Disabled travellers how do you cope with queuing on P&O?

[Cloudyrain]

We don’t do any queuing (we have a disabled child). 
 

For dining we use the restaurants, or occasionally the buffet/self-serve if they are quiet. We use the app queuing system, or speak to the Restaurant Manager and ‘book’ an MDR table at a specific time each day (they will accommodate this, even in freedom dining if you ask and have need).

 

We haven’t ever queued for entertainment: we either get there a little earlier (e.g. cinema) or just as a show is starting and there are always available seats in our experience.

 

Lifts are our main problem: but that’s usually due to overly entitled adults who seem to disregard disabled children and seem to happily push past him and feel that their age increases their entitlement to use the lifts. But this is a problem everywhere unfortunately, not just on cruises. I just have to bite my tongue and patiently wait and remind myself that the majority of people are actually nice and won’t barge in to us or ignore us. We do try and avoid moving about at busy times, and the change to Muster has massively helped in that respect.

 

 

[nightfires]

@GOQ I have similar mobility issues as I can’t walk far and can’t stand for too long.

 

Firstly, I am quite patient so will sit and wait.

 

For airports I always pre-book the assistance. Gatwick is wonderful as they have call points and will get you to where ever you need to go. Heathrow is more mixed, but with patience they always get you there. A tip is if you are travelling with a partner book them in for assistance too, I have seen couples only book one space and then when the use the Ambulift or electric buggies there are not enough spaces. Partners can still walk along side so aren’t using a wheelchair, it’s where you need seats it matters.

 

On board, I navigate around the ship via the bars which always have seats. This allows me to rest.
 

Using the theatre, I book and get there before the doors open and find the nearest seat - bar or on deck, and wait till the initial queue has gone in. You can’t always see the queue so I pop and check every 5/10 minutes. I then use the allocated rows/ seats near the entrance. If there are steps there is also usually a ramp but this is less obvious going into the theatre.

 

Lifts - after a show I either find somewhere to sit, bar, deck or the casino is often near by or I sit on the stairs and wait. I also will take a lift going in the wrong direction e.g. grow down a floor then go up etc. can be quicker.

 

MDR - I use the app so hopefully can bypass the main queue. I also choose to share a table which can make it easier to be seated promptly. I will also find a seat where I can see the queue or just pop found a corner when it gets to a handful of people in the queue I then stand. Some ships do have chairs by the booking desk, I have sat on those and waited. I would consider by passing the queue and asking for a chair as the staff are usually obliging. 
 

Buffet - I avoid if at all possible or use out of rush hour. Staff will help to carry trays etc. I also use the pay restaurants as usually you pre book so no queuing,

 

Excursions - I find the lack of info about how far you have to walk very challenging. I pick the low activity ones which do state how much walking. However, what they don’t include is how far you have to walk to the coaches etc. 

 

I do agree seats where you queue would make a difference.

 

Hope that helps.

[BertieRulesOK]

5 hours ago, nightfires said:

can’t stand for too long.

I recently bought one of these and have found it quite useful: https://www.amazon.co.uk/telescoping-stool/s?k=telescoping+stool

[nightfires]

@BertieRulesOKThank you for the link.

[Beezes80]

On 5/24/2023 at 12:14 AM, indiana123 said:

 

 

Being quite new to being partly disabled I have never heard of the Access Card.  Presumably it is Government recognised.  I have just looked at the link.

 

My disabilities can be seen and I often use a small scooter.   Would the card be of benefit to me or is it only suitable for hidden disabilities.

 

Many thanks  v

 

I've had mine for a few years and it makes life a lot easier when asking for assistance and for things like getting assistant tickets on days out, even for getting access to toilets when I'm not needing my wheelchair. The card has little symbols on relating to the assistance you need, eg. I have the symbols for carer required, ramp needed, accessible WC needed, trouble queuing and something else but I forget exactly what the wording is. It's not government recognised but they're working on it.

 

They vet the applications and it's basically designed to replace any of the other "proof" that's sometimes requested, such as PIP/DLA letter, GP letter, blue badge etc. It's a lot less intrusive than having to show a benefits letter to all and sundry and for £5 a year it's worth it just for that.