does HAL loan wheelchair?

[socal4me]

i'm afraid it's too late to call HAL right now...

question: does anyone know if HAL has wheelchairs to loan while on the cruise, or, just for excursions?

 

 

thanks

[sail7seas]

We (thankfully) don't have need of a wheelchair but I believe I have heard on the ships and read here that HAL does not loan wheelchairs. You should try to make arrangements to have your own.

 

They will provide wheelchairs (and a steward to assist) for embarking and disembarking but I think that is all.

 

 

[Koshlong]

My sister-in-law made arrangements through HAL to rent a chair for her trip on the Noordam last January........I have no idea what it cost; it can ask her for details, if you wish.

[socal4me]

thanks Marnie,

I will call HAL in the morning and see what they say.

[IRL_Joanie]

i'm afraid it's too late to call HAL right now...

question: does anyone know if HAL has wheelchairs to loan while on the cruise, or, just for excursions?

 

 

thanks

I use a scooter which I arranged rental of by contacting HAL 2 years ago. There are 2 companies that HAL will allow for all medical equipment, to include wheel chairs, scooters and oxygen:

 

CareVacations CSA Ltd.

Reservation Office

#5, 5110 - 50th Avenue

Leduc, Alberta, Canada, T9E 6V4

Telephone No: (780) 986-6404

Toll Free No: 1-877-478-7827

Fax No: 1-800-648-1116

Reference: Rental equipment from CareVacations

http://www.carevacations.com/

 

and the other, which I prefer is:

 

Special Needs Group.

2860 W State Road 84, Suite 107, Dania Beach, FL 33312

Phone (954)585-0575 | Toll Free (800)513-4515

Fax (954)585-0577 | Toll Free (800)513-4516

email: info@specialneedsgroup.com

https://www.specialneedsgroup.com/store/

 

You will need to do a:

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION (SRI) FORM and also a Shore Excursions Accessibility Questionnaire through HAL and can request that via your TA or through HAL themselves at:

 

Access & Compliance at halw_access@hollandamerica.com or fax to 1-800-577-1731.

 

Both of the companies are great, but I find Special Needs at Sea to be easier to deal with and a tad cheaper. And both deliever the supplies to the stateroom or you can arrange pick up at a kiosk at the terminals (which is henerally easier for the passengers.)

 

Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

 

Joanie

[jcrandle]

While HAL does have some wheelchairs in the medical department, as I understand it they are intended for unplanned, emergency usage, in the event of an accident on the ship. If a passenger will need a wheelchair, scooter, or other assist device on a planned basis, they will coordinate with rental companies that they have a business relationship with, but the cruiser needs to initiate (and pay for ) the request. There are also oxygen suppliers that are vetted by HAL, and can provide supplemental oxygen to cruisers.

 

For cruisers with special needs, you might want to read HAL's website http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/news/SpecialNeedsTravel_FactSheet.pdf

 

DW and personally haven't needed any special attention, but we are delighted to know that when and if we do, HAL has options available.

[funlovin'cruiser]

HAL has emergency wheelchairs that are only for immediate use around the ship (usually when someone is injured) and for the home port embark/debark, however they do ALSO have chairs for rent that are serviced by the same medical rental company (Special Needs at Sea is the name I believe) that also brings on special equipment (power chairs, etc). These are really nice wheelchairs - KEPT ON BOARD, but serviced every turnaround port - and are much more reliable/new than the emergency chairs. All you would need to do is visit the Front Office and they will contact HK, who is in charge of the chairs, after you agree to the rental amount (it is based per week and even if you only use it for 1 day, you still pay the weekly rental fee because the rental company only sees a chair that has had its special tag cut off and used by the end of the cruise). If you contact HAL, they will prearrange to have HK (your steward) drop off the chair before you embark in your stateroom. However if you are having more intricate needs in regards to a wheelchair or want a powerchair etc, they will arrange with the rental company to have that particular item delivered to the ship and to your room. Whew.

[MARYVB]

On our HAL cruise on Eurodam in October, HAL was no longer offering Embark help to people with mobility issues. You HAD to rent a wheelchair for the full duration of the trip or walk on aboard yourself. It really stinks since I only need that little bit of help to get my Mom safely up that ramp. I bet HAL is getting a hefty cut on that rental service.

