Traveling with 88 year old mother

[PattiHere]

I have booked this cruise with my daughter and her family, they have three young children. My mother and I will meet them at the ship. We are driving from the Tampa area.

 

When I made my reservation I asked about a wheelchair for my mother to use to embark and disembark because I am afraid of all the walking when we are in the terminal. My mom does use a walker, she walks fine with her walker, just probably will need to stop and rest now and then when she is on the ship.

 

I have never requested a wheelchair before. Not sure how it will work. Can anyone help me. When I pull up to the curb with our luggage, will a wheelchair be waiting. Will I leave my mother there while I park the car.

 

After we are in the terminal, does my mother stay in the wheelchair until she boards the ship, or just uses the wheelchair until she is inside the terminal?

 

How is handicap parking? I am 66 years old and not sure if I can manage pushing my mother and handling the carry on luggage, so we may have to use the handicap parking instead. Is it a long walk to the terminal? My mother could use her walker if it isn't a great distance to the terminal and not a great deal of walking within the terminal while trying to check in. Luckily my mother does have the type of walker where she can sit down if she gets tired.

 

Thank you for any help you can give me. After writing this, I am beginning to think the wheelchair is not an option unless my daughter and her husband will be able to help. I just realized, perhaps I can drop my mother at the curb with her walker, so she wouldn't have to walk from the parking lot. Still would like to know if there is a lot of handicap parking for when we return to port, so it wouldn't be a long walk for her back to the car.

 

Thank you for any help you can give me.

[gerif]

I can only answer part of your question as I'm not familiar with the parking situation in Tampa. A crew member will take her right to your cabin if you board after cabins are ready. Otherwise he will leave you at the WJ and go back for the next person. There are only a limited number of wheelchairs available so, depending on need, there could be a wait. Same thing when you are ready to leave. You will be advised where to wait and a crew member will wheel her back to the terminal. A tip is appreciated.

[live2cruise2011]

Although I have not done this with rccl I am sure it is similar when I cruise with my dh we go out of Galveston we request wheelchair assistance they are inside the terminal and they push him through an expedited line we go through security then get sea passes he waits in chair until allowed to board then they push him up the ramp and to windjammer or wherever we choose to go then take wheelchair he like your mom can walk on the ship just takes breaks and such. But it might help if you tell people where you are cruising out of I am not sure how much it varies by port.

[OKCruiseMan]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but have you looked at any of the insurance that gets you back to the US in a medical emergency? At 88, it may be good to plan ahead.

[xxoocruiser]

Contact your TA or the Cruise line directly and have it noted in your booking that your mother will need wheelchair on both embarkation and debarkation day.

• Drop you mother off at the curb with her walker
  
• Also check your luggage ( except carryon ) at the curb with the porter
  
• There will not be wheelchair service at the curb. You have to go into the terminal to get wheelchair assistance.
  
• Than go park the car and meet you mother back at the checkin area
  
• Once boarding begins you mother will be wheeled on board by a crew member. You than only have to deal with the carry on items.
  

[vermontvoyager]

I cannot help you with info on parking but, as long as you do not get to the pier early around like 10:00 - 10:30 you should have no problem by 11:00 -11:30 getting a wheelchair. There should be wheelchairs out there by then with a staff member of RCI to help your mother all the way onto the ship to where you want to go. through check in and getting off the ship as well by staff.

 

We just cruised with my 85 year old MIL and we got a wheelchair for her around 11:15 no problem and we had a waiter from the dining room escorting her all the way through check in and patiently waited with us while we were waiting for clearance to board the ship.

He then took her all the way up to the Windjammer to drop her off. We tipped him for doing this as it was a big relief for us to get help getting her on the ship and off the ship and they are not getting paid for their time doing this.

 

On debarkation day you can meet in a pre announced lounge to get wheelchair assistance getting off the ship and they take you right through customs and to get your bags in an express line right pass everyone else waiting to get off the ship.;)

 

The reason you cannot get a wheel chair early is due to staff getting other people off the ship that need assistance to get it cleared for the next cruise to start letting people on the ship.

[AussieVisi2r]

HI,

 

cannot help you with Tampa but in Australia.....

I drive up to the curb, and leave Dad (87) sitting in the car. I then drag the luggage over to the porters. When that is done I get Dad out, set up his walker and leave him sitting on that with the hand luggage. I park the car and walk back to him - then off we go and meet a wheelchair.

Just dont feel rushed or pressured about leaving the car for a few minutes.

 

ALSO - when you do the Muster drill, if you are outside on a deck - get the attention of one of the organisers at you point. They should mark the name off then let you MIL sit inside for the drill. Keeps her out of the crowds and the sun.

 

Enjoy. Cruising is the best way to travel with an elderly person. Dad has a ball every time.

 

Raina

[PattiHere]

Thank you everyone for your replies!

 

I am sorry, I goofed, I forgot to tell you we were leaving from Port Everglades. Please forgive me.

 

Yes, we have purchased insurance.

 

I feel better knowing that a crew member will wheel my mother onto the ship, that makes it possible for me to do this. I will have the carry on luggage and was not sure how I would push my mother. This will be so much easier. My mother is looking forward to going on the cruise with her daughter (me), granddaughter (my daughter) and great grandchildren, but is afraid of being a burden, now she will find out that she won't have to worry about that.

 

Thank you again everyone for your help, and I am sorry I forgot to tell you the port we were leaving from. :o

[td1356]

Getting on and off the boat with wheelchairs is very easy. Just got off the Navigator with my parents. Dad is 87 and Mom is 84. They didn't use wheelchairs getting on because there were no lines but we did use them getting off and were glad as there was a long line waiting for customs.

 

 

 

Wonderful memory making moments ahead - have fun!;)