Ask and they'll tell you

From time to time there are threads on this board discussing who does or doesn't deserve a handicap accessible cabin. The threads are useful to help people take the decision seriously and consider all of their options. I have also found it helpful to contact the cruise lines' access or special needs departments, explain the exact nature of my Mom's limitations and what she needs to be safe, and ask whether to book a handicap cabin or whether she can be adequately provided for elsewhere. Responses via email take a few days but I find them worth the wait.

Vicki

I apologize for the duplicate post. I don't know how to delete it.

Vicki

I apologize for the duplicate post. I don't know how to delete it.

 

Vicki

When signed in click on the red triangle containing an exclamation point to the right of the number of the post and send a message to the moderator asking it to be removed.

My DH had severe neuropathy in both his feet, ankles and hips at a young age. If you would look at him he looked like a strapping, healthy football player. However, he couldn't lift his legs up more than a few inches but he could walk. Later in his life walking became almost impossible and he had to use a wheelchair.

Because he couldn't lift his legs to enter the bathroom we had to have a HC Cabin. In the beginning of his illness people would see us leaving the Cabin and make comments or give us a funny look!

Sometimes you can't always see the handicap and not all handicapped people are in wheelchairs.

His illness taught me a good lesson in life, "it's best not to judge other folks unless you walk in their shoes!"

My DH had severe neuropathy in both his feet, ankles and hips at a young age. If you would look at him he looked like a strapping, healthy football player. However, he couldn't lift his legs up more than a few inches but he could walk. Later in his life walking became almost impossible and he had to use a wheelchair.

 

Because he couldn't lift his legs to enter the bathroom we had to have a HC Cabin. In the beginning of his illness people would see us leaving the Cabin and make comments or give us a funny look!

 

Sometimes you can't always see the handicap and not all handicapped people are in wheelchairs.

 

His illness taught me a good lesson in life, "it's best not to judge other folks unless you walk in their shoes!"

I am facing that now, i have a few herniated disk, and had to use a scooter in the store for the first time, and looking to use a wheel chair on our up coming cruise. The looks you get, i felt everyone's eyes on me, accusing looks, its so hard.

I am facing that now, i have a few herniated disk, and had to use a scooter in the store for the first time, and looking to use a wheel chair on our up coming cruise. The looks you get, i felt everyone's eyes on me, accusing looks, its so hard.

I'm so sorry. People can be so mean to each other. We certainly have to teach our children better so they don't grow up to be judgmental adults.

Be strong, keep a smile on your face and remember it's your life and no one else has to live it but you!

I hope that your back allows you to enjoy many, many more cruising experiences. :)

I am facing that now, i have a few herniated disk, and had to use a scooter in the store for the first time, and looking to use a wheel chair on our up coming cruise. The looks you get, i felt everyone's eyes on me, accusing looks, its so hard.

Just consider your wheelchair your throne!..I look perfectly fine but I am an above the knee amputee and large stores are just too big for me to walk around in with my prosthesis..not to mention standing in a long line...just smile..no one knows anything about you and you probably wont see them again in your liftime...

you can definitely take a folding w/c along and infact someone from princess will push you to your cabin...Princess really tried to make it easy and fun for those with mobility problems.. Not sure of your cruise line but all lines do the same.

We are going on the WPR in Skagway in the accessible car and taking the Orca Enterprise's whale watching tour (which is also accessible )in Juneau.

Hope you have a great cruise and good luck with your surgery after the cruise.

We leave in a week and we cant wait.

Arlene

Just consider your wheelchair your throne!..I look perfectly fine but I am an above the knee amputee and large stores are just too big for me to walk around in with my prosthesis..not to mention standing in a long line...just smile..no one knows anything about you and you probably wont see them again in your liftime...

you can definitely take a folding w/c along and infact someone from princess will push you to your cabin...Princess really tried to make it easy and fun for those with mobility problems.. Not sure of your cruise line but all lines do the same.

We are going on the WPR in Skagway in the accessible car and taking the Orca Enterprise's whale watching tour (which is also accessible )in Juneau.

 

Hope you have a great cruise and good luck with your surgery after the cruise.

We leave in a week and we cant wait.

Arlene

Thank you, i am not going to need the wheel chair(as of today) full time, but for longer days and places i know we will be on our feet for longer length of time i will need it. I can rent it for cheaper through our insurance company.

Ballard, it's good to hear that you will not need the wheelchair full-time while you are on board :) One thing I would say is to consider using the chair before you actually feel you need it. That way you will conserve a little energy for later in the trip.

