Just back from RCI's Brilliance OTS

[FL Jim]

We were on the 10-day Panama Canal trip. We had a fantastic time and it was our favorite cruise. RCI has replaced Celebrity as our favorite line because of the attitudes of the staff and passengers. The staff really went above and beyond the call of duty in just about every case. The passengers were even friendlier than on my three previous cruises with Celebrity and Carnival.

 

If anyone has any questions about the ship or itinerary, particularly wheelchair accessibility, I'll be glad to try to answer them. I did not have an accessible stateroom so I can't answer questions specfic to those rooms. I use a power wheelchair and it was quite rough the day we were in Grand Cayman so I did not attempt to take a tender ashore there, so I also can't answer questions about Grand Cayman or the tendering process.

 

Jim

[muskrat897]

I would love to hear more about the accessibility of the shore tours. I am going on Brilliance in 1/2006.:)

[FL Jim]

Muskrat,

 

The bad news: Aruba, Panama Canal and Grand Cayman offer very little accessibility to anyone who cannot walk or transfer into a taxi or bus. Aruba has a busy port area with shops, restaurants and casinos within wheeling distance of the ship. Roads, sidewalks and curb cuts are hit-and-miss. Panama Canal has a souvenir center on Cristobal Pier that was pretty much a waste of time for me. Grand Cayman requires tendering ashore and the seas were rough when we were there. Even on calm days you would have to be carried on and off the tender.

 

Now the good news: In Costa Rica there is a company called Vaya con Silla de Ruedas (Go with Wheelchairs). Their web site is http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Eshzk/. Erik, the owner/operator, met us on the pier with a van equipped with a wheelchair lift and tiedowns for up to two wheelchairs. We had a fantastic trip to Cahuita National Park where we saw a sloth, spider monkey, howler monkey, agouti and a couple groups of capuchin monkeys. We also saw a small butterfly farm and ate in an open-air restaurant in Cahuita. I felt totally safe the whole time and actually got to see the country and culture rather than just the port. I would highly recommend booking a trip with Erik.

 

Jim

[DEL67]

Muskrat:

 

There are some options in Panama and Aruba if you can transfer to cab or manage to get on a bus.

 

The Aerial Tram in Panama is reasonably accessible. My husband did not go with me because we had been told it was not accessible; however when i saw the entrance to tram was ramped, I asked if there was someway to get a wheelchair on the tram. To my surprise, I was told that two cars had been adapted for wheelchairs. At the top of the hill there is a hard dirt path to a viewing tower. The tower was also ramped, but might be hard to get up because of the incline.

 

In Aruba you can hire a taxi to take a tour of the island. I was also told that the Butterfly Farm is accessible, but have not been there.

[muskrat897]

Thanks for your response. Although I cannot walk, I can transfer to a roomy taxi. I did this in St. Martin, stored my wc in the trunk, and had a great tour. I hope this will give me some options.:)

[h20cruzer]

I will be going on the Brilliance on 4/29/05. I am traveling with 10 friends and most of them are wondering if they serve Sushi onboard. I really havent been able to get an answer from RCCL. Also can you order Pizza in your room. Do you know if any of the pools have steps rather than ladders?

Anything else interesting you could tell me about the ship would be greatly appreciated. We do have a handicapped cabin so I am happy about that.

Norma