Boarding as a handicap person

[margaret10987]

I will be boarding the Breeze this coming April. I have a question regarding being handicap. I am able to walk on board the ship without assistance but am wondering if I will be able to board before general boarding. And if so, how do I prove I am handicap other than my physical appearance. All I have is a handicap tag for my vehicle. Thanks

[shof515]

you do not have to prove anything. when you are checkin, just say you are handicap and they will tell you where to go. After suite and fttf is boarded, then they will call the handicap section to board.

[ryano]

I will be boarding the Breeze this coming April. I have a question regarding being handicap. I am able to walk on board the ship without assistance but am wondering if I will be able to board before general boarding. And if so, how do I prove I am handicap other than my physical appearance. All I have is a handicap tag for my vehicle. Thanks

 

I was boarded right after FTTF guests were called but Im confined to a wheelchair. You could always fill out the special needs form and just list that you are ambulatory and able to walk. They will enter that in computer system and you will be allowed to board with those in wheelchairs. You may not even need the form. Just tell them when you check in!

 

https://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/pdf/SRIFRM_012809.pdf

Edited January 13, 2017 by ryano

[margaret10987]

Thank you very much! Great information

[jwth2005]

How does this work with someone needing wheelchair assistance prior to check in? Are there wheelchairs available at drop off? Will the person sailing with them who isnt disabled be able to embark the same time they do?

 

 

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Edited January 13, 2017 by jwth2005

[okgirl]

If you are ambulatory, even with a cane you will need to let them know during check in that you need to board with the handicap group.

 

That boarding is after FTTF but before Zone 1, but just barely. Probably 1/2 way up the gangway the zones will be rushing past you.

 

If that is going to be a problem for you as far as stability goes, I would suggest that you check in and board at least an hour after boarding has begun and the terminal has cleared out.

[sanmarcosman]

If you are ambulatory, even with a cane you will need to let them know during check in that you need to board with the handicap group.

 

That boarding is after FTTF but before Zone 1, but just barely. Probably 1/2 way up the gangway the zones will be rushing past you.

 

If that is going to be a problem for you as far as stability goes, I would suggest that you check in and board at least an hour after boarding has begun and the terminal has cleared out.

 

This is wise advice and is an honest assessment of what an actual embarkation is like for those in this situation.

[pusywillow]

I suggest you get FTTF if you can. That is what I do.

[PattBenatar]

I will be boarding the Breeze this coming April. I have a question regarding being handicap. I am able to walk on board the ship without assistance but am wondering if I will be able to board before general boarding. And if so, how do I prove I am handicap other than my physical appearance. All I have is a handicap tag for my vehicle. Thanks

 

Contact special needs and request a escort up the ramp when it is your turn to board. I am in a mobility scooter and I am always escorted up and down the ramps.

 

There is always a staff available to escort you up the ramp if you do not need any assistance, escorting you while walking up will ensure your safety as well as others.

 

I always buy a FTTF if available, for the extra perks, I suggest you and try to get one as well.

If you are escorted up, it does not give a green light to your entire party to join you. Can you imagine a family of 8 scamming the lines just to avoid paying for a FTTF sticker, not saying anyone would ;) but could see it happening.

[cloudninecat]

...

If you are escorted up, it does not give a green light to your entire party to join you. Can you imagine a family of 8 scamming the lines just to avoid paying for a FTTF sticker, not saying anyone would ;) but could see it happening.

Curious, if you are with someone that is in a wheel chair do you have to board separate? I'm wondering what to expect if I travel with my mother on a cruise.

[jwth2005]

Curious, if you are with someone that is in a wheel chair do you have to board separate? I'm wondering what to expect if I travel with my mother on a cruise.

 

 

This is my exact question. My father and I are cruising in march and he is disabled and can only walk short distances. Standing in lines is impossible for him. Thankfully he's renting a scooter but he won't have it til we get in board and get to our room.

 

 

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[ryano]

Curious, if you are with someone that is in a wheel chair do you have to board separate? I'm wondering what to expect if I travel with my mother on a cruise.

 

No, you will be allowed to board together :) What you can expect is that your mother will be called to board right after the FTTF guests and you and anyone in your party can join her :)

Edited January 13, 2017 by ryano

[ddloml]

Curious, if you are with someone that is in a wheel chair do you have to board separate? I'm wondering what to expect if I travel with my mother on a cruise.

 

A couple of years ago DW and I cruised about a month before her knee replacement surgery. She was using a cane at the time, and was considered handicapped. I was able to accompany her onto the ship; after all, I had to schlep the carry on bags (containing our two bottles of wine)!:D The port staff and Carnival staff kept an eye out for her/our safety during the embarkation process. Now it was only the two of us - I wouldn't know what would happen concerning a larger family group with a disabled member.

[ronald309]

I patience should be for all of us who are able bodied to let those who struggle a little to go ahead of us. I have watched people who are waiting for elevators in wheelchairs and scooters just jumped in front of for elevators like they were not there, surely after all we have eaten, taking the stairs for someone who cant wouldn't hurt our waistline.:D

[HeidiHo]

No, you will be allowed to board together :) What you can expect is that your mother will be called to board right after the FTTF guests and you and anyone in your party can join her :)

 

Curious, if you are with someone that is in a wheel chair do you have to board separate? I'm wondering what to expect if I travel with my mother on a cruise.

