Celebrity's Disability Certification Letter

[kitty9]

I have a cruise booked on Celebrity in November, and I just received their Disability Certification Form and Special Needs Request. I've never had to fill out such a detailed form before. The last few times I had to fill out this form it just basically asked about my device. Now, they want to know your weight, height, and the combined weight of you and your device. I have no idea why they require this, but I don't think it's legal. Not even the airlines ask about the person's weight, only the weight of the scooter. I mean, they don't ask about the height and weight of all their passengers, so why the disabled?

[Chunky2219]

Maybe they are thinking about provision for emergency situations and how they will evacuate you from a ship listing at 15 degrees with elevators that don't work?

 

Personally, I'd have no objection to telling them such details, and as you'll guess from my ID, I'm no lightweight.

 

I can't see the same issue with an airplane evacuation. All they need to know is that a passenger will fit through the door and can be launched down the slide.

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[MargoK]

I have a cruise booked on Celebrity in November, and I just received their Disability Certification Form and Special Needs Request. I've never had to fill out such a detailed form before. The last few times I had to fill out this form it just basically asked about my device. Now, they want to know your weight, height, and the combined weight of you and your device. I have no idea why they require this, but I don't think it's legal. Not even the airlines ask about the person's weight, only the weight of the scooter. I mean, they don't ask about the height and weight of all their passengers, so why the disabled?

Hi Kitty - their form must have changed. I have just looked at mine (yet to be completed) for Feb 2014 and it only asks about the size weight etc of the chair.

 

I have just been supplied a LevoC3 power chair, but have yet to decide if I will take that or my travel collapsible power chair.

[xxoocruiser]

I have a cruise booked on Celebrity in November, and I just received their Disability Certification Form and Special Needs Request. I've never had to fill out such a detailed form before. The last few times I had to fill out this form it just basically asked about my device. Now, they want to know your weight, height, and the combined weight of you and your device. I have no idea why they require this, but I don't think it's legal. Not even the airlines ask about the person's weight, only the weight of the scooter. I mean, they don't ask about the height and weight of all their passengers, so why the disabled?

 

 

My advice to you is :

 

Call Celebrity's Special Needs Dept. and asked them why they need this information stating that you believe it to be a violation of your privacy rights under HIPAA.

 

OR

 

Complete the form you received from Celebrity with only the information you are comfortable with providing. If Celebrity has an issue with that than they'll contact you directly.

 

OR

 

Complete Celebritiy's Special Needs Forms contained on it's website that does not require height and weight to be provided. Here's the link : https://secure.celebritycruises.com/onboard/specialNeedsForm.do

[sanspike]

That information was asked for by RCCL last year. I filled it out and returned it. Never thought anything about it.

[rangeley]

Holland Americas form has always asked for that. They need to know that just in case there is an emergency and you have to be lifted. It's private so nobody will see it. I doubt it's illegal. My hubby has no problems answering any questions they ask, it's all for safety reasons.

[mdvlprof]

Forms I've done recently have a space for weight. Ramps/lifts have a maximum weight. And lifeboats probably have maximum weight, too.

[lexmiller]

Sorry, but I am CERTAIN that you are either misreading or skimming or both. The weight that is asked for is the weight of your assistance device - ie, your walker or your wheelchair, etc. We have been filling this form out several times a year for a while now (lucky us to have the opportunity) for our daughter - I keep copies, I'm looking at them all right now. Celebrity does not want YOUR weight, it wants the weight and dimensions of your assisted mobility device.

[ducklite]

This has become a common issue with all forms of public conveyance. Ramps and lifts are generally only capable of handling 500-600 pounds, and they can and DO break when more weight than that is loaded onto them. This puts not only the disabled person but also employees and others nearby at risk for serious injury.

 

With advance knowledge of a person and chair that will exceed that weight limit, they can plan alternate means of moving that person, including lighter weight manual lifts to move the person and chair separately and then reunite them if needed.

 

With some power chairs with their batteries weighing as much as 280 pounds it's not that difficult to exceed the weight limit on a standard ramp or lift once you add a body.

 

The information is being requested to ensure your safety, not to give you a hard time.

 

PS--The airlines don't ask your weight because you aren't getting on the plane in the scooter, but rather in an aisle transfer chair. That said, the time is coming where this information will be asked, as there have been incidents recently where the passenger exceeded the weight limit on the transfer chair and the chair has broken under their weight. They need to weight on your scooter in order to manage cargo the load.

[raindropsalways]

I may be dense because I cannot understand why some are reluctant to provide the requested information to the cruise lines. The cruise lines has more important things to do than ask anyone unnecessary questions. As long as we expect the cruise lines to meet our needs in the most practical manner, we should be willing to comply with their request. As far as the excuse of “personal information” that is a joke. Anyone that has a serious problem should be receptive about letting others know. One does not have to create a front page headline, just inform the source that is accommodating you.

 

 

My bitch against the cruise lines and their forms is the format. I recently received the standard .pdf format from Carnival with a link to purchase “paid” conversion. I returned the completed forms to Carnival in a .jpg format that did not cost me anything to convert.

 

 

Betty

[PennyAgain]

I'm glad to see cruise lines requiring the forms as it likely will prevent able bodied people from getting the rooms that so many people need very much.

 

By the way cruise ships do not have to abide by the HIPPA rules.

[kitty9]

My form, sitting on my desk right in front of me says: weight of scooter, weight of passenger. It can't be more plain than that. And if its so important to know about the weight of passengers for the lifeboats, then they need to ask every passenger their weight. And no matter, you're not going to board a lifeboat in a scooter, so those thoughts are moot.

[raindropsalways]

Apparently this is really troubling you. I'd suggest that you call Celebrity and find out exactly why it is necessary. Any answers you get here will just be speculation.

