P&O and Mobility Scooters

[lamphey lady]

This is my first post on the forum for a long time.

Last week I booked my first P&O cruise, I have cruised with several other cruiselines over the years (236 days) but this was to be my first with them. Recently my arthritis has worsened and I bought a lightweight folding scooter for use mainly on holidays.  I told the TA when I booked that I woul;d be bringing a scooter and was told I would have to fill in a questionarrie, which I did, and I paid my deposit.  Yesterday I got an email from P&O saying I couldn't bring the scooter as they had changed their policy. I could only bring it if I was in an accessable cabin. I don't need one of those I can manage in a ordinary one and there were none available. The email said I could hire a motorised wheelchair which is allowed. I looked at the site they recommended and that said the wheelchairs for ships are not very suitable for trips ashore as they don't cope with kerbs, inclines and cobbled streets. The main reason I need my scooter is for trips ashore, I would hardly use it on the ship but I was still refused. The TA said they hadn't been aware of this change in policy and I have also found out that it applies the Cunard as well. I cancelled my cruise as I felt I had no alternative, P&O refused to refund the deposit but the TA said they will.  I haven't seen anything about this change.has anyone else?

[majortom10]

Think it has been on operation for a long while and nothing new. The reasoning is lack of space in ordinary cabins so in the past people left scooters outside their cabins in the corridors. This is of course creates a problem of access then in an emergency because corridors areas are means of escape. For that reasoning if you take a scooter onboard you have to book accessible room so there is room to store scooter.

[indiana123]

I had this problem.  I think most cruise lines are saying they are now only allowed so many chairs or scooters for safety reasons.

 

I went on one major cruise line who let me take my scooter after filling in the Welfare Form  with no problem.  Next time I booked with them I filled in the form a few months later, not realising there could be a problem.  We were shocked when they said no.

 

We had paid up so had no choice but to pay £230 to hire the motorised chair.  When we got to the terminal it was laughable as my scooter was tiny, when folded, compared to the chair.  The chair was massive.  We put my tiny scooter beside the chair and everyone agreed.   Finally an officer came and said I could take it on on this occasion only. We lost £230 over that.

 

I'm in a mini suite on Norwegian soon and I can take it on then, presumably they haven't reached their allowed numbers yet.

 

The moral now is to check before paying out.

 

 

 

ps as an aside.. Although,like you, I don't need the scooter or a chair in the cabin or on short walks, I have been told I must have assisted evacuation and help in an emergency.  My  adrenaline would make sure I was first at the lifeboat!

Edited July 12, 2023 by indiana123

[Megabear2]

32 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Think it has been on operation for a long while and nothing new. The reasoning is lack of space in ordinary cabins so in the past people left scooters outside their cabins in the corridors. This is of course creates a problem of access then in an emergency because corridors areas are means of escape. For that reasoning if you take a scooter onboard you have to book accessible room so there is room to store scooter.

Interesting point on corridor obstruction.  On Arvia deck 4 in May I counted 5 fully assembled large baby buggies in the immediate corridor around my room.  Deck 4 of course is all inside and outside cabins and I assume the limited space was a surprise to the many families filling them.  Some of these buggies were so big that to pass them you needed to walk sideways past them. 

 

How long before we start to see restrictions on the size of buggies or instructions they must be kept in your cabin.

[david63]

7 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

or instructions they must be kept in your cabin.

I thought that was already in place - just that it is ignored by passengers and not enforced by the cruise line..

 

If it was me I would just go along the corridors, gather them all up and say they can have them back at the end of the cruise.

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

Interesting point on corridor obstruction.  On Arvia deck 4 in May I counted 5 fully assembled large baby buggies in the immediate corridor around my room.  Deck 4 of course is all inside and outside cabins and I assume the limited space was a surprise to the many families filling them.  Some of these buggies were so big that to pass them you needed to walk sideways past them. 

 

How long before we start to see restrictions on the size of buggies or instructions they must be kept in your cabin.