 

The one time we sailed with someone in a wheelchair, only the man in the wheelchair and his wife were allowed to skip the lines and be escorted on board. the rest of us had to go through the normal procedure.

[ryano]

Curious, if you are with someone that is in a wheel chair do you have to board separate? I'm wondering what to expect if I travel with my mother on a cruise.

 

The one time we sailed with someone in a wheelchair, only the man in the wheelchair and his wife were allowed to skip the lines and be escorted on board. the rest of us had to go through the normal procedure.

 

Yet every time Ive cruised on two different cruise lines, everyone in my party was allowed to board with me :) Thats what I was basing my answer on. Im thinking the OP will most definitely be allowed to board with her mother without any problem whatsoever.

Edited January 13, 2017 by ryano

[debb75]

My Mother has it noted when booking she needs a wheelchair for boarding. she uses a walker so that also needs to go with us. I'm hoping they allow us to help my Dad get Mom on the ship. We are traveling with kids so it's not ideal to split a family up while boarding. I will need to help my parents get on board and would hate to leave my husband with 3 kids on line.

[riclop]

I will be boarding the Breeze this coming April. I have a question regarding being handicap. I am able to walk on board the ship without assistance but am wondering if I will be able to board before general boarding. And if so, how do I prove I am handicap other than my physical appearance. All I have is a handicap tag for my vehicle. Thanks

 

Just tell them you need a wheel chair.

[firegal2539]

I use a walker or cane and always ask for a wheelchair. I always think of my safety first.

 

There are many rude cruisers that are not handicapped who always have something to say about handicapped passengers getting a little extra time to board. Unfortunately there are a lot of disabled cruisers that are rude and mean. While waiting for an excursion bus, standing in line with my walker, a woman on a scooter, going full speed came up the side of the line hit 3 people with the scooter, ran over 2 peoples toes to get to the front of the line to get on the bus. Passengers in scooters also think they can get on a ship's elevator before everyone else, NO they need to wait their turn, just like everyone else.

 

I would request wheelchair assistance.

 

 

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[ShipsAhoy425]

As a caregiver for my parents, who both are in scooters, I can tell you it's much easier on yourself and your companions if you request wheelchair assistance to get onboard. It's free and it's available. We learned the hard way for their first cruise (my mom tried to walk on board through the terminal, my dad has no other option and has to use his scooter). My mom didn't realize how inclined/sloped/long the terminal to board was, and it took us a good 30 mins before we got to the ship. The thing is, while some of us can just walk onboard and it's nothing, it never even crosses your mind, others have special issues, all different, all from different events or from different things that have happened, that cause them to be slower than they want to be.

 

People passed us, but they weren't rude. We weren't rude either. We had FTTF and got to board early, but they were several zones in by the time we got onboard, and that's okay. Several people even asked if they could help, which as their daughter, and seeing her struggle the way she did, made me teary eyed. She now has her own scooter for our upcoming cruise, and we are all excited... and nervous because we've seen how people can act at the elevators (that's the only way for wheelchair, walkers, scooters, etc. to travel the ship, so please be kind... and handicap people, don't expect to always go first, it's a two-way street)

 

Just remember folks, life is short. Cruising is something we get to do because we've saved up, we've traveled, we've made it a big deal. So let's just all be considerate and thoughtful of one another. You don't know what anyone is dealing with, regardless of if they are showing a physical handicap or not. Nobody is more entitled than the other, regardless of color of card, handicap status, or color of your skin. Be kind, be humble, and enjoy your vacation.

[Boozebabe]

I will be boarding the Breeze this coming April. I have a question regarding being handicap. I am able to walk on board the ship without assistance but am wondering if I will be able to board before general boarding. And if so, how do I prove I am handicap other than my physical appearance. All I have is a handicap tag for my vehicle. Thanks

 

My suggestion to you would be to get the wheelchair assistance for embarkation and debarkation You need to call Carnival special needs or contact them at 1-800-819-3902 ext. 70025. or specialneeds@carnival.com. I had to do that this week for an upcoming cruise. They will email you a form to fill out and send back or email it back.

[sailinglisa]

My suggestion to you would be to get the wheelchair assistance for embarkation and debarkation You need to call Carnival special needs or contact them at 1-800-819-3902 ext. 70025. or specialneeds@carnival.com. I had to do that this week for an upcoming cruise. They will email you a form to fill out and send back or email it back.

 

I agree with this. Get the wheelchair assist on and off the ship when boarding and leaving. On my last cruise I hurt my knee after arriving in Miami the day before boarding my Breeze cruise. I had a hard time walking from the pain and couldn't stand for more than 2 minutes at a time. When I finally got the terminal entrance after hobbling for a while from the luggage drop off area, one of the port employees asked if I needed some help. I said yes, he got me a wheelchair, and the port employees escorted me through the embarkation process up until it was time to board when a Carnival employee helped me up the gangway and escorted me to my stateroom.

 

Once on the ship I was able to make my way around the ship with frequent rest stops to help my knee. I did not get off the ship at any port as I had been to them many times before and I enjoyed the empty ship on port days. On disembarkation, the process was reversed, a Carnival employee helped me off the ship til we got to the luggage claim area and then a port employee took over and helped me through customs to my ride.

 

I arrived at the port around 1:30 pm - and had no trouble at all getting help. I did not know need advance notice as I hurt my knee after arriving in Miami the night before.