twinbee

Great review!! My husband and I and some family members will be doing this cruise in November. I have a question concerning Maho Beach. I am wheelchair dependent. My husband and family really want to check the planes out, however my husband will not go if I am not able to. Can you tell me if there is any place for someone in a wheelchair to sit and still see the planes coming in. Did you notice if there is enough room by the bar/grill area? Thanks for any info you can give me.

This would be my recommendation as well. Most cruise lines use them. Specific ships and sailing dates are predetermined though and you have to travel WHEN they'll be there...

 

Additionally, while they are providing a medical service they do effectively work as a travel agency (they are;t a service where you pay for something like special needs at sea... you have to book through them)... so I'm curious if CC even allows them to be mentioned... (not a dig on you twinbee, just wondering out loud as I type this)... interesting...

I would hope the admins would not get upset with me mentioning them since this is where I first learned about them. They have been mentioned on the disabled cruise forums too.

Check out "Dialysis at Sea". They do cruises on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity that offer dialysis. As far as I know Carnival does not. When we took my dad on a cruise to Canada on a Carnival ship we had to make arrangements at one of the Canadian ports for him to have his dialysis done. Carnival did arrange the transportation to and from the hospital. We also had to pay up front the cost of the dialysis and then get reimbursed from the insurance company.

Super Shuttle "screwed" us too back in November 2013. We made reservations and had a confirmation for them to pick us up at the Port of Miami after our Carnival Breeze cruise. We were told to call them to let them know when we were ready to be picked up. Well we called them, were put on hold, and then told they did not have anyone to pick us up. They told us that they double booked and that basically we were out of luck. So there we were stranded at the port and could not get a wheelchair van. Thankfully a wonderful police officer helped us out and was able to find transportation for us. While talking to our new driver, he informed us that Super Shuttle is famous for doing this to people.

I will be sailing on the Liberty in November 2015 and I have booked the same room. That room is considered a "wheelchair turnaround" room. I am 100% wheelchair dependent and have talked to someone who was in this room. They say it is very roomy and I should not have any problems with my chair in the room and the bathroom. As far as the rest of the ship is concerned I am sure it is very accessible. The only thing I do not like about the room is that it is not next to the elevators. Sometimes trying to get through the hallways can be a challenge with the housekeeping carts. Otherwise it looks like a really nice room.

We just got back from our S. Caribbean cruse this past May. We booked an accessible excursion through RCCL on St. Martin. It was called Easy St. Martin and had a van with a lift. On St. Lucia & Barbados we went to the taxi stand and asked if anyone had an accessible van. Each island had a driver with a van with a lift. It seems that the drivers buy their own vehicles and then give a portion of their fares to the company in order to work for them.

But not one van had tie-downs. So on some of the roads we had to hold on to our daughters chair.

Thank you for the info concerning St. Lucia & Barbados. How big were the vans with the lifts? How many people did they hold?

Ask this on the Disabled Cruise forum here at CC, under Special Interest cruisers. Question has been addressed there recently. Also google your ports. This is what I got when I googled Accessible St. Thomas.

http://www.accessvi.com/

 

St. Maarten:

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&espv=2&q=accessible+St.+Maarten&oq=accessible+St.+Maarten&gs_l=serp.12..0i22i30l4.107922.113213.0.121538.13.13.0.0.0.0.124.1233.8j5.13.0....0...1c.1.56.serp..0.13.1231.hVnJv9ZeJv4

Ask this on the Diabled Cruise forum here at CC, under Special Interest cruisers?? Isn't this where I am posting this?

Thank you for the google info. Hopefully it will help me out.

My family and I booked a cruise for next year going to So. Caribbean islands. The island we will be visiting are - St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Maarten.

I am wheelchair dependent and for the last week I have been emailing all the different private tour companies I can find for these islands looking for a wheelchair lift van/bus. Every one of the companies responded no, they did not have one. I cannot walk or do any steps. What did all you other wheelchair users do on these islands? Any suggestions?

Hello my fellow cruisers. I just booked a family reunion cruise for October of 2015. I have been to these port in the past when I was able to transfer out of a wheelchair. Now, however I can no longer do that. Does anyone have any suggestions for tour companies that have a wheelchair lift van/bus for the ports listed below. Any suggestions would really help.

St. Thomas

St. Kitts

Barbados

St. Lucia

St. Maarten

I am wheelchair dependent and always book with a private tour company that has a ramped van or bus. The cruise ships do not offer this. They want you to be able to climb a few steps, which I cannot.