The first time I took a wheelchair on board I hated the idea and was determined to use it only when in extremis. However, I learned the hard way that I am less likely to crash halfway through the trip if I use the chair right from the start. The trek from our cabin to the dining room/buffet/theatre seemed to get longer by the day!

well one of the good things is that our room is located in the middle, but that wont stop us. So ya the wheel chair is going to be another item i pack. It will have to be my shadow LOL.

My DH had severe neuropathy in both his feet, ankles and hips at a young age. If you would look at him he looked like a strapping, healthy football player. However, he couldn't lift his legs up more than a few inches but he could walk. Later in his life walking became almost impossible and he had to use a wheelchair.

 

Because he couldn't lift his legs to enter the bathroom we had to have a HC Cabin. In the beginning of his illness people would see us leaving the Cabin and make comments or give us a funny look!

 

Sometimes you can't always see the handicap and not all handicapped people are in wheelchairs.

 

His illness taught me a good lesson in life, "it's best not to judge other folks unless you walk in their shoes!"

My husband is not allowed to lift more than 5 pounds due to an injury. People do stare and wonder why I am doing all the lifting. He can get humorous about it and tells some folks that he has me 'well trained' but the truth is that he could really hurt himself if he did heavy lifting.

I am facing that now, i have a few herniated disk, and had to use a scooter in the store for the first time, and looking to use a wheel chair on our up coming cruise. The looks you get, i felt everyone's eyes on me, accusing looks, its so hard.

It is hard. I just tell myself I would rather be my kind happy self in a scooter than to be their grouchy judgmental self walking about. Don't let other people get to you. They don't know your story.

I look perfectly healthy, walk and have cardiomyopathy. Yet, moving from place to place in the ship would wear me out completely. Using my scooter allows me to enjoy the cruise and even do some slow dancing (most times can not finish dancing to a compete song). As I was around people using scooters for some years before finding myself needing one I think helped me accept the fact of using mine. If someone wishes to think "why is she using a scooter" let them think. I just KNOW what my limitations are, which still took some time learn, and do what I HAVE to do to allow the fullest enjoyment of my cruise.

I am facing that now, i have a few herniated disk, and had to use a scooter in the store for the first time, and looking to use a wheel chair on our up coming cruise. The looks you get, i felt everyone's eyes on me, accusing looks, its so hard.

My only reason for responding is to point out that if you are not used to a wheelchair, then beware. The carpeting on the ships make pushing and maneuvering a wheelchair very difficult. Also, the door jams can be dangerous. You really might be better off with a scooter.

Due to a terrible accident my husband won't be able to walk long distances at the time of our cruise. I booked the handicapped room and challenge someone to question our use of it. He can hop with a walker right now and hopefully will be able to walk with it when we go however, he may not need it at all for short walks so I am sure the haters, doubters, angry people will think what they think. His wheel chair is a tall back that reclines that we may or may not bring with up, it truly depends on where he is at.

People who are negative, unhappy people are going to be what they are going to be, we chose happiness and make the effort to live a positive life despite challenges.

Jessica:p

From time to time there are threads on this board discussing who does or doesn't deserve a handicap accessible cabin. The threads are useful to help people take the decision seriously and consider all of their options. I have also found it helpful to contact the cruise lines' access or special needs departments, explain the exact nature of my Mom's limitations and what she needs to be safe, and ask whether to book a handicap cabin or whether she can be adequately provided for elsewhere. Responses via email take a few days but I find them worth the wait.

 

 

 

Vicki

Good advice as don't want to take up an accessible cabin if you don't really need it and deprive someone else

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Due to a terrible accident my husband won't be able to walk long distances at the time of our cruise. I booked the handicapped room and challenge someone to question our use of it. He can hop with a walker right now and hopefully will be able to walk with it when we go however, he may not need it at all for short walks so I am sure the haters, doubters, angry people will think what they think. His wheel chair is a tall back that reclines that we may or may not bring with up, it truly depends on where he is at.

 

People who are negative, unhappy people are going to be what they are going to be, we chose happiness and make the effort to live a positive life despite challenges.

 

Jessica:p

Your fine:D:D, people will think what they want. I wont need the wheel chair except for longer walks, and for taking alot of breaks. Better to have it then not, and then stuck. Our room was already pre paid and could not change, but that's OK, i can walk into the room and around the room if need be.

