kokopelli-az

I just read a recent post that Princess was using their own ship tenders in Cabo.  And another one that said when they were in Cabo Princess used the ship's tenders plus tenders from Cabo.  You might not know exactly what they will be using until you get there.   However, no matter what they use passengers must be able to walk a few steps on their own to get in and out of the tender unless the tender has roll-on access.   Plan B is staying on the ship, which has its perks - most people are off the ship so it's much more relaxing.   

You might be able to check with Guest Services to see if they have any knowledge of what kind of tenders will be used in Cabo.   If you can't find out, you could go to the gangway (without the wheelchair people) and look to see what they are using or ask one of the crew if your wheelchair passengers can board the tender.   

If you're lucky, they will be using a tender with roll-on access.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC1byje0brE    

And have you seen this:    https://www.princess.com/en-us/faq/pre-cruise    (scroll to Accessible Cruising and then to Accessibility Ashore.  

Not being able to walk is the main problem with the tender.   For anyone with mobility or medical issues, they should read the cruise line's access pages on the cruise website (or call that cruise line's Access Dept).   All cruise lines that we have ever been on make it clear about what is allowed, or not, regarding mobility devices, tendering and much more.  Passengers with limited mobility also need to complete a Mobility Questionnaire. 

Plan B is to stay on the ship at a tender port.   We do this all the time (as do many) and actually look forward to it as the ship is a lot less crowded.  

See this from Princess (scroll to Health & Accessibility then to Accessible Cruising:   

https://www.princess.com/en-us/faq/pre-cruise

I wouldn't miss a cruise based on not being able to go to a tender port.

On 1/17/2024 at 12:19 AM, Auralee said:

I am booked on the sun for the Panama Canal. We have secured an accessible stateroom as both my husband and I have limited mobility. We are considering the best mobility aid options. We can walk but not too far without pain and standing is agonizing.

 

I’d love to just roll off the ship and drive the scooter to some straw markets.. check out local architecture.. hit a beach. I don’t know how to pre-book or find out if there is any accessible taxis

It would help to know what ports you will be stopping at.   People on this board who have been to any of those ports may be able to chime in as to a specific port. 

15 hours ago, Tonsoffun44 said:

Have you sailed SKY Princess? Specifically with any tender ports... Princess basically said if it's a tender Don't bother planning on getting off so he cancelled and I had to find a new trip companion for next month. Will be really ticked if the Rep is found to be wrong and could have tendered into Belize- If weather/seas allowed it. Never had a cruise line tell us You won't be getting off at tender ports before even getting on the ship until Princess. 

I assume your friend has a mobility device that he needs to use is the reason Princess said he will not be able to board a tender?   If so, what kind of mobility device is it? 

Here's a link to someone who reported on this subject.  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2946372-thoughts-on-cruising-with-a-partner-with-dementia-and-a-cane/#comment-65611355

And also regarding incontinence.  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2849349-incontinence/#comment-63130648

You didn't say which cruise line you will be on, but you will need to advise your cruise line's Access Dept that you are bringing a wheelchair.   Some cruise lines give special needs passengers a wrist band so the crew knows that person may need extra assistance. 

Take double the supplies you think you will need; you probably cannot purchase incontinence supplies on the ship.  Let your room steward know you will be disposing of incontinence supplies (they typically are put with special items for disposal).   Bring plenty of plastic bags for disposal of your supplies; your room steward can probably provide you with plastic bags, too. 

Currently booked an Alaska Flight 336 (PDX-FLL) for February 2.    I am getting very worried about whether or not this flight is going to be cancelled at the last minute.   

Does anyone have any insight as to the status of the 737 inspections and the possibility/probability of this flight being cancelled?   All I can find is that Alaska has grounded these planes through Sunday (Jan 21). 

3 hours ago, WisCruiser2 said:

Does it have "cancel for any reason" coverage?

I have found that most of the "cancel for any reason" insurance is only available if you buy the policy within a certain number of days from your initial payment. 

For anyone who follows consumer expert Clark Howard, you might be interested in reading his take on insurance.    Click on the link in his rule #1. 

https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/never-not-ever-money-rules/

32 minutes ago, mayleeman said:

@kokopelli-az Thanks for posting that. What is the 50% surcharge at the bottom?

Here's the price list we got in November for laundry.  If you're in certain suites you get some services for free.   I know that if you're Elite Plus you get two complimentary pressed items.

We were on the Reflection in November and here are the hand-outs regarding Book Later.  See the fine print on the bottom of the second page.   Maybe someone currently on board could post the newest hand-out to see if there are any changes.  

Regarding your TA, I would choose a replacement TA before your cruise and have Celebrity transfer it to that person.   Then you won't have to worry about whether you can transfer the cruise to your TA 5 months from now.    

Here's also a press release:  https://www.celebritycruisespresscenter.com/press-release/989/celebrity-cruises-presents-celebrity-future-cruise-vacations/

It would help to know which ship you will be on, but here are a couple of fairly recent inquiries regarding the same issue:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2913694-any-wheelchair-accessible-tenders-for-belize-city-belize-or-plan-a-day-on-the-ship/

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2913688-wheelchair-accessible-tender-or-plan-a-day-on-the-ship/

You probably won't know about any specials until you receive the Celebrity Today newsletter.  We were on the Reflection in November and I think they advertised spa specials nearly every day.   Attached are some spa special advertisements.  (Note:  your Celebrity Today, if you get the hard copy, is typically delivered the night before to your stateroom so it seems like you could call the spa number on the ad and make reservations for the next day.)

