Adventure Of The Seas Wheelchair Questions

[clean1owner]

Sailing Adventure Of The Seas in February, leaving Port Everglades. First time ever sailing with someone who uses a wheelchair, and have a few questions

 

1: Looking for transportation recommendations from FLL to the hotel, then from the hotel to the pier. 

 

2: Does RCCL have any special entry points for people in wheelchairs?

 

3: Does RCCL provide wheelchair pushers?

 

4: We plan on arriving at the pier by about 10:30 so we have plenty of time to unload etc. Is there a shaded area to wait in?

 

Anybody with personal experience  or good knowledge that can pass along some advice will be greatly appreciated!

[Snit13]

DH and I both use wheelchairs to board.  There are people who will push you in the port's wheelchairs and also in your own wheelchair.  Last cruise we took our own for DH and also rented a scooter from Scootaround.  Picked the scooter up just inside terminal after we checked in.  They had a young man who pushed DH and I rode the scooter.  He took us directly to Chops where we had a lunch reservation.

Royal does not supply wheelchairs for you to use on the ship.  We arranged with Guest Services to have DH wheeled off ship and again I rode the scooter we rented.

We have arranged wheelchairs for Port Everglades, Port of Tampa as well as Port Canaveral.  Get in touch with Special Needs in advance.

[Clarea]

15 hours ago, clean1owner said:

 .... 4: We plan on arriving at the pier by about 10:30 so we have plenty of time to unload etc. Is there a shaded area to wait in? ...

 

You will be allowed inside the terminal at 10:30am.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Not sure how mobile your wheelchair passenger is but you might want to contact special needs for any additional help. If you don’t have a handicapped cabin you might need things like a chair for the shower (again depending on how handicapped the passenger is ).

 

Also check with guest services about special arrangements for muster drill. 

[kokopelli-az]

Is the wheelchair foldable?    We have always used a taxi from the hotel to the pier but we let them know we have a fold-up wheelchair.   If not foldable, you may need a van for transportation.   Also check with your hotel to see if they have any suggestions.   We also used a taxi from the pier to the airport upon disembarkation.  There are many taxis lined up when you're ready to go to the airport.

 

There are no special entry points that I know of for wheelchair people but once inside the terminal, look for the lines for wheelchairs/canes/mobility devices.   There are plenty of RCCL employees in the terminal to get you to the right line.  Yes, they have pushers to push you once you get checked in and take you to your room (if it is available) or any other public area in the ship.  And also pushers to help on and off the ship at ports.   And a special meeting place for wheelchairs upon disembarkation where they will also have wheelchair pushers to get you off the ship.   (There are no pushers available while on the ship  - like to push from your room to the dining room, etc.)  

 

If you need wheelchair assistance at the airport, let your airline know.  You can keep the wheelchair with you and check it at the door to the plane (where they will take it and put it with the strollers, etc). 

 

Since you are arriving early, if you have suitcases consider leaving them with one of the porters at the terminal and they will be delivered to your room later in the day.  No use lugging them around.

 

Definitely let RCCL know your situation and complete their Special Needs form:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/mobility-disabilities

 

[Joseph2017China]

On ‎12‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 6:01 PM, clean1owner said:

Sailing Adventure Of The Seas in February, leaving Port Everglades. First time ever sailing with someone who uses a wheelchair, and have a few questions

 

1: Looking for transportation recommendations from FLL to the hotel, then from the hotel to the pier.  TAXI. We use taxi's all over the world.  Based on your description, this is just a standard wheelchair, so my assumption is that it folds like a standard wheelchair. 

 

2: Does RCCL have any special entry points for people in wheelchairs?  Generally speaking, entry points for any transportation (planes, cars, ships) will always be the same.  You will enter the gangway like everyone else.

 

3: Does RCCL provide wheelchair pushers?  Generally speaking, I would rather push than to have to wait around for someone else.  The "pusher" only takes you from the pier onto the ship.  The remaining 7 days, you need to do it.  Same with getting off.  I just never bothered having someone else help me for that short distance when I was responsible for the other 7 days.