Just mention it to reception and I am sure the occupants of cabin will be informed not to leave them there. 

 

[annieuk]

I have twice taken a motorised scooter on board P&O, once on Ventura in a suite and once on Aurora in a mini suite.  It has been the rule for a long time that motorised scooters can only be taken on board either an accessible cabin or a suite - as far as I know on any ship, or in a mini suite on either Aurora or Arcadia as they are the only ship now to have large mini suites.  I've always had to fill in a form on which I had to put the make, the model and the measurements of the scooter, both open and closed.  You should have been told about this whoever you booked with.  The TA I always book with told me immediately I mentioned taking a scooter that the booking would depend on P&O agreeing that I could take the scooter in the type of cabin I was booking.  I didn't need an accessible cabin and as I was booking a mini suite in one case and a full suite in the other it didn't matter.  In both cases the door was wide enough to get the scooter through and both types of cabin are large enough to store it in.  In the case of the suite I was able to put it in a wardrobe.  When you mentioned to the TA that you would be taking a scooter they should have told you that the only cabins where you would be able to take a scooter were an accessible one or a full suite or a mini suite on Arcadia or Aurora.  I'm assuming that they are still allowing them in the mini suites, it's over a year since I took a scooter on Aurora.  I'm sorry that I can't be more encouraging but you shouldn't have been allowed to pay the deposit if you weren't given the right information.

[david63]

26 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Just mention it to reception and I am sure the occupants of cabin will be informed not to leave them there. 

Tried that - made no difference. Don't know whether reception did nothing or the occupants chose to ignore it.

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, david63 said:

Tried that - made no difference. Don't know whether reception did nothing or the occupants chose to ignore it.

I would mention again to reception and that the corridors are means of escape and should not be blocked or have obstruction and that they are contravening fire regulations.

[majortom10]

4 hours ago, lamphey lady said:

This is my first post on the forum for a long time.

Last week I booked my first P&O cruise, I have cruised with several other cruiselines over the years (236 days) but this was to be my first with them. Recently my arthritis has worsened and I bought a lightweight folding scooter for use mainly on holidays.  I told the TA when I booked that I woul;d be bringing a scooter and was told I would have to fill in a questionarrie, which I did, and I paid my deposit.  Yesterday I got an email from P&O saying I couldn't bring the scooter as they had changed their policy. I could only bring it if I was in an accessable cabin. I don't need one of those I can manage in a ordinary one and there were none available. The email said I could hire a motorised wheelchair which is allowed. I looked at the site they recommended and that said the wheelchairs for ships are not very suitable for trips ashore as they don't cope with kerbs, inclines and cobbled streets. The main reason I need my scooter is for trips ashore, I would hardly use it on the ship but I was still refused. The TA said they hadn't been aware of this change in policy and I have also found out that it applies the Cunard as well. I cancelled my cruise as I felt I had no alternative, P&O refused to refund the deposit but the TA said they will.  I haven't seen anything about this change.has anyone else?

Unfortunately you were badly advised by your TA as it clearly states on P&O website that guests taking mobility scooters on a cruise must book an accessible cabin, mini-suite or suite. They also be a maximum size of 120cms. My advise is get a better cruise specialist TA next time you book.

[Bill Y]

5 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Interesting point on corridor obstruction.  On Arvia deck 4 in May I counted 5 fully assembled large baby buggies in the immediate corridor around my room.  Deck 4 of course is all inside and outside cabins and I assume the limited space was a surprise to the many families filling them.  Some of these buggies were so big that to pass them you needed to walk sideways past them. 

 

How long before we start to see restrictions on the size of buggies or instructions they must be kept in your cabin.

Interesting point as you say. As P&O are trying to woo young families and multi generation cruisers they P&O will be a reluctant to upset parents of young children. In fairness to these maybe first time cruisers they are going on a big ship with very little restrictions on luggage unless a flight is involved and assume a family ship will have space to accommodate a baby buggy in a cabin that is sold for three or four persons’ accommodation.

