lemonaid Posted June 13, 2008 #1 Share Posted June 13, 2008 I don't know if anyone can help me but I'm wondering if anyone makes a portable bath/shower seat. My husband has a spinal cord injury and is very unstable on his feet. We did not book an accessible cabin this year. We're sailing on the Maasdam in 2 weeks in an outside cabin which apparently has a bath/shower. I'm guessing that if you don't book an accessible cabin that they don't have any bath/shower stools to borrow so I'm trying to find something that we could take that won't take up too much of our luggage space. Has anyone ever seen or heard of a travel bath/shower seat? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oskie Posted June 13, 2008 #2 Share Posted June 13, 2008 You might call Holland American Special Needs Department to see it they would provide one for you. We once had a regular room and we requested a shower seat. This was on another cruise line, but there didn't seem to be any problem providing it. In fact it was in the shower when we arrived on board ship. Here's a portable one I have been looking at purchasing. It looks as though it would be easy to disassemble and pack: http://www.activeforever.com/p-144-carex-universal-bath-bench.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berylde Posted June 13, 2008 #3 Share Posted June 13, 2008 We called Special Needs Dept. before sailing to request a shower seat and toilet booster, (Jewel, RCL) and they were in the cabin when we arrived http://www.carevacations.com , also rents all kinds of stuff; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splinter Posted June 13, 2008 #4 Share Posted June 13, 2008 So I assume his injury is ASIA D and he walks?? You know there will be a step up into the bathroom of about 6" don't you, and that the room door will be too narrow for a wheelchair??? If you can't get a shower bench from HAL (have you talked to the Special Needs Dept???) then you have a couple options. Before we purchased a travel rolling shower/commode chair we often just "borrowed" a pool-side PVC chair and put it in the shower. Very stable, waterproof, and you don't need to take anything with you. Otherwise, if you want to purchase, I would recommend one of the products from http://www.nuprodx.com They are not cheap, but are of excellent quality and are designed for travel. You can also use one of those over the toilet instead of a sometimes less-than-stable raised toilet seat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Mtn Posted June 13, 2008 #5 Share Posted June 13, 2008 Yes, a shower chair is available on HAL; well, I believe it was a shower bench. You can also request a toilet riser. In fact, once the toilet riser was so sturdy I used it in the shower. It had metal framing, and a regular toilet seat with lid. So it was sturdier to use in the shower than the bench - just left the lid down. Suggest your call your TA or HAL immediately to request it - not sure how many they have. Enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEELYNCRUZER Posted June 13, 2008 #6 Share Posted June 13, 2008 If you want a quality seat get a tubby2. It comes in a carry bag. IT's around $300 but worth every penny. It's not small but there is no charge for disabled equipment on any airline. I believe you can see on www.*****. It has suction cups and rubber feet that sit on the edge of the tub making it an easy transfer. The legs are adjustable and it has a hole so it can go over ant commode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonaid Posted June 14, 2008 Author #7 Share Posted June 14, 2008 Wow! I thank you all for your wonderful information. The last time we cruised we were in an accessible cabin but decided to try an ordinary one this time since my DH can walk with the aid of a cane. But as the time gets closer I'm starting to get worried that the shower will be a problem. I think we'll start with HAL's Special Needs department as suggested by several of you to see if we can borrow. If I can avoid carrying one more item then I'd prefer to do that. Thanks again for all your suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernLite Posted June 14, 2008 #8 Share Posted June 14, 2008 If you want a quality seat get a tubby2. It comes in a carry bag. IT's around $300 but worth every penny. It's not small but there is no charge for disabled equipment on any airline. I believe you can see on www.*****. It has suction cups and rubber feet that sit on the edge of the tub making it an easy transfer. The legs are adjustable and it has a hole so it can go over ant commode. My Nuprodx portable is being charged as another checked bag on AirTran in October. I can't carry it on due to the metal bars even though it fits. And AirTran did check with a manager or two. We mange up to 14 days with a checked bag each; my backpack with our meds and jewelry and a couple items in case of mid-trip disasters is my carry on; my DH's carry on is a carry on measured for European standards filled with all the other medical stuff and binoculars and camera. So other than gate checking my wheelchair my portable commode/shower seat is my only item that needs the checked medical baggage exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Thing ~T Posted June 16, 2008 #9 Share Posted June 16, 2008 We were onboard the Oosterdam a month ago, we had a regular balconie cabin and they were happy to bring me a shower stool. I had out TA request one for our upcoming cruise onboard the Amsterdam. Have a wonderful cruise!