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kokopelli-az

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Everything posted by kokopelli-az

  1. Someone on this board might have first hand knowledge about this and can answer. Otherwise I would contact the Princess Access Desk and ask them. The Princess website does say the crew cannot help with equipment weighing over 50 lbs.
  2. Have you seen this? https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising Your scooter has to be no larger than 26 inches wide to fit through your stateroom door. It has to stored in your room. Ask Scootaround about scooters that fit NCL's criteria. I would request wheelchair assistance for when you embark and on the last day when you disembark. Maybe someone else can answer, but I would ask Scootaround where you pick up your scooter in New York. Plus it will be on your confirmation once you book your scooter. And if you book a scooter from Scootaround, ask them to apply discount code USCRUISE for a discount. This code is from United Spinal. If you don't have experience with a scooter, you might practice with the ones in grocery stores or at try them out at a local mobility store. A mobility store might even have the same one you will be renting. If you like the scooter you rent, you might book an accessible stateroom next time. You would have to book early as they get booked fast. You and your scooter would have more room and a wider door.
  3. It depends on where you board. Out of 49 cruises, we have only had the scooter available outside the terminal building twice. It sure was nice! All other times it's in our stateroom. Scootaround will have instructions where your scooter can be picked up on the confirmation you get from them.
  4. I third this. My husband has a transport chair that we use at the airport and to the pier. But for on the ship (and getting off at some port stops), he rents a mobility scooter. He thinks that the best part of the cruise is getting his scooter after we board. The freedom obtained with a scooter is priceless.
  5. Direct from NCL's website (scroll down to ship transfers): https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising#mission-statement You might contact NCL's Access Desk to inquire about the tendering situation at your port stops. There may be different types of tenders at each stop.
  6. Just curious how you rented a scooter through cruise line (do you mean through Royal or through the website cruiseline . com ? In case you haven't already seen it, here is Royal's mobility link: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/mobility-disabilities
  7. Do a search for colostomy on this board and you will see posts from other cruisers that might help. Regarding the scooter, do you have an accessible stateroom or will it fit through your stateroom door? If you haven't done so already, you will need to advise your cruise line's Access Department about the scooter. I know most lines have extensions cords and distilled water for a CPAP. What cruise line??
  8. Maybe. Our experience post-covid has been all over the board. From the scooter being in the room when we got there to it not being delivered until later. Hopefully your sister's will be in the room early. Pre-covid the scooter was always in the room when we got there (and we always board early).
  9. You will need to read the descriptions of the accessible excursions to see whether non-wheelchair/scooter users can book. Some of them say "Only guests using a wheelchair can book this tour, as it ensures accessible transportation." So you will need to check the requirements for the accessible excursions. If your husband can get in and out of the excursion vehicle (tour bus, van, open air trolly or whatever transportation they are using) he may be able to stow his rollator on the vehicle. The Princess Access Office should be able to give assistance with the type of vehicle that might be used. accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com Note that accessible excursions that use a vehicle with a lift for wheelchairs or scooters are typically more expensive than tours that do not use vehicles with a lift. In case you haven't seen it already, here is some information from the Princess website regarding accessible cruising. Scroll down to the section about Mobility Equipment Guidance. https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/pre-cruise/prepare-for-your-cruise/?accordion=accessible-cruising They also have a Mobility Questionnaire you need to complete. PS: I don't know where you are going on your cruise, but Plan B might be to consider hiring a taxi at the your port stops for a tour. There are typically many excursion vendors once you get off the ship who want to take passengers on tours.
  10. You probably already saw this, but check out NCL's accessibility link. https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising NCL needs to know about the disability. The employees, as you weave your way toward security and check-in, will see your wheelchair and guide you to a special line for assistance. NCL (and possibly a Port employee, too) will provide wheelchair assistance by pushing the wheelchair through security, check-in and on to the ship to either your stateroom (if it's available) or a public area of your choosing. (If a Port employee assists with the wheelchair, they can only go so far and then a NCL employee will take over.) Start asking for a wheelchair pusher once you drop off your luggage with the porters (in case they think you are going to push your husband). Make sure that you get help with pushing the wheelchair (there can be some pretty steep ramps getting on the ship). Like @FOPMan said, the ship employees will assist at ports with him getting up and down the gangway. If there is not someone there to assist, do not attempt the gangway by yourself. Wait for assistance. They will be there pronto as they are always checking for passengers who need assistance. In the dining rooms (specialty or otherwise), you can either take the wheelchair to the table to use at the table, or NCL will stow the wheelchair once you're at the table and bring it back to you when you're ready to leave. The employees are very good at making sure you are situated at your table. For disembarking the ship on the final day, watch the daily newsletter for wheelchair assistance to disembark. Passengers needing wheelchair assistance will meet in a designated area and the NCL employees will push the passengers (either in NCL's wheelchairs or in personal wheelchairs) to get off the ship. You will see many passengers in wheelchairs, with canes/walkers or with mobility scooters on the ship. PS: Tips are appreciated by the wheelchair pushers.
  11. Personally I would take the Sept 17 trip based on starting out in Rome. You may be more tired than you think after the cruise. BTW, if you depart from Rome, you may want to look at RomeCabs.com to see what they can offer in the way of transportation and/or tours. My husband also has a transport chair and rents a scooter to use on the ship. We used RomeCabs to take us from the airport to our hotel, from the hotel to the cruise ship port and then from the cruise ship port back to the Airport. We arrived in Rome a little early to check in so they took us on a mini-tour of Rome; I think it was about two hours. They can put together anything you want. Highly recommended on many boards. Plus, we had everything reserved before we left home and it worked like clockwork with them picking us up, etc. There is a certain amount of relief with everything already booked. When we went to Florence, we booked a tour to Lucca and Pisa with Papillon excursions. They have shore excursion tours all over Italy. We told them we wanted a mostly driving around tour since I knew my husband would not want to be getting in and out of the SUV but I got out a few places. They designed a half day tour that was wonderful (we didn't want a full day tour). Our tour guide was from Livorno and very knowledgeable. We were very impressed with them. https://www.papillonservice.com/
  12. Check out John Morris' blog here: https://wheelchairtravel.org/air-travel/reduce-risk-wheelchair-damage/ He suggests attaching instructions for the handlers.
