rented a scooter and loved it

[mutzy]

i just returned from rccl voyager out of new orleans. i have some mobility issues- can't walk for long distances or stand for long period of time- so i decided to rent a scooter to use while in port. i ended up using it full time both on and off the ship. i rented thru care vacation- it was so easy- the scooter was not in the cabin when we got there- called them- they called back in a couple of minutes to tell me the person delivering was running behind but it would be there in an hr. sure enough he showed up and even showed us how to use it.

i was worried about using the scooter on ship but everyone was really nice
they would hold the evelvator and moved over to accomadate the scooter. sure i had to wait a few times because the elevators were full but we learned the lesson "to go up to go down or go down to go up" when an empty elevator would show up going in the wrong direction.

i was even allowed to take the scooter on the tender at grand cayman. they loaded it on the tender for me (to afraid to drive it) and off we went.

we were in a jr suite- had no trouble getting thru the door and had plenty
of space to store it- didn't have to move any furniture at all.

i am so glad i rented the scooter- i will be doing that from know on. i want to travel by myself so i practiced getting around by myself with out
my DS running interference- i am very confident i can do a solo cruise with a scooter.

[Bobed1927]

I'm considering renting a scooter for our next cruise. Since I'm very food oriented I'm wondering how I would handle the scooter in the buffet line. Can you carry a tray on the scooter?

[mutzy]

no i couldn't carry a tray- i either parked the scooter and used my cane to go thru the buffet or i followed my sister thru the line and had her fill my plate- than i was able to hold the plate and find a table.

also the couple of times i ventured on my own one of the waiters offered to help me with my food.

the scooter i had (a gogo model i think) you used your right hand to go forward and your left hand to go backwards- so it was easy to carry
something in your left hand and drive.

because i could walk some i would park my scooter at the entrance of the dining room and use the cane to walk in.

[xxoocruiser]

Originally Posted by Bobed1927

I'm considering renting a scooter for our next cruise. Since I'm very food oriented I'm wondering how I would handle the scooter in the buffet line. Can you carry a tray on the scooter?

Though I'm very proficent at hold the plate on my lap and going around the buffet by myself, I rarely have to that. There's alway satff available to assist you and walk around with you as you select what you what. If no one comes up to you , please don't be afraid to ask for assistance.

[mutzy]

i even had other passengers offer to help me with food selection and finding a table.

[huggs]

Originally Posted by mutzy

i just returned from rccl voyager out of new orleans. i have some mobility issues- can't walk for long distances or stand for long period of time- so i decided to rent a scooter to use while in port. i ended up using it full time both on and off the ship. i rented thru care vacation- it was so easy- the scooter was not in the cabin when we got there- called them- they called back in a couple of minutes to tell me the person delivering was running behind but it would be there in an hr. sure enough he showed up and even showed us how to use it.

i was worried about using the scooter on ship but everyone was really nice
they would hold the evelvator and moved over to accomadate the scooter. sure i had to wait a few times because the elevators were full but we learned the lesson "to go up to go down or go down to go up" when an empty elevator would show up going in the wrong direction.

i was even allowed to take the scooter on the tender at grand cayman. they loaded it on the tender for me (to afraid to drive it) and off we went.

we were in a jr suite- had no trouble getting thru the door and had plenty
of space to store it- didn't have to move any furniture at all.

i am so glad i rented the scooter- i will be doing that from know on. i want to travel by myself so i practiced getting around by myself with out
my DS running interference- i am very confident i can do a solo cruise with a scooter.

I am so pleased to hear about your first experience. I will be doing the same thing for a cruise in May ( RCCL Rhapsody of Seas) . Much the same re mobility issues, I can walk a bit with a cane and or rollator /walker and will do so when I can. I was impressed to hear that they left you take the scooter on the tender ? I figured I would either skip the tender port ( Icy Straight) and or try with my walker only and just sit on it lots as we wander around the port and or book an excursion where I will be sitting most of the time.
I had a wheelchair on our last trip and my poor hubby was exhausted from pushing me everywhere , especially in the hawaiin heat.
I found crew and fellow passengers most helpful and more than eager to go out of their way to help us... It is all about your mind set and how you act I think that affects how you are treated. I never expected special service and was most gracious when those offered help. It is all about give and take and reining in any expectations of special treatment.
Again, thank you for sharing.

