CCL Triumph~ Mom using a wheelchair

[Jeanny]

We're booked on the Carnival Triumph March 8-15. My Mom (79) uses a wheelchair for long distances and can use a cane or her rollator for short distances. I'm thinking of bringing her wheelchair, I'd have to gate check it on the plane.

 

This is her first ever cruise. Will she have a hard time getting to the safety drill? How will they seat us for dinner? Should she use the wheelchair in place of a regular chair?

 

how would we do shore excursions? We're doing the Sonny Liston on St. Thomas... haven't decided what to do on San Juan because of her wheelchair... I'd like to do one of those hop on/hop off tours, but think it would be hard with the wheelchair. She'd never be able to walk with just her cane there.

 

thanks for any help or suggestions in advance.

[Splinter]

Since she can walk some, it is important to know if she can also do a few steps. If so, then regular bus or van tours would be just fine. As long as she has a folding wheelchair, they will put it under the bus or on the bus for her. Otherwise, cabs are a good option.

 

I assume you will be available to push the wheelchair, since this is difficult on carpet around the ship even for strong young people. Otherwish you might want to consider renting a scooter for use on the ship and reserve the manual wheelchair for shore excursions.

 

In the dining areas she can either sit in her wheelchair or transfer to a regular chair. Her waiter or busboy will be glad to stash the wheelchair until the end of the meal. You may want to be sure you have a table near the door so that you don't have to try to negotiate the wheelchair between occupied tables, but we usually have little problem with this. Just be sure they know she will be in a wheelchair so that they don't seat you in an elevated area with no ramp.

 

For the safety drill, we just always make sure we are in the assigned area about 15 minutes prior to the drill time, and use the elevators to get there. Once the drill is over, be prepared to have to wait for the elevators at least another 15 minutes unless they let the wheelchair uses leave the drill early or under escort to get to the elevators (as they do on RCCL or HAL).

[Jeanny]

Thanks Splinter~ yep, I'll be pushing the wheelchair. I'll check with my TA to make sure she notes we'll have her wheelchair. She can do only a few stairs, but I'm hoping she won't have to walk through the dining room to the other end!

 

Her wheelchair does fold so I don't think it will take up much space in our cabin. Plus that's good to know that we may be able to stash it on the tours. I'm sure they deal with this all the time. I think she'll be able to do the steps as long as she's not rushed... it's usually the first step that's the killer for her. I'll email Sonny Liston and get his perspective too.

 

I'm just concerned with the safety drill~ she would never be able to stand through it, she will definitely need to sit for that. Good to know they may escort us to the elevator, although I don't mind waiting. I know she would never be able to walk from the cabin, down/up the stairs, etc to the assigned area.

 

Thanks for your help.

[leoandhugh]

she will not have to stand at all for the lifeboat drill as long as she is in her wheelchair, and very often, they will release such passengers and their accompanying passenger early from the drill. If you should find that your assigned dining table is not conveniently located, talk to the maitre 'd as soon as possible and ask if he can change to a more convenient location because of the wheelchair.:)

[Jeanny]

thanks Leoandhugh! that's good to know about the dining room & maitre 'd. Hopefully, my TA will note the wheelchair and CCL will see it when they're doing the table assignments.

 

it's funny sometimes, when we go to a restaurant.... the hostess sees Mom with the cane or rollator and yet they still try to walk us to the entire other of the restaurant... I usually have to say "Uh, do you have something a little bit further away? we haven't walked to the next town yet", their answer is " oh, sure, I didn't notice", yeah, they weren't paying attention when I told them we have a handicap person with us. ggggeeessh!!

 

Again, thanks for your help. :D every suggestion helps me figure out how to take care of her on the ship.