Should I Book a Handicapped Cabin?

[Roz]

Normally I book my cruises 9+ months out, but I've been seeing some good fares advertised on the HAL Mexican cruises sailing this spring. I requested quotes from several TAs for the March 8 sailing of the Oosterdam and will probably book this cruise early next week.

Here's my dilemma - I've been quoted some good prices on the H category, which is a handicapped outside cabin. Ordinarily I would stay away from this category so that someone who's actually disabled could book it. However, I'm thinking that the reason it's been offered at a good rate 60 days before sailing is because it hasn't been booked and the cruise line wants to fill empty cabins.

My understanding is that those needing a handicapped cabin book well in advance so that they're assured of getting want they want.

Any words of wisdom or advice? Should I just go ahead and book the H and not worry about it? I assume if HAL needs it they'll contact my TA and offer me an upgrade (or downgrade) to another cabin.

Roz

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Roz, this is just my opinion and mine only but.... on our recent cruise there was a couple from our Roll Call that booked about 6 weeks out and almost did not get the handicapped cabin they definitely needed. He had mentioned that he had read where some CCer's commented that they had handicapped cabins but did not need them.
I personally would not book one because I do not care for the bathroom set up and having just the shower that I understand get's the whole bathroom very wet.

[Roz]

Lisa, thanks for offering your opinion, and the info on the handicapped cabin. I'm guessing the shower doesn't have a "lip" so that wheelchairs can get in, but as a result, water gets out. I hadn't thought of that.

Roz

[jer_l]

While not all H cabins are handicapped Cabins they all have obstructed views. Have you thought about booking an H guarantee? That way you won't be taking a cabin someone else needs and you may well get upgraded. On our recent cruise we were upgraded from a category H to a category D.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We met a couple a few years ago who had booked a cruise 3 months in advance and were assured by their TA that even though handicapped rooms weren't showing as being available, HAL would move someone who wasn't handicapped from such a room. His wife was wheel chair bound and in a regular cabin could not get to the bathroom without a lot of help from her husband. As luck would have it, their tablemates were in a handicapped cabin (neither of them needed it) and kept complaining about their bathroom!!

Just do as suggested - book a guarantee H and see what happens.

[Jade13]

We met a couple a few years ago who had booked a cruise 3 months in advance and were assured by their TA that even though handicapped rooms weren't showing as being available, HAL would move someone who wasn't handicapped from such a room. His wife was wheel chair bound and in a regular cabin could not get to the bathroom without a lot of help from her husband. As luck would have it, their tablemates were in a handicapped cabin (neither of them needed it) and kept complaining about their bathroom!!

Just do as suggested - book a guarantee H and see what happens.

Is there an ending to the story? Did the tablemates switch cabins?

[ILoveScotland]

DH is in a wheelchair, and we have our first handicap cabin on our cruise which is only 3 weeks away. (Yea!) While he can manage a regular cabin with a lot of effort we are both pleased to have the accessible cabin this time.

That said, I know that I would be disappointed (upset?) to think able bodied passengers were using a handicap accessible cabin making it unavailable to a disabled passenger.

Roz, perhaps you could book the handicap cabin with some kind of understanding that you would move if a disabled person needed it at the last minute.

[Coral]

Disabled people (like non-disabled people) like booking last minute specials and getting deals also.

There are so many situations in which non-disabled people are booked in disabled cabins "because they are larger" and when a disabled person needs the cabin, they are told it is filled.

As much as it sounds ideal that HAL will contact you if they need it, it doesn't work that way. The person will either be forced into a regular cabin or possibly wouldn't be able to cruise. I know this from experience.

Why not book a "H" guarantee?

[shepp]

Disabled people (like non-disabled people) like booking last minute specials and getting deals also.

There are so many situations in which non-disabled people are booked in disabled cabins "because they are larger" and when a disabled person needs the cabin, they are told it is filled.