 

4: We plan on arriving at the pier by about 10:30 so we have plenty of time to unload etc. Is there a shaded area to wait in? They are checking people in at 10:30, but that seams to be the most hectic time.  You can arrive a little later, there will be less waiting and lines.

 

On ‎12‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 6:01 PM, clean1owner said:

 

Anybody with personal experience  or good knowledge that can pass along some advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

We travel with travel scooters around the world.  First thing to remember is that the airlines will check the wheelchair. You can do it at the gate or at the ticket counter.  If you want it gate checked, and you have a connecting flight, they deliver it to you at the gate, and you need to push it in the airport.  IF you check the chair to your destination, it will be picked up at luggage pick-up, with the oversized luggage.  In that case, the airlines will provide you with wheelchair transport between gates.

 

It would be helpful if we understood what the wheelchair is for.  Is it for a person with limited mobility?  Is it full time?  Can they walk on the ship?  It's really hard to push wheelchairs on carpet.  Maybe consider getting a scooter.  If you search hard enough, you can buy them for under $700.00. 

[clean1owner]

9 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

You will be allowed inside the terminal at 10:30am.

 

 

Thank You

 

[clean1owner]

8 hours ago, Grandma Dazzles said:

Not sure how mobile your wheelchair passenger is but you might want to contact special needs for any additional help. If you don’t have a handicapped cabin you might need things like a chair for the shower (again depending on how handicapped the passenger is ).

 

Also check with guest services about special arrangements for muster drill. 

 

Thank you for the suggestions

[clean1owner]

On 12/14/2018 at 5:14 PM, Snit13 said:

DH and I both use wheelchairs to board.  There are people who will push you in the port's wheelchairs and also in your own wheelchair.  Last cruise we took our own for DH and also rented a scooter from Scootaround.  Picked the scooter up just inside terminal after we checked in.  They had a young man who pushed DH and I rode the scooter.  He took us directly to Chops where we had a lunch reservation.

Royal does not supply wheelchairs for you to use on the ship.  We arranged with Guest Services to have DH wheeled off ship and again I rode the scooter we rented.

We have arranged wheelchairs for Port Everglades, Port of Tampa as well as Port Canaveral.  Get in touch with Special Needs in advance.

 

26 minutes ago, kokopelli-az said:

Is the wheelchair foldable?    We have always used a taxi from the hotel to the pier but we let them know we have a fold-up wheelchair.   If not foldable, you may need a van for transportation.   Also check with your hotel to see if they have any suggestions.   We also used a taxi from the pier to the airport upon disembarkation.  There are many taxis lined up when you're ready to go to the airport.

 

There are no special entry points that I know of for wheelchair people but once inside the terminal, look for the lines for wheelchairs/canes/mobility devices.   There are plenty of RCCL employees in the terminal to get you to the right line.  Yes, they have pushers to push you once you get checked in and take you to your room (if it is available) or any other public area in the ship.  And also pushers to help on and off the ship at ports.   And a special meeting place for wheelchairs upon disembarkation where they will also have wheelchair pushers to get you off the ship.   (There are no pushers available while on the ship  - like to push from your room to the dining room, etc.)  

 

If you need wheelchair assistance at the airport, let your airline know.  You can keep the wheelchair with you and check it at the door to the plane (where they will take it and put it with the strollers, etc). 

 

Since you are arriving early, if you have suitcases consider leaving them with one of the porters at the terminal and they will be delivered to your room later in the day.  No use lugging them around.

 

Definitely let RCCL know your situation and complete their Special Needs form:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/mobility-disabilities

 

 

5 minutes ago, Joseph2017China said:

 

 

We travel with travel scooters around the world.  First thing to remember is that the airlines will check the wheelchair. You can do it at the gate or at the ticket counter.  If you want it gate checked, and you have a connecting flight, they deliver it to you at the gate, and you need to push it in the airport.  IF you check the chair to your destination, it will be picked up at luggage pick-up, with the oversized luggage.  In that case, the airlines will provide you with wheelchair transport between gates.

 

It would be helpful if we understood what the wheelchair is for.  Is it for a person with limited mobility?  Is it full time?  Can they walk on the ship?  It's really hard to push wheelchairs on carpet.  Maybe consider getting a scooter.  If you search hard enough, you can buy them for under $700.00. 

