Boarding Assistance Question

[LamenLaur]

Hi all! I've tried to do some research, but I haven't found what I am looking for so I figured I would try here.

 

We are heading out on a cruise in a few weeks and have been in contact with the special needs department as our youngest has autism. They explained to us that they would be able to help us with boarding on embarkation day. If anyone has gone through them for additional assistance with priority check-in and boarding, could you please let me know what your experience was? Just trying to figure out what to expect and game plan. Thank you!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We have done this 3 times now.  In our case it is because DH has a mobility issue.  He walks with a walking stick.  However, to get to the ship--up the steep ramps he needs a wheelchair.  I am not sure what type of assistance you would need. 

 

Have them put on the sea pass that he needs assistance. Make sure you sign up for an embarkation time as soon as they open. That way you can get an early time.  We have found the earlier the less trouble it is.

 

You will need to tell the security person at the port.  We are usually given the wheelchair at this point.    There is usually a special line for assistance.  But some of this is port dependent.   Lately check in has been by iPad and takes only a couple of minutes.  You can get wheelchair assistance and luggage assistance.  You just need to ask for it ahead, as you have done.  

 

We have found them so helpful.  However, depending on the cruise you may be asked it sit in a certain area and wait a while for your turn. [that is why I say to get an early arrival time]  The ship's crew volunteers to do this for tips.  

[mo&fran]

I have experience with Port Everglades (FLL)  and Miami. I would guess you are going to Bayonne, never been in the new terminal there.

 Prior to the cruise, I called Crown and Anchor , and requested wheelchair assistance.  Anybody who answers the main number should be able to direct you call to the correct person. When arriving at the pier, let them know that you have requested assistance, and you get sent to the place the wheelchairs will be available. A port worker will push the chair and your party will accompany him (or her)  They bypass all of the lines, usually going through the suite security and check in, and off to the ramp, at which point a crew member will come and you will all board the ship. 

 At guest services , you can  inquire about the debark process, which generally involves a location where all of the  wheelchairs will be located and they will coordinate the process. 

[Woodmnky]

We have experience with this with our ASD kid. When arriving at the port I find an employee, show them the letter from Special Needs and they usually escort us towards the front if the line towards security. Our experience has been that you still wait in the security and check in lines as normal. If you arrive at the port before boarding begins, you can ask to be let on with the group that needs extra assistance. Overall, it just helps alleviate some of the waiting in lines. 

At disembarkation, each ship has been a bit different. One gave us suite tags so we could get off first, one had a group meet at a specified time and n employee escorted everyone needing this service off, and another ship acted like they had no idea what I was talking about and wasn't able to offer us anything.

[JupiterTwo]

My wife has walking issues and will have hip replacement surgery in two weeks. We had a scooter waiting for her in our stateroom, but she needed special assistance (wheelchair) at the Galveston terminal a few weeks ago for our cruise on the Allure.

 

Once we entered the terminal, we were directed to RCL employees by the elevators. One of them called for a wheelchair to come get us, and that only took a few minutes. The attendant wheeled us upstairs and took us to a separate handicapped check-in area (we were in a Star Class suite and had priority boarding anyway). A woman came by and scanned our boarding docs on our phones, then scanned our passports, then took our pictures (again). After that, our attendant wheeled us through security (our bags were scanned and my wife was hand wanded). He then took us to a boarding ramp where we had to wait for a different attendant (from the ship) to come and take us the rest of the way on a ship's wheelchair.

 

A terminal employee was at the boarding door recording her entry on a log sheet (and our C&A status???), and then we were escorted on board and brought to the Coastal Kitchen for lunch until our stateroom was ready and we can get the scooter.

 

We tipped both the terminal attendant and the ship-board attendant for helping us.

[llachance]

Can't wait to see how it works in Galveston.  My daughter and her son, with special needs documented are in one cabin.  Her 12 year old son is in a connecting cabin.  Because of Army orders his father may not be able to accompany him.  I have, in writing, that if the terminal is too crowded that the 12 year old may not be able to board with his mother.  Now I know this isn't how it will work but I am keeping that email just because it is so rediculous.  It doesn't inspire a lot of confidence though.

 

[Marie51]

We have used assistance for an autistic child but you did not say what kind of assistance you will need. I sent an email to the dining room manager about 3 weeks before the cruise asking for a table by ourselves next to a window and we got just what we wanted. They are also very helpful if you have special dietary needs.