My husband can walk short distances but more than a few steps causes him greatpain. He needs his scooteer to get around the ship and a non handicapped room would work if it was large enough to accomadate the scooter. Maybe a scooter parking lot on each deck could open up accessible cabins for those that really need them most.

My husband can walk short distances but more than a few steps causes him greatpain. He needs his scooteer to get around the ship and a non handicapped room would work if it was large enough to accomadate the scooter. Maybe a scooter parking lot on each deck could open up accessible cabins for those that really need them most.

I use a "granny cart" when I travel. It holds all my Service Dogs stuff and I don't have to carry it all around. When I try to wheel it into a "regular" room it will not fit through the door, I have to fold it up before entering. I doubt a scooter will fit through a regular door.

The scooters become a safety issue when they're piled up either in the hallways or even in the corridors. You'd be surprised how they can also go missing. My DH's was found , by security, near the Horizon Court when we were in a cabin on Emerald Deck [he left it outside our cabin for a brief period.]

It's bad enough when those dang room steward carts are left in the hallways and we have to try and maneuver around them to go anywhere.

I have a neuro-muscular auto-immune desease called Myasthenia Gravis. I look normal, and a lot of times I can get around just fine. The nature of my disease is the weakness can come on without warning and stop me in my tracks. Climbing stairs is out of the question but I could do it in an emergency (though it would take me days to recover). I sometimes can't hold up my head, or chew, or swallow...and the worst is when I can't breathe.

Soooo, in the past, on cruises, during the emergency drill they turn off the elevators and I would climb the stairs to my muster station and then pay for it for a few days. I finally got smart and called carnival and they said they can arrange it so I can take an elevator but I don't need to get a handicapped room, which pleases me because I would rather see it go to someone who more needs it.

I have a handicapped placard and only use it on bad days, but boy do I get glares! I look like I am moving fine, but inside I feel on the verge of collapse. People can be so mean with the glares I get!

I have a neuro-muscular auto-immune desease called Myasthenia Gravis. I look normal, and a lot of times I can get around just fine. The nature of my disease is the weakness can come on without warning and stop me in my tracks. Climbing stairs is out of the question but I could do it in an emergency (though it would take me days to recover). I sometimes can't hold up my head, or chew, or swallow...and the worst is when I can't breathe.

 

Soooo, in the past, on cruises, during the emergency drill they turn off the elevators and I would climb the stairs to my muster station and then pay for it for a few days. I finally got smart and called carnival and they said they can arrange it so I can take an elevator but I don't need to get a handicapped room, which pleases me because I would rather see it go to someone who more needs it.

 

I have a handicapped placard and only use it on bad days, but boy do I get glares! I look like I am moving fine, but inside I feel on the verge of collapse. People can be so mean with the glares I get!

Yep! I call it the "hidden agenda!" You sound like you're dealing so well with your "agenda!"

What I do is; I grab our life vests, a drink and I go to our Muster Station at least a 1/2 hour before it's called for. The elevators are still working, I find a seat easily and I wait for the festivities to begin.

"Planning" is the key word for taking a successful and enjoyable cruise. Some folks would rather do things on the spur of the moment, that's fine too, but it NEVER works out well for the person with a "hidden agenda!"

I wish you wonderful sea going voyages in your future! ♥

Thank you Wizard of Roz! It probably would be best to plan ahead...but my husband always wants to think he is a rebel and waits as long as possible to go to the muster. I think next time I'll go and save him a seat! lol

Thank you Wizard of Roz! It probably would be best to plan ahead...but my husband always wants to think he is a rebel and waits as long as possible to go to the muster. I think next time I'll go and save him a seat! lol

Now there's a forward thinker! He'll thank you for it, in the long run!

Be well!

After our experiences this year, we have learned so much!

DH couldn't lift bags because he didn't recover from shoulder surgery as fast as expected. Therefore my DS and I did the lifting. Luckily we had DS, because DD was in a wheelchair for the cruise (and summer) and he could lift her over stairs, push her up hill over the cobblestone streets, etc.

We were in a non-accessible cabin. Thank goodness DD could walk a few steps. The looks she got were mostly sympathy, but we got a few dirty ones when we were escorted doing plane changes.

If you are in a WC or a scooter, and need it, just book the accessible cabin. A wheelchair doesn't fit through the doors of a standard cabin.

She is walking now, but still struggling. Silly girl, she doesn't want to ask the Dr to give her a disabled parking tag for another month. I'm not sure why not - since when she stands for any period of time the swelling in her legs starts again.

Definitely need to put your hand up and ask when you need certain help

Sent from my iPhone using Forums