 

Thank you all for the info.

 

I thought I posted a bunch of this info previously, but maybe not.

 

We are bringing a fold up wheelchair from home, and know about gate checking it. Mom is semi mobile, so with help she can walk short distances. We have arranged for a scooter on board, that I have been told will be delivered to the stateroom. So during the cruise I have no worries.  My biggest concerns were transportation from FLL to hotel, and to port. We have 4 people with bags and the chair, so I don't know if a taxi will work. Was thinking about a larger Lyft ride, but those can be hit or miss. Whenever we have booked space on transportation through a hotel, it is some sort of a bus, and I don't want Mom to have to navigate stairs.

I have actually been considering renting a van or full sized pickup for a day, and turning it in after dropping everyone off at the pier, but I haven't looked into it in detail yet. Was hoping to get advice from people with real life experience in this situation. 

 

Was also concerned about debarkation. We all know about the long lines snaking down the stairwells, and elevators unusable, so I really don't know how they take care of wheelchair passengers (I have yet to see any of them being pushed down the stairs).

 

Once again, thank you for all the info.

[payitforward]

10 minutes ago, clean1owner said:

 

 

 

Thank you all for the info.

 

I thought I posted a bunch of this info previously, but maybe not.

 

We are bringing a fold up wheelchair from home, and know about gate checking it. Mom is semi mobile, so with help she can walk short distances. We have arranged for a scooter on board, that I have been told will be delivered to the stateroom. So during the cruise I have no worries.  My biggest concerns were transportation from FLL to hotel, and to port. We have 4 people with bags and the chair, so I don't know if a taxi will work. Was thinking about a larger Lyft ride, but those can be hit or miss. Whenever we have booked space on transportation through a hotel, it is some sort of a bus, and I don't want Mom to have to navigate stairs.

I have actually been considering renting a van or full sized pickup for a day, and turning it in after dropping everyone off at the pier, but I haven't looked into it in detail yet. Was hoping to get advice from people with real life experience in this situation. 

 

Was also concerned about debarkation. We all know about the long lines snaking down the stairwells, and elevators unusable, so I really don't know how they take care of wheelchair passengers (I have yet to see any of them being pushed down the stairs).

 

Once again, thank you for all the info.

 

If it's a manual, fold up wheelchair and she can stand, it's very easy to get a van taxi in Fort Lauderdale. Worst case scenario, you can take two taxis or two Ubers. It's a short an inexpensive ride. Also, check with the place you rented the scooter from. While they used to only deliver to the cabins, lately they have had the option to pick up in the port area as well.

 

When you get to the terminal, and they see you with the wheelchair, they usually waive you into a separate line for handicapped boarding. If you are able to push her onto the ship, it will save you some time. It often takes forever to wait for them to push you.

Once on the ship, you will either get a letter in your stateroom, or check with guest services about disembarkation. They will provide you with a meeting place and time to be taken off of the ship. When getting off of the ship with my personal scooter, there has always been someone to escort me to the elevator, and I've had no problems getting on one. Sometimes I've been escorted past the long line and sometimes I've waited in it on my scooter. Hard to say which will be the case.

You don't say what kind of cabin she has. If it's not accessible, the scooter will still fit in a regular balcony cabin, but it's much easier if you select one where the beds are closer to the balcony.

[Snit13]

17 hours ago, payitforward said:

 

If it's a manual, fold up wheelchair and she can stand, it's very easy to get a van taxi in Fort Lauderdale. Worst case scenario, you can take two taxis or two Ubers. It's a short an inexpensive ride. Also, check with the place you rented the scooter from. While they used to only deliver to the cabins, lately they have had the option to pick up in the port area as well.

 

When you get to the terminal, and they see you with the wheelchair, they usually waive you into a separate line for handicapped boarding. If you are able to push her onto the ship, it will save you some time. It often takes forever to wait for them to push you.

Once on the ship, you will either get a letter in your stateroom, or check with guest services about disembarkation. They will provide you with a meeting place and time to be taken off of the ship. When getting off of the ship with my personal scooter, there has always been someone to escort me to the elevator, and I've had no problems getting on one. Sometimes I've been escorted past the long line and sometimes I've waited in it on my scooter. Hard to say which will be the case.

