Needs partial help

[islegroove]

Hi, my wife and I are ready to cruise again after half a decade away because of my wife’s series of illnesses. She can walk short distances, but she needs wheelchair assistance from time to time. We will definitely need assistance in getting on the ship. She would prefer walking where she can and can do about 1200 steps a day without impacting her next day.

 

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance.

[firefly333]

Rent a wheelchair so you have it with you?

[Ourusualbeach]

28 minutes ago, islegroove said:

Hi, my wife and I are ready to cruise again after half a decade away because of my wife’s series of illnesses. She can walk short distances, but she needs wheelchair assistance from time to time. We will definitely need assistance in getting on the ship. She would prefer walking where she can and can do about 1200 steps a day without impacting her next day.

 

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance.

Look at other cruise lines with smaller ships. 

[chilis]

What about renting a scooter?  This would give her more autonomy than you needing to push her around the ship, and allow her to determine if/when she feels up to walking to her destination on board. 

A different line with a smaller ship may be an option, but Royal has some smaller ships in the fleet that could be doable with planning. If you know in advance which areas on tthe ship you will frequent most often, book a cabin near the elevators in that region (i.e. aft elevators on Radiance class drop you off close to the Windjammer).  Then take the scooter to places that are more forward like the theater. 

There are also limited accessible cabins that will be more roomy with the scooter in them, or of course a suite that you would perhaps want to take into account when selecting room/location/what areas she might prefer walking to rather than scooting. 

As I mentioned, with the scooter she won't be reliant on you for help.  Which is not only good for both of you physically and in terms of autonomy, but will allow you to do your own things if you want.  One of my favorite parts of cruising vs land vacations is that if my husband and I don't want to do the same things we just don't- he'll go to the casino and I'll go to a show (for example).  The scooter would allow both of you freedom to do what you want rather than being tethered together. 

[GJustice]

Go here - https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/guest-special-needs

 

Recommend a scooter - scootaround.com is who we use and  they also do wheelchairs.

 

RCI and Port staff will get you through the terminal and onto/off the ship, but onboard you're on your own to bring your own or use a rental.

[LeeW]

Sounds like it may be time to buy a scooter. I'm seeing a lot of lightweight scooters that disassemble easily for transport.  We don't need one yet but will need to research soon.

[gluecksbaer]

4 hours ago, LeeW said:

Sounds like it may be time to buy a scooter. I'm seeing a lot of lightweight scooters that disassemble easily for transport.  We don't need one yet but will need to research soon.

I bought a folding travel scooter last year and it has been life-changing.  With the seat detached it folds to the size of a large suitcase so fits easily in the back of my mom car and will even fit in the trunk of every sedan I've ridden in (except my sister's but that's only because her trunk is always full of stuff).   When I went looking, I was thinking my kids were old enough to help me lift 50 pounds to get it in the car, but the owner of the store I bought it from showed me how to prop it on the bumper of my car and then push it into the trunk area so I can get it into and out of my car without any help at all.  I had looked at scooters when I first started using a wheelchair for long distances, but the ones that disassemble seemed so complicated and the pieces still weighed more than I could lift.  The lightweight folding scooters are so much easier.  I recommend checking those out when you're ready.

[gluecksbaer]

I agree with the suggestion of renting a scooter.  That doesn't mean she has to use it all the time.  And, as noted, if you contact the special needs department, they will make sure she is on a list to get wheelchair assistance for embarkation and debarkation.  The rest of the time she will be on her own.  Even on a smaller ship, she could hit more than 1200 steps a day or end up feeling like she has to limit her activities or rely on you to push a manual wheelchair.  Royal partners with Special Needs at Sea and Scootaround.  Both companies are allowed to deliver to the port or your cabin. 

[GJustice]

Just checked my pedometer and on our last cruise I logged 3-4000 steps every day and that was mostly getting to meals and main evening shows.

 

As someone else mentioned, it's nice to know she can go unassisted if there are things (like trivia in DW's case) that you don't care much for. 

[Mum2Mercury]

I'm not at home and don't have access to my cruise files, but here are a couple thoughts: 

 

- You should email RC's Special Needs department.  Now -- don't wait.  Let them know you need help with embarkation /disembarkation.  You may see something else on the list that would be helpful to her as well. 

