Quendryth

We just returned from 14 nights on the Westerdam & have not received any tiles. We are a 3 star Mariner if that makes a difference. Anyone have an answer for me?

 

Thank you very much!

 

Quendryth

 

(Faith for those of you who still remember!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this.

We live in Mesa and have used several different shuttle services to Sky Harbor and it seemed that each was worse than the one before. Last time there was not even a step to help you enter a very high interior and instead of helping us after loading the luggage the driver told us we were taking to long.

 

I went to the Airport Shuttle Sky Harbor website online and I want to make sure this is the one you were referring to. We do not need a lift to enter the shuttle yet but do require some assistance. Do you order the exlusive non-stop van service?

Yes this is the one we use. I noticed the price has increased (what hasn't?). They have sedans also, but no lift available for that. We have used them the past 5 years in a row & had no problems at all. I think it aid $70.00 for the 1st passenger & next one is free. You are in Mesa, so there might be a difference in price but you can check that on line also.

 

Good luck.

 

Faith

Thanks to all of you who replied. So much useful information.

 

I laughed when I read the remarks about using the grocery cart as a walker. That is exactly what my husband does. He has a state-issued handicap placard so parks close to the store, gets a nearby cart, and is ready to shop.

 

KK, I know what you mean about the hassle of connecting flights. There are very few ports that we can fly directly to and, as you said, getting luggage to the check in is often a problem.

 

DCSam, we had never heard of a rollator that can also be used as a wheelchair. What a perfect solution! Joe and I just spent half an hour reading various online descriptions for that after reading your post and then googling Hugo rollator/wheelchair. He has a Dr appt June 4th that is near BEK medical supply in El Paso TX. They have all kinds of wheelchairs and rollators so might have one of those or could probably order one if we decided to purchase one.

 

KK, thank you for the rental info. I'll compare costs of renting vs purchasing since it is probably not an item Joe needs, at least at this time, at home, and budget-wise we won't be taking many more cruises.

 

We hadn't thought of contacting Special Needs desk for wheelchair at embarkation since, using a cane, he can walk okay. But the distances are now getting to be too much for him as he discovered on our cruise last month. We are looking at a possible 23 day b2b cruise next April so wanted some kind of rolling walker with a seat.

 

All of your information has been very helpful. Thanks again.

 

Mary Kay

 

I use my HUGO everywhere at home but a wheelchair which my DH pushes if we are in the move outside!!

 

As far as airport transportation we have found (after trying many other options) that the Airport Shuttle works best for us. We reserve one that is strictly for wheel bound passengers & no other stops are made. Our home to the airport & that is it. Thy have a power lift that they use to place me & my chair in, pack the luggage in & my DH & off we go! I think it takes about 30 mins depending on the time of day & we are dropped off at curbside. They & the airline people unload me & all my luggage & wheel me into the gate. It costs about $60.00 (give or take) & I Love it! no stops - direct to the airport & that is it.

 

We have tried taxis but they are very expensive & most don't have power lifts unless you request a van.

 

I hope this info will be helpful to some of you. I feel it is worth the extra $ because I want to continue to cruise as long as I can!

 

Any questions feel free to ask!

 

Faith

 

(Quendryth)

My DH was out by 5:00AM and I was out by 6:45AM.

 

They wouldn't clean any earlier as they had some specific order so our cabin was not cleaned until the afternoon.

 

We always call housekeeping & advise them we are leaving the stateroom & would appreciate it if the room could be attended to ASAP. & when we return all is well & clean. This is not in 15 or 20 mins- we allow sufficient time for the stewards to do their jobs before we return. BTW, I am in a wheelchair & never have a problem in having everything completed in an adequate time. I don't think being disabled makes them work any faster. I believe if you call & request that you require service while you are out they will come & clean ASAP.

 

Faith

(Quendryth)

He is trying to WIfi everything & the Internet which he created !

 

Q

What about the closet doors? Or the mini-fridge? There must be something somewhere that is magnetic! They were all over X staterooms.