  13. Contact AA's special assistance department at 800-237-7976. They can assist and may have a form to complete to attach to your scooter with handling instructions.
  14. Make sure to bring anything that shows any OBC or other perks you may be getting. On more than one occasion, once on the ship our account showed less OBC than we were supposed to receive. You have to have documentation if something is missing or you likely will not be getting it.
  15. First of all, cruises from Rome do not actually dock in Rome. They dock in Civitavecchia, which is about a 45 minute ride away from Rome. When we were there, we used RomeCabs.com to take us everywhere, including from the airport to our hotel, from the hotel to the cruise port and from the cruise port back to the airport. Since our flight arrived in Rome earlier in the day and we didn't think our room would be ready, RomeCabs took us on a sight seeing tour of Rome for a couple of hours before we went to our hotel. We had all our reservations made and confirmed with RomeCabs ahead of time. RomeCabs is highly recommended on many boards. For transportation to the port, airport, etc you might look at the Italy ports of call board and see what others are doing for transportation to/from Rome. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/464-italy-ports/ Verify that Baxter can deliver your supplies to the Civitavecchia cruise port. You might also ask the Princess Access Office what the process is when a vendor delivers medical supplies to be taken to a passenger stateroom on the ship. When you talked to Princess about delivering supplies to the ship, did you talk to a representative from their Access Office? Once you get to your room, confirm all your supplies have been delivered and all equipment is operational. If you are staying overnight in Rome, you could also have your supplies delivered to your hotel and take them to the ship yourself. Here is an interesting article from a cruiser about cruising with dialysis: https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/196-cruising-with-home-dialysis-tips-from-a-platinum-cruiser PS: Make sure Princess, via their Access Office, knows you are bringing medical supplies or having them delivered.
  16. Just a thought, but how about taking your wheelchair when you check in and having one of Royal wheelchair pushers push you to a public area (or your room if it's ready). If you're worried about the crowds and your room isn't ready, you can always fold it up so it won't take up as much room, and push it on the elevator and to your room when it's ready. I would not want to lose sight of my mobility device and the possibility of it getting lost or damaged. But to answer your question, I have never seen anyone leave their wheelchair with the porters to be delivered to their room. And getting through check-in and inside the ship is sometimes a long walk..
  17. I can speak personally about Livorno. We used Papillon and they were wonderful. From Livorno we were in a private SUV that took us to Lucca and Pisa on a half day tour. We thought a whole day was too much so they taylored a half day tour for us. The driver (he was from Livorno) and tour were excellent. I would book with them again. Highly rated and they cover most of the ports in Italy. My husband has a scooter and a collapsible transport chair. We took his chair on the tour but he didn't get out anywhere. I specifically asked for a "mostly driving" tour since I knew he would not want to get out; however, I got out a few places. They can customize any tour for you. https://www.papillonservice.com/ You probably saw it, but John Sage gives the Naples cruise port 5 stars. It's fairly easy to hang around the port area and look at the shops, etc. if you decide to not take a tour there.
  18. Have you checked with your cruise line about accessible tours they may be offering? A collapsible wheelchair should fit in most taxis if you want to arrange a private tour of the island. If you decide to not go on a tour, Heritage Quay is right where most ships dock. Do a search on Heritage Quay Antigua and you will find lots of photos. Here's one wheelchair user's report on Antigua. https://spintheglobe.net/dir/2019/01/28/cruise-port-of-call-wheelchair-accessibility-review-st-johns-antigua/ I've seen a few recommendations for Lawrence of Antigua so he might be able to arrange something: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2945080-is-it-easy-to-rent-a-driver-for-the-day-from-the-pier-in-st-johns/
  19. First of all, what cruise line will you be on? You need to contact that line's Access Department as there may be certain guidelines they follow / require. I'm not so sure Baxter delivers to Rome. You might consult with your medical provider and ask if they have any recommendations for Rome. Also, do a search on this Board for dialysis and you will find other conversations about dialysis on a ship. If you choose to bring your supplies with you, pursuant to the Air Carrier Access Act of 1990, your airline should allow your supplies to fly at no charge.
  20. As others have said, you will need to rent from scootaround or special needs at sea (or bring a scooter from home). The scooter will be in your room (or at some ports at the terminal). Cost depends on many variables and also what type of scooter you rent. And whether you opt in to buying their insurance. If you happen to rent from scootaround, try using discount code USCRUISE (which is from United Spinal Members). I think the discount is 15%. You will probably have to call them to have the discount applied. Royal will need to know you are going to bring/rent a scooter. Scooters are lifesavers.
  21. No experience with the Magic Carpet yet, but take a look here: https://spintheglobe.net/dir/2018/12/07/wheelchair-accessible-cruise-ship-tendering-on-the-celebrity-edge-magic-carpet/
  22. We just got off the Caribbean Princess on Saturday, our second cruise on her this year. We had zero issues with anything. We love this ship!
  23. You might try contacting Royal to see if they happen to offer anything accessible for your cruise: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/accessible-shore-excursions
  24. And here's an interesting article: https://wheelchairtravel.org/guest-post-my-wheelchair-accessible-adventure-on-bora-bora/
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