Assistive Services at Port of Tampa for a Paradise cruise

[BarbieGee]

Our cruise in February will have 2 people who have issues walking long distances 'up hill'. I am not sure what sorts of services could help these 2 adults manage that long ramp to the ship. Wheel Chair? Scooter? If  a wheel chair is used, must this be ordered in advance? We may not need the chair to debark at the end of the cruise as the ramp is then all 'down hill'. They are able to walk well enough to get around the ship once on board. It is just that long walk up the gangway. I contacted the Port of Tampa and they referred me to Carnival to arrange assistance. Has anyone used Assistive Services at the Port of Tampa? If so, what was the procedure?

[Essiesmom]

On the Carnival website is a number for special needs.  Call them and tell them you have two who will need wheelchair assistance for boarding.  It may not get you anything, but worth a try.  But when you get to the terminal, tell them you need two wheelchairs.  You might ask on the Gulf Coast Departures board how they handle wheelchair embark at NOLA.  It’s under North American Homeports.  EM

[Schoifmom]

You can contact Special Needs at Carnival and let them know in advance that they will require wheelchair assistance, but this is not mandatory.  Simply find the first employee you see at the port and let them know that you have two people who need wheelchair assistance.  They will direct you where to go and port employees will provide assistance to a certain point in the process, then ship employees will take over.  They will provide assistance to the atrium.