helen haywood

Update. Well, Guest Services had told us we could stay in the cabin until 8 and to call them when we were ready to leave and someone would come and assist us. Of course when we called at 7:30 Guest Services just said we were supposed to go to Raw on 5. So I had to stress that I had been told to call and we would be given assistance…that my husband couldn’t wheel me and carry the crutches and pull the laptop. Something was lost in translation because a lovely young lady appeared with a wheelchair. Our wonderful cabin attendant said not to worry…he’d see the original one got returned. What was eye opening to me is that it is impossible to maneuver a wheelchair or scooter through the Edge Class hallways unless they are totally clear. During the normal morning and evening cabin service times the attendant’s cart blocking the hallway could generally be moved by alerting the nearby attendant. And in addition to the carts are the bags of laundry and trash hanging from the railings. Those too have to be moved so a wheelchair can pass. Well, on disembarkation morning there were carts in the hallways just parked there…no attendant nearby. My husband and the wheelchair assistant had to stop at least ten times to move carts or bags so we could make our way down the hallway. But the rest of the debarkation went as expected. One attendant wheeled me off the ship and parked me in the terminal where once my turn came another nice young lady wheeled me to the luggage area…we collected a porter and our bags and she wheeled me to the Park n Go slot and she knew exactly where it was. (And for some unknown reason Beyond returned to Terminal 18 instead of scheduled 25…even though she was the only ship in port today.) A snafu occurred when the Park n Go van did not have a front passenger seat. The driver was very nice and offered me his arm but obviously didn’t understand my right leg is totally non weight bearing. So I had to sit down on the steps and scoot up one at a time…and then get hauled to my feet by the combined efforts of the driver and my husband. Another snafu occurred when we got to the Taco Bell we planned to have lunch at. There was a homeless person circling the parking lot gesticulating and mumbling. I was afraid to get out and make my slow tortuous way on my crutches to the restaurant. If necessary I would be unable to run. Eventually the coast cleared and we made our slow progress inside. Let’s just say that between a slippery floor and long distances I realized I cannot go anywhere at present without a wheelchair. I’m terribly afraid I’m just going to run out of energy and fall and hurt something else. 😢 Wasn’t able to have my leg elevated much on the drive so we arrived home with my leg swollen and a huge hematoma under my right knee. Sigh. Have it elevated and iced now. I want to take a shower more than anything but feel I need to keep on with the elevation and ice right now. And both cats are extremely wary of the wheel, the cast etc…so are giving me a wide berth. Sniff. Hope tomorrow is better.

Thanks! I am definitely not considering this my birthday…will wait for a happier occasion. I haven’t let DH drive in over 20 years so I’ll either learn tolerance or become a basket case…or try to sleep.

@sgmn I’d love to see pictures of your sleeping arrangements on the boat… if you want to share. I’d think it would be really relaxing rocking to sleep on your boat!

Thank you. I know it’s subjective. Just never been in this position so wanted to do the right thing. Don’t think heroics will be needed 😊 so just assistance. The Park ‘n’ Go guy will load the bags.

Yes, the Oceanview Cafe…aft on Deck 14. Breakfast, lunch and dinner…only dress code is no swim suits etc. It’s adjacent to the pool so if you’re coming from there they just want you to put on a coverup.

The laptop bag has my husband’s meds and he wouldn’t want to put it out. He went down to Guest Services and they told him just to call when we were ready to leave the cabin and they’d send someone to help us. And to just go directly to Raw on 5 instead of making the trek to Tuscan and then to Raw on 5. As to another cruise…I currently have a booking in early September. That’s 16 weeks away. Final payment for it is June 4. I’ll make the call then. At the moment the answer would be not until I was more independently mobile…and only time will tell with that. Hopefully near to last question, how much would you all suggest tipping the Celebrity wheelchair assist in getting off the ship…how much to the terminal wheelchair assist and how much to the porter?

If I tried to hold my husband’s carryon on my lap…I’d have a whole new set of problems! 🤭 But you were absolutely right about the wheelchair…since Amazon and I are on a first name basis I don’t know why I didn’t think of that!! I did just place an order for a folding wheelchair, which, sigh, I may need long enough that it certainly was cheaper to buy one. Got a toilet seat topper with handles too…my new glamorous life… Again, thanks for all the help.

We do have the first luggage tag number after self-debark/walk off. My husband can’t push me and wheel the carry on bag and carry my crutches. I’ll have him ask at Guest Services tomorrow whether we should go straight to Raw on 5 or bide our time in Tuscan. Food won’t be an issue…we will have already gone to Oceanview. Thanks for everyone’s help and good wishes.

One last question re disembarkation. Guest Services told me we have to be out of the cabins at 7 and to go to Raw on 5 where wheelchair assistance was first come first serve. But the disembarkation letter said to go to Raw on 5 at your scheduled departure time…which is 8:15. So if we leave the cabin at 7 and go to the Elite waiting area in Tuscan…my husband will have to wheel me there…then come back to the cabin to get our one carry on bag and my crutches. Then at 8 or so when we go to Raw on 5 he’ll need to make two trips again. Does this sound correct?

The place we usually stop has a huge woman’s bathroom…I’ll probably get him to go in with me…. Thank goodness for 37 years of marriage so I can put aside modesty… And I absolutely intend to do all PT as ordered!! I’ve read on here about how much of a difference it makes in people with joint replacements.

I’m mostly off my feet now. I gimp/hop along with the crutches just to get to the cabin bathroom or to the cabin door…then I’m in the wheelchair. Or lying down. Driving home will be an experience…I’m not sure I can really use crutches to get into a bathroom…afraid of slipping on a wet floor…but will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I think I’ve found someone to loan me a wheelchair Sunday at home until I can rent one Monday. And hopefully get the surgery soon. Then weeks/months of trying to get back to normal…

Oh, I was aware hardware will be needed. I think I was told a plate and rods…. I have pins and screws in the other ankle from surgery back in 1975. I’m assuming orthopaedic surgery has progressed since then…

I have wondered if my arms should be straight or slightly bent on the crutches. I was afraid if I put too much weight on my wrists I’d be about to have another catastrophe.

My Cruise Critic name is Helen Haywood. A million years ago when I joined I thought it unwise to use your real name on the internet. Since then I have relaxed somewhat and therefore some people (notably Dani) know me by my real name. I was named after my maternal grandfather who was (and still is years after his death) my favorite relative so I’m very proud of the name. 😊

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