[laslomas]

Surely the baby buggies will fold??  Then they can go in the cabin with the family. If it is a tight squeeze they will know to book a balcony cabin next time and the buggy can be stored there.  No way should they be left in the corridor where they impede all the other passengers on that deck.

[tacticalbanjo]

On my first cruise post-baby I was very surprised to find that my buggy didn't fit through the door of the cabin. So every time we had to unfold it in the hall then load baby and get all the assorted baby related gubbins in the basket. Then reverse the process when we came back. I was expecting to keep the folded buggy in the cabin but thought I'd be able to wheel it in and sort ourselves out in the cabin instead of having to do it all while blocking the hallway.

 

I was new to cruising I might have been tempted to just leave it out in the hall and justify it that the cleaning carts are out for long periods each day so what difference does a buggy make.

[Slugsta]

It has been the situation, certainly with P+O, for some years that people with mobility scooters must book accessible cabins, mini-suites or suites.

 

Anything left in the hallways, buggies, mobility scooters etc, not only impede access for passengers (especially those using scooters, wheelchairs etc), I believe they also contravene the SOLAS regulations that are supposed to help  save lives. Not only would I be complaining to reception, I would also take photographs in case nothing changed.

[molecrochip]

Mobility Scooters

They must be kept in an accessible cabin or most suite cabins. This has been the rule since 2018.

 

I'm sorry your TA gave you bad advice. Its no wonder that they are happy to refund your deposit even though P&O won't.

 

Some American lines still allow the use of mobility scooters in standard cabins as the ADA laws basically require that if it fits, it can be used. This therefore generally applies to ships form the US based lines.

 

Pushchairs

The official line is that pushchairs must also be kept inside your cabin. I believe the captain is supposed to mention this on cruises where buggy use is expected to be high.

 

If you're a disabled user and a pushchair is in your way to get to your cabin, alert reception from the nearest lobby phone and someone will be with you very quickly.

 

Where reported, reception does discuss with cabin occupants and remind them of why it must be kept in the cabin.

 

Interaction between Mobility Scooters and Pushchairs

This one is simple - wheelchairs and scooters take priority over pushchairs in every instance. ADA, EU and UK law all favour in the same way.

[terrierjohn]

1 minute ago, molecrochip said:

Mobility Scooters

They must be kept in an accessible cabin or most suite cabins. This has been the rule since 2018.

 

I'm sorry your TA gave you bad advice. Its no wonder that they are happy to refund your deposit even though P&O won't.

 

Some American lines still allow the use of mobility scooters in standard cabins as the ADA laws basically require that if it fits, it can be used. This therefore generally applies to ships form the US based lines.

 

Pushchairs

The official line is that pushchairs must also be kept inside your cabin. I believe the captain is supposed to mention this on cruises where buggy use is expected to be high.

 

If you're a disabled user and a pushchair is in your way to get to your cabin, alert reception from the nearest lobby phone and someone will be with you very quickly.

 

Where reported, reception does discuss with cabin occupants and remind them of why it must be kept in the cabin.

 

Interaction between Mobility Scooters and Pushchairs

This one is simple - wheelchairs and scooters take priority over pushchairs in every instance. ADA, EU and UK law all favour in the same way.

Moley, its OK saying to report such infringements to reception and someone will be with you promptly. My experience of ringing reception on Iona is that it can take up to 30 minutes for the phone to be answered. The reception phone number is the only one provided for everything, and for the first few days semaphore would probably get a speedier response.

[molecrochip]

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Moley, its OK saying to report such infringements to reception and someone will be with you promptly. My experience of ringing reception on Iona is that it can take up to 30 minutes for the phone to be answered. The reception phone number is the only one provided for everything, and for the first few days semaphore would probably get a speedier response.

I can't remember which way around however if reception is 7000 then the my holiday hotline is 7070 or vice versa. They advise going via the my holiday hotline and pressing the relevant number but you can dial direct - they just don't advertise the number as the majority of people can be resolved through the hotline.