I booked an H handicapped on the Zuiderdam for me and my elderly mom just a couple of months before sailing - it was the last cabin available in that category. It's my understanding that it's not larger than standard Hs. (I'll be sailing in a couple of weeks.) After we booked, my mother was asked to fill out a form for HAL's Access and Compliance department stating she was indeed disabled. From that, I assumed that if non-disabled pax were in that cabin, they would indeed be bumped in favor of someone who needed it. If not, why the form?

[FlorenceItaly]

Roz,

I sooooooooo wish you could join us on the Feb. 9 sailing. Is there any way possible?????????????



Marie

[innlady1]

Lisa, thanks for offering your opinion, and the info on the handicapped cabin. I'm guessing the shower doesn't have a "lip" so that wheelchairs can get in, but as a result, water gets out. I hadn't thought of that.

Roz

Lisa is right. Last year, our steward showed us #5140 on the Noordam so that we could see a room that was on the corner, aft. I noticed that the shower is just a part of the bathroom with no "lip" on it for wheelchair access. I would imagine the bathroom would get quite wet. They also have a minimal amt. of furniture...no sofa, etc.

[MoreMilesPlease]

We just returned from the Noordam. HAL "upgraded" us to a H handicapped room. Cabin 4090.

There is a completely obstructed view. Very large floor to ceiling windows that don't open, so you get good light. There was lifeboat equipment on the "balcony" portion but you could see some sky and water.

The location was good: midship by the elevators. We never heard noise form the elevators or comman area.

The actual room is smaller because they take part of it to make the bathroom bigger. There is no couch or table in the room. There is a small chair placed in front of the wardrobe. There is the small round stool at the vanity.

The TV is in a fixed position pointing towards the bed so you can only watch TV on the bed. There is nowhere to put a tray and eat so ordering room service is out unless you want to sit on the floor or on the bed to eat.

The bathroom has an extra wide door. There is a handicap shower with a folding chair. There is no shower "lip" just drains in the floor. There is a ceiling mounted shower curtain. The shower head needs to point towards the door, and if you have the water pressure tuned up, the water will hit the door underneath the shower curtain, or the outside carpet if the door is not shut. The entire bathroom floor can get wet if you are not careful of the water pressure or there is much rocking of the boat. You need to make sure you always have extra towels to cover the floor and don't put any personal items on the floor.

We did not consider this to be an upgrade since the room was smaller with nowhere but the bed to sit. The cruise was full and we were told there were no other cabins to move to. There were many, many handicapped people on this cruise and we're sure we heard a couple complaining about NOT getting a handicapped room. Still the guest relations manager said we were stuck with the handicap room.

[Jsipes]

We just returned from the Noordam. HAL "upgraded" us to a H handicapped room. Cabin 4090.

There is a completely obstructed view. Very large floor to ceiling windows that don't open, so you get good light. There was lifeboat equipment on the "balcony" portion but you could see some sky and water.

The location was good: midship by the elevators. We never heard noise form the elevators or comman area.

The actual room is smaller because they take part of it to make the bathroom bigger. There is no couch or table in the room. There is a small chair placed in front of the wardrobe. There is the small round stool at the vanity.

The TV is in a fixed position pointing towards the bed so you can only watch TV on the bed. There is nowhere to put a tray and eat so ordering room service is out unless you want to sit on the floor or on the bed to eat.

The bathroom has an extra wide door. There is a handicap shower with a folding chair. There is no shower "lip" just drains in the floor. There is a ceiling mounted shower curtain. The shower head needs to point towards the door, and if you have the water pressure tuned up, the water will hit the door underneath the shower curtain, or the outside carpet if the door is not shut. The entire bathroom floor can get wet if you are not careful of the water pressure or there is much rocking of the boat. You need to make sure you always have extra towels to cover the floor and don't put any personal items on the floor.

We did not consider this to be an upgrade since the room was smaller with nowhere but the bed to sit. The cruise was full and we were told there were no other cabins to move to. There were many, many handicapped people on this cruise and we're sure we heard a couple complaining about NOT getting a handicapped room. Still the guest relations manager said we were stuck with the handicap room.


