cabana and handicapped people

[toodycat]

My parents love having a cabana at HMC because they cannot walk very far and like having a "headquarters" where they can lounge and have their lunch brought to them. However, on our last cruise, the staff at HMC said they could not take my parents to the cabana via any of the island vehicles and that my DH would have to wheel them, using the island wheelchair. He did it, but it wasn't easy to walk 1/4 mile pushing my 250 lb dad. Has anyone who uses a wheelchair or can't walk long distances had a similar problem or were you able to get the crew at HMC to give you a ride via golf cart or tram or jeep? Please let me know.

Also, we have booked the eggshell cabana? Does anyone know its approximate distance from the dock? Also, is it still near the swimming area? Thanks!

[uppitycats]

Originally Posted by toodycat

My parents love having a cabana at HMC because they cannot walk very far and like having a "headquarters" where they can lounge and have their lunch brought to them. However, on our last cruise, the staff at HMC said they could not take my parents to the cabana via any of the island vehicles and that my DH would have to wheel them, using the island wheelchair. He did it, but it wasn't easy to walk 1/4 mile pushing my 250 lb dad. Has anyone who uses a wheelchair or can't walk long distances had a similar problem or were you able to get the crew at HMC to give you a ride via golf cart or tram or jeep? Please let me know.

Also, we have booked the eggshell cabana? Does anyone know its approximate distance from the dock? Also, is it still near the swimming area? Thanks!

You might want to come over to the disabled cruisers board here on this site to ask your question,

but generally, no, the crew of the ship will not do any assistance on land -- they'll get you down off the gangway and on to shore, but that's the end of it. I think if, in the past, you "caught a ride" on a golf cart or some other vehicle, it was done as a courtesy, not as a matter of course.

Most of the "fine print" that I've seen in cruise documents indicate that crew will not help a disabled person with anything other than, say, holding open a door, or an assist over a ramp, or something related specifically to the ship.

[HEYJUDE1]

Originally Posted by toodycat

My parents love having a cabana at HMC because they cannot walk very far and like having a "headquarters" where they can lounge and have their lunch brought to them. However, on our last cruise, the staff at HMC said they could not take my parents to the cabana via any of the island vehicles and that my DH would have to wheel them, using the island wheelchair. He did it, but it wasn't easy to walk 1/4 mile pushing my 250 lb dad. Has anyone who uses a wheelchair or can't walk long distances had a similar problem or were you able to get the crew at HMC to give you a ride via golf cart or tram or jeep? Please let me know.

Also, we have booked the eggshell cabana? Does anyone know its approximate distance from the dock? Also, is it still near the swimming area? Thanks!

Last year we booked the egg shell cabana and found it to be in a wonderful area. Close to swimming & rest rooms but it is pretty far down the beach. We took the tram back to the loading area at the end of the day.
Enjoy your cruise.

Judy

[kyriecat]

I thought the taupe cabana was the HC accessible one. When we were on HMC in April, the staff offered to take us to our cabana in a tram. I don't know if someone in a wheelchair can climb into the tram. I don't remember seeing a wheelchair lift on it.

[RuthC]

I've been to HMC twice, was in a cabana with butler service and in the Grand Cabana the second time. Both times I was able to get transportation to/from the cabanas quite easily. I don't know if the butler service helped get the ride or not, but it was a big help.
The first time I took the tram, and it was difficult climbing up; this last time I got a ride in the chef's jeep.

If you have a ride to/from the cabanas, remember there is a steep dune to climb down/up from the road to the beach. I needed help from the butler to negotiate it.
There's also some stairs to the cabana itself. I believe it's the first cabana that's accessible.

[toodycat]

Thanks for all your help. But now I am really confused. On our first trip to HMC, we were dropped at our cabana in a jeep. Last time, we were told that there was no transportation to the turquoise cabana, so my husband wheeled my parents both ways. They do not use wheelchairs normally, but cannot walk long distances because of arthritis. The person who told us we would have to wheel them didn't even mention a tram. I had no idea the island had a tram.