 

Q

Krazy Kruizers

 

Because you KK, always seem to have the answers I am asking you this question. How soon is final payment due? We have a BTB with 2 separate invoices so I would like to put aside the appropriate dollars when necessary.

 

Thanks for your help (as usual!)

 

Quendryth

(Faith)

There weren't any HDMI inputs on the Nieuw Amsterdam televisions we had in the fall.

I'm sorry I don't know about the HDMI cables!! I know we use at home for Fire HD (amazon). Sony BR players (2) & one for the Sat/CAT. We hook all those up to a AV receiver & I just change whenever needed. On the cruise, we had the cable & the engineer came & allowed us access to the cable port needed which was just one. He made a remark that it was a great player we had. But from there I don't know what else was needed if anything. Obviously, we had at least one port for the HDMI & we did bring our own- experience had taught us a few things! DH is the electronics expert in the family - I will ask him & see if I explained what we used, etc.

 

It sure was nice to watch what we wanted to even though there was plenty of TV. We were in the Caribbean then not Alaska. Plus we are sailing on the Westerdam & we were on X's Celebrity when we used the Player.

Does anyone recall whether the DVD players in the cabins are Blue Ray? We would like to bring some of our own stuff this year. Last year, TA, we had to have quite a few selections ready since the first or second wasn't available.

We bought a vey SMALL Sony BR disc player from Costco for about $50.00 that is smaller than a keyboard. We used it last cruise with our own Blue ray discs & it worked great. We are taking the Complete Sopranos Series BR with us to Alaska in Sept. & the disc player fits right in my carryon purse! I know some Dvd's come with an alternate to the BR but not this series so we can watch them all (if we don't finish them before Sept. here at home!) Just a way to avoid looking for something on board ship & you have already seen them all.

Westerdam BTB Seattle to Alaska RT 09/12 & 09/19

 

Quendryth

 

(Faith & Larry)

We always call housekeeping when leaving the suite in the a.m. to ask for it to be attended to while we are out & about. We always let them know when we will be going out for dinner & approximately what time to expect us &/or guests to return. It only takes a minute & the stewards really appreciate you taking the time to keep them included with your plans.

 

It just takes all of the questions out of what to expect when you come back.

Are you able to purchase a bottle of vodka after embarkation for your cabin or do you have to order it prior to sailing?

 

Thank you.

Hi Meg

Just received a new 123 Go in the mail - the dates are as follows: Good thru 1-5-14 thru 2-28-15! Please note 1-5-14!!! Can X do anything right?

 

I look forward to HAL!

Are there any staterooms that offer butler service?

 

I don't see any mentioned anywhere & wonder if they have been discontinued. They used to come with the PH suite years ago on S class.

 

Thanks for any info!

 

Quendryth

So I'm guessing you got free airfare via choice air as a perk? Usually there is some language in an air-inclusive offer like that that stipulates "from selected gateway cities." Did you not check to see if Phoenix was on that list?

 

There was one companion airfare If you book Alaska, Europe & a suite. We booked on board with X agent who never brought up anything other than what I just wrote above. This was our 15th cruise on X so it was not our first rodeo! We surely expected that we would have been TOLD of stipulations since we were sitting in front of her, pen in hand. If I had read this at home prior to signing, yes I would have caught the Gateway farce. If you read the rest of my response to OP above I think you can understand why we feel the way we do. Not that it matters since we are 3 star Mariners on HAL & won't go "unsailed."

 

Thanks for your interest. I just want to make certain passengers DO read the fine print even if they are booking on board & think they are being watched over by X. It is not always the case.

 

Quendryth

What do you mean, "check your expiration dates?"

 

On the 123 Go it states you must have your reservations made on Choice Air at the end of the promo which in our case was 1-4-15. We were not told this when booking on board. Since we were not sailing until August, we never considered making air plans in Dec or Jan! We were not told of certain Gateways not being available either. We were only told, book Alaska or Europe in a suite & you are on your way! To HAL!