On 12/29/2023 at 8:28 AM, shadow 123 said:

This year, for the 1st time on a cruise ,I took a rollator. I found it very difficult  maneuvering in and out of my state room. Also in the buffet It was really awkward .......... Here's my question. Does anyone know of easier ways to get around with a rollator?  Getting in and out of my state room , how to maneuver the buffet .What about getting on and off tenders ?Is that a problem? I was afraid to do tenders  on my last trip and I feel because of that  I missed out on a lot.

 

Getting in and out of your stateroom:   If you have an accessible stateroom, many ships have automatic room doors that open when you push a button.  I know for a fact that Celebrity has automatic doors for their suites.   I believe the automatic doors on cruise lines would only be available for accessible staterooms.  If this would be of interest to you, you could ask your cruise line's Access Dept if any of their accessible staterooms have automatic doors.

Also check out the Wedge-it device (Amazon has them).   I've never used one but if you're interested you might post a new question on this board asking if anyone has used one for their stateroom door.  And any other tricks passengers have used to prop open their door to get their mobility device through. 

The buffet:   Does your rollator have a seat?   I've seen many passengers use the seat of their rollator to set their plate on and then put items on their plate as they walk around to the various food stations in the buffet. 

Tenders:   Many passengers with rollators use the tenders.  But it really depends on the port and the sea conditions and type of tender.  Generally, if you can walk a few steps, you can go.  The ship personnel and tender personnel are there to assist.   They especially assist passengers who might need a little extra help.

3 hours ago, Tina99 said:

Confirmed ~ no Keno machines, Game King, or multi-choice game machines on Beyond. The Traveling Gamblers posted an extensive video of the casino on Beyond, showing every machine. They also have a video of Apex, which I had not seen prior to being on the ship this week and finding out first-hand there is no Keno in the casino 😢

In looking at their video of the Beyond casino, they do show multi-choice game machines (at the beginning of the video - they're called Super Star); however, the game choices are different kinds of poker games.  No Keno or anything else.  

Yes you can.    If the staterooms have not been announced as being ready, you have to drop off your luggage in your room and then leave.   (However, we usually quickly use the bathroom while we're there....)   Your room cards will be outside your door.  

@oslofjord you might want to hop over to the Disabled Cruise Travel Board and post your quesion.  There will be mobility challenged people on that board who have personal experience in Tampa.  

Have you seen this?   https://www.celebritycruises.com/faqs/accessible-cruising  

Check out Assistance and Assistive Devices.  

Celebrity will also request that a Special Needs form be completed

CEL-Special-Needs-Form-Revised-062221 (1).pdf

If you cannot get the check-in time you want, reserve the closest time.  Then go back and keep checking if any new check-in times are showing up.   The available check-in times are often different on the Celebrity app vs your account on their website.  As an example, for our cruise next month on the Apex, the app shows 1-1:30, 1:30-2 and 2-2:30 as available check-in times.

On their website it shows 12-12:30,1:30-2 and 2-2:30 as available check-in times. 

Once you've chosen your check-in time, you can always go back and change it if a better time becomes available.  

By riser are you talking about a separate device that is put on top of the toilet seat to make it taller?

They may be able to provide you with a riser that is installed on top of the existing toilet seat; however, in their accessible staterooms, the toilets themselves are typically higher.  The Princess Access Department is who to contact to ask about availability of a separate riser (and also how tall their accessible stateroom toilets are).   accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com

Here's a video showing an accessible stateroom on the Enchanted.  The bathroom is about 15 seconds into the video and also at 3 minutes.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=FtbFAoPcyH4

Also, Special Needs at Sea discusses the Enchanted here (look under Accessible Stateroom Features):

https://www.specialneedsatsea.com/cruise-accessibility/princess-cruises/enchanted-princess/

Have not rented a wheelchair out of Galveston; however, have rented many times for cruises, including on Royal Caribbean.  

Have you seen Royal's mobility page?   You will need to rent either form Scootaround or Special Needs at Sea.   These are the two vendors allowed to access Royal's ships in the United States.  You might want to compare the cost of renting vs buying.   Of course if you buy (or rent from another company near your home), you will have to bring the wheelchair with you during your travels instead of having it waiting for you in your room or outside the terminal.   If you compare pricing between Scootaround and Special Needs, use discount USCRUISE (from United Spinal) for Scootaround (you might have to call to have the code applied).    

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/mobility-disabilities

Royal will also want you to fill out a Special Needs Form.  

She should definitely ask her physician for an alternative.  

Here's an interesting article about it:

https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/bringing-weed-on-a-cruise/

You didn't say what ship or port, but this is from the Reflection in Fort Lauderdale.  Walk-off was at 7:30am but there were plenty of people waiting to get off the ship before then.  

I would contact your hotel and ask what/who they recommend.  

And if you want to break down your wheelchair, you might consider an UberXL vehicle.  They are larger vehicles, like a SUV or similar.   This is what we always order.   

What cruise line are you going to be on?   For transportation from the pier back to the airport, your cruise line should have accessible transportation options.   

Recommendation for accessible transportation (vehicles with ramp) from TripAdvisor are Alert Transportation:   https://alerttransportation.com/transportation-services/mobility-impaired-transportation/

12 hours ago, WineandSea said:

Hi, looking for suggestions on transportation in New Orleans.  We arrive the day before the Cruise so looking to get from airport to hotel, then hotel to Cruise terminal the back to airport after cruise.

What type of transportation are you looking for?   Do you need a vehicle with a lift?    Or a vehicle that's large enough to transport your collapsible wheelchair/scooter (no lift)?   

We always check in about 6am Pacific time.  We've always gotten the earliest time available.