If you’re on the Nieuw Statendam, you are in port quite a few days. Both Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay have great beaches and easy access from the top of the pier. St. Thomas is fun to explore, as is Puerto Rico. Swimming with the rays at Grand Cayman is the “thing” to do. Holland America usually has a Hoby Cat or other small sailboat available for rent by the hour at Half Moon Cay. It’s pretty easy to sail it- my 83 year old mother would likely be happy to show your boys how to sail it or help them with snorkeling. She’s taught sailing for almost 70 years and swims at least a quarter mile almost every day. She’ll be on the NS with us Christmas week. I’m the easiest guy to find on the ship- I use an orange power wheelchair. I’d bring a water-friendly ball or paddles and a ball or a flying disk to use on the beaches.

I know who built it. They do quality work.

There is a Walgreens and a CVS within several blocks walk of the hotel. it is easier to walk it in daylight.

I am looking for a comparison between Marimoto at Sea and Tamarind. We adore Tamarind. Are different products (fish and tenderloin, especially) used? I noticed that both menus have tenderloin. Is the quality different, or are the differences on the preparation and finishing? I know the desserts are different. Is Marimoto worth the price difference?

Neither my wife or I are Catholic. We regularly sail at Christmas, however, and enjoy the crew concerts immensely.

I would ask the cruise line excursion desk about accessible excursions and how they are complying with the ADA. i would think about making the argument that the cruise line is operating like a hotel and the scheduled shuttle services are ancillary services and as such the cruise line is obligated to provide an accessible option.

Pinnacle lunch is typically not bookable until on board. The HIA meal credits have not historically been available for use at lunch.

There really isn’t an overly public beach within an easy walk of the pier in Aruba,

My pleasure! I love the Publix in general (that particular location is where my parents shopped for 20ish years). I can't recommend it for speed on a typical Saturday or Sunday morning, however.

The fastest stop is the Walgreen's at the southwest corner of Eisenhower Avenue and Southeast 17th Street. Eisenhower Avenue leads directly into Port Everglades about 100 feet from the Walgreen's. From FLL: Take US-1/Federal Highway north to Southeast 17th Street and make a right. The 3rd or 4th light is Eisenhower. The second fastest is a tie between Total Wine and Publix grocery, both on 17th Street (in the same shopping center, about 400 feet before you get to the Walgreen's. You can place orders for pickup at both Walgreens and Total Wine. Publix may let you as well. if desperate, there is a gas station at the corner of Miami Road and 17th Street, Note: all listed locations are on the south side of 17th Street, which is the side of the road you will be on as you head to the port.

Many of the convertible rollators don't donsonwell as wheelchairs over rougher terrain. They are OK on indoor flooring, but may be a little hard on uneven pavement and bricks.

Is the recent issue with certs for dogs coming into the US resolved?

Most entities that run excursions don't usually have an office at the pier, maybe a kiosk, and they are not manned the entire day. There are no advance guarantees that a taxi or bus will accommodate your scooter, especially if it is not highly collapsible. Additionally, you may find many destinations not friendly to wheels, unfortunately.

You will want to see how many ships are in Fort Lauderdale. On a busy day during cruise season, there can be upwards of 20,000 or more people transiting through FLL.

That is not likely to work well for you. Travel time is a minimum of 25 minutes once you are in a vehicle. Realistically, you should allocate 45 minutes. You need a minimum of 10 minutes to get through security with TSAPre or Clear on a really light day. 25 minutes is more likely. Bags need to be checked 45 minutes before your flight. The line to check bags can be 20 minutes. You need to be at the gate 30 minutes before the departure time. You basically have about 2:30 minutes at a realistic minimum committed time. There is no guarantee you will be able to get ashore at any particular time, but you would need to be ashore by 7:10 to stand a hair of a chance. Could you? Maybe Will you? Maybe not. What's your contingency plan, and what does it cost you to adapt at the last minute?

Actually, two to three is a significant change as it means using a 4-top table, not a 2-top.

The Whittier cruise was likely operated by Captain Phillips. It is definitely good for the money. They can also provide transportation to/from Anchorage- my mother was aboard several weeks ago, including northbound bus service.