Only 28 days to go... and so much has changed...

[EL Pitman]

"Hello EL, Your cruise starts in 28 days!!"  Its FINALLY almost here!  We had our first ever cruise Sept of 2020 and immediately scheduled another for the following year... and you know how well that went.  We came through the pandemic with flying colors (knock on wood), but my own health issues have caused some major changes that will affect this vacation.  It leads me to a few questions.  First, can you order 1/2 portions in the MDR?  I love food, but cannot eat much without getting ill, and I HATE wasting food, or worse yet, sending back barley touched plates making people think I do not like the food.  I'm terrified if people think I'm a disgruntled customer, they'll spit in my food or something.  The other is I've just been told i now need to use a walker.  (54 years old and I'm now using a walker.... plethora of emotions, partly anger because there goes a LOT of planned excursions....) Is a walker considered a piece of luggage?   I have never been on a tender before, is there room for a walker if it folds up?  Thank you!

[ninjacat123]

I have ordered appetizer portions of Spaghetti Carbonara.  It was still a lot of food!  Maybe the kitchen would do appetizer portions of what you want.

Sorry to hear about your mobility issues.  I'm cruising with my mom who has mobility issues and will be interested to hear what others have to say.

Hope your cruise is great!!

[firefly333]

Idk which tender port but Belize does some hc tenders, not all. Scooters now can go down and load. I'm sure your walker is a nothing burger vs a big electric scooter. 

 

I'd never seen a hand out for hc tenders before, so it was news to me. They cant print the fun times but they can print a page on tendering to Belize. 

[GranysT]

My husband has used a walker on cruises for several years now. You can get it on a tender easily, especially since it folds. His has a seat, so it's even slightly larger than just a plain walker.

However, if you have just a standard cabin, not a handicapped one, be aware the cabin door is a tight fit. You might have to fold it, to get it through the door.  Have a great cruise.

Edited September 19, 2021 by GranysT

[Gma&Gpa]

My husband, the the last few years, has used walkers, wheelchairs and scooters.  We've not had cruises lately with tenders so I can't answer that question - but I want to assure you, regardless, you will have a great time.  Enjoy what you can - just don't over-do it, and wear yourself out.

[DallasGuy75219]

2 hours ago, EL Pitman said:

First, can you order 1/2 portions in the MDR?

Generally, only of the pasta entree.

[EmmasNana]

I have ordered just the appetizers before when I wasn't very hungry or didn't care for the entrees. 

[firefly333]

I was actually on a scooter tender. They boarded and wheeled to the end where we boarded. Which was the back when the tender started. Lots of room but they were in the sun in a uncovered area. 

 

Plenty of room for walkers and the first row or two facing where you boarded of benches was marked for handicapped or those who needed some help. Some were just elderly, didnt have walkers or canes or scooters. There will be no issues. 

[RoperDK]

Well, after a freak reaction to a medication I took a couple of years ago, I share your issues and can help a bit.

 

There shouldn't be any issues with a standard folding walker or even a rollator that has a seat. They tuck away in a corner of the cabin just fine.  I highly recommend that you get handicap assist at the cruise terminal to help you get onboard.  It is very easy. Once you get inside, just ask for wheelchair assist.  Save your steps and energy for moving around the ship and doing fun things. I hold my folded walker on my lap while I get wheeled onboard.  Such a help!  I was so upset that I needed a walker, but I was determined to cruise and had a great time!  As far as tendering is concerned, a folding walker isn't any bulkier than a folding stroller or big beach bag.  There is a lot of help for the transfer to and from the tender. For great information try looking in this forum under Special Interest Cruising -> Disabled Cruise Travel.  They can help you with all of your questions.

 

The MDR food portions are much smaller than they used to be.  You can order the pasta dish as a side/appetizer portion.  I skip a course that doesn't appeal to me, but order what I want.  I usually eat about half of the portion.  Frankly, the only people that seemed to notice are the waitstaff and once I tell them that I can't eat too much at a time, they are fine after that.  In the MDR it is easier for the waitstaff to put in a standard order and not ask for special orders as everything is pre-plated and they have to work harder if you modify the dish.  On several nights, we go to the lido for a slice of pizza, deli sandwich, or small portion off of the buffet.  It is helpful if you have someone to share items with.  Most importantly, enjoy your cruise!!!          

[ninjacat123]

18 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

Well, after a freak reaction to a medication I took a couple of years ago, I share your issues and can help a bit.

 

There shouldn't be any issues with a standard folding walker or even a rollator that has a seat. They tuck away in a corner of the cabin just fine.  I highly recommend that you get handicap assist at the cruise terminal to help you get onboard.  It is very easy. Once you get inside, just ask for wheelchair assist.  Save your steps and energy for moving around the ship and doing fun things. I hold my folded walker on my lap while I get wheeled onboard.  Such a help!  I was so upset that I needed a walker, but I was determined to cruise and had a great time!  As far as tendering is concerned, a folding walker isn't any bulkier than a folding stroller or big beach bag.  There is a lot of help for the transfer to and from the tender. For great information try looking in this forum under Special Interest Cruising -> Disabled Cruise Travel.  They can help you with all of your questions.

 

The MDR food portions are much smaller than they used to be.  You can order the pasta dish as a side/appetizer portion.  I skip a course that doesn't appeal to me, but order what I want.  I usually eat about half of the portion.  Frankly, the only people that seemed to notice are the waitstaff and once I tell them that I can't eat too much at a time, they are fine after that.  In the MDR it is easier for the waitstaff to put in a standard order and not ask for special orders as everything is pre-plated and they have to work harder if you modify the dish.  On several nights, we go to the lido for a slice of pizza, deli sandwich, or small portion off of the buffet.  It is helpful if you have someone to share items with.  Most importantly, enjoy your cruise!!!          

