Wheelchairs on Celebrity, port denial?

[Tazzycat]

Hello,

I have been on four other cruise lines, and three of those verbally promised (and lied to) me before I made the cruise purchase that I could disembark with my wheelchair to ports of call, if I (a) got myself into the tender by myself and my husband carried the wheelchair on to the tender for me, or (b) I walked down the stairs by myself and my husband carried my fold-up manual wheelchair down the stairs for me. In 3 out of 4 cruises, the captain or other staff denied me disembarkation because I was in a handicapped stateroom. I can walk, but not distances. I can do stairs, slowly in pain, but I can do them.

 

I am shopping for a specific cruise at this moment, the 11-day So. Caribbean leaving 22 December from Ft. Lauderdale, on the Constellation. I'll be darned if this is going to happen to me yet again.

I am going to get a regular stateroom, (not a handicapped room ) bring my wheelchair, and try to walk it off the ship. I am going to be one helk of a mad woman if Celebrity denies me too.

 

Has anyone out there been in my situation and can tell me if people who use wheelchairs are allowed to get off the ship in port? Tender or staircase? I would like to hear from people who actually know from experience because so far, everyone who has answered this question over the years is not disabled, has not been in my situation, but has an opinion about what might happen or what should happen.

 

I have asked this question every time I have cruised after the first denial, and so far, I have received no answers from live wheelchair-users who have wanted to disembark at ports. I can't be the only one in history.

 

Of course, Celebrity will make no promises...

[ganny3]

Hello,

I have been on four other cruise lines, and three of those verbally promised (and lied to) me before I made the cruise purchase that I could disembark with my wheelchair to ports of call, if I (a) got myself into the tender by myself and my husband carried the wheelchair on to the tender for me, or (b) I walked down the stairs by myself and my husband carried my fold-up manual wheelchair down the stairs for me. In 3 out of 4 cruises, the captain or other staff denied me disembarkation because I was in a handicapped stateroom. I can walk, but not distances. I can do stairs, slowly in pain, but I can do them.

 

I am shopping for a specific cruise at this moment, the 11-day So. Caribbean leaving 22 December from Ft. Lauderdale, on the Constellation. I'll be darned if this is going to happen to me yet again.

I am going to get a regular stateroom, (not a handicapped room ) bring my wheelchair, and try to walk it off the ship. I am going to be one helk of a mad woman if Celebrity denies me too.

 

Has anyone out there been in my situation and can tell me if people who use wheelchairs are allowed to get off the ship in port? Tender or staircase? I would like to hear from people who actually know from experience because so far, everyone who has answered this question over the years is not disabled, has not been in my situation, but has an opinion about what might happen or what should happen.

 

I have asked this question every time I have cruised after the first denial, and so far, I have received no answers from live wheelchair-users who have wanted to disembark at ports. I can't be the only one in history.

 

Of course, Celebrity will make no promises...

 

I can't speak from personal experience or Celebrity, but I was on a TA cruise on Brilliance of the Sea in April and one of our cruise critic group used a wheelchair. She was able to use canes part of the time, but able to move faster in her wheelchair. She was able to go ashore at all the ports. I think for the most part her husband would help her get on the tender and then get the wheelchair, and if going ashore at a dock I think he took her in the wheelchair. I can't remember for sure but I believe they first had a handicapped room, but then changed to a balcony. Not sure if that's any help to you.

[Ma Bell]

While traveling with my uncle who was in a wheelchair, the crew couldn't have nicer about helping him off and on the ship.

[hajekfam]

There may be times where the conditions are a little too rough for those in Wheelchairs or even handicapped to use the tender.

[Crusinoars]

I do not use a wheelchair but I have seen people on both Celebrity and RCCL ships that use them. I have also seen them go on excursions. I can remember on a TA when a lady in a wheelchair was being pushed by her son, the Mother needed to use the facilities and the son was quite relunctant to go into the ladies room, especially in a foreign country. They were next to me in line and I volunteered to help in the ladies room. I believe this was on the Constellation and the port of call was in Ireland. Good luck to you and I do hope that you get to enjoy all of your cruise including the excursions and port of call.