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernLite Posted June 16, 2008 #10 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I've found most shower benches or stools I've had to use in hotels have been very low, backless and tippy until some I've seen just recently that are left in HP rooms. And is it just me or are the vast majority of fold down seats on ccruise ships made for a 6 year olds butt? This is why I shelled out for a portable shower/commode seat that is very easy to assemble with the one included allen wrench. Without it the DH would go back to doing the first night midnight raid to the pool area to grab a pool chair. Great idea Splinter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEELYNCRUZER Posted June 20, 2008 #11 Share Posted June 20, 2008 How does the pool chair work over the cammode. If you buy a good quality chair it works well in showers, has legs to rest on the side of a bathtub making it very safe to swing your legs into the tub. It also has a hole so it works over the commode. It can be used on ships ,hotels,and private homes. I have had mine for 15 years and just replaced the the adjustable legs because the suction cups started to dry out and crack. Like my tux if I amortorize per use WHAT A BARGAIN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splinter Posted June 22, 2008 #12 Share Posted June 22, 2008 Of course a pool/deck chair cannot be used as a commode chair. The question was about showering, not toilet use. We have a portable shower/commode that is on wheels and is made in Italy (no current USA vendor). It packs small and is perfect for our needs now. The flip-down seats in the shower are too small, too high, too slippery and too dangerous for my mother, plus it means another transfer. With our chair, it is one transfer, roll over the toilet, roll into the shower, then dress and transfer to the wheelchair. It saves time, effort and risks for a fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEELYNCRUZER Posted June 22, 2008 #13 Share Posted June 22, 2008 My point is if you need one you probably need both, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splinter Posted June 23, 2008 #14 Share Posted June 23, 2008 Not necessarily. When my mother still stood to transfer, we still needed a shower chair but not a toilet seat...in fact the lower toilet made it easier for my mother to cath herself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACKSONDDANDKK Posted July 17, 2008 #15 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Hi, We just purchased one for our upcomming cruise. Although I wanted to get the one which closes into a suitcase, I could not pay 1600.00 or more. So I went to e-bay, and purchased a great one. It was built the day I bought it and it works SUPER! The only thing is, I believe I will have to buy a garden chair cover to roll it through the terminal. But that will work. Here's the site on E-bay. Shower Chairs Plus; http://stores.ebay.com/Shower-Chairs-Plus Less than 400.00 and it has the lift up arm for slide on. Very Nice! Arrived perfectly too. Good luck and keep searching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoandhugh Posted July 17, 2008 #16 Share Posted July 17, 2008 one other thing you should be aware of since your husband is unstable on his feet at times - most of the tubs on the older HAL ships such as Sclass (Maasdam) are very deep and require quite a lift of one leg to get it into the tub, so he will probably require your assistance.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carlogesualdo Posted July 17, 2008 #17 Share Posted July 17, 2008 My Nuprodx portable is being charged as another checked bag on AirTran in October. I can't carry it on due to the metal bars even though it fits. And AirTran did check with a manager or two. We mange up to 14 days with a checked bag each; my backpack with our meds and jewelry and a couple items in case of mid-trip disasters is my carry on; my DH's carry on is a carry on measured for European standards filled with all the other medical stuff and binoculars and camera. So other than gate checking my wheelchair my portable commode/shower seat is my only item that needs the checked medical baggage exception. Be sure to do a gate check if you can. Instead of doing a regular luggage check in, take it to the gate and let the gate agent check it for you. I'm not saying it can't get lost, but it's less likely since it's a whole lot MORE likely it will actually be on the plane with you rather than on its way to Hong Kong or somewhere in a different direction. You probably know this already, but just in case somebody didn't... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveScotland Posted November 15, 2008 #18 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Yes, cruise lines will provide shower seats. I also bought a portable shower seat for us to use when we are in hotels. I bought it on ebay and don't remember the brand. It collapses and fits nicely in a suit case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.