Thank you for the great advice!! 

[Jacble1214]

8 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Idk which tender port but Belize does some hc tenders, not all. Scooters now can go down and load. I'm sure your walker is a nothing burger vs a big electric scooter. 

 

I'd never seen a hand out for hc tenders before, so it was news to me. They cant print the fun times but they can print a page on tendering to Belize. 

Wait!!! What???  I need to know more about tenders that can take scooters.  I guess I'll be contacting Carnival's access people tomorrow.  This will be a game changer for me.

 

[firefly333]

8 hours ago, Jacble1214 said:

Wait!!! What???  I need to know more about tenders that can take scooters.  I guess I'll be contacting Carnival's access people tomorrow.  This will be a game changer for me.

 

Belize definitely had tenders that took scooters. We also got a letter in our staterooms about them. I think scooters had to take the middle elevator, front one we walked down last flight of steps the letter said. 

 

Letter said not all tenders took scooters so you might wait longer, but the only ones I saw took scooters. Just roll on. .. though as I said the lady on a scooter ..the area where she was wasnt covered it was out in the open sun. I've never seen a letter before welcoming ada mobility. Sorry didnt keep a copy. Belize did welcome scooters. And we had one on my tender. They also had what looked like a handicap bar they went behind and I guess could hang onto. Wish I'd kept the letter for you. It welcomed scooters. 

[Bollycats]

On our last cruise my mother was recovering from a broken knee so she was using a scooter around the ship and a walker on shore. When we got to the tender one of the handicap personnel escorted her down into the tender and another one folded up her walker and put it on board for her. It worked very well and she said she felt perfectly secure hanging on to the person's arm.

[EL Pitman]

On 9/19/2021 at 7:09 PM, RoperDK said:

I highly recommend that you get handicap assist at the cruise terminal to help you get onboard.  It is very easy. Once you get inside, just ask for wheelchair assist.  Save your steps and energy for moving around the ship and doing fun things. I hold my folded walker on my lap while I get wheeled onboard.  Such a help!  I was so upset that I needed a walker, but I was determined to cruise and had a great time! 

 Yes!  This is exactly where I am!  I'm quite upset about the whole thing.  Thank you so much for your helpful tips, though!  

[coldinkansas]

On 9/19/2021 at 11:59 AM, EL Pitman said:

"Hello EL, Your cruise starts in 28 days!!"  Its FINALLY almost here!  We had our first ever cruise Sept of 2020 and immediately scheduled another for the following year... and you know how well that went.  We came through the pandemic with flying colors (knock on wood), but my own health issues have caused some major changes that will affect this vacation.  It leads me to a few questions.  First, can you order 1/2 portions in the MDR?  I love food, but cannot eat much without getting ill, and I HATE wasting food, or worse yet, sending back barley touched plates making people think I do not like the food.  I'm terrified if people think I'm a disgruntled customer, they'll spit in my food or something.  The other is I've just been told i now need to use a walker.  (54 years old and I'm now using a walker.... plethora of emotions, partly anger because there goes a LOT of planned excursions....) Is a walker considered a piece of luggage?   I have never been on a tender before, is there room for a walker if it folds up?  Thank you!

As to portion size, maybe they have options on a kids menu. I hate going to a restaurant and getting served portions large enough for 2 or 3 people. I have started ordering off of the kids menu and still have left overs to take home. 

As to your walker question, we were on the Vista in August and the ramp to the tender was walker/cane accessible. The guys will help you on and off.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!!

[asalligo]

On 9/19/2021 at 12:59 PM, EL Pitman said:

First, can you order 1/2 portions in the MDR?  

My wife has tried this many times and it just does not work. They still bring a bunch of food she has to leave on her plate. I can only suggest trying not to worry about it, but my wife still does and it is a reason we also often eat in the buffet. She has the same problem in the buffet now though as there was no self serve on our last cruise and no matter how hard she tried they always gave her larger portions than she asked for. I try to tell her that they are used to dealing with my grandmother who always said just a thin slice and in reality meant half the cake. 

 

 

[ninjacat123]

Can you check the foldable rollator like a piece of luggage at embarkation?  I will request "wheelchair assist" at the terminal, plus my PVP requested this for my mom as well when we booked.  Our foldable rollator doesn't fold tight enough to be carried across my mom's lap while she sits in a wheelchair, getting onboard.  Thank you for any words of wisdom!

[RoperDK]

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

Can you check the foldable rollator like a piece of luggage at embarkation?  I will request "wheelchair assist" at the terminal, plus my PVP requested this for my mom as well when we booked.  Our foldable rollator doesn't fold tight enough to be carried across my mom's lap while she sits in a wheelchair, getting onboard.  Thank you for any words of wisdom!

I don't know about checking the rollator, but I don't think it is a good idea.  The suitcases are just tossed into those bins.  Maybe someone else with more experience with that will reply.  If the people traveling with your Mom are able bodied, I have some ideas.  I have seen traveling companions push the rollator onboard themselves while using it to "tote" their carry on.  If your Mom is able, she can tip and push the rollator ahead of her.  The wheelchair pushers are very accommodating and have run into this situation before.  I am sure there is a way to work it out.  BTW.....the "pushers" are volunteers or off duty crew members and appreciate a tip.