Splinter
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Almost identical thread on this last week:
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Be aware that those ship's excursions marked "accessible" may indeed require that he walk up the steps of a large bus, and a scooter will not be able to bump up over a curb or step or two into a shop.
Traveling with my mother, who used a power wheelchair, we always took a regular light weight folding manual wheelchair as well, which we used for ports. We could transfer her to a cab and put the folding wheelchair in the trunk almost everywhere. Rarely if ever did we have ship's excursions that were equipped with a wheelchair lift, so we rarely used them.
Also be aware that they may not allow a scooter on board the tenders for any tender ports, and he may have to do steps to get onto the tender and also shoreside. The ship's safety officer makes that determination at the time (not ahead of time) so you may need a back-up plan for what to do on the ship if you cannot get onto the tender in any of those ports.
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That's one of the reasons I did an AirBnB in Bergen. Many available for less than $125/night in the Bryggen area, plus an additional plus of a nice Norwegian host who can help you get a cab and find good places to eat that aren't expensive tourist traps.
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On 1/3/2020 at 6:01 AM, riffatsea said:
I don't know about ShoreTrips but Viator does NOT provide any of the tours that it sells.
It is a 3rd party that lists tours run by other companies.
I prefer to deal directly with the company I am booking.
That is also true of ShoreTrips. They are a trip broker for many other companies, just as the ship's tours are, but usually with smaller groups and lower fares.
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8 hours ago, karscott said:
For the Old Town Trolley in San Diego, did you book directly with them or through your ship?
Get your ticket on-line. The ship jacks up the price considerably. They pick up right at on Harbor Dr. next to the cruise ship pier.
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Check out private tours on both ShoreTrips and Viator websites.
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Why does he need to sit facing backwards on the toilet?
We had a travel shower/commode chair from Italy called the Cameleon which was great and easy to pack. No distributor in the USA though.
Many people who travel a lot like the Nuprodx travel shower/commode chairs. They are not cheap, but they are very durable, and fold up small in a travel case.
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Check out HAL too. Crystal is great, but has very few accessible cabins on each of their two ships.
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I never changed for dinner. Wore the same thing I had worn during the day. Hurtigruten is very informal.
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Here is an aerial view of Bergen Harbor, showing where the two separate terminals are and their relationship to the Bryggen area.
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It is a good distance from the Bergen Terminal (Viking, HAL, Princess, etc.) and the Hurtigruten terminal. When I sailed on Hurtigruten, I stayed in an AirBnB near that terminal, and took the bus into the main area of Bergen. Keep in mind that it rains a lot in Bergen, so if you plan on doing a lot of walking, be prepared with good rain gear.
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The airport should provide an escort service for her from the curb to the airplane (including through TSA to the gate) and she can drive her scooter, and have the escort push her manual chair (with her carry-on bags riding in the chair). Both can be gate-checked at no cost to her. When disembarking the plane, she can also request an escort who will do the same as above to baggage claim and usually to the curb. Double check with the cruise line that they will have wheelchair accessible transport for her to the ship...if it is an American port, and she signs up for the cruise shuttle, the ADA requires that they provide her wheelchair accessible transportation at no additional cost.
A transport chair is smaller, but has many disadvantages for travel. It is difficult to push on carpet, and the person using it cannot reposition the chair on their own; even to turn to face a different direction. Ashore, they are very uncomfortable and difficult to push on uneven surfaces such as cobble stones, etc., and impossible to bump up a curb or one step into a shop which does not have a curb cut or ramp.
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On 12/22/2019 at 6:48 PM, P.A. said:
Thanks for the suggestion. How much time should we plan for this?
Depending upon day of the week and time of day, an Uber/Lyft should get you from LAX (or an LAX rental car location) to the San Pedro cruise pier in about 30 minutes
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Rent your car at LAX (more options than Burbank). Return it to the airport site, take the rental car shuttle back to the airport and then take a shared shuttle or Uber/Lyft from the airport to the pier. If you do Uber/Lyft, you might actually get them to pick you up at the rental car site. It will save you a lot of money.
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You can easily walk from the following hotels to your ship. All provide Park & Cruise (Snooze and Cruise) packages:
- Wyndam San Diego Bayside
- Springhill Suites Downtown/Bayfront
These hotels provide a shuttle to the ship for a small fee and up to 7 days free parking:
- Holiday Inn Express Airport
- Hilton Airport/Harbor Island
- Comfort Inn at the Harbor
- Holiday Inn Express Downtown
- The Dana on Mission Bay
- Marina Inn San Diego
- Pacific Inn San Diego
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6 minutes ago, mom22frogs said:
So is that the kind of thing we would *buy* or rent?
