Upset and concerned....

[James4me]

I’ve had back issues for years, 8 surgeries already.  My DH and I have booked the Panorama May, 2020.  I’ve been in a lot of pain lately and I’m facing yet another surgery which I’ll postpone until after the cruise.  Is it very difficult to get around in a wheelchair?  We are cruising the Mexican Riviera and I know I’ll be unable to access the tender In Cabo.  However Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta I’ll be able to get off the ship.  I can walk but then the pain just hits and I need to sit down, thus needing a wheelchair.  I’m just wondering about those who had/have similar circumstances and was it a good experience for you.  

[sand33647]

Having long term chronic back pain myself, I would suggest renting a mobility scooter. With a wheelchair, you will need a “pusher” unless you are able to maneuver it yourself. A scooter will give you independence on such a large ship. A regular transport scooter from Scootaround will fit through a standard cabin door and can be taken off the ship. I can’t tell you anything about excursions as we have been cruising so long, that we rarely get off the ship. 

 

I know, I know, I hate being one of those who are considered “inconsiderate” people by other cruisers, but I much rather be able to enjoy my cruise and not have to be everywhere my DH is or be dependent on him getting me from one place to another. Can it be a literal pain in the butt, yea but it is worth it to me to be able to enjoy my vacation and not be in constant pain. 

 

It can take time to get from one place to another or wait for an available elevator, but where else do I have to be? I have found that humor goes a long way when traveling with a scooter.

 

Also tell anyone with Carnival when you arrive at the port that you will need wheelchair assistance. It can be a looooong way to the ship. If I had to walk the entire way to board, well I would just have to stay home. Some days just getting to the bathroom seems more than my back will allow me to do and surgery is not an option. 

 

You should probably go to a local grocery store to practice. It does take some practice to understand how to turn, backup and know that it doesn’t stop on a dime. I hope that you find what will work best for you and enjoy your cruise.

[tonit964]

Renting a scooter would be the way to go. It will give you freedom around the ship and not always need someone to push you in the wheelchair.

[crochetcruise]

It's the "other cruisers" who object to you being aboard who are "the pain in the butt!" People who have never experienced being handicapped, IMHO, are often the most thoughtless and intolerant people.

 

[RWolver672]

I see that you are cruising on the Panorama.  It will have the new elevator system where when you call for the elevator, you hit the floor button one time for each passenger.  Please hit it one more time than what you need.  If it's you and your husband, press the button three times.  That allows for the extra space that your scooter will take up.

[coevan]

really? people hit it 10 times all the time, never heard of this

[sanmarcosman]

5 minutes ago, coevan said:

really? people hit it 10 times all the time, never heard of this

Watch this for the answer:  

 

[Nic6318]

Hi James

 

I agree that a electric mobility will make things easier for you around the ship. 

 

I gather you are currently using a regular folding wheelchair. Having both would be optimum, that is assuming that somebody is able to help push you. There are few to no excursions that will accommodate a mobility scooter. That is not the case with the folding wheelchair. You would be able to bring it on many busses as well as taxis. If you are able to walk the gangplank and possibly a few steps up or down, you would also be able to get on the tender at Cabo. The crew will simply pass the wheelchair over, they will rarely make allowance for an electric scooter. 

 

hope this helps

have a great cruise

[May1cruiser]

we recently rented a scooter and had a private tour in Cozumel. The driver and I simply placed the scooter in the back of the tour van. Simple as could be. Now both of my parents want to rent the scooters on the next cruise. Yes, there are some waits for the elevator, however, the comfort and smiles were worth the wait.

[Elaine5715]

22 hours ago, sand33647 said:

Having long term chronic back pain myself, I would suggest renting a mobility scooter. With a wheelchair, you will need a “pusher” unless you are able to maneuver it yourself. A scooter will give you independence on such a large ship. A regular transport scooter from Scootaround will fit through a standard cabin door and can be taken off the ship. I can’t tell you anything about excursions as we have been cruising so long, that we rarely get off the ship. 

 

I know, I know, I hate being one of those who are considered “inconsiderate” people by other cruisers, but I much rather be able to enjoy my cruise and not have to be everywhere my DH is or be dependent on him getting me from one place to another. Can it be a literal pain in the butt, yea but it is worth it to me to be able to enjoy my vacation and not be in constant pain. 

 

It can take time to get from one place to another or wait for an available elevator, but where else do I have to be? I have found that humor goes a long way when traveling with a scooter.

