How do they handle HC people?

[susie8862]

Need a little advise folks.

 

Leaving Sunday for a cruise. I broke my ankle about 6 weeks ago. (badly) Have been in a wheel chair because I am total NON weight bearing.

 

Just went to the Doctor and I am now on a rolling walker. (partial weight bearing)

 

When I get to the ship, do they let situations go in front of the line?

I have been on dozens of cruises and have never taken notice of this procedure.

 

I already have arrangements with the airline, so no problem there.

 

I don't want to be one of those people that abuses the system, but I know in 5 days, I am not going to stand or walk for long intervals.

[pattimelt]

Call special needs and let them know. They will take care of arrangements for you to get on the ship, and help you deal with the lines. They will also have you on the list for assistance if needed with muster drill and evacuation protocol.

 

I normally cruise with a friend that's in a wheelchair, and I use a cane, and we are normally in the first boarding group, or they let us board with Priority, depending on how many are disabled that are cruising at the same time.

[susie8862]

Call special needs and let them know. They will take care of arrangements for you to get on the ship, and help you deal with the lines. They will also have you on the list for assistance if needed with muster drill and evacuation protocol.

 

I normally cruise with a friend that's in a wheelchair, and I use a cane, and we are normally in the first boarding group, or they let us board with Priority, depending on how many are disabled that are cruising at the same time.

 

Thank you Patti. This is great to know. I am glad they do assist with HC. I guess it is not until you are in the "same boat" (no pun intended) that you appreciate what a permanently HC person has to go through.

[virginiab]

When I've cruised with my mom on a walker, someone has come around and pulled us out of the line and into a special area. Then they boarded her in a wheelchair and we took her walker while she put her carry-on on her lap. Pretty easy, although there may be some waiting for a wheelchair.

 

I recommend waiting, as those knee scooters can be pretty tiring, especially in a slow moving line. Just wait for the wheel chair so you have more energy to scoot around on board later!

[susie8862]

When I've cruised with my mom on a walker, someone has come around and pulled us out of the line and into a special area. Then they boarded her in a wheelchair and we took her walker while she put her carry-on on her lap. Pretty easy, although there may be some waiting for a wheelchair.

 

I recommend waiting, as those knee scooters can be pretty tiring, especially in a slow moving line. Just wait for the wheel chair so you have more energy to scoot around on board later!

 

Really? Wonderful. Kisses and thank you. As I said before, I never took notice of what they do for the HC....so great to know they are taken care of. :)

[pattimelt]

It's rare that I can finally attempt to repay the people here with info, as most of the time, I'm asking for info!! Happy to help!!!

 

Like Virginia said, you may want to request a wheelchair to assist your boarding thru Special Needs, too-- that way they know you are coming and you will need help and can keep a count of those that will need it-- and plan for staffing, too!!

[susie8862]

It's rare that I can finally attempt to repay the people here with info, as most of the time, I'm asking for info!! Happy to help!!!

 

Like Virginia said, you may want to request a wheelchair to assist your boarding thru Special Needs, too-- that way they know you are coming and you will need help and can keep a count of those that will need it-- and plan for staffing, too!!

 

:):):) Thank You

[muffin]

Been there,, done that, got lots of gracious help. When you get to the pier, ask where the wheelchair users should go. There is usually a set apart spot. You usually report to a volunteer in a carnival vest who will note your name on a clipboard. You sit and wait a little time as they have limited numbers of wheelchairs. Soon you Are called. I suggest your husband push the walker using it to carry your carrying bags. Do NOT use the walker as a sit upon wheelchair...dangerous. They will take you to spot where there is literally a line on the floor/ pier and you will wait again for a minute or two. The land vcrew take you the first leg, and at this line you are picked up byY the ship crew and taken aboard. They will take you all the way to the lido if you wish, and find you a nice table for lunch. At that time you must relinquish the chair so they can help someone ele...so back onto your walker. Ask at muster drill if there is a special place for people with walkers..often inside large lounge .

 

There are no wheelchairs for ports of call, but sometimes there are golf cart sorts of vehicles to use if you ask especially if pier is very long.

 

Phone customer service a few days before the end, sking for help disembarking. They will tell you where to go, or tell you to stay in your room. If pick up is in your room, they will give you a. Time to expect steward to arrive. Repeat drill to the line on the dock, and be given off to carnival rep for final piece.Then they will take you to the luggage spot, help you get settled there, and then take you right to the cab/shuttle line outside.

 

You will be taken through security, registration, customs by your escort and they are given top priority in a front of the line way, so they can go and get someone elseneeds their help. I encourage you to use this service. We often like to think we can do it ourselves, but some of the lines are long, nd many of the walks are far. Don't wear yourself out nd get into a pain issue just to save a Lttle face.