[mutzy]

i was surprised that i was able to tender the scooter. i asked at the guest service desk and they said "of course". when i went to leave they escorted
us to the front of the ship for a special tender. everyone was so helpful.

i think you will find the scooter is easy to operate (i didn't run over anyone's toes" i started out on the slowest setting but by the end of the
week i was cruising at mid speed. i was amazed at the short turning
radias the scooter had. i did have trouble with backing up- but i have a hard time backing my car up so why should the scooter be any different.

the first day i wanted to stop the scooter by putting my feet down- good way to hurt my knees even more- but i got use to not doing that by the second
day.

i did take my cane with me at all times so i could get off and walk to
the tables or events.

i agree the crew and passengers went out of their way to help me when
i needed it.

i think you will be glad you rented a scooter. they did advise me to bring
a three prong extension cord but i did not need it- the charger cord was
plenty long enough.

[Leo41]

I have similar mobility issues and have rented a scooter for all my cruises. I find the elevators difficult at times because when I'm alone, it's sometimes difficult to get to the right elevator in the bank before it closes again.

However, my biggest problem are some 'people.' They seem to resent someone using a scooter, and I've had people rush onto an elevator (that I've been waiting for far longer than they have) so that I can't get on at all. I've had others who are kind and helpful, but too many are rude and seem to think that I'm riding because I'm lazy or something rather than because I'm disabled.

[mutzy]

leo41- i was very lucky on the last cruise- everyone was very friendly and
helpful. i also had some trouble getting to the elevator door before it
closed when i was by myself. i started watching the floor indicators and tried
to guess which elevator would come and line the scooter in front of the door.
usually that worked but you have to be patient.

the scooter made the cruise so much more enjoyable. i am going on another
cruise in april - solo this time- and have rented a scooter again.

[ILoveScotland]

Originally Posted by Bobed1927

I'm considering renting a scooter for our next cruise. Since I'm very food oriented I'm wondering how I would handle the scooter in the buffet line. Can you carry a tray on the scooter?

This is when spouses, friends, families come in mighty handy! My DH would choose his food, but I would get it and take it to the table and then go back and get my food. Not a big problem.

[cjm66]

Originally Posted by Bobed1927

I'm considering renting a scooter for our next cruise. Since I'm very food oriented I'm wondering how I would handle the scooter in the buffet line. Can you carry a tray on the scooter?

Less possible to carry a tray on the scooter than in a motorised chair - the handle bars get in the way. Our solution in the buffet is based on our similar tastes in food. I collect a selection on a large plate plus two smaller plates and cutlery - carrying them is a skill learned from waitressing jobs as teenager. - I usually make two trips - not to load up - we are not big eaters - but to keep different items separate and easy to share out. On tender port days when I may go ashore on my own - Harry heads for the Lido deck grill or the Pizzeria if the MDR is closed as is the case on some lines these days, when the ship is in port.

Colleen

[judyfssw]

We started out renting a scooter and after 4 times including some 2 week cruises, we decided to bite the bullet and buy one. My husband's scooter has gone to the Caribbean, to Alaska, to Hawaii, to on a TA from Barcelona, to Europe and the Baltic and will be going to NZ and Australia this year. The Airlines have been great putting is on and off planes. Cruse lines have been super helping out. It doesn't look brand new but it works and gets my husband where he needs to go.
Don't be afraid to use a scooter on a cruise. Embrace what you're able to do and where you're able to go now.

[maw]

My husband and I both have to use scooters to get around-we have our own so we find easy to get around airports. Distances are so long sometimes. We always gate check scooters and wait until last to get off plane usually scooters are there waiting for us or a wheel chair pusher to take us to them.