 

I would get in line and go like it is something that you do all time.

[Putterdude]

DW has MS and uses both a walker or a chair depending on the circustances and she has not had any problem with tendering on either Celebrity or Princess and I have seen others in similar circumstances being accommodated as well.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Tazzycat,

 

My wife uses a manual wheelchair while on cruises. We reserve it through Celebrity and request boarding assistance. They have someone come to push her up the ramps if necessary and to the room.

 

We have done shore excursions using tenders on most all cruises and we take the wheelchair. The crew is very willing to assist her in boarding the tender.

 

We have had handicapped cabins twice and it made no difference about using the tender.

 

There is a statement I recall in the contract (I believe) that handicapped people are not guaranteed using tenders in case of rough seas. This is appropriate, I feel. My wife sometimes has difficulty or just stays on the ship if rough seas make boarding the tender hazardous.

 

Good luck and have a great cruise.

[BarbJ52]

Here is the link for the Disabled Cruise Travel message boards. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=190

I think you'll find the information there to be quite helpful.

 

As CaliforniaDreamin says, those with wheelchairs might be denied boarding should sea conditions prevent a safe transfer to the tender vessel. (They really can't take that risk if it can't be done safely.) Otherwise, I have seen the crew take great care in ensuring that those with manual chairs were able to disembark with everyone else.

 

Have a great cruise!

[JNCRUISEBUMS]

We were on the September 26 Hawaiian cruise out of San Diego. I had my walker, cane and my scooter. I got off at EVERY port with my walker and scooter and had a fabulous time. The Staff could not have been more helpful. AND we had a handicapped cabin. I WOULD NOT want to get off at tender ports if the water was unsafe, just good sense. Hope this helps and have a fabulous cruise. I would like to know what lines you cruised with that lied to you...sure wouldn't want to be on one of them!!!!! Nancie:cool:

[salmn49]

About 10 years ago, one month prior to my first cruise, I broke my leg and was in a full leg cast. I used a wheelchair and for short periods of time, crutches. The cruise had been paid for and I was determined to go. The cruise was out of San Juan on Carnival. Not only did I get off at every port, I was given priority treatment everwhere from the airline, the cruise ship, and all the ports. The only time we had an issue was in St. Thomas where a cab driver did not want to take us because he wanted more paying passengers rather that the wheelchair. We found another cab! Find an itinerary where you do not have to tender. There is always someone at the dock to assist. We even were allowed to disembark first. Good luck.

[candbgirl]

Two experiences:

 

1) Shortly before a cruise my sister broke her knee. She needed a wheelchair. We rented her a power scooter so she could get around he ship on her own. No problem. In port she just went down the ramp. No problem. When she was ready to reboard she went up the ramp, frequently with the cruise staff pushing the scooter and her up the ramp. The was on Royal Caribbean.

 

2) Last month I was on the Celebrity Constellation. There were many people with physical issues. I believe they got off in any port if they wanted. In all ports those in wheelchairs could sign up for tours on a wheelchair bus. I'm not sure if they did but it was available.

 

As far as tendering goes I can understand the captain being hesitant. Heck I'm hesitant and if the water is one bit choppy I stay put and enjoy myself on the ship.

[cruzmaven]

I've cruised with my mother several times and she is always in a HC cabin and uses either a manual wheelchair or a powerchair. On past two cruises on Princess she got off the ship in every port (when docked) and I believe she used her manual chair and tendered into Grand Cayman as well! (I remember pushing the chair in Grand Cayman so she must have). It hasn't been an issue and the crew was always very accomodating.

 

If you're using a wheelchair I strongly suggest your getting a HC cabin, there's just not a lot of room in a regular cabin for the chair.

 

The last Celebrity cruise I was on, it seemed like half of the passengers were in wheelchairs or scooters, and I know they were getting off of the ship.

 

I can see potential problems in ports where you tender in, but at docked ports it should be fine.

 

Hope it works out for you.

[ackieboy]

Hi!

