Billteg

1 hour ago, NightOne said:

 

Ordered last night and gave your name for the referral. 🙂

 

It really does seem to check every box on the list and it seems like a much better option than a scooter for planes, trains, taxis,  etc. If it doesn't work out then we'll hold YOU personally responsible ... KIDDING LOLOLOL

 

Spoke with them on the phone yesterday afternoon for about 45 minutes and they answered every question we had. Thanks for the advice on this. We get it next week and cruise later this month. 🙂

 

Will let you know how it goes.

I bought a Wheelchair bag by Vive thru Amazon.com which has been great for caring around stuff.. Quite roomy.  I think it's better than the holder from fold and go. I also recommend some type of hook such as a large Caribeener (I bought Hero clips, a little pricey but they are great for caring bags, even hooking a suitcase to pull behind the chair..I use 2).  Not sure how tall you are but I also got the armrest extension so it gives me a little more room for my arm to operate ,(I'm 6'1”, 300+ lbs) and I got the foot extension which makes my legs more comfortable but you may not need those extension but I do recommend the bag and hooks of some kind.  I also got the cupholder which is Handy for drinks... Thanks for the referral. Best of luck, bon voyage

26 minutes ago, NightOne said:

 

So I am doing some research for a family member and ran across your post about the Fold and Go. I've have sort of narrowed it down to a Pride Revo 2.0 4-wheeler and the Fold and Go. The scooter seems like a neat option but how do you store it in taxis, cars, planes, etc? 

 

I watched a couple of videos on YouTube last night about airline baggage handlers loading 200lb-ish scooters and power wheelchairs and it wasn't pretty. It took 4 of them to lift it and they never put it the right way on the belt and I could easily see how they would tear it up pretty easily.

 

How did you find gate checking the Fold and Go? Also, what about going through security?

 

Any additional information you can share?

I had no problems on the train, cruise

Ship, taxi (SUV or van is best but it does fit in most car trunks fine) or airplane with my Fold and Go.  It fills up to the size of a large suitcase. I understand on some newer aircraft you can store them in the cabin but on my flights they stored it before but I had no problems.  It's easy to wheel when folded up, like a suitcase.  Security was no issue at all. Should you buy a gold and go, please give my name as a referral and I get a small credit.. William Tegtmeyer.  I'm very happy with my Fold and Go.  The backrest does not recline but I find it comfortable.  I do have an extra pad on my seat if I'm going out and about. I tried a scooter and they are nice but not very convenient if you are a traveler.  I find the Fold and Go by far the best choice for me.  Good luck

 

Just a quick report on my Fold and Go electric wheelchair, heavy duty up to 365 lbs and weights 57 lbs.  I just finished an 18 day Panama Canal cruise then visited friends in Kansas city and New Orleans for another 3 weeks.  Got around great, no issues.  Held its charge well but I don't let it go much before half before I recharge it.  Hauled my bulky body asking with clips that held 3 bags plus tossed my large suitcase around (I use the Hero Clips.. They work great books to the back of the chair then put bags /suitcase handle on the hooks).  Everyone was impressed with how the chair folds up and rolls like a suitcase, especially airline personnel. 

Agreed! Also -- don't get drunk and stupid. Of course, not all -- but many of the 'horror stories' involve way too much alcohol.:eek:

Or buying drugs... Not a good idea for tourists in any cut

 

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I meant City, not cut

 

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Or buying drugs... Not a good idea for tourists in any cut

 

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Prices change often. I'd say it is highly unlikely it would canceled. Sit back and stay dreaming about your cruise. Best advice I can give is relax, you're on vacation. Everything won't be perfect but sit back and make memories that will help you forget any imperfections. Pack lighter than you think you should and have fun. Reading through these forums gives you lots of great info. Happy cruising

 

Bill T

OP: my wife and I did a full transit of the Canal on the NCL Jewel -- a sister ship of the Gem -- in Jan/Feb. 2017, which was terrific. I'm quite familiar with the Gem and the Jewel class ships. The Great Outdoors is a fantastic place for watching some of the transit (backwards, if you will), plus you'll be able to have some shade and duck into the buffet when you want to cool off. (The Great Outdoors is in fact one of my favorite spots on those ships.)

 

However, as others have said, and to the extent your mobility allows, you'll really want to observe the transit from other perspectives -- forward facing, high, low, etc. It's a very long day, so I hope you'll be able to move around.

 

To the extent this may be helpful to you, here's my detailed review of our cruise. (Unfortunately, thanks to PhotoBucket, most of the photos are no longer viewable.) If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2456255

 

Have a great trip!

