Wheelchair or Scooter rental?

[RoperDK]

I did search the forum, but didn't get the answer I needed.  I am determined to cruise prior to a hip replacement.  I can walk, but long distances and prolonged standing really do me in.  I can rent a wheelchair or scooter to help me out.  I don't have a handicap cabin.  My husband can push the wheelchair for my longer travels.  I will use my cane for short distances.  I am a bit scared of a scooter.  Elevators and tight spaces with a lot of people make me break out in a cold sweat.  I have used wheelchair assistance to get on board and disembark before.  Can you fold and park your wheelchair or park your scooter outside of the casino or dining areas?  Has anyone had one stolen?  Any helpful hints would be appreciated.  FYI...we are on a Royal Caribbean Oasis class ship  and it is BIG.  

[GUT2407]

If you don’t have an accessible cabin the scooter would need to be a smaller model.

 

I have often transferred from my powerchair to a seat in the MDR and the crew or Mrs Gut park it out of the way. Some crew seem to enjoy going for a ride.

[Schoifmom]

So, since you are ambulatory and wheelchairs fold, the door size is not a particular issue for you.  Depending on the class of cabin you have, space may be an issue.  The wheelchair cannot be stored in the hallway.

 

I would recommend going to a grocery store or big box store and trying out a scooter.  You may find that the independence is worth the additional anxiety of dealing with the elevators.

 

On Carnival, there are plenty of areas where wheelchairs and scooters can be parked just inside of the MDR and theaters.  I cannot imagine that RC would be any different.  We have never had an issue with anyone bothering DH's scooter.

[kokopelli-az]

Yes you can park your wheelchair outside the dining areas.   Outside the main dining rooms there will be scooters and other mobility devices parked outside.    My husband has always taken his rental scooter to the buffet and parked it inside the buffet beside a wall out of the way.   Scooters and wheelchairs can be parked outside the casino; just find a wall that you can park next to that is out of the way.   We've never had a scooter (or wheelchair for that matter) stolen.   I wouldn't leave one unattended at a port stop, though.  

 

If you have a mobility store nearby, you might try out a test drive on a scooter.   They are really very easy to navigate.    The two main scooter rental places (scootaround and SpecialNeedsAtSea) use the Pride brand of scooters.  We've rented from both places and have gotten the same exact scooter model from both companies.  

 

If you get a scooter and are waiting for an elevator, wait for an empty (or nearly empty) one.   Back in to the elevator if you can.  Take an empty elevator car no matter which way it is going because you will get to your destination eventually.   The crew will help you up and down the ramp when the ship is docked at a port stop.   If one of your stops requires the use of a tender, you won't be able to take the scooter on the tender.    https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/mobility-disabilities

 

If you are considering renting a scooter (which your husband will appreciate after pushing a wheelchair around - believe me, I've done it), you might check with Royal's Access Department to see if they have any accessible staterooms available.   (866) 592-7225 or special_needs@rccl.com     Also check with one of the mentioned scooter rental companies and decide which scooter you want to rent and ask them how wide it is.     Royal's non-accessible stateroom doors are at least 23" wide.

 

Interestingly, when I first suggested my husband rent a scooter several years ago, he was not the least bit interested and wanted to just use his wheelchair (or rather, have me push him in his wheelchair).   He finally tried a scooter out in a mobility store and he thought it was ok but he still wasn't interested in renting one for the ship.  Finally, I said that I would rent one for him and if he didn't like it on the ship, he didn't have to use it and could just stick with his wheelchair.   Well... he was so excited about his scooter that he's never looked back.   I think it's what he looks forward to most when we cruise and he's always asking me if I've ordered his scooter.   He's a totally new and independent person on the scooter.   

[GRBlizz]

If you decide on a wheelchair instead of a scooter, definitely try to buy one locally on craigslist or facebook marketplace. You can get one for a fraction of the rental price, and you will have it for all travel to and from the port. If you and hubby are fine with him pushing, you can also buy a "transport" chair for about $100 and then own it for all future needs.

[kokopelli-az]

7 hours ago, GRBlizz said:

 If you and hubby are fine with him pushing, you can also buy a "transport" chair for about $100 and then own it for all future needs.

My husband has a transport chair.   They are slightly harder to push if you are on carpet because they don't have the large wheelchair-type wheels but the advantage is that they are a lot easier to fit into a vehicle.

[ProfessorEFFE]

I bought a smart scoot 5+ years ago.  Simply because we take cruises, go to Disney etc., and it's MUCH cheaper to own your own.  There are MANY MANY scooters out there and by no means am I trying to steer you toward a smartscoot.  HOWEVER, I have taken my scooter to the Coliseum, The Roman Forum, the Vatican, All over Spain ... Barcelona, Mont Blanc.  All over Malta.

 

NEVER had a problem!  Well until Southwest Air decided to force something and broke it!  The parts were 25 bucks.  The rear wheels can be narrowed to less than 29 inches to fit through stateroom doors.  It breaks down so you could store it under the bed.

 

Don't be afraid of scooters most rentals have a Turtle - Rabbit dial use the Turtle setting (slowest Speed) till you get used to it.  Really don't have your hubby push you all over the place it's tiring.

[Pie]

On 8/2/2022 at 2:17 PM, ProfessorEFFE said:

I bought a smart scoot 5+ years ago.  Simply because we take cruises, go to Disney etc., and it's MUCH cheaper to own your own.  There are MANY MANY scooters out there and by no means am I trying to steer you toward a smartscoot.  HOWEVER, I have taken my scooter to the Coliseum, The Roman Forum, the Vatican, All over Spain ... Barcelona, Mont Blanc.  All over Malta.

 

NEVER had a problem!  Well until Southwest Air decided to force something and broke it!  The parts were 25 bucks.  The rear wheels can be narrowed to less than 29 inches to fit through stateroom doors.  It breaks down so you could store it under the bed.

 

Don't be afraid of scooters most rentals have a Turtle - Rabbit dial use the Turtle setting (slowest Speed) till you get used to it.  Really don't have your hubby push you all over the place it's tiring.

I also have a smartscoot and love love love it