 

We are Elite so we kind of have been around the block with X but not enough, obviously! No more - they still owe us 25 bonus points to become Elite + but probably wont see those & don't really care at this point! We are not going to sail X again & this was our 15th cruise with them! They don't care!

 

Quendryth

We ate in the Murano last month on the Equinox. It is now $50.00 pp! YIKES! Food & service has always been terrific but I won't eat there again at that price!

 

Faith & Larry

To all of you for all the info you provided! It has been very helpful in our planning & to know we don't have to sit in the hallway until our new stateroom is ready!

 

Thanks again & I hope to meet all of you on a future cruise somewhere! We are 3 star mariners so we are not new to HAL -just new to sailing on her ships again!:o

 

Best wishes

 

 

Faith & Larry:D

 

quendryth

On 9/12 Westerdam leaves Seattle. On 9/15 it will be in Glacier Bay.

Whoops! We are swimming to Seattle if we go on the 15th! I meant the 19th!

 

Thanks for pointing out my ignorance & lack of typing ability!

 

Faith

Just wanted to remind those of you with 123 Go Choice air to Alaska/Europe to check your expiration dates, as well as Gateways.

 

We had to change our plans because thee were no flights from Phx and no non-stop flights either! Had we been told this at signing (on board the Equinox) we would have not even bothered. We would have still booked the cruise but not with the same excitement!

 

After speaking with Choice Air (very nice) we were told fly to San Diego (at our own expense)then to Vancouver. She wasn't certain if there was a return flight from San Francisco after debarkation or not!

 

Anyway, just a heads up, read the fine print on your 123 Go info. Hope this helps you not get a headache!

 

Faith & Larry

We will be sailing 9-12 & 9-15 on Westerdam to Alaska. We were unable to secure the same stateroom for both legs so we are forced to move on the second cruise. Any suggestions on what to do or expect when it is time to pack up & move on? We will be on the same deck(thank goodness) about 4 staterooms apart. Can we expect help from our room steward or will they have a rack for hanging the clothes or carts, etc. If we are to be out by 8:00 a.m. where will we go with all our belongings if the new stateroom isn't quite vacant or cleaned?

 

I'm sure someone of you have been thru this & have answers, please. We have done BTB but never had to change staterooms before. It is kind of disconcerting 8 months out!!!

 

Thanks for any help!

 

Faith & Larry (mostly Faith):confused:

We are a handicapped couple who have reserved an accessible stateroom on the Westerdam. Does anyone know if the entry door is an electric/automatic opening door. In other words, when you enter your sea pass card does the door open automatically or will we need a door stop to keep the door open until the wheelchair accesses the entry?

On Celebrity ships the doors are automatic & are truly wonderful - as you do not crowd the hallway while others are trying to pass as we try to gain entry thru our door.

It would be nice to know to leave our big old doorstop at home!

Thanks for anyone's help!
Quendryth (Faith & Larry)

We are doing a BtB on this & Sept.19 to Alaska RT from Seattle. Hope to see all of you on the ship or in the ice & snow!

 

If there is a Roll Call let me know so I can add my name & hope there is a M&M!

 

See you in Sept!

 

Faith & Larry

Would the beach club in Cozumel be able to accommodate a handicap person? A manual wheelchair with large rear tires easily goes thru sandy beaches. I can walk but not long distances so my DH pushes me in my throne or I can walk along side of it. I have emailed the resort but have not heard from them yet so I thought you might know or direct me to someone who would know.

 

Thanks for your wonderful review. I know how much time you put into it & it is appreciated.

 

Faith (quendryth)

Whew! I feel a lot better now thanks to the mostly positive remarks! I've never been on a bad cruise, and I don't expect that to change. Nine days to go! I will report back the second week of April.

Thanks!!

 

Be certain to visit Deck 12 & the infamous ping pong table! Be sure to visit after 10 p.m. in fact! I loved this ship until I had to walk in water in the bathroom in accessible Suite 1200 cause the tile was eroded under the floor - for 3 years! Try being in a wheelchair & being bombarded by the ping pong balls outside the elevator! As I said I USED to love her!

 

Enjoy your cruise!