Mary VB

[LADYLAYLA]

On our HAL cruise on Eurodam in October, HAL was no longer offering Embark help to people with mobility issues. You HAD to rent a wheelchair for the full duration of the trip or walk on aboard yourself. It really stinks since I only need that little bit of help to get my Mom safely up that ramp. I bet HAL is getting a hefty cut on that rental service.

Mary VB

 

 

Has this happened to anyone else or is this an isolated incident? Per the HAL website they are stil offereing complementary embarkation and disembarkation assistance.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Has this happened to anyone else or is this an isolated incident? Per the HAL website they are stil offereing complementary embarkation and disembarkation assistance.

 

On every ship that we have been and even recently on the Zuiderdam, there were wheel chairs to help people for disembarkation and embarkation.

[Krazy Kruizers]

A number of months ago I had a problem and the concierge got me a wheel chair to help me get down to the infirmary. The wheel chairs on the ship are for emergency use only.

I had to rent a wheel chair through their medical services for the last few days of the cruise.

[the2ofus]

We were on the Zaandam two weeks ago. There were wheelchairs and escorts to take people onto the ship on embarkation day and at the disembarkation talk the CD explained specifically how to obtain wheelchair help to disembark. I have never been on a HAL cruise when that help was not available.

 

Just speculating here: It appears that MaryVB either asked the wrong people or did not make her request clear. It also could be that at the time of her request all wheelchairs were already being used and she merely would have had to wait until one was free. Maybe she will come back and tell us exactly how and when she asked, and what the person specifically said to her in response.

[iriemon]

I use a scooter which I arranged rental of by contacting HAL 2 years ago. There are 2 companies that HAL will allow for all medical equipment, to include wheel chairs, scooters and oxygen:

 

CareVacations CSA Ltd.

Reservation Office

#5, 5110 - 50th Avenue

Leduc, Alberta, Canada, T9E 6V4

Telephone No: (780) 986-6404

Toll Free No: 1-877-478-7827

Fax No: 1-800-648-1116

Reference: Rental equipment from CareVacations

http://www.carevacations.com/

 

and the other, which I prefer is:

 

Special Needs Group.

2860 W State Road 84, Suite 107, Dania Beach, FL 33312

Phone (954)585-0575 | Toll Free (800)513-4515

Fax (954)585-0577 | Toll Free (800)513-4516

email: info@specialneedsgroup.com

https://www.specialneedsgroup.com/store/

 

You will need to do a:

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS INFORMATION (SRI) FORM and also a Shore Excursions Accessibility Questionnaire through HAL and can request that via your TA or through HAL themselves at:

 

Access & Compliance at halw_access@hollandamerica.com or fax to 1-800-577-1731.

 

Both of the companies are great, but I find Special Needs at Sea to be easier to deal with and a tad cheaper. And both deliever the supplies to the stateroom or you can arrange pick up at a kiosk at the terminals (which is henerally easier for the passengers.)

 

Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

 

Joanie

 

 

I just rented a wheelchair for my wife for our cruise next week from CareVacations, it was $75 for the week. They bring it to the room and you leave it there. Pretty convenient.

[bob brown]

Many years ago, we requested wheelchair assistance for my mother on our reservation, and we were met at the pier with one (owned by the port company).We were then taken through the check-in and seated. Then the ship staff came and boarded us with a ships' chair. We were left with it to use throughout the cruise. Even to leave the ship on ports of call!

 

Now, I understand that complimentary chairs are only for embarking/debarking; that you may arrange to rent one for personal use on the cruise. Or bring your own. You can purchase a lightweight one for about the cost of a rental, anyway.

 

One reason that they may have tightened up their policy (besides another source of revenue) is that some people, when they see that passengers in wheelchairs get to pre-board, request the service not because they really need it, but rather wish to pre-board also.

[MARYVB]

I am sorry my reply to the inquiry took so long, I have not been out on the web site for some time and I am catching up. In october I took B2B sailings on eurodam. I went to the handicap check-in desk, I requested a wheelchair assistance to get my Mother abaord, I was told I would have to rent a wheelchair. I saw NO help being given to ANY other person.

Nor did I see any help being offered when I did my reboard, but one could easily miss that since you move through fairly quickly. We did however get help during the reboard as they realized my Mother could not keep up with the group. So a chair was sent for.

There was a sign posted as you entered the building stating that no assistance was being offered, pls rent a wheelchair. Now there were lots of other cc's on that trip, I know because I organized the meet and Mingle. Come on gang where are you now? Anyone else remember that sign in front of the entrance?

Mary