Handicap question

[phillyguy31]

We have 2 friends going with us on the Getaway in Feb. He is needs to use either a wheelchair or scooter to get around. He can walk for a short distance. Any recommendations to help him enjoy the cruise. They did get a handicap room.

[sadiecat]

I to use a wheelchair but can walk short distances. The staff wherever we went accommodated us regarding the wheelchair. All the restaurants and buffet area would let us park the wheelchair in an out of the way spot and I would walk to the table. Passengers at the elevators were very gracious. Embarking was a snap. We waited in a special area for people with disabilities and we were the first on the ship. In the casino we just put the wheelchair in an out of the way spot and I was able to walk there as well. Disembarkation also went smoothly. Once we got a porter and retrieved our bags we went to the front of the customs line thanks to our porter and out to our transportation. We did not have an accessible cabin but got along fine in our spa balcony.

[Synchronaut]

We had a similar situation this past January with the embarkation and disembarkation. We also had assistance for the shore excursions that we took. After we got home, I received a letter from NCL that assistance would be provided only for embarkation and disembarkation, not shore excursions. Did you go on shore excursions and how did you handle it? I'm so worried about this.

Thank you

[Quilting_Cruiser]

There's a section of Cruise Critic for disabled cruisers. That's probably the best place to ask your question. :) http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=190

[rbrugler]

I use a wheelchair and scooter. Excursions can be a real problem if booked through NCL. Do your research and look up excursions in each of the ports. Ask them if you can take a folded up wheelchair. Most of these companies use smaller vans -- much easier to get in and out of. NCL uses large buses, and passengers could give a hoot if you can sit near the front. First on gets those seats. The private companies will ask people to move. I have been on 12 cruises and have never been disappointed with a local company.

[sadiecat]

There was assistance getting on and off the ship in port. We did not take any excursions on this cruise. On our upcoming cruise I booked our excursions through NCL and was assured by the representative the excursions are in fact accessible.

[luddite]

The biggest hassle will be the lowlifes knocking past them to get onto an elevator.

[rbrugler]

Please read the descriptions of the excursions that NCL offers. They have numbers for activity level, AND at the bottom will most often say -- not suitable for those with heart problems, pregnant, and mobility issues. Very, very few of NCL's excursions are suitable for someone with a wheelchair.

Edited February 26, 2016 by rbrugler

[Jenjer]

Ask for a handicap muster station. Royal had one. If they don't let them go before the other guests just sit tight for 15 minutes so everyone can rush away first.

 

Don't be the first people at the shows or restaurants. They have handicap seats in the back a wheelchair will fit with a regular chair or 2 next to them.

 

If you go to theater and the handicap seats are taken by able body people, either approach those people to move or ask a staff member to help find a seat. I have seem them pulling out chairs for companion sitting.

 

Don't be surprised when people push and shove to get on the elevators go up 1 floor. Personal pet peeve of mine.

 

Better to in a chair than on the floor. DH kept having to say that to me. I hated using the wheel chair. Broken foot so temporary issue.

[neverthought]

The biggest hassle will be the lowlifes knocking past them to get onto an elevator.

 

 

OMG, you are so right...not just for getting on or off ship but all around the ship. Hubby uses a scooter, we would wait for an elevator that was empty or with 1 or 2 other people on, he would proceed to back in...the able bodies were jumping behind him to get on. Many passengers are so rude and ignorant. They have the attitude"I'm on vacation and have places to go...well so is everyone else... HC INCLUDED!" I wish NCL would do something about having specifically marked HC elevators.

 

Neverthought

[rbrugler]

My other pet peeve is when I am in an elevator with the scooter, and people get off and then stop right outside the doors! I have no mirror! I bumped one lady twice. Her husband yelled at me. A different man in the elevator said, "Why in the hell don't you move! You're holding all of us up!" I thanked him and would have bought him a drink had we been near a bar.

[luddite]

My other pet peeve is when I am in an elevator with the scooter, and people get off and then stop right outside the doors! I have no mirror! I bumped one lady twice. Her husband yelled at me. A different man in the elevator said, "Why in the hell don't you move! You're holding all of us up!" I thanked him and would have bought him a drink had we been near a bar.

 

It is fascinating that so many people will stand in front of the door at an arriving elevator expecting departees to squeeze past them. I just stand there and look at them. If they don't move aside quickly enough, I ask them if they don't really understand how the system works. Some are dumber than others.

[Vee & Elvis]

If he needs a chair/ scooter but does not have one, they need to be reserved ahead of time.