Thanks for the great report....I'll make sure I never get a handicap room now !!!! I never knew how the physical plants were arranged in those rooms !! I once saw a photo of a Handicap Cabin on NCL, and the room had all linoleum flooring, vice carpet. I was surprised, but I guess it makes sense for wheelchairs. Hopefully I'll never need one.....:) :) :)

[sail7seas]

I would not book it..... I would feel so bad every time I went by someone on the ship who was disabled and I would wonder if my being in that handicap cabin took it away from them.

I think the suggestion of "H" guarantee is a great idea.



KK........I agree. Is there an 'end' to the story about the tablemates. Did the able bodied people swap cabins with those who needed the handicap cabin? Seems such a logical thing to do. I would think things would be very tense at that table if they did not offer.

[May4]

You know, I think I would avoid booking an H room for some of the reasons stated here. I DO think that you should book a HAL cruise to Mexico, though. Warm sun, sailing from San Diego, Margarittas,...
Perhaps a G guarantee? We got a very, very nice upgrade recently doing that very thing.:)

[donh1]

We booked a guarantee room and ended up with a Handicapped room. Seemed bigger because their was no couch and just a single chair with a small table and stool. As far a the bathroom goes it is well designed. There is a square drian the acts much like a ditch full length along where the shower curtain hangs and this drain runs totally in front of the door. No problem with water on the floor. There must be plenty of handicapped rooms because we certainly didn't need one and ended up with one. I can only assume all handicapped people in need were accomadated.

[Roz]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond and add their information and observations. I find it interesting that according to the TAs I consulted, 3 of them indicated that HAL was offering the handicapped "H" category as the outside option for a guarantee. I just don't get this, since it appears that many passengers who truly need disable accomodations want these cabins.

I'm booking tomorrow, so I'll let you know what happens. Cabin availability/price can change overnight, as we all know.

Roz

P.S. Marie, thanks for the invitation, but that week just doesn't work for me. I'm on the road for work on the preceeding days. I wouldn't have enough time to get back home and then fly to SD a day early.

[shepp]

Oh dang. I've booked my mother and me into 4090, not knowing about the lack of a sofa - which is something my mom particularly enjoys. When I called HAL to ask about the room, sofalessness was never mentioned. Oh well. While she needs a wheelchair to embark and disembark, she's not totally wheelchair-bound...yet. I guess it's a trade-off: greater accessibility and good location vs. less furniture. And since it's too late to do anything about it, I think I'll just remain mum about the missing sofa for now...

[FlorenceItaly]

P.S. Marie, thanks for the invitation, but that week just doesn't work for me. I'm on the road for work on the preceeding days. I wouldn't have enough time to get back home and then fly to SD a day early.

That's too bad, Roz. I would have loved to meet you, maybe another time!



Marie

[OVgirl]

I thought that there were wheelchair accessible cabins in most categories. The 'H' does not stand for 'handicapped'. So you could book a guarantee in any category and end up with a HC room. I think they should keep them free until the last minute, just in case someone really needs it.

[Roz]

I ended up booking an "N" inside guarantee this morning. There are 8 cabins in that category on the Oosterdam; 2 of them are designated as handicapped. As always when I book a guarantee, I hope for a guarantee. Since I did book a guarantee, I would hope that HAL wouldn't put me in 1 of the 2 handicapped cabins if someone else needs it.

Roz

[MoreMilesPlease]

I ended up booking an "N" inside guarantee this morning. There are 8 cabins in that category on the Oosterdam; 2 of them are designated as handicapped. As always when I book a guarantee, I hope for a guarantee. Since I did book a guarantee, I would hope that HAL wouldn't put me in 1 of the 2 handicapped cabins if someone else needs it.

Roz

We had booked a MM guarantee and were put into a H handicap room as an "upgrade". I very much would have prefered a MM cabin and not the supposed upgrade that HAL gave us. HAL has the final decision on what cabin you are put in to. If you see the cabin early enough you may be able to call prior to the cruise and have it changed. Ot if the cruise is not full you might can have it changed once on board.