NY Port - Gem - Handicap Access

Hubby will be needing wheelchair assistance to embark and disembark. We leave on June 2nd out of New York.

Once we get to the port, where do we go to get handicap assistance? He can't walk very far. Out documents are showing that he does require assistance.

Thanks in advance for any information.

There should be terminal employees near-ish to the the entrance through the sliding doors. IIRC, they* are before passengers go through security screening (*dedicated employees for Haven passengers and those requiring assistance).

As a handicapped traveler and having just returned from a cruise on the Gem, I can honestly say that Norwegian made every effort to assist me with my mobility issues. Contact Norwegian and inform them of your husbands needs. Tell them he will need wheelchair assistance as soon as he arrives at the terminal. They will add his name to a list. When you arrive at the terminal ask for the wheelchair assistance area. I suggest you do not wait until you arrive at the terminal because if you have not placed his name on the list in advance you will have to wait until all those passengers who did reserve a chair are brought through check-in and onboard until they attempt to help those without a reservation. This will save you a great deal of time. There is so much going on, no one needs the additional stress of waiting when you could be onboard and relaxed enjoying lunch or a beverage. I rented a scooter because there is much walking to do once onboard or in ports. Hope my info helps...enjoy your cruise.

If your parking at the port (roof top parking) their is a large elevator you can take down. Sometimes after doing thru security (when parking) you can pull over to the right and take your bags out, leave them on the sidewalk and they go park

Here are some recent photos for your orientation ...

Gem will most likely be docked at Pier 88 - not that it mattered if it's at Pier 90, both right next to each other - you will spot the ship(s) driving up the ramp to departure, level 2. Porters are outside to help with checking luggage - while hubby wait, walk inside the building & usually to the left is the bypass for Haven & Special Needs - give them your names/info & they should be able to assign & find a crew member to come along with a wheelchair ... take you thru security & then check-in. Have your eDoc & passports ready ...

We've answer most of your questions over at the East Coast forum here before - I highly recommend using a Car Service, either Dial 7 or Carmel, they can be booked ahead of time, the night before after you checked into the LGA hotel by CitiField/Flushing is fine. There are no taxis cruising in your area, regardless, car service are radio & computer dispatched - we used Carmel & they are typically a few minutes early, be prepared to go. Also, highly recommended that - unless the ship is delayed inbound, that you plan to leave the hotel around 9:15 & take the faster route (with a $8 toll) over the bridge ... the drivers know the best one to choose - and get you there by 10 am, giving you a little extra time to navigate.

There is a designated Special Needs waiting area/roped off section, right next to the AFT/Midship boarding area ... if all goes well & ship is cleared, expect your turn to board, at 11 am or so. The ramp is rather long & can be steep because of high tide, best to check heavier bags outside with the porter & keep the essentials, medications, passports, etc. with you at all times with a smaller bag (someone checked a CPAP last year & it went AWOL, apparently never found or recovered on the ship)

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Thank you Thank you Thank you !!!!!!!

Such great information, makes me feel more relaxed!

I will try Carmel or Dial 7 for service to the port.

It's been years since we have sailed out of this port, and at that time, hubby was able bodied so I never paid attention to what was around us at the port.

Again, thanks so much !!!!!!!!!

Just F.Y.I.....once you are on the list for wheelchair assistance for embarking they will keep you on the list for disembarking as well. Before you are ready to leave your stateroom just call the customer service desk and tell them to send the wheelchair. One of the crew members will come and escort you through disembarking. They will take you through luggage pick-up in the terminal, customs, and wheel him right to the curb outside. The escort will bypass many other passengers waiting to exit because passengers needing assistance have priority.

If you have any other questions or concerns, I would be glad to help.

Great info. My hubby will need this too!

I strongly suggest that you rent a scooter. These ships are huge! You can arrange for the scooter to be either in the terminal or in your cabin.

Is there any wheelchair assistance or priority disembark for excursions? Just curious.

no. and if a person is in a wheelchair they must be able to use the steps without assistance.

no. and if a person is in a wheelchair they must be able to use the steps without assistance.

That's not how it worked for me. I simply met up with a crew member as instructed and was taken down an elevator and directly off the ship bypassing all of the lines and upon return they took me on the ship and up the which was closed for general passenger use and then directly directly to my cabin.

I am not sure what you are referring to Maniacal. but being in a wheelchair myself .most tenders have a ramp that the wheelchair can go down,.but to board the tender there is a.steep ladder. you have to get up and go down/up.it by yourself.

When I went to Great Stirrup Cay my scooter was not allowed to go with me, however, if you call the customer service desk and ask for wheelchair assistance they will send a chair and an escort to bring you to the kiosk to leave the ship. There is a short (very short) walk onto the tender boat that will take you to the island. Once there you walk off the tender boat and there are special wheelchairs for the sand and escorts to take you to the beach chairs or other areas. It's good to get to Stirrup Cay very early since the beach chairs are on a first come first served basis. To return to the ship just ask for another escort to bring you to the tender. Once there, you can walk onto the tender, wash the sand from your feet and go back to the Gem. Again, ask for a wheelchair when you get to the ship. The escort will take you to your stateroom and you have your scooter there.

