Limited mobility - embarkation/debarkation

[graycottag]

I'm travelling with a friend on the Crown Princess from FLL next year. He has some mobility issues, but is not in a wheelchair ...he can't stand for long periods of time (10 minutes tops), nor walk long distances. (basically he has only 20/25% cardiac function). We will be staying in FLL for two nights both before and after the cruise, so we will be arriving and leaving on our own. My questions are: should we plan on arriving at the ship a couple of hours after the doors open so that the "must be on the ship first" crowds are gone, and may avoid the lines... and, what may be a good strategy to leave the ship near the end of debarkation so that he is able to sit somewhere as long as possible? On my last Princess cruise with my daughter I remembered having to sit on the floor in the atrium for roughly an hour waiting for our color to be called... to say nothing of having to wait a long time to be able to get an elevator. I have read many of the threads on the boards referrring to the mess of dearkation with crowds..something I know he can't physically tolerate.

[Harleycat]

Originally Posted by graycottag

I'm travelling with a friend on the Crown Princess from FLL next year. He has some mobility issues, but is not in a wheelchair ...he can't stand for long periods of time (10 minutes tops), nor walk long distances. (basically he has only 20/25% cardiac function). We will be staying in FLL for two nights both before and after the cruise, so we will be arriving and leaving on our own. My questions are: should we plan on arriving at the ship a couple of hours after the doors open so that the "must be on the ship first" crowds are gone, and may avoid the lines... and, what may be a good strategy to leave the ship near the end of debarkation so that he is able to sit somewhere as long as possible? On my last Princess cruise with my daughter I remembered having to sit on the floor in the atrium for roughly an hour waiting for our color to be called... to say nothing of having to wait a long time to be able to get an elevator. I have read many of the threads on the boards referrring to the mess of dearkation with crowds..something I know he can't physically tolerate.

Even though he is not normally in a wheelchair, I would request wheelchair assistance for embarkation and debarkation. If he can't walk long distances, it would be best since it can be a long walk to your cabin.

[Splinter]

If he is this limited, then you should seriously encourage him to rent or take a scooter with him on this trip. It is not just at embarkation or disembarkation that there can be long distances to walk, or stand in line. He will be very limited onboard ship otherwise. You can either take one with you (rent or purchase at home) or rent from a company like CareVacations and have it delivered to the ship.

It is a good idea also to take a manual wheelchair for use in ports, unless he is resigned to never getting off the ship on your cruise (which would be a shame). A rollator type walker with a seat would be another option, but not nearly as versatile as a wheelchair. He can walk and push the wheelchair when he feels he can do this, but then have the wheelchair for when he starts to fatigue.

Regardless, let the cruise line know that he will need a wheelchair for embarkation and disembarkation (if not bringing one of his own). Generally the cruise line will have someone who will bring the wheelchair and push it if no one else in his party can do this, and those in wheelchairs (and their party) are usually given priority boarding. Even with this, we usually plan to arrive no earlier than 3 hours before departure so that the first rush of those getting on the ship is over.

You cannot use the ship's wheelchairs during the cruise except for emergencies, and you cannot remove them for use on shore excursions.

Upon disembarkation, let the pursuer's office know you will need wheelchair assistance. Princess sets up a special lounge for those using wheelchairs and he will again be assisted to get a wheelchair and assisted off the ship. Someone in your party will have to push the wheelchair from the pier usually, although sometimes they will help push all the way to your transportation.

[Arwenmark]

I also strongly suggest that your friend rent a scooter and if he does you will need to book an accessible cabin and they go very fast there are few of them. Other solution would be to rent a folding wheelchair that YOU could push him in when needed. I realise that he may feel he doesn't need either but he may in fact need them remember the ships are about 1000 feet long and often standing is involved on board.
At the very least request wheelchair assistance for boarding and disembarkation. Do this in advance, then when you arrive tell an NCL agent you requested it.

[138east]

I have some different perspectives. I would advise arriving as early as possible and getting wheelchair assistance. This will enable you to bypass most of the lines. Some sort of mobility aid, whether it is a wheelchair, transport chair, walker with a seat, or scooter would be an absolute necessity to enhance the quality of your vacation. Also, check out the deck layouts and pick a cabin as close to the elevators that service the food areas if a handicapped cabin is not available. You have to determine how much assistance you are willing to give your friend - he apparently does not use a scooter or a wheelchair now, so there might be a learning curve on the cruise. Are you willing to push him to more distant locations? What is he most comfortable with? You will have a wonderful cruise if all these options are discussed ahead of time.