You don't say what kind of cabin she has. If it's not accessible, the scooter will still fit in a regular balcony cabin, but it's much easier if you select one where the beds are closer to the balcony.

We have never had to wait to be pushed onto the ship.  We have a "transporter" which folds.  The scooter was not an issue since we were in a GS this past cruise.  Would not want to try to get a scooter into a cabin smaller than a balcony.  Not that good a driver.

[clean1owner]

On 12/14/2018 at 5:14 PM, Snit13 said:

DH and I both use wheelchairs to board.  There are people who will push you in the port's wheelchairs and also in your own wheelchair.  Last cruise we took our own for DH and also rented a scooter from Scootaround.  Picked the scooter up just inside terminal after we checked in.  They had a young man who pushed DH and I rode the scooter.  He took us directly to Chops where we had a lunch reservation.

Royal does not supply wheelchairs for you to use on the ship.  We arranged with Guest Services to have DH wheeled off ship and again I rode the scooter we rented.

We have arranged wheelchairs for Port Everglades, Port of Tampa as well as Port Canaveral.  Get in touch with Special Needs in advance.

 

Thank you for the reply. I'm asking for my mother, who has only recently started using a wheelchair. We are bringing her wheelchair from home for her to use until we get on board. We are renting a scooter for her to use once we board. Apparently they deliver it to the stateroom.

 

How about check-in and boarding?  Do they have separate wheelchair lanes or do you just go through the regular lines?

 

For debarkation, do they take you down a service elevator or one of the regulars?

 

Sorry if I'm bombarding you with questions, but with all the cruises I've been on, I have never noticed any of the wheelchair procedures.

 

Also, if you have any suggestions for transportation to / from the port, it would be GREATLY appreciated.

[clean1owner]

Mom has an accessible balcony, so I'm sure the scooter won't be an issue.

 

Decided to rent a full sized 4 door pickup. $50 for the day, which is probably less than we would spend on taxi fares. Plus the drop off lot is about 1 mile from the pier, with shuttle service. 

Now my only concern is getting from the pier to FLL after disembarkation. Hoping to be able to get a large taxi or van.

[Grandma Dazzles]

1 hour ago, clean1owner said:

Mom has an accessible balcony, so I'm sure the scooter won't be an issue.

 

Decided to rent a full sized 4 door pickup. $50 for the day, which is probably less than we would spend on taxi fares. Plus the drop off lot is about 1 mile from the pier, with shuttle service. 

Now my only concern is getting from the pier to FLL after disembarkation. Hoping to be able to get a large taxi or van.

When you disembark they have a very efficient system with cabs lined up and a dispatcher filling them.  There are vans, SUV and standard cabs. I don’t think you will have any difficulty.  Have done 3 adults and 3 kids (grade school; not toddlers) and lots of luggage in a mini van type cab. Very quick trip as airport is so close to the cruise terminal.  Cab ride is around $15.  

[mlbcruiser]

Since this issue was touched on on one of the posts above. . . For those who rent scooters, they are not always picked up in the terminal nor always waiting inside your cabin. According to Special Needs @ Sea, it depends upon your ship. Their’s are picked up in the terminal for certain ships (Harmony and I THINK Oasis and Allure),  but will be waiting in your stateroom on other ships. ( The drawback to that is there won’t be an agent to instruct the renter on operating the scooter, demonstrating it, or giving tips that might be useful. ) Not sure how they do it with re to wheelchairs. This may be  different on other cruise lines. Could even vary by port (?).  

 

 

[clean1owner]

1 hour ago, Grandma Dazzles said:

When you disembark they have a very efficient system with cabs lined up and a dispatcher filling them.  There are vans, SUV and standard cabs. I don’t think you will have any difficulty.  Have done 3 adults and 3 kids (grade school; not toddlers) and lots of luggage in a mini van type cab. Very quick trip as airport is so close to the cruise terminal.  Cab ride is around $15.  

 

Thank you for the info!

We have 4 adults with bags and the wheelchair. Hopefully there will be something big enough to take us all in one trip,