 

Also tell anyone with Carnival when you arrive at the port that you will need wheelchair assistance. It can be a looooong way to the ship. If I had to walk the entire way to board, well I would just have to stay home. Some days just getting to the bathroom seems more than my back will allow me to do and surgery is not an option. 

 

You should probably go to a local grocery store to practice. It does take some practice to understand how to turn, backup and know that it doesn’t stop on a dime. I hope that you find what will work best for you and enjoy your cruise.

Those who are considered "inconsiderate" are usually those who are acting inconsiderately.  Like racing ahead because their scooter can move faster, those who push through a crowd that normally they would not walk through, leaving the scooter in the hallway or in walkways in the casino.

The grocery store practice is a great idea

[AmativeDame]

I think the consideration of a scooter is a good idea, but I wanted to also suggest a combo rollator/transport chair.  There are a couple different models out now from around $150 and up (or about the price of a cheap wheelchair if you were to actual purchase one.)  Obviously you know your own limitations but it came to mind to me because you mentioned the need to sit.  I deal with my own back issues and this resonated with me and I often use a rollator for this reason.  One of these upgraded ones feel like it might help because if you wanted to get out on your own you could think of it as a walking seat.  If you still need to sit but need to move from place to place the back of the seat typical moves and allows it to "morph" into a transport chair.  Might be a good solution depending on what you actually need.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Function-Transport-Wheelchair/dp/B001FWY1JI&ved=2ahUKEwiLsr3LoszmAhWHPM0KHVB_AfwQFjAUegQICBAC&usg=AOvVaw2eA0mrcXrGgsr3Jt4vP3-i

 

[GUT2407]

A power wheelchair is the way to go in my opinion, so much more convenient and easier to get in and out of tight spaces.

 

this is the one I take on cruises

[James4me]

Thank you all for your responses.  I used to be pain free and agile, walking full flights of stairs rather than using the elevator.   Unfortunately something happened to my back and it’s to the point that walking even short distances is possible but painful.  I don’t want to be a burden with anyone on our cruise While navigating with a either a wheelchair or scooter.  I only want to be able to get about and enjoy this cruise as best that I can.  

[GUT2407]

Our conditions are not dissimilar, a standard wheelchair you will probably be reliant on someone to push you, I know that much of the time wheeling myself leads to pain especially in the neck and shoulder region, the great thing about my current chair is it fold like a manual one so can get through narrow doorways if we don’t have an accessible cabin and the big wheels mean that it is easy to push if I end up with flat batteries, I am a big bloke my wife is tiny whe can push it fairly easily, chairs with smaller wheels cause some difficulty when we have to go manual.

[Mr. Tomas]

On 12/8/2019 at 1:39 AM, RWolver672 said:

I see that you are cruising on the Panorama.  It will have the new elevator system where when you call for the elevator, you hit the floor button one time for each passenger.  Please hit it one more time than what you need.  If it's you and your husband, press the button three times.  That allows for the extra space that your scooter will take up.

 

i am cruising on the Panorama in January, and one of the reasons I booked the ship were those elevators. One of the worst parts of a cruise for someone in a chair or scooter is people not letting you in the elevator at busy times.  This system seems like a great idea. I’m new to Carnival, and am curious if all their new ships will have that system, as my wife and I are on the Celebration in 24

Edited October 6, 2021 by Mr. Tomas

[KBs mum]

I've found that people are generally more understanding when I use my wheelchair instead of my scooter. The wheelchair will make excursion transport easier, the scooter will be a lot easier when it comes to getting around streets etc. 

The other thing is will a scooter fit in your cabin, if not what are the storage/charging arrangements? 

For what it's worth I travel with the wheelchair and leave the scooter at home. Hubby is good at pushing it though. 

We use Google Street View to have a look at slopes and surfaces ahead of a trip, to see which option is likely to be best 

 

[Wanna_Cruize]

There are accessible tenders for Cabo, we were on one just a month or so ago for our Panorama cruise. 

[mexico8]

I cruise with a Travelscoot and I can go on the tenders with my scooter.   My husband can lift it from the ship onto the tender boat himself (the crew do assist).  No problems.   It weights less than 40 lbs. and even I can lift it into the trunk on my car.  Hence, the name is so appropriate "Travelscoot".   Not cheap but worth every penny for me to be able to enjoy life to the fullest.

[Marie51]

Can scooters be used in the sand at the beach?

[katisdale]

I have found that neither scooters nor wheelchairs do well in sand. I find very wide wheels do work well in sand and at some beaches there are beach wheelchairs that can not only be used on sand but also to enter the water.

[mexico8]

The Travelscoot will not work in sand or loose gravel.   Very good on pavement and packed stones but not loose stones.