- If you're going to rent a scooter, consider requesting a Handicapped Room.  We usually go with Guarantees, and we were placed in one recently.  The extra space was very nice, and -- if we'd had a scooter -- we would've been able to bring it in without trouble.  The only thing we didn't like was the curbless shower.  

- If you're buying a scooter, yes to the light ones.  My stepfather has one, and it's amazingly small (he is not small, but he's fine on that thing).  Do splurge on a second battery (so you can be sure to have an extra on hand) and bring a backpack that will allow you to bring that second battery ashore with you. 

 

Edited March 21 by Mum2Mercury

[shippmates]

If you are considering getting a scooter for onboard, please let the cruise line know.  You are not to leave your scooters in the hall for safety reasons.  I know that many people do and it is frustrating trying to get in some halls.  Hope you enjoy your cruise.

[kokopelli-az]

If you buy or rent a scooter, you probably need an accessible stateroom so you can get it through the door.   Accessible staterooms go very fast so if this is what you intend on getting, book one as soon as possible.   

 

Check out the Disabled Cruise Travel board.  You will get a lot of information there.  

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/114-disabled-cruise-travel/

 

And Royal's information here:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/experience/accessible-cruising/mobility-disabilities

 

 

 

[cruiseboy89130]

On 3/21/2024 at 12:58 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

Look at other cruise lines with smaller ships. 

+1

[dappledumpling]

My wife had a problem 10 years ago and the treatment left her with mobility issues. we started with a transfer chair to get her on and off the ship. plus location to location on the ship. Then we progressed to a full wheelchair and handicap cabins. (A good lightweight wheelchair is easier to push and maneuver.)  Then I made the best purchase of our lives, I bought a Eagle HD travel wheelchair (electric joystick controlled) and she regained her independence. weighs about 50 pounds which was no problem for me to toss around. 

 

The freedom it provided was fantastic... We used on cruises, theme parks.. the mall  wherever she wanted to go...  Not sure on your wifes illness but if not expecting mobility to return you might consider a travel power wheel chair.  We found scooters cumbersome and the 3 wheeled ones not as stable..

 

Hope this helps,

Rick

PS I dont mean to make this sound like a commercial but it definitely changed the last 4 years of her life.  

 

 

[islegroove]

On 3/20/2024 at 11:41 PM, GJustice said:

Go here - https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/guest-special-needs

 

Recommend a scooter - scootaround.com is who we use and  they also do wheelchairs.

 

RCI and Port staff will get you through the terminal and onto/off the ship, but onboard you're on your own to bring your own or use a rental.

How much does renting a scooter for a week?

[kokopelli-az]

13 minutes ago, islegroove said:

How much does renting a scooter for a week?

Depends on location, supply and demand.   Contact SpecialNeedsatSea.com and Scootaround.com for pricing.    Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.  Sometimes they will price it with insurance so you want to be sure your quotes are for the same thing.   Both companies pretty much offer the same scooters for rent.  

 

PS. We have never opted for the insurance.....

[MommaBear55]

And try to get a cabin near the elevators.

[GJustice]

7 hours ago, kokopelli-az said:

Depends on location, supply and demand.   Contact SpecialNeedsatSea.com and Scootaround.com for pricing.    Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.  Sometimes they will price it with insurance so you want to be sure your quotes are for the same thing.   Both companies pretty much offer the same scooters for rent.  

 

PS. We have never opted for the insurance.....

YMMV, but 3 cruises were $355/9 nights (39.45) $342/7 nights (48.85) $318/5 nights (63.60) All out of Galveston, all the "Transportable" 3 wheel scooter. Also, they fit OK in a NON-ACCESSIBLE room. We do have to move the "coffee" table out sometimes.

[Cruise a holic]

On 3/20/2024 at 7:58 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

Look at other cruise lines with smaller ships. 

Agree!  Don't go on the Icon of the Seas.  It is huge.

[Cigar King]

13 hours ago, islegroove said:

How much does renting a scooter for a week?

I paid $221.00 for a week.

[lakelorain]

We use a Medline foldable transport chair.  I can easily lift it in and out of our car.  Folds up to fit in the cabin easily.  

[islegroove]

Thank you for everyone who answered. It looks like we will do Celebrity.