HAL's wheelchair assistance embarkation and disembarkation

[Tabbymom]

I'm cruising with my mother on the Noordam out of Fort Lauderdale in early March. She has trouble walking anything but short distances so our travel agent has requested "special needs" pre-embarkation and pre-disembarkation with wheelchair assistance. But the TA doesn't know what that means in terms of timeframes. Does this mean we get on and off the ship before the mass of passengers? Any info on your experiences would be greatly appreciated!

[mamaofami]

I don't know anything about disembarking, but I have seen those passengers in wheel chairs being escorted onto the ship just ahead of the waiting passengers. I don't know if this is always the case and it might also depend on when you arrive at the pier if embarkation has already begun.

[Sanlin]

My husband and I were literally the last two people off the ship, but we also requested a later disembarcation. It was great - easy to find luggage and a porter was right there. The ship's person stayed with him until he boarded the bus home. Hope this helps.

[Tabbymom]

We would like to get off the ship in the earlier groups since we have an 11:00 am flight. Mom is a 4 star mariner but it's my first HAL cruise and we're in separate cabins. So officially I'm not entitled to her priority status but she will need my help; we're hoping once we're aboard they'll let me accompany her tojher mariner events.

[kazu]

We would like to get off the ship in the earlier groups since we have an 11:00 am flight. Mom is a 4 star mariner but it's my first HAL cruise and we're in separate cabins. So officially I'm not entitled to her priority status but she will need my help; we're hoping once we're aboard they'll let me accompany her tojher mariner events.

 

For disembarkation, you can connect your cabins as you are travelling together. They ask on the disembarkation form. So, you will both be able to leave together. I would think they would let you accompany her - I would ask once you get onboard:)

[DaveOKC]

Depending on the port, you might have a wait at both embarkation and disembarkation, as there are a number of wheelchair customers to be handled and only so many crew assigned to this operation.

 

They do let the wheelchair people on first (have seen that many times), so if possible, I would get there early (before 11 am).

 

DaveOKC

[solocanadian]

We would like to get off the ship in the earlier groups since we have an 11:00 am flight. Mom is a 4 star mariner but it's my first HAL cruise and we're in separate cabins. So officially I'm not entitled to her priority status but she will need my help; we're hoping once we're aboard they'll let me accompany her tojher mariner events.

You will have no problem accompanying your Mom. With an 11:00 AM flight you should be one of the first groups to get off the ship. Your mother will be asked to go to a designated area [quite often the Ocean Bar]to get her wheelchair ride off the ship through the baggage pick up area, customs & finally the taxi stands. I have personally done this my past 3 cruises - works smooth as silk. You will be able to accompany her all the way. Have a great cruise.:)

[Tabbymom]

Thanks, solo, that is good news!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have also done this at 2 different ports.

It is very easy.

Once you get to the doors, you ask for the wheelchair -- they have a list of names. Then you both will go through security and then you will be taken to the proper check-in area -- 4 stars and wheelchairs in Ft Lauderdale all check in at the same area. Once you taken upstairs to sit to await going onto the ship, your mother may be asked to sit in a regular chair as they may need to use that wheel chair to get others through the terminal and upstairs. When it is time to embark the ship, they try and bring as many wheelchairs forward as possible and take as many onto the ship as possible. I have been lucky so far that we arrived upstairs just as they were starting to line up the wheelchairs so I never had to leave the wheelchair and they got me right in line.

End of the cruise -- since we have to stay over an extra day because of flights, I always ask for late disembarkation. But my letter always indicated that I should be at the Ocean Bar by around 8. We get there by about 8:15. The person in charge (mostly the Pinnacle Manager) has a list of names and assigns the wheelchairs and times for you to leave according to the information given to him by the front office. I am usually off the ship between 8:30 and 8:45.

Hope this helps.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Something else in Ft Lauderdale.

Once you get down to the luggage area and claim your luggage, your mother can stay in the wheelchair al the way through customs and immigration. When you get to the door to leave the terminal, there has always been another man there with a wheelchair that your mother will have to transefer to. The crew are not allowed to leave the terminal to take you to your transportation.

[Tabbymom]

Very useful info, thanks! We're going to need early disembarkation so if they can't get a wheelchair to her early she'll probably try walking. Slowly.

[Mary Ellen]

Very useful info, thanks! We're going to need early disembarkation so if they can't get a wheelchair to her early she'll probably try walking. Slowly.

She (and you) should head early to the meeting point for wheelchair assistance (usually Ocean Bar, but sometimes it has been the Explorers Lounge). You will be notified as to the location. Someone there will be coordinating the passengers with the wheelchair pushers.

 

While you will have an assigned time, we've found it tends to be more 'first come, first served'. When we have either a late flight or a post cruise stay we tell the coordinator to take us last. One cruise we (and a certain well known chocoholic) were the last to disembark. It was in Singapore and there was such a distance from the ship to where we collected the luggage, it took a loooooooooong time for the 'pushers' to make the round trip. Also adding to the delay was they had to go through passport control each time.

[Typhoon1]

Very useful info, thanks! We're going to need early disembarkation so if they can't get a wheelchair to her early she'll probably try walking. Slowly.

 

When the form is delivered to your cabin, be sure to let them know you have an early flight and will need to be in one of the first disembarkation groups.