Questions about Bermuda & Breakaway for mom

[IHaveAUsernameNJ]

Hello everyone! I am new to the boards (although I've been lurking for some time) and getting ready to go on my first cruise ever on the Breakaway last week in August to Bermuda :D with my mom and 3 kids (14, 11, and 10).

 

My main concern is my mom. She has chronic pain/lupus/some breathing problems and is not able to do a whole lot of strenuous activities, which is part of the reason I chose to do Bermuda beings that I hear it's much more laid-back and relaxing. We are booked on deck 12 in the rear of the ship, although I did ask for us to be placed near the elevators. She refuses to use anything such as wheelchair or scooter yet but I'm concerned about how much walking is involved initially getting on the ship and if there are any tips anyone would be willing to share on getting around the ship when you aren't able to walk for long distances?

 

I am also wondering what is close to the ship in Bermuda that would be fun for us to do as a family but that also doesn't involve a whole lot of walking around in the heat for her? Any good excursions that someone could recommend? I know she won't be able to do everything she's hoping she could do, but I'd like to be able to get her out on to the island just a little bit. Are there taxis available close to port? I have a feeling she will probably be spending most of her time in the casino, lol.. and I'm hoping to surprise her with a spa pass so she can get some much needed R&R, but I'd love to plan something for us to all do together while in Bermuda that doesn't involve sitting out or walking around for too long in the direct sunlight.

 

Any tips/info would be greatly appreciated :)

[Kryssa]

Sorry this isn't an answer, but did they finally get permission to open the casino while in Bermuda?

 

 

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[CateW]

Hello everyone! I am new to the boards (although I've been lurking for some time) and getting ready to go on my first cruise ever on the Breakaway last week in August to Bermuda :D with my mom and 3 kids (14, 11, and 10).

 

My main concern is my mom. She has chronic pain/lupus/some breathing problems and is not able to do a whole lot of strenuous activities, which is part of the reason I chose to do Bermuda beings that I hear it's much more laid-back and relaxing. We are booked on deck 12 in the rear of the ship, although I did ask for us to be placed near the elevators. She refuses to use anything such as wheelchair or scooter yet but I'm concerned about how much walking is involved initially getting on the ship and if there are any tips anyone would be willing to share on getting around the ship when you aren't able to walk for long distances?

 

I am also wondering what is close to the ship in Bermuda that would be fun for us to do as a family but that also doesn't involve a whole lot of walking around in the heat for her? Any good excursions that someone could recommend? I know she won't be able to do everything she's hoping she could do, but I'd like to be able to get her out on to the island just a little bit. Are there taxis available close to port? I have a feeling she will probably be spending most of her time in the casino, lol.. and I'm hoping to surprise her with a spa pass so she can get some much needed R&R, but I'd love to plan something for us to all do together while in Bermuda that doesn't involve sitting out or walking around for too long in the direct sunlight.

 

Any tips/info would be greatly appreciated :)

 

It is a fairly long walk from when you get to the port to the check in and then on the ship. Breakaway is a big ship and there is walking involved to get most anywhere. You mention that you got a spa pass and that you re in the aft. The spa is all the way forward so it is a hike. For dining, Cagney's in the aft as is the dining rooms. Most of the other specialties are mid ship. There is no mid ship elevator so if you are aft, you take that elevator and walk forward.

 

The Ship docks at Kings Wharf in Bermuda. There are taxi's right there to take you anywhere you want to go (i.e. beaches which are beautiful) and I believe there is one of those little shuttle trains to take you from the ship to the ferries (to Hamilton and St. George) and the shopping area right in Kings Wharf. It is a hike for someone with mobility issues to get from the ship to the shopping are without taking that little shuttle train.

 

I hope this helps.

[BostonGal35]

i would do yourself a favor and book her a scooter for use on board. she'll thank you later. the ship is HUGE.

 

as for Bermuda, August is one of the hottest times you could go. even walking to Snorkel Park in the heat (which is right at the Dockyard) will be a haul for your mom.

 

taxis are at the end of the pier, but is a good distance. if you want to do horseshoe bay, there is a shuttle for $7 per person one way and it takes you all the way down to the beach.

[BostonGal35]

Sorry this isn't an answer, but did they finally get permission to open the casino while in Bermuda?

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yes, evenings only.

[lmintzer]

Hi. I also will be cruising with my mom who has chronic pain and some degree of mobility issues. We leave this coming Sunday!! Not feeling ready despite all the months of thinking/planning!

 

At any rate, here are some ideas. First, do rent her a scooter. The ship looks to be quite big, and she might decide she wants it at some point. You can contact Special Needs at Sea to rent. They coordinate with NCL. I believe a scooter will fit through the doorway of a standard stateroom (we have a disabled room for my mom), but you can double check to find out. There also may be folding/collapsing scooters that you can rent, but I don't believe Special Needs at Sea has those (you might need to bring that kind of thing from home).