Many thanks Turtles 06. I appreciate your review especially the day of transit through the Canal. I fully agree with you that activities and food on board are very subjective but I appreciate all views, and then make up my own mind. I also don't cruise for the qualities of food. I'm an old bachelor so I just appreciate someone else fixing the food. I also very much enjoy The Great Outdoors and spent most of my 14 day cruise on the Gem back there. I enjoy just relaxing, enjoying the vastness of the ocean and the occasional glimpse of another ship, birds and fish. You write a very interesting post and beautiful pictures. I wish I could afford the luxerious accommodation but I'll be fine in my little cabin.. Lol. Again, my thanks... Bill

 

Bill T

I think you will find that the approach and passage through the first set of locks, the forward looking views are the most popular as you might expect. That doesn't mean you can't get a good look at what is interesting from any spot that gives you a reasonably unobstructed view out. As your transit progresses through the day you will find the more popular forward positions less crowded. Depending on your direction of travel (Atl-Pac or Pac-Atl) you can prioritize to some degree which side of the ship would be the "better" side for seeing the more interesting sites. If you can I would also recommend positioning yourself on the lowest outside public deck (often times under the lifeboats) for at least a part of the passage through one of the locks. I would recommend you do this later in the day... provides with a completely different perspective.

 

 

Things move at a fairly leisurely pace in the Canal and you can too:D.

 

Thank you The Other Bill...

 

Bill T

Thank you both for your replies. I do live in NYS currently but I did live many years in the Gulf South so I'm pretty accustomed to the heat and humidity. I'm looking forward to it, in fact, as some relief for mid winter NYS LOL.

 

Bill T

I'm wondering where is a good spot on the ship to spend the day transversing the Canal. I especially like pictures of scenery along the way. The Gem has a great Outdoor bar and buffet on the aft deck.. Would that be a good spot? My mobility is limited and I can't be running all over the ship. You can move from Port to starboard daily on this aft deck location. Thanks for any recommendations

 

Bill T

^^^^^^^

 

It would include anything under $15 glass. Anything over $15/glass you would just pay the difference.

I'm glad I'm just a plain ol' drink. I'll drink whatever they put in front of me and enjoy the hell of of it because I'm CRUISING and NOT WORKING.

 

Bill T

Check out foldandgowheelchairs.com

 

Bill T

How much weight can it hold?

 

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Fold and Go regular chairs chairs hold up to 265 lbs and the Heavy Duty is 365 lbs I believe. I've had mine for about 6 months and love it. It folds up to the size of a large suitcase, weights between 46-56 lbs depending on model, fits nicely in my car. It's not the speediest, about 3-4 mph but that is average walking speed. It has gone up tables and inclined that I've encountered with no power problems. It has worked on on dry grass and packed gravel but not as good in loose gravel. I have the heavy duty with width extended and it fits through all the doors I've encountered. I'm be taking it on my Panama Canal cruise this winter. I imagine folks have very good reasons for liking their scooter but this one is American made and water proof which was very important to me. If you should choose Fold and Go, contact me back so I can give you my name. I can get a referral bonus but that is not my basis for giving this electric folding wheelchair a good review.. Bill

 

Bill T

Since there has been a serious note added to this thread, I did read the ADA regarding service animals. Animals is a misnomer because only dogs (and in rare instances small horses) qualify as a service animal. Only service animals qualify under ADA. Anyone MAY inquire as to whether an animal is a service or therapy animal but the owner cannot be compelled to show or demonstrate any proof. https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet. Now, let's get back to enjoying the humor folks.

 

Bill T

Hilarious thread... Does need a warning that the serious folks should not read it.

 

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Thank you for resurrecting this thread, I have found the information therein very helpful.

 

We had an accessible cabin on Oriana earlier this year and that worked well for us. The biggest problem was the automatic door - on several occasions it kept opening on its own and needed the sensors to be cleaned. It was very unsettling to know that the door might decide to open at an inopportune moment - when we were asleep or out of the cabin, for instance!

 

We have an accessible cabin on Silhouette in September and I am looking forward to seeing how Celebrity do things.

We will be on Silhouette in cabin 1022 in July - I will post my thoughts after that.

I asked on NCL Breakaway in Feb 2018. I'm not sure why NCL isn't part of this forum. I used a rental scooter and had a handicapped inside cabin. Everything was very accessible except at each port of call, I had trouble re-boarding. The bottom part of the ramp was too high to get the scooter over and the ship's staff had to push it up. Other than that, endurance on the so was quite accessible.