[graycottag]

Many thanks for the replies. The wheelchair/something we have discussed, and he has gone over with a variety of doctors, and all discourage him from using one until he is really unable to walk. There are also some orthopedic issues, along with a variety of lingering other problems , diabetes, circulation, ankylosing spondilitis and stability problems that can get "irritated" once he starts to use a chair or scooter. They would prefer he put that off as long as possible as once he starts to use either, he may freeze up and never be able to walk again.. and may be confined to a bed. He just started to wear an ankle brace as he developed a cardiac related tendon issue, which in a few days has really improved his walking stamina.... good because he needs to walk about a mile a day just to keep limber..though in small doses.

We'll keep the boarding/disembarking assistance option in mind and see how things are closer to our cruise. He is taking the train to Fort Lauderdale and I am flying in the day he arrives as he isn't permitted to fly, but his physicians are really encouraging the cruise idea as a "safe" vacation....especially for his mental state.

[Queenie2]

well, if he cant' do a wheelchair or a scooter, what about one of those canes that have a little seat? that way he could rest whenever he needed to. Sometimes there just won't be a chair around. and even if you request wheelchair assistance, there may be a delay. Read my blog about a fiasco there. It's on Royal Caribbean, but the delay (not the rudeness) can come any time all the wheelchairs are in use. http://barrierfreetravels.com/serend...ican-Pier.html

Candy

[138east]

Has your friend specifically discussed with his doctors the temporary use of a wheelchair or transport chair or walker as an enhancement to his enjoyment of the cruise? For traveling I don't see the difference between sitting on a train to get to the port and sitting in a wheelchair to get from point A to point B on the ship. I don't think anyone is suggesting that your friend switch over and give up walking. If he has to walk a mile/day, that is easily doable in small doses on the ship. But there are situations that come up when traveling which can be overwhelming to someone who is mobility impaired and it is good to be prepared for them.

For our last cruise I got my mother a transport chair, which I think of as an adult stroller, and it was wonderful. She walked wherever possible, but to get from one end of the ship to the other I pushed her. The chair dramatically improved the overall quality of our cruise and I wish I had gotten it sooner.

[graycottag]

He has discussed the chair option (even with just plain boarding) with his orthopedic and cardiac physicians, and both concur that he should only go to that if there is a definite need. Basically they want him to slightly push himself - strongly emphasizing the word slightly - to keep himself limber. He has a type of congestive heart failure that possibly may reverse itself (it was caused by a commonly prescribed medication) so he's watched over pretty carefully. He is just now being given a series of exercises to buld him up to a possible session in cardiac rehan... but that is months away, if ever. We know that the chair option is available, and will make a final decision closer to the cruise. He has a set of appointments with the entire array of doctors about a month before our cruise and we'll make a final decision then.

[katisdale]

I just got off the Crown Princess 11/21/09. Here is my take on the ship. First, a rollator or walker that has a seat would be a great asset for your friend. He would still have to walk anywhere he goes but could sit down as needed. The ship is very large and if you are going from the traditional dining room to the theater you will need to walk the entire length of the ship. There will be areas, especially the floors with cabins where there are no seats available. There are no seats in the elevator lobbies. I started to use travelscoot scooter last year which has served me very well. Before that I relied on my rollator and would have very much been restricted on shore excursions without it. For example, whenever a guide stopped to explain a site I could sit on my rollator rather than stand which greatly expanded what I could do that day. I hope you have a great cruise.

[LuLaLuvlee]

Be cautious using a transport chair (one which you push) as opposed to a wheelchair if you find yourself looking at this type of mobility aid. The transport chair will generally be lighter BUT you have to select the one with big wheels-so it pushes easier); it makes the person totally dependent on you to get around which isn't always a good thing; you could get a hernia pushing them if it is up an incline over a carpeted floor (personal exp on that one ).

The seated roller is a great idea. He might find that handy on the train as well. It's also nice to have a place to put your packages when you are out shopping

Have a wonderful trip!