 

Chairs are smaller, easier to get in/out of the rooms, but depends on someone being around to push through the long halls. Scooters are tricky to get in/out, but once you are out - watch out world! I think we paid $250 for a 7 day scooter rental.

 

At the port, we called ahead for a wc assistance. For disembarking, we reminded our butler the day before.

 

There are no wc available on the ship, emergency only.

 

Hope that helps.

[Demonyte]

If he needs a chair/ scooter but does not have one, they need to be reserved ahead of time.

 

 

...

 

 

 

There are no wc available on the ship, emergency only.

 

 

Actually there are. First of all they need to be ready if somebody has problems with the one they have rented and also it's not like the rental company has stock in every possible embarkation terminal, the bulk of mobility devices is generally stored onboard.

 

Last March after boarding Jade in Civitavecchia we realized that my step father had a bit too high thoughts of his condition (whether or not he can manage with his rollator) and we had to ask to rent a wheelchair without having had booked it in advance - it was no problem and the chair was delivered to our cabin quickly.

 

Of course they can't guarantee availability in every case, but obiviously they have extra stock available for sudden needs (after the possible emergency situation has been handled), malfunctions etc.

[jusstice]

Assuming the GA and BA are identical in experience, I will share mine.

 

Went on BA to Bermuda with my sister. I have been on the ship several times, and I knew its too big to maneuver for someone who can only go short distances unassisted. She needs a scooter/wheelchair. We had a disabled room, aft which was awesome with the balcony.

 

We brought her scooter (which is on the smaller side as she is petite), her crutches, and a small collapsible chair. The scooter was perfect for roaming the ship. There were very little spaces she could not go easily. I brought the crutches for her to step out in the casino so she could move around easier, but she found machines to play where she could pull the scooter up to the machine. At dining venues, she did the same.

 

The wheelchair came in handy to go on private excursion to the beach, as the cabs could not handle the wheelchair, and it would not work in beach area anyway. The NCL tours would also not handle the scooter. The disabled access line for NCL did help me find some potential tours which would work with a folding chair. I reasearched a private tour with an accessible van which allowed us to tour the island with her scooter. It was great.

 

NCL was great with the help. The staff look out for you. The bar staff in casino always helped her out with things. Her scooter ran out of power one day on the island right at the gangway. The staff was quick to push her up the plank for me. I got her to an outlet and plugged her up for a quick charge to get her in the room.

 

The halls are narrow, so her small scooter often had to compete with the stewards carts. They were all nice to move.

 

The people on elevators are absolutely the worst! They will step over you, push you out the way just to get on/off before you.

 

Hope this helps.

[Vee & Elvis]

Actually there are. First of all they need to be ready if somebody has problems with the one they have rented and also it's not like the rental company has stock in every possible embarkation terminal, the bulk of mobility devices is generally stored onboard.

 

 

I respectfully disagree. My mother's scooter DID have issues 2 cruises ago, and there are not "extra" scooters kept on board, that is why they need to be reserved ahead of time, so they do get to the embarkation ports. Scooters are rented based on riders weight. There may be a scooter on the ship that was not picked up after the last cruise, but it is not NCL property.

 

"Guests with Mobility Impairments

A wheelchair, scooter or walker may be the primary mobility assistance aid for getting on and off the ship for guests who cannot walk on their own. Norwegian Cruise Line has a limited supply of wheelchairs onboard. In order to accommodate our guests, Norwegian Cruise Line wheelchairs are reserved exclusively for embarkation and disembarkation situations. If you will require regular use of a wheelchair, we strongly recommend that you bring your own wheelchair with you or make rental arrangements with Special Needs at Sea. The limited supply of wheelchairs onboard are available for emergency rental arrangements and are on a first come first serve basis.

 

Motorized wheelchairs and scooters are allowed in our accessible staterooms provided that they are powered by gel-cell batteries and the chargers must be adaptable to 110 volts. Should you choose a stateroom that has not been designated as accessible, you will need to bring a collapsible wheelchair, or if you have a motorized wheelchair or scooter, the width must not exceed 26 inches to enter the stateroom door. All scooters and wheelchairs MUST be stored in the stateroom. Due to the safety and escape way requirements established by SOLAS regulations, they cannot be stored in the hallways, stairways, or any other public area. Beach wheelchairs can be rented for use on Norwegian Cruise Line's private island.

 

For additional details on the prearranged rental program, please contact our authorized vendor:

 

Special Needs at Sea

Phone: (toll-free) 800-513-4515 or 954-585-0575

Fax: 954-585-0577

http://www.specialneedsatsea.com

http://www.specialneedsatsea.com/index.cfm/about-us/cruise-lines/norwegian-cruise-line/ "