 

Bill T

2 thoughts on this --

I am a "woman of size" (yes, my own "fault"), & as such, my knees do bother me, and distances are difficult, so I don't do stairs -- it hurts too much & I will take the elevator. I will also be with my DD (epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, Post scoliosis surgery) who is in a wheelchair, so someone has to be with her anyway.

My DD can walk, & in fact is fine at home, in familiar surroundings, & can climb stairs --BUT, it takes her a while, and she cannot walk alone, because she can be knocked over fairly easily -- she doesn't weigh much, & her balance is poor, plus she had scoliosis surgery several years ago, soif she falls, she will go straight down -- her back does not bend.

She will get up & move to a chair in the MDR or Windjammer, she can take a shower standing up (although on the ship, for safety purposes, we use a shower stool), she can even climb stairs if she has someone to hold onto -- but the wheelchair makes it much easier.

The point is, while someone may be able to do certain things, it may not be easy for them, and as long as they're polite about it, it shouldn't matter if they're using a wheelchair/scooter or not

I also am a big guy but was very active until I broke both legs and developed a growth on my spine that creates severe pain when I walk. Yes, I can stand and walk short distances, but my electric wheelchair gives me the mobility to go out to events, to cruise, to do many activities that seem normal to most peoplw but are impossible for some of us. I can sit at home, or I can get out of the house with my wheelchair. You can look at me and think the reason I'm using a wheelchair is because I'm fat but you would not be knowing the truth.

Hi everyone,

 

I haven't been on a Cruise since 2005, so my information may be out of date when it comes what goes on on ships today.

 

My wife is Mobility Impaired and walks with a cane 99.99% of the time. When we first got together 18 years ago, her disabilities were more hidden. My point is someone may be disabled and not look like it. I know most of you know this but don't assume that just because someone doesn't look they need the elevator they may.

 

Walter

 

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I would suggest Fold and Go wheelchairs. I just got mine and love it. It fills to the size of a large suitcase. They are American made and weatherproof. I researched the folding electric wheelchair market and Fold and Go is made by and sold by people with disabilities who understand your problems.

 

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I would suggest Fold and Go

 

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I'm on the BA in Feb 2018. Does anyone know the current Spa Pass price for the 14 day cruise?

There should be be no criticism of anyone's decision to stay or go on this cruise. Each person should decide how to spend their hard earned money. I'm staying because a warm day on the ocean beats a snowy day in Western NYS. I'd love to go back to the islands that are damaged and spend a few costs to help their recovery, but I also look forward to time reading in the sun on the deck and enjoying my UBP no matter where we go. We have Super Bowl AND Mardi Gras on our cruise. It will all be relaxing, or limin' as they say in the Caribbean. Let's all be Limin', mon, wherever we go.

 

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Honestly if I compare an standard inside to the studio I would go with the studio. The layout is much more effective. It may be smaller, but due to the position of the bed and fixtures it has a nice feeling to it.

 

The shared common area is also a plus. Around breakfast time, there is coffee, orange juice, yogurt, fruit and pastries. Is it breakfast? For some yes, for other not. However it is still nice to be able to grab a coffee in the morning with no lineups or crowds. That is especially the case for the EPICS on those port intensive routes.

 

During the rest of the day there is coffee and some snacks available.

 

You have some common tables and lounge area that is quite and uncrowded as a retreat.

I was just moved from studio to inside but the only reason I'm moving is because it's an ADA cabin and the ADA bath will be very helpful. It's only 35 sq ft larger. I think I'd have been very happy in a studio, it doesn't resemble a coffin at all and it's less expensive for the solo traveler.. Just my opinion.

 

Bill T

Great news. When I contacted NCL regarding my handicap, they moved me to an ADA inside cabin from the studio I originally reserved. It has an ADA shower and enough extra room that I'm considering renting a scooter. My thanks to NCL.

 

Bill T

Special needs at Sea told me I couldn't rent a power chair because it's too hard to learn to use of you're not experienced. The price of a scooter seemed very high. I'm going to check around and see if there are other suppliers.

 

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I checked with Scooteround. Their price was cheaper but didn't include insurance. When insurance was added, they are still about$60 cheaper for my 14 day cruise. They will deliver and pickup at the terminal but don't bring the scooter onboard like Special needs at Sea can. I'm thinking the convenience of not have to meet up with someone and having the scooter delivered direct to the cabin may be worth it. I've got awhile to decide (cruise is Feb 2).

 

Bill T

Very sad... I spent many wonderful days in the USVI and BVI back in my day. It will come back, quicker than you expect, but not by tomorrow for sure.

 

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