 

If you can manage to get to the port really early, you might want to look into a "Vibe" pass. I hear they are hard to get, but the nice things is that you could rent a cabana which would allow her to be outside and enjoying the deck while being shaded. Maybe, if that doesn't work, a spa pass would be a nice way to relax out of the direct sun. The kids can't join you in either of those two places, so whether or not that makes sense depend how much they want to be at Entrourage (teen club) and Explorers (kids club).

 

On the island, you can take a "blue flag" taxi tour (private tour of the isalnd) for $50/hour. The driver will take you where you want to go, and you would be able to see a lot without her needing to walk much.

 

Or, you could do a longer tour of the island with a private guide. We are doing this through Bermuda Byways (gets great reviews--it's one woman and her mini van). This costs $100/person and you would need to book ahead of time. Tour is about 6.5/7 hours and covers a lot of the island.

 

Another idea is a boat tour. I signed my mom and her husband up for "Famous Homes and Hideaways." Supposed to be a lot of fun, and lasts only 2 hours. There are also boat tours (glass bottom boat/Bermuda Triangle and sunset cruises that would keep her out of the sunlight.

 

For beaching, if you wanted to try a beach, the easiest options for her might be Horseshoe Bay, since there is a shuttle/mini-bus that operates to and from that beach from the Dockyard for $7/person. At Horseshoe, you could rent her a beach chair and an umbrella. Or check out Snorkel Park, the man-made beach near the dock yard for proximity. Maybe others could weigh in on whether this would work with a scooter.

 

Hope that helps a little. I know I am a little worried, too. I want everyone to have fun, and I'm trying to plan Bermuda activities for my teen boys who like a lot of action (we are planning to divide up on our port days).

[Boatingmom]

Bring a "transport chair" if you have one. You don't want Mom's legs giving out or ending up alll swollen putting a damper on her cruise. Although she may. E resistant now, she will thank you after the first 10 minute line or first trip to the buffet. I've been there. Pride will eventually give way to safety

 

 

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[Laszlo]

Hello everyone! I am new to the boards (although I've been lurking for some time) and getting ready to go on my first cruise ever on the Breakaway last week in August to Bermuda :D with my mom and 3 kids (14, 11, and 10).

 

My main concern is my mom. She has chronic pain/lupus/some breathing problems and is not able to do a whole lot of strenuous activities, which is part of the reason I chose to do Bermuda beings that I hear it's much more laid-back and relaxing. We are booked on deck 12 in the rear of the ship, although I did ask for us to be placed near the elevators. She refuses to use anything such as wheelchair or scooter yet but I'm concerned about how much walking is involved initially getting on the ship and if there are any tips anyone would be willing to share on getting around the ship when you aren't able to walk for long distances?

 

I am also wondering what is close to the ship in Bermuda that would be fun for us to do as a family but that also doesn't involve a whole lot of walking around in the heat for her? Any good excursions that someone could recommend? I know she won't be able to do everything she's hoping she could do, but I'd like to be able to get her out on to the island just a little bit. Are there taxis available close to port? I have a feeling she will probably be spending most of her time in the casino, lol.. and I'm hoping to surprise her with a spa pass so she can get some much needed R&R, but I'd love to plan something for us to all do together while in Bermuda that doesn't involve sitting out or walking around for too long in the direct sunlight.

 

Any tips/info would be greatly appreciated :)

 

At a minimum I would have ready some type of walker ready to go. The ship is very large and their is no way to avoid at lot of walking, its really that simple. It seems even larger when you have something wrong. I cut the bottom of my foot on our last Bermuda cruise. I had to to hobble around from Friday to Sunday. I thought the ship had doubled in size LOL

[IHaveAUsernameNJ]

Thank you all for the much needed tips and info! I have discussed this all with her but she insists she "will make it". I don't want to undermine her but.... how much is it to rent a scooter on board just in case?

 

 

Also, this may be a silly question but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere- are you able to control the temperature in your room?

 

I had no idea about the casino not being available in the day time in port.. what time does it usually open back up in the evening?

 

One more question if anyone can answer... am I able to switch promotions if I want to after booking? I chose the specialty dining and free wifi for both rooms.. Mom isn't big on drinks but I enjoy a blue moon or a good craft draft with lunch and dinner (definitely would not be able to do more than 4 drinks in a day!) would it be smart of me to change one of those promotions to dining and UDP? or Wifi and UDP? Which is going to give me the most bang for my buck? I booked directly thru NCL and after I chose the dining & wifi the gentleman on the phone told me children under 13 eat for free in the restaurants anyway.. and apparently the dining package is only for 3 nights??

 

I've been researching on this cruise for almost a year now and still feel extremely unprepared, lol..:o

[peg013]

Thank you all for the much needed tips and info! I have discussed this all with her but she insists she "will make it". I don't want to undermine her but.... how much is it to rent a scooter on board just in case?