In the buffet I always find an attendent to help carry my plate and locate us a table. The waiter ususally fight over this job as they know they will get to take scooter to park it.

We park outside dining room usually if not the waiter leads us to table then takes scooter to park it. The head waiters usually select the waiter who get to do this--although have had head waiters keep that chore for themselves.

[cruisewithbaby]

can I ask how much it was for a week rental? I am thinking of doing this for my mother who will be on RCCL. does care vacations drop off at your cabin and then you leave it in the cabin at end of cruise? She alsways rents a scooter when we go out so I know it would be helpful. She will be in a regular balcony room do you think a cooter will fit ok there?

[sue.young]

Originally Posted by cruisewithbaby

can I ask how much it was for a week rental? I am thinking of doing this for my mother who will be on RCCL. does care vacations drop off at your cabin and then you leave it in the cabin at end of cruise? She alsways rents a scooter when we go out so I know it would be helpful. She will be in a regular balcony room do you think a cooter will fit ok there?

Not sure of the price. Just call Care Vacations and get the price. The scooter is in the cabin most of the time, but take your reservation paper work with you as several times we have had to hunt down the scooter. Just leave the scooter in the cabin at the end of the cruise. We have put a scooter in a D1 cabin but it is very tight, only did this when a HC cabin not available.

[CRUZER2012]

I will be renting a scooter for the first time on my next cruise. On my first cruise since I first had mobility issues, I used a wheelchair. I travel solo, so using a wheelchair is extremely tiring. Sometimes I had to decide if it was worth wheeling myself to do something on board ship. I did miss out on a few things. I will be so happy to have a scooter this next time.

Cost? Well, it is not cheap. The cost depends mainly on what equipment you want to rent, the number of days of rental, and the itinerary does place a part in the cost. Itinerary is an issue if you are doing a cruise out of the U.S. and ending in Europe for instance. There are 2 companies available for rental - Care Vacations and Special Needs At Sea. Check with your cruise line to see which of these companies they work with.

[mutzy]

i have a scooter rented for my april cruise (8 days) the cost is 375.00 which
includes insurance. When i cruised with a scooter in jan. i was in a jr.
suite and had plenty of room.

i know that walgreens has the same scoote i rented on sale this week for 600.00 but transportation is an issue for me- won't fit in my car.

[xxoocruiser]

Originally Posted by mutzy

i have a scooter rented for my april cruise (8 days) the cost is 375.00 which
includes insurance. When i cruised with a scooter in jan. i was in a jr.
suite and had plenty of room.

i know that walgreens has the same scoote i rented on sale this week for 600.00 but transportation is an issue for me- won't fit in my car.

Mutzy ... TIP for future reference ...suggest you check you're homeowners insurance and also your credit card for insurance coverage before purchasing the rental insurance.

Regarding the scooter Walgreens currently has on sale for $600.00 .
It's the Pride Travel Pro which is one of Pride's portable scooters that easily breaks down into 4 pieces (5 if basket) and can fit in any size Trunk.

I have the Pride Go Go Elite Traveler which is several upgrades from the Pride Travel Pro and have no problem fitting it into the trunk of my car.

If you rented through CareVacations the one you'll have for the cruise is the Pride Go Go Elite Traveler Plus which is also several upgrades from the Pride Travel Pro but breaks apart in the same manner. Which is good to know just in case you want to take a cab when in port and an accessible cab is not available. .Here's the realtime video to show you how it breaks down.

http://www.pridemobility.com/gogo/vi...sassembly.html

Mutzy , we're on the same april 8 day cruise and I would be happy to show you how the scooter disassembles incase you're want to consider purchasing one.

[xxoocruiser]

Deleted. Fingers slipped and accidentally posted twice.

[mutzy]

xxoocruiser- thanks for the video- i didn't realized they broke down that easy.
definately something i will be looking into.

i would love to meet you on the cruise- did you sign up for the meet and mingle. this will be my first solo cruise and i am soooooo looking forward to
it.