[Aunty Pat]

There is a tram that goes to the Food Pavilion, but it can go on the sandy paths to the cabanas.

My sister was recovering from foot surgery the last time we were on Half Moon Cay (January '08). We booked the Taupe cabana (the first one). She came off the ship in a wheel chair. At the Welcome Center she was transferred to the beach wheel chair with the big tires and someone from HAL pushed it to the cabana and took it away with them. We used her wheel chair to carry all of our stuff to the cabana. When it was time to leave. There was a long wait for use of the beach wheel chair so we tried to use her regular wheel chair to get back to the dock. Going over the sand was impossible, luckily she could walk for short distances. Once we go back to the paved walk way she was able to use her chair again.

Aunty Pat


Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81
K&D German Rhine Line ‘84
NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93
RCC - Song of America ‘89
American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98
HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07, Westerdam ‘09
Carnival - Spirit ‘05
Celebrity – Summit ‘05
Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06
Princess - Golden Princess ‘07
A & K - East Queen ‘07
Cunard - QM2 ’08
Pending Cruises:
Crystal – Serenity, December 10, 2009
Oceania – Insignia, June 17, 2010

[byucougs]

We got a ride to our pink cabana right next to the eggshell one. Great location, just far enough down the beach to seem private and near to restrooms. If you can afford the butler package they will take good care of you the whole day. Enjoy!

[Tess111]

Originally Posted by Aunty Pat

There is a tram that goes to the Food Pavilion, but it can go on the sandy paths to the cabanas.

My sister was recovering from foot surgery the last time we were on Half Moon Cay (January '08). We booked the Taupe cabana (the first one). She came off the ship in a wheel chair. At the Welcome Center she was transferred to the beach wheel chair with the big tires and someone from HAL pushed it to the cabana and took it away with them. We used her wheel chair to carry all of our stuff to the cabana. When it was time to leave. There was a long wait for use of the beach wheel chair so we tried to use her regular wheel chair to get back to the dock. Going over the sand was impossible, luckily she could walk for short distances. Once we go back to the paved walk way she was able to use her chair again.

Aunty Pat


Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81
K&D German Rhine Line ‘84
NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93
RCC - Song of America ‘89
American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98
HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07, Westerdam ‘09
Carnival - Spirit ‘05
Celebrity – Summit ‘05
Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06
Princess - Golden Princess ‘07
A & K - East Queen ‘07
Cunard - QM2 ’08
Pending Cruises:
Crystal – Serenity, December 10, 2009
Oceania – Insignia, June 17, 2010

My hubby just had foot surgery and we are booked on a cruise in 3.5 weeks (4 weeks post-surgery). I have booked the peach cabana and the butler package at HMC. My question is, "How did you protect her foot from getting sand in it? Did you wrap it in plastic, duct tape a garbage bag onto it?" Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[PAHORNER]

Actually just returned last week from HMC, had the gray cabana. My mom is 87 and can't walk too far. They had a tram that took us directly to cabana, we told them what time we wanted to return and she was waiting for us. And a little tip doesn't hurt. Should be no problem at all, wasn't for us.

[avionicstraveler]

Tess111 - as an ocupational therapist I work with all kinds of casts and post-surgical procedures which need to remain clean and dry- Yes a plastic bag and tape should work nicely. Instead of duct tape, try a product called Coban; most drugstores carry it, it's lightweight and sticks well enough to itself to give you the protection you need. BTW, thanks to all whon have posted here. Going on the Westerdam 2-21-10 with my sister in a wh/ch and have booked the Taupe cabana. She is thrilled and I was concerned re access. We have always managed to make it work, but I'm relieved to hear about the beach wh/ch. Only 79 more days!

[Cruisergal1208]

One of the cabanas has a concrete path that goes right down to it. HAL should be able to tell you which one or perhaps another poster could do so. It is not too far from the courtyard after getting off the ship.