As far as I know you cannot rent them onboard. You have to order them ahead of time and they deliver it to the ship. You can find the info here: https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising

 

Also, this may be a silly question but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere- are you able to control the temperature in your room? Yes there are thermostats on the wall.

 

I had no idea about the casino not being available in the day time in port.. what time does it usually open back up in the evening?

Casino is open from 9PM until 5AM while in Bermuda. (Most ports the casino is closed)

 

One more question if anyone can answer... am I able to switch promotions if I want to after booking? I chose the specialty dining and free wifi for both rooms.. Mom isn't big on drinks but I enjoy a blue moon or a good craft draft with lunch and dinner (definitely would not be able to do more than 4 drinks in a day!) would it be smart of me to change one of those promotions to dining and UDP? or Wifi and UDP? Which is going to give me the most bang for my buck? I booked directly thru NCL and after I chose the dining & wifi the gentleman on the phone told me children under 13 eat for free in the restaurants anyway.. and apparently the dining package is only for 3 nights??

 

I've been researching on this cruise for almost a year now and still feel extremely unprepared, lol..:o

Yes you can change promos. Just call whoever you booked with and they can make the change for you. The dining package on a 7 night cruise is for 3 nights only. We always select the SDP and the UBP. Even at 4 drinks a day the beverage package would be worth it. And you can try new drinks without worrying about spending money on something you don't like. Virgin drinks (and fountain soda) are also included so you could have some virgin pina coladas or mudslides, etc too.

 

See other answers in bold above.

[mjkacmom]

Children eat free off of the kids menu in specialty restaurants, the same boring kidsmenu that is in every restaurant. If they order from the specialty restaurant menu, they pay full price. At those ages, my kids were not content with chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, etc.

[mking8288]

Decks 5, 6, 7, 8 and 15 on the BA has fairly wide & accessible friendly hallways, corridors for pax using motorized scooters, walkers & wheelchairs, etc.

 

Deck 12 AFT ... ahead of the AFT elevators or behind, the passage or hallway can be and are generally narrower, except around the elevators & stairs - especially when housekeeping or Room Stewards are out & about during their service hours, with the carts and bins, etc.

 

Allow extra time to get around to most dining revenues during peak time, squeezing into those "smaller" elevators can be a challenge so best to have someone to act as escort. It can be easier at times to ride in the opposite direction (up or down) but the key is to get into one first.

 

Contact NCL's Special Needs/Access Desk to alert them now prior to sailing - what type of stateroom are you booked/confirmed now - something like a foldable dual transport walker/chair might be handy & easier to use vs. a motorized scooter.

i.e. http://justwalkers.com/duet-transport-chair-rollator.html

 

Once in Bermuda, it is still a fairly long walk from the gangways (deck 4, usually ... if I recall correctly) into the terminal building/security checkpoint ... then outside. There are free shuttles to loop around the Dockyard area, taking you closer to various transportation options - she will need to be able to climb up & step down from the courtesy shuttle tram. Have an umbrella and/or oversized straw/cotton hat for sun/uv protection - as it can be quite hot even with a cool sea breeze.

 

Check out some of the Dockyard & BA video shared/posted on YT to get a better idea of the travel & walking distance ... and, drinking water for hydration, BYO eco-friendly reusable bottles.

Edited July 18, 2017 by mking8288

[darlene62]

I completely understand your concerns. My mom had breathing issues due to cancer which severely impacted her mobility. She had a lot of pride but thankfully we were able to get her to allow a wheelchair escort on ship. I had been on Breakaway prior to going with my mom so I had an idea of layout of ship. There inst a lot of "rest" stops on ship.I knew what activities my mom would enjoy such as casino. What I opted to do, and not cheap but I decided to go with a haven spa suite (warning i didn't know this but bed is king size only, no pullouts! ) I selected a cabin midship close to elevators. I planned out what areas I could get her to. The MDR and buffet would be difficult for her and few rest stops she could sit. I could get her to La Cucinia and Maltings, shakers with relative ease and the shops with a rest stop. I could also get her to the casino and o'sheenhans (sp?). With the Haven package was able to get SP dining like Cagney's delivered to cabin (she was a bit pissy because she wanted to go there). I thankfully had an awesome butler in GIan and he was so so good with her. I can tell you the hallways can be quite narrow and wheelchair and scooter access a bit difficult.....not that I could talk her into using either. We also had an issue getting to our spot in the muster drill. I was able to get her to the atrium but not to our assigned spot. Thankfully the staff was extremely accommodating. The elevators were an issue after drill. We had to wait over 30 minutes before I would let her get up and stand for the long wait. She was not so happy with me. As far as leaving ship....if you have breathing and mobility issues it can be overwhelming. There is a webcam of the Bermuda port..Breakaway is there from Wednesday till Friday. I would suggest taking a look and judging for yourself. Mom was very stubborn and refused anything that could bring more attention to her condition. We took the trip last April and mom passed away in August. She often told me what an awesome time she had. Wishing you the best for you and your family.