[Cru1s1ng2009]

what kind of assistance do you need? 

[Cru1s1ng2009]

1 hour ago, Marie51 said:

We have used assistance for an autistic child but you did not say what kind of assistance you will need. I sent an email to the dining room manager about 3 weeks before the cruise asking for a table by ourselves next to a window and we got just what we wanted. They are also very helpful if you have special dietary needs.

may i ask how the window helps with your ADS Child?

[Marie51]

53 minutes ago, Cru1s1ng2009 said:

may i ask how the window helps with your ADS Child?

It’s my granddaughter and she’s 14 years old now. She’s been on three cruises. Many people with autism suffer from sensory overload and noise and crowds become overwhelming. If she has a window to look out of it’s much easier for all of us. Will be taking her on her fourth cruise in September.

Before Covid when everyone had to gather for the muster drill they would let her do the drill in her cabin and have been very accommodating to her needs.

[Cru1s1ng2009]

8 minutes ago, Marie51 said:

It’s my granddaughter and she’s 14 years old now. She’s been on three cruises. Many people with autism suffer from sensory overload and noise and crowds become overwhelming. If she has a window to look out of it’s much easier for all of us. Will be taking her on her fourth cruise in September.

Before Covid when everyone had to gather for the muster drill they would let her do the drill in her cabin and have been very accommodating to her needs.

that makes sense. I was just wondering what the accomodation would be. My DD was a paraplegic so we had different accommodations. As someone who didnt have a kid with that type of disability, i couldnt figure out how the window mattered. Now I do. thank you!

[cello56]

Just in case you have not seen this resource page on the Royal website.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/autism-friendly-ships

 

Please be sure to download the Autism Social Story book if you think it might help your child to have a visual cue as to what is going to happen on the cruise. It on the link above. 

[jeffporfirio01]

On 5/7/2023 at 8:53 AM, Woodmnky said:

We have experience with this with our ASD kid. When arriving at the port I find an employee, show them the letter from Special Needs and they usually escort us towards the front if the line towards security.

 

Hi.

We are doing our first RCCL from Civitavecchia in Aug. We have done 7 DCLs with our son who has been diagnosed with ASD.

Can I ask, what letter are you referring to? We have his logged his special needs with RCCL and it appears on the reservation. Our little one does not do well with waiting in lines, and eats a limited menu which we plan to address at the specialty restaurants as we have purchased the UDP

Edited May 9, 2023 by jeffporfirio01

[Woodmnky]

5 minutes ago, jeffporfirio01 said:

 

Hi.

We are doing our first RCCL from Civitavecchia in Aug. We have done 7 DCLs with our son who has been diagnosed with ASD.

Can I ask, what letter are you referring to? We have his logged his special needs with RCCL and it appears on the reservation. Our little one does not do well with waiting in lines, and eats a limited menu which we plan to address at the specialty restaurants as we have purchased the UDP

I received an email from Special Needs confirming that we have been added to the list for Priority Boarding. I show this email to staff because no one ever seems to know what "list" they are referring to. 

[GTO-Girl]

13 minutes ago, Woodmnky said:

I received an email from Special Needs confirming that we have been added to the list for Priority Boarding. I show this email to staff because no one ever seems to know what "list" they are referring to. 

I have friends sailing from Port Canaveral who has one family member needing wheelchair assistance.  Can all of this be done through Special Needs?

[notsurewhatmynameshouldbe]

On 5/8/2023 at 1:12 PM, llachance said:

Can't wait to see how it works in Galveston.  My daughter and her son, with special needs documented are in one cabin.  Her 12 year old son is in a connecting cabin.  Because of Army orders his father may not be able to accompany him.  I have, in writing, that if the terminal is too crowded that the 12 year old may not be able to board with his mother.  Now I know this isn't how it will work but I am keeping that email just because it is so rediculous.  It doesn't inspire a lot of confidence though.

 

When do they sail?  We will be going out of Galveston next year.

[GJustice]

We sail out of Galveston and they're always very helpful. Just contact Special Needs and let them know what you need and you'll be taken care of. As others said, arriving before the crunch time will be helpful as early in the day (assuming no horrendous issues getting the incoming ship cleared and people through the terminal) it should be very calm and low-stress for everyone. You should find either the RCI or the Port people at the drop off curb and they can direct you to the right place/people to get what you need.