[terrierjohn]

16 minutes ago, molecrochip said:

I can't remember which way around however if reception is 7000 then the my holiday hotline is 7070 or vice versa. They advise going via the my holiday hotline and pressing the relevant number but you can dial direct - they just don't advertise the number as the majority of people can be resolved through the hotline.

The hotline was fairly tepid, if not flipping cold the last time I was on Iona.

[FangedRose]

On 7/12/2023 at 9:50 AM, lamphey lady said:

This is my first post on the forum for a long time.

Last week I booked my first P&O cruise, I have cruised with several other cruiselines over the years (236 days) but this was to be my first with them. Recently my arthritis has worsened and I bought a lightweight folding scooter for use mainly on holidays.  I told the TA when I booked that I woul;d be bringing a scooter and was told I would have to fill in a questionarrie, which I did, and I paid my deposit.  Yesterday I got an email from P&O saying I couldn't bring the scooter as they had changed their policy. I could only bring it if I was in an accessable cabin. I don't need one of those I can manage in a ordinary one and there were none available. The email said I could hire a motorised wheelchair which is allowed. I looked at the site they recommended and that said the wheelchairs for ships are not very suitable for trips ashore as they don't cope with kerbs, inclines and cobbled streets. The main reason I need my scooter is for trips ashore, I would hardly use it on the ship but I was still refused. The TA said they hadn't been aware of this change in policy and I have also found out that it applies the Cunard as well. I cancelled my cruise as I felt I had no alternative, P&O refused to refund the deposit but the TA said they will.  I haven't seen anything about this change.has anyone else?

Pop over to the Saga board. There is a similar thread on there with a part-time wheelchair user being 'forced' to book an accessible cabin.

[Selbourne]

There is inconsistency with this policy. When my wife was still a part time wheelchair user we were in a suite at the end of a corridor on Britannia so nobody had to pass us. I left the wheelchair outside (folded) and was told it must be kept inside our suite. 
 

We are on Britannia again now and there has been a full size fully assembled mobility scooter that has been left in the corridor outside a aft suite for the entire week we have been on the ship so far. It looks too wide to go through the door of the suite. 

Edited July 13, 2023 by Selbourne

[Megabear2]

10 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

Moley, its OK saying to report such infringements to reception and someone will be with you promptly. My experience of ringing reception on Iona is that it can take up to 30 minutes for the phone to be answered. The reception phone number is the only one provided for everything, and for the first few days semaphore would probably get a speedier response.

Totally agree and it was identical on Arvia.  Telephone rarely answered. Even at 1.30am when ringing about noise issues it took 20 minutes to be answered and that was both numbers.  Consequence was reception constantly busy with queues first thing the next day, in fact most days there were queues of around 15 to 20 people.

 

One family resorted at 1.00am to going down to reception from their cabin in their night wear to discuss the noise problems they were encountering.

 

I got the impression the phone had to be ignored to deal with the physical visitors.

[zap99]

If folk leave their scooter outside the cabin, how are the batteries charged ?. We have all seen the videos of lithium batteries catching fire.

[TigerB]

5 hours ago, zap99 said:

If folk leave their scooter outside the cabin, how are the batteries charged ?. We have all seen the videos of lithium batteries catching fire.

 

Some lithium batteries can be removed from the chair or scooter and charged independently.

[zap99]

39 minutes ago, TigerB said:

 

Some lithium batteries can be removed from the chair or scooter and charged independently.

Thanks. I hope that happens. We can all imagine one of those fires in a corridor.

[Selbourne]

15 hours ago, zap99 said:

Thanks. I hope that happens. We can all imagine one of those fires in a corridor.

That’s a very good point. As a result I’ve just looked at the scooter near our cabin (which continues to be left in the corridor) and was pleased to see that it’s not plugged in. I can only assume that the battery is removable and charged in the cabin.