In Nassau, I was allowed to bring my scooter off the Gem for shopping. Stay away from the main market building since the venders are annoying and try to pressure you into buying something from them. Stick to the shops. The scooter was a necessity.

yes, SC uses a tender that is even with the platform, and those beach wheelchairs are great .

Nassau is one ramp.down/up.to the ship. so.is hc, Barbados, Antigua,.Cartagena and a few others. I think there is a list somewhere out there in cyberland.

Just F.Y.I.....once you are on the list for wheelchair assistance for embarking they will keep you on the list for disembarking as well. Before you are ready to leave your stateroom just call the customer service desk and tell them to send the wheelchair. One of the crew members will come and escort you through disembarking. They will take you through luggage pick-up in the terminal, customs, and wheel him right to the curb outside. The escort will bypass many other passengers waiting to exit because passengers needing assistance have priority.

 

If you have any other questions or concerns, I would be glad to help.

When boarding the ship, when would we board? After Haven or something? Also, will they take us directly to the cabin or put us in the atrium or someplace?

I remember being taken up to the boarding level on an elevator, and rolled to the area where the ramp to the ship is. I do not remember which group boarded first, but we were among the first to board. Cabins were not ready. We were taken to the buffet and pigged out! The helper took the wheelchair . My wife went to the cabin and got the scooter. Easy peasy.

Thanks for that info !!!

The passengers needing wheelchair assistance will be called as soon as Norwegian begins boarding. I got to the terminal at 10:30 and waited my turn for the escort and chair. We went through security and check-in and were on the ship by 12:30. The escort took us to the Grand Pacific dining room for lunch. It was quiet, food was good and there were no crowds. The buffet was much too stressful and people were everywhere. By the time our lunch was done the cabins were ready. Again, I needed a chair to get to my room where my scooter and luggage were waiting for me. The only place I could not go was the Haven and the sundeck because there were quite a few stairs to climb.

Tendering success with GSC is always 50:50 - and, out of question for safety reasons if the wind is coming in from the North, due to the island & pier's sheltered harbor location.

Always have a Plan B, our luck ran out last month for making it ashore - but 5 out of 6 is a very good batting average - with the hot weather, humidity & brutal midday sun - it isn't for everyone without shelter (i.e. clam shell that's good for 2)

The other key factor for anyone, is that, transfer from the ship (via Deck 4) to the plank/platform onto the double decker tender boat can be a major challenge & obstacles when waters are a little choppy & wind is blowing, as the motions has been known to result in able bodies turning around & staying on the ship - anyone with mobility issues will need assistance, and to firmly grab & hold on to the railings and walk down the steps to transfer to the smaller boat's upper deck. Exit to GSC is down another set of stairs onto the lower deck of the boat for the private island ... there, the beach wheelchairs will be waiting. (On the return trip to the ship @GSC, the steps are reversed)

Each tender boat will take as much as 450 to 500 pax at a time, the entire process easily 30+ minutes each way, loading, waiting & ride over, then, getting off. Try to avoid sitting on the open air, upper deck of the small boat - easily "roasted" by the hot sun, even on a cloudy day with UV rays.

It is OK to stay on the ship as many "regulars" are known to do that, and we've stayed indoors to take advantage of air-conditioned comfort.

As a handicapped traveler and having just returned from a cruise on the Gem, I can honestly say that Norwegian made every effort to assist me with my mobility issues. Contact Norwegian and inform them of your husbands needs. Tell them he will need wheelchair assistance as soon as he arrives at the terminal. They will add his name to a list. When you arrive at the terminal ask for the wheelchair assistance area. I suggest you do not wait until you arrive at the terminal because if you have not placed his name on the list in advance you will have to wait until all those passengers who did reserve a chair are brought through check-in and onboard until they attempt to help those without a reservation. This will save you a great deal of time. There is so much going on, no one needs the additional stress of waiting when you could be onboard and relaxed enjoying lunch or a beverage. I rented a scooter because there is much walking to do once onboard or in ports. Hope my info helps...enjoy your cruise.

They also offer priority boarding and disembarking .

Sorry, but I am confused.

I have a cabana reserved for GSC. Hopefully weather and seas will cooperate.

Are you saying I can get wheelchair assistance TO the tender (I understand I have to get on and off the tender myself); then I can have a sand wheelchair bring me to my assigned cabana? (and then do the reverse at the end of the day).

If I am understanding this right, who do I call? Once on board, call customer service?

Thanks so much!

Call and notify customer service of your need for assistance TO the tender. You will have to walk onto the tender by yourself. There is an upper and lower deck on the tender. Most people take the first seat they see, but you will have to go to the bottom deck to disembark once you arrive at GSC. This will entail going down steps from the upper deck to the lower. You will walk off the tender onto the island and there will be escorts with sand wheelchairs to take you to your cabana. They will also escort you back to the tender when you choose to leave GSC. Upon your return, you will walk onto the tender and find yourself on the bottom deck, but you will need to go up the stairs to the top deck to get off the tender and onto the ship. Should you need assistance getting back to your stateroom you will find escorts and wheelchairs waiting to help you.

GREAT. Thank you so much.