Grand Turk you will be able to get around the port area with no problems.

San Juan is very hilly and some areas have cobblestone streets which is difficult with a manual wheelchair. The port areas in St. Thomas and St. Maarten are good to. Check trip advisor for recommended tour companies, then email them asking if they have a wheelchair accessible van or bus to take a tour.

Check out Dialysis At Sea. We used them for my dad some years ago. They were wonderful.

I am wheelchair dependent and flew into Miami last November for my cruise. You will have no problem with a wheelchair accessible van at the airport. If one is not already there waiting, they will call one for you. All you have to do is go outside by the taxi's and someone will help you.

I am sure everything will work out just fine. I remember everyone being wonderful with my dad. Have fun!

Interesting. I am planning on booking my first cruise with NCL and I am wheelchair dependent. I am with you. I have no problem with submitting a medical note stating my need for a wheelchair accessible room.

I had both on the Breeze. My vote goes to Blue Iguana tacos and breakfast burritos. Had them everyday! I thought Guy's was good, but the tacos were awesome!

It was Royal Caribbean ship, Explorer of the Seas some years ago.

We also took my dad on a cruise to Canada for 5 days on a Carnival ship. We made arrangements with a hospital up in Canada for my dad. They met us at the pier when the ship docked and transported my dad and husband for his dialysis and returned them. We did inform the Carnival ships doctor about my dad's dialysis. They called and checked on him daily.

Yes, check into Dialysis At Sea. They have a booklet they can send you with the names and dates of the cruises that offer dialysis. However, not cheap! We took my dad on a cruise while he needed dialysis. He had a wonderful time.

When we took my parents on a Canadian cruise we just made arrangements up in Canada for his dialysis there. That worked out great too.

I am 100% wheelchair dependent and last November while on the Breeze we docked in Nassau. I remember the ramp being very steep. My husband had to wheel me down backwards. When we got back on the ship my husband had to have help to wheel me up. I do remember thinking there had to be something that could be done to make that ramp not so steep. I do not know what, but it did scare me.

Hey Pirate!! Great job with the review. Sounds like you and Chris had a blast!

Hi, I am 100% wheelchair dependent. I use a wheelchair, not a scooter. I cannot get on and off a scooter anymore. As far as San Juan goes, I do not find it wheelchair friendly. Some streets are cobblestoned and sidewalks are very narrow. It may be more scooter friendly. However the fort areas are wheelchair friendly.

St. Kitts - My husband was able to transfer me into a van. I sat up front with the driver. The driver folded my wheelchair (I use a folding wheelchair when I go into the ports) and stored it in the back. The shopping are by the port in St. Kitts is easy to get around in.

St. Thomas was very easy to get around. However those safari type sight seeing buses have a high step to get into. If your dad has muscle problems this may be an issue. You will need to help him.

Grand Turk at the port area very accessible. My husband and I rented golf cart and was able to bungee cord my wheelchair to the back seat of the cart. My husband also had to lift me and put me in the cart. But if you dad can stand he may be able to do this by himself.

Hope some of this info helps.

Hope this is not a silly question, but the table in the cabin by the couch. Can it be moved?? I am 100% wheelchair dependent, but would like to be able to wheel over to the couch or chair and sit in one of them.

It is hit or miss for me. On some cruises I had it and enjoyed it. But while on the Breeze I did not care for it.

I have found AA the best. They always call me about two weeks prior and I have never had a problem getting the bulk head.

 

 

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I soo agree with you. I flew AA for the first time last November. I am 100% wheelchair dependent. The service I received from the moment I wheeled into the waiting area was amazing. About a week before my flight they called me and we made all the arrangements for my seating, early boarding. They had at least 10 people waiting for me at the door of the plane to help me to my seat.

They also gave me the row of seats right behind the bulkhead since it is easier for me to transfer from a seat with movable armrests.

I am wheelchair dependent and always ask and receive the bulkhead seats. One time I did have a problem, but then I asked for the special needs department. Every airline has one. They cleared it up quickly.

That's good news for me. I was hoping to be able to use the balcony. I'll be in the same cabin....first one on the left next to the bridge. Not worried about privacy on the balcony.........I can't get my clothes off no matter how hard I try

So you will be cruising on the Breeze?? I had cabin 6208. It was very roomy, I loved it. You will enjoy the Breeze.