This is also how many airports work...just ask for what you need. Tips are appreciated by all these folks. Happy cruising!!!

[susie8862]

Wow Muffin...what wonderful and such a detailed report of what to do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking this time to type all this info. I have a greater respect (after breaking my ankle) for HC people and what they have to go through.

[tigercat]

Also for the life boat drill they have a special place for handicap people.

tigercat

[muffin]

Your welcome. I too have a much altered view of persons with mobility issues or other challenges after my time in their world. It truly underscores the old saying about " walking a mile in their shoes" whatever those shoes may represent. I have also come to cheer on those who live as full a life as they are able even while hearing the able bodied folks who make disparaging remarks about how they appear to be using the system, (because their difficulty may be invisible) or how their difficulty is somehow related to their lifestyle or their own fault. While wishing no one anything bad, you and I know a day lived in another's "handcap" would be an amazing eye opener to many of these people. While I lived the times which got me to the front of th e lines, I thanked my lucky stars it was temporary. Guys, be nice to everyone...someday you may need a helping hand too.

[muffin]

Your welcome. I too have a much altered view of persons with mobility issues or other challenges after my time in their world. It truly underscores the old saying about " walking a mile in their shoes" whatever those shoes may represent. I have also come to cheer on those who live as full a life as they are able even while hearing the able bodied folks who make disparaging remarks about how they appear to be using the system, (because their difficulty may be invisible) or how their difficulty is somehow related to their lifestyle or their own fault. While wishing no one anything bad, you and I know a day lived in another's "handcap" would be an amazing eye opener to many of these people. While I lived the times which got me to the front of th e lines, I thanked my lucky stars it was temporary. Guys, be nice to everyone...someday you may need a helping hand too.

[Swampbaby]

Also I know from experience that if a wheelchair is needed on the pier, Carnival will bring one to you. Heat got to me and I only made it to the ship in front of ours (and they took very good care of me even though we told them we were NOT on their ship) as hubby headed to find a wheelchair. Carnival not only brought one, they brought a second one as another man was in the same situation. Turned out he actually was on the ship we stopped in front of, just couldn't go any further until he sat and caught his breath.

 

Carnival is really great at helping people. Believe me, once Special Needs is notified they let the proper crew people know. I was even checked on later that day by a crew member who saw me arrive back via the wheelchair.

 

Go, ENJOY the cruise and take care of that foot/leg cause Carnival will make certain you are taken care of by them.

[RuthlessBoss]

While on the subject of handicap assist on and off a ship. I was on NCL Getaway last week. An elderly and quite large gentleman in a w/c was on board and had a caretaker with him. When ever he wanted to go somewhere, she called someone and a transporter would come and get him and take him to the next location for a while. The same thing happened over and over throughout the whole cruise. Does this ever occur on Carnival?

[virginiab]

You didn't ask this, but I wanted to add that you can ask your room steward for extra pillows so you can properly elevate your ankle; I usually ask for 4 extra.

 

Also you can ask for extra ice for icing where it hurts. We take either brand new freezer-quality zip bags to use for ice, or we take the ice packs that you can put into a neoprene holder and fasten around the ankle/knee/wrist/whatever. If we take the ice packs, we also bring a cooler that will hold them and ask the room steward to keep it full of ice. If we are running low on ice when the room steward is not around, we call room service for a bucket of ice.

 

Take care of yourself and have a great cruise!

[susie8862]

Wow ladies. What wonderful advice. Thank you so much for all of this great info. 4 DAYS TO GO...whoo hoo.

[ibcnusoon]

I traveled to San Juan with my Dad in a wheelchair for our Victory cruise. Boarding was so easy and swift we didn't have any problems.

 

Upon return in San Juan was a DISASTER. The ship had very long longs to disembark. Once we reached the lines for Customs, someone from customs pulled my Dad out of the line with me (as I was pushing him). When i made a motion for the rest of the family, including my mother with oxygen, to follow us, the Customs Agent YELLED that they were not allowed special treatment, that they had to wait in the long line. I thought that was the stupidest rule EVER and was thisclose to being arrested. So what happened was I sent Dad in the wheelchair with my mom with oxygen with the customs agent, who once they passed customs stood around for more than 45 minutes waiting for us to get through the line. I could have SCREAMED, leaving them outside in the heat with my mother STANDING the whole time.

 

My last cruise with my Dad was with NCL out of New York City. Once we arrived, someone (I am not sure if it was an NCL person or terminal person) immediately came over to us, made sure all our bags were on the cart, then escorted our entire party together to the front of the line, which was very long.