 

 

Betty

[Umbarger]

If a cruise line wants to know my weight I will happily give it to them. I'm sure it is for my safety. I'm sure very few people at Celebrity will want/need to know. It's not like they are going to announce it to everyone on the ship.

[terrierjohn]

The form we completed for my wife for our recent cruie on the Eclipse only requests "approx. body weight" under the section Guests booked with flights by Celebrity, RCI, and Azamara.

[raindropsalways]

Even though this is speculation, I think it is required in case one needs to be carried. In the event of an emergency, chances are that the elevator will not be working; thus a person that cannot walk will need to be carried.

 

 

It has been a few years (decade) since I retired, however at that time, the U.S. standard lifting limit for an individual was 70 pounds. If they follow those same or similar guide lines, an individual's weight would predetermine how many workers would be required to carry a person. So if you weight 140 pounds, one person might not be able to carry you; it would take two people. In my case, I think I would be tempted to go on the high side just to make sure they had enough man-power to get me to safety.

 

 

Regardless, as I suggested earlier, please call and get the appropriate answer so you can relax.

 

 

Betty

[Chunky2219]

Apparently this is really troubling you. I'd suggest that you call Celebrity and find out exactly why it is necessary. Any answers you get here will just be speculation.

 

 

Betty

More than that, if it is really troubling the OP there is always the option to cancel and take a domestic holiday. I just can't see the problem.

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[ducklite]

My form, sitting on my desk right in front of me says: weight of scooter, weight of passenger. It can't be more plain than that. And if its so important to know about the weight of passengers for the lifeboats, then they need to ask every passenger their weight. And no matter, you're not going to board a lifeboat in a scooter, so those thoughts are moot.

 

If you can not board a lifeboat without assistance, then they have every right to ask that question. You might need to be assigned to a boat with crew specially trained in lift assists for bariatric passengers, or to have a manual lift that can SAFELY handle your weight available. This is a safety measure, and frankly if you are that uncomfortable with giving the information, perhaps you should consider a different type of vacation where you won't have any need for assistance from others or use any type of ramp or lift.

[ducklite]

Even though this is speculation, I think it is required in case one needs to be carried. In the event of an emergency, chances are that the elevator will not be working; thus a person that cannot walk will need to be carried.

 

 

It has been a few years (decade) since I retired, however at that time, the U.S. standard lifting limit for an individual was 70 pounds. If they follow those same or similar guide lines, an individual's weight would predetermine how many workers would be required to carry a person. So if you weight 140 pounds, one person might not be able to carry you; it would take two people. In my case, I think I would be tempted to go on the high side just to make sure they had enough man-power to get me to safety.

 

 

Regardless, as I suggested earlier, please call and get the appropriate answer so you can relax.

 

 

Betty

 

That number still stands. My husband is an EMT, and when they need to assist a bariatric patient, the call for additional help automatically goes out. It's not uncommon to send two police cruisers, a fire truck with four firemen, and two ambulances with two or three people in each when they get a bariatric call. It's for safety. It's better than having only a few people respond and drop the patient or worse yet, injure a first responder.

 

By the way, the local 9-1-1 response has it indicated in the address records of known bariatric patients, and the additional dispatch is automatic as a result. The first responders note the address file with a guesstimate of weight regardless of the patients opinion of the practice.

[kitty9]

More than that, if it is really troubling the OP there is always the option to cancel and take a domestic holiday. I just can't see the problem.

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Give me a break. It's not "troubling" to me, but a question of treating every passenger equally. Let's put it this way-----you have an obese passenger who's not physically disabled, but weighs 350 lbs. and there's an emergency and this obese person can't get into a lifeboat without someone having to carry him on board, where's the equality? I don't give a rat's behind, Chunky, if Celebrity knows my weight. It's just a matter of disabled passengers being treated differently, and having to reveal information, that no other passenger must do.

[raindropsalways]

Darcie – I sure was not expecting that kind of answer from you. There is not any logic in your comparison. The ship's crew are not even going to look for that 350# person unless he or she does not show up. Whereas, they have already carried you to and put you in the life boat.

 

 

As far as equal treatment, we are already being treated better than those classified as “able bodied”. Just remember when you scoot past all those exhausted people standing line; I would lay odds that a significant number of those people in line also have medical problems. So why are we, especially those of us on scooters, escorted to the front? Is that equal treatment.

 

 

The cruise lines are not going to waste its time asking nonessential questions. There is absolutely no profit in doing that. And I have not ever seen any ship publish the personal information of any handicap person or any other cruiser in their daily paper. So please tell me what the cruise line has to gain by asking nonessential questions?

 

 

Betty

[ducklite]

Give me a break. It's not "troubling" to me, but a question of treating every passenger equally. Let's put it this way-----you have an obese passenger who's not physically disabled, but weighs 350 lbs. and there's an emergency and this obese person can't get into a lifeboat without someone having to carry him on board, where's the equality? I don't give a rat's behind, Chunky, if Celebrity knows my weight. It's just a matter of disabled passengers being treated differently, and having to reveal information, that no other passenger must do.

 

The obese passenger is mobile and not coming aboard asking for special accommodation like the passenger using a mobility device is. Big difference.

[OldinJersey]

I'm glad to see cruise lines requiring the forms as it likely will prevent able bodied people from getting the rooms that so many people need very much.

 

By the way cruise ships do not have to abide by the HIPPA rules.

 

I too think this is a good beginning to keeping able bodied folks from trying for an accessible room without any NEED. I have an invisible medical issue so I know some in the rooms are handicapped and appear healthy but I have read so many posters here bragging about snagging one and stating the handicapped should not have first shot at handicapped accessible rooms!