 

First of all let me say I am sorry that you have had such a negative experience in the past. I am both physically challenged (I use crutches and braces, but not a wheelchair most of the time) and I travel agent (they do not know this when I travel). I just returned from my second trip on the Constellation in an eight month period, and I have to say my experience was completely different than what you describe. On this second trip I did have a handicapped cabin (cabin 7143, an execellent location), and whenever the crew saw me at the gangway getting ready to disembark, they could not have been more helpful. In fact, in most ports they insisted that I take one of the ship's chairs with me to make it easier for me and wheeled me off the ship. In one case the staff member wheeled me all the way into the center of Quebec City. I have sailed on many cruise lines and have had good experiences on most of them, but Celebrity and the Constellation are among my favorites. Please do not let your past negative experiences stop you from taking what I think will be one of the most memorable trips of your lifetime. I don't know how to describe it, but the staff of the Celebrity just gets it right. On my first sailing back in September, we had a gentleman at our table who was an amputee (he had lost his arm and did not wear a prosthesis). The first night of the cruise the waiter offer not only to cut his food, but, also mine (of course they did this in a manner which was not condescending or mean spirited, I just got the impression that they genuinely wanted to help) If I can say one thing about the staff, if anything they were overly gracious. If I can answer any other questions for you or help you in any other way please feel free to email me at dacke0214@optonline.net. I hope this information helps you and that you go and have a wonderful time.

 

Regards,

 

Dean

[Tazzycat]

Wow! I am amazed on the number of responses to my question in lightning- fast time! This forum is fantastic! Thanks to everyone who responded; I feel so much more at ease now. You all are wonderful.

 

On Princess, they denied me getting on the tender because of the ocean waves, but all the un-disabled people got to go, so I felt bad.

On Holland, the crewmember came to my cabin to get me to help me get into the tender at Roatan, Honduras, then at the last moment on the ship's edge, the decision came down to deny me. I tried to persuade them to let me go ashore, showing them that I can and do walk, and that DH can carry the wheelchair, but, no. I was rabid.

NCL did the same thing in Mexico, because of stairs. I can do stairs slowly. But no, they told me to go sit in the casino while everyone else got to go ashore. I had given up on cruising because of this.

 

So now we are going to try Celebrity. I just bought the cruise a few minutes ago. I am glad that all of you helped me make this decision. Thank you all for giving me your insights and experiences.

[tcher0619]

I read : "reserved a wheelchair". Was this done through Celebrity? It would make it much more convenient for my husband to have access to a wheelchair. He uses a cane and most stores now have access to a scotter, but the question of a wheelchair has been concern.

[pattyj 1204]

TazzyCat, Glad you are giving cruising another shot. I would think that there should be accomadations for w/c. We had a few scooters on our Med. Cruise and I didn't notice that they had too much difficulties. Good Luck and Have fun on your cruise.

[judyfssw]

Hi, My husband is a stroke survivor and we've used a wheelchair/scooter on cruises for many years on many cruises - all on Celebrity. I feel that Celebrity does a wonderful job. Rod (and my mom when we've taken her) is usually carried to the tender area. The guys helping on and off at the tender are wonderfully gentle. The staff in the dining room are very accomodating. The only problem we've ever had is in the theater. If we don't get there early for a show, all of the spaces for the scooter are taken and he has difficulty walking down the steps without a handrail. But, we usually plan accordingly and will find a place.

We use to rent a scooter from Care Vacations but decided to buy our own travel scooter as it is so much easier on me.

Reserve an accessible room. The staff is waiting for you and will treat you "famously". We leave for an Alaskan cruise very soon with my Mom and I'm not concerned at all.

Have a wonderful cruise on Celebrity

[drsb]

I do not use a wheelchair, however, I noticed when I was looking at excursions for my upcoming trip some of them say they are recommended for those with wheelchairs or have difficulty walking. Based on that, I doubt you will be given a hard time.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I read : "reserved a wheelchair". Was this done through Celebrity? It would make it much more convenient for my husband to have access to a wheelchair. He uses a cane and most stores now have access to a scotter, but the question of a wheelchair has been concern.

 

You can reserve a wheelchair for use on the ship and to take off through Celebrity Special Needs Department. The number is 1-800-242-6374 and press 2 for Special Needs. If you need a wheelchair for boarding, let them know this also.

 

Good luck and have a great cruise.