I would recommend renting a good quality manual, folding wheelchair (with big back wheels) rather than a "transport" chair, and rent it at home. Take it on the plane (gate check, no charge), and use it for the airport flying to/from your cruise. You will be able to rent for much less from a local DME than from one of the cruise company approved rental agencies, and you will have it for travel.
Of course if you friend has a long term on-going need for a wheelchair in the future like this, she may want to consider purchasing such a wheelchair. A website like 1800Wheelchair, SpinLife, or RehabMart can be used for assistance in finding the best price and best chair for her needs, but do price shop once you find the right model.
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Have you accessed a handicapped accessible cabin? Without this, the doorway may be too narrow to admit either a scooter or a standard wheelchair (without folding), and getting around inside the cabin with a wheelchair or scooter will be nearly impossible. Keep in mind that you will also have a step up/down to the bathroom in a non-accessible cabin.
In addition, pushing a manual wheelchair (I assume you mean a regular wheelchair, not a "transport" chair" around the ship yourself will be very difficult due to all the carpeted surfaces, and distances, unless you are in top physical shape.
If you need to have the leg elevated, renting a power wheelchair with elevating leg rest would be best, as it is difficult to do thisi with most scooters. Regardless, take the manual wheelchair too, as you will need this to use ashore, and for the airport to/from your cruise.
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On 12/5/2019 at 1:15 PM, mitsugirly said:
What do I do when I'm at the hotel trying to get a ride to the cruise port? I usually Uber or Lyft. Are you saying that the hotel will find me a taxi that will fit my needs?
If the hotel offers a shuttle to the ship to other guests, they must provide wheelchair accessible transport to you at no additional cost. If it is free for other guests, it must be free to you. If there is a charge, there can be no additional charge for you compared to an AB guest. This is required by the ADA (within the USA of course).
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Consider taking a manual folding wheelchair for use ashore. This is what we did when I traveled with my mother who was a full-time wheelchair user. We left her power wheelchair in the cabin, transferred to the manual chair, and took that ashore. Much easier to get around were there are no curb cuts or ramps into shops as we could bump it up/down a step or two (you cannot do this with a transport chair), and folding was critical for getting into cabs or rental cars as well.
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I will never take a maiden voyage again on any cruise line. Many of these end up being "shake down" cruises, and the crew is often overwhelmed with the new procedures, passenger reports of problems, etc. I'll let others help them work out the kinks, and then take a later cruise when things are running smoother.
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9 hours ago, DaveOKC said:
Ditto this - my favorite place, but it can be expensive at times. We also stay at the nearby Hampton Inn - more reasonable price but still close enough to walk to pier (or take the free pier shuttle) - but ask for a front facing room (train noise).
I believe Dave means to ask to have a room on the west side of the building, as those facing east are right along the train and Trolley tracks.
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Orange County (John Wayne) airport is served by most large carriers. Have you looked into flying there instead of LAX? It is much closer to Disneyland.
If you are staying at a Disneyland area hotel, there is a shuttle bus that goes from LAX directly there.
To get from Anaheim to the cruise port, I would recommend comparing pricing on SuperShuttle vs. Uber. Surge pricing may apply on Uber, depending on the day and time of your travel though.
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Watch for Fort Point, the Civil War era brick fort under the south end of the Golden Gate bridge.
In addition to Alcatraz, you should have a good view to port of Angel Island, the "Ellis Island" of the west coast used for Asian immigrants. A very sad but interesting place to visit and a nice hiking trail as well.
If you are up on deck before coming into The Bay, and are coming from the west (not from the north or south) you may get a glimpse of the Farallon Islands, 30 miles west of the Golden Gate. Huge great white shark habitat, and location of a very interesting research station.
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What are you doing for your day in San Diego? If you are renting a car, I would just put your luggage in the trunk (get a sedan). You can also often check your luggage at any local hotel...act like you will be checking in later, give the bell hop a tip, and you are all set.
Bergen Hotel Tips Before Coastal Cruise
in Hurtigruten
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The map may be a little deceptive, as to get from the Bryggen area to the Hurtigruten port requires walking up and down some pretty steep hills or stairways unless you walk the long way around from the train station. A lot of it is cobblestones too, so not so easy with luggage, and someone who is not a young person.