finny2

If you try an accessible cabin, you may find that the pluses outweigh the minuses. I haven't been on the Constellation yet, but I have had accessible cabins on other cruise lines (since I use a wheelchair), and they are very nice. 

12 minutes ago, kearney said:

Question: Do any of the balcony cabins have bed by window/veranda? I am wondering if we could get a scooter in a regular veranda cabin?  DH does not need a handicapped bathroom... so would prefer to use regular balcony cabin... IF we can get a scooter in it AND still get in the bathroom.

Your biggest problem may be getting a scooter through the door in a regular cabin. The doors in an accessible cabin are wider. I suggest you call the access office and ask them. Have the measurements of your scooter ready. But your best option is going to be an accessible cabin. A scooter would take up a lot of space in a regular cabin even if you can get it through the door.

Thanks everybody. My TA did get back to me with an apology and explanation, and is addressing my requests. So I’m going to give her another try.

We just booked an accessible aft cabin for the Southern Caribbean Jan 4. First time in an aft cabin.

Thanks for posting this. I'm excited about cruising out of Tampa. My niece lives in the area and we will be able to visit with her and her family pre or post cruise. A great two-fer vacation. 

7 hours ago, LuluNOLA said:

I’m a TA.  I have a hearing impaired client and we text most everything. Ask if she would feel this works better then email.

that's an idea, thanks. Do you live in NOLA? I'm in Covington.

The Service team is not for customers of TAs, but for the TAs to contact. If a customers booked with a TA, the TA has to contact Celebrity with changes etc. and they work with a Service Team that is specifically for TAs.

13 minutes ago, jelayne said:

When you asked your TA to book a hotel did you give her some guidelines?

price range you wanted to stay within

neighborhood or area of the city

a chain hotel or a independent,

do you get loyalty perks at any hotels

do you want free wi-fi, breakfast, airport shuttle

If you provided this type of information then 2 weeks to give you options to choose from is a bit long. If not then giving her this info would make her search less time consuming.

 

I book all our arrangements and if we are going to a city we haven’t been to previously it takes quite a bit of time; starting with researching areas of the city before I even get to researching hotels.  

 

 

I did, but her first response was to say that she would suggest better options for accessibility. She is familiar with the area and knows the hotels, etc better than I do.

1 minute ago, ebtrip said:

You are not expecting too much.. the TA should respond within a day.  I was a TA for 21 years, I would also be in touch with my clients within a day.  I understand as OP said you could make your own reservation, but she has your reservation and should handle all your requests for your booking. Good luck, I would find another agent for your next vacation..I use an online agent who has called me from her home, when I called after hours, as she is on east coast and I’m on the West coast.

Thanks, I am looking for another, but I prefer an agent with experience assisting mobility impaired customers and those are not easy to find. And that's the reason why I want an agent to handle hotels, etc. It's not easy getting good accessible accommodations and transportation.

And in the meantime, she has our booking and so I'm stuck with her.

2 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

Do you have a phone number for the TA? That might be quicker.

 

some TA’s are part-time contract workers....some work only two days a week.  Try asking this TA’s work schedule.

I avoid using the phone because I don't hear well, but I may have to call her. She is an independent agent and runs her own business.

This is the first time I've used a Travel Agent and I don't know if I am expecting too much or not. She appears to be very knowledgeable, but she is very slow to answer emails. I want to get my hotel reservations made now and I first asked her to do this over 2 weeks ago. A week ago she responded with a question about it and I immediately answered. Since then nothing. I realize I've got several months before I cruise, but I want to get all the arrangements squared away now. Am I expecting too much?

Maybe you could call to do this. It maybe that a live rep can take care of it for you.

I just checked and we are now scheduled for the Early Seating! Hurrah! 

My husband likes to wear collared, print, silk shirts that button up but are not tucked into pants. They are not as casual as polo shirt but they are not a dress shirt. Are these acceptable for Chic night dining? I don't think I can get him to wear a sport coat over one. 

Does anyone have pics of the change yet?

I talked to the special needs people and they were most understanding of my situation. They now have me on the waitlist for Early dining. They told me it was shorter and much more likely to work out since more people want to move to Select than to Early. And they said that if I had not been switched by about a month and a half before cruising, to get back to them and they would do more to help me. Great people there!

51 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Quick question... can anyone advise if LGB is open day of embarkation, to date?

 

The reason I ask is that there are a few friends who do not want to eat in the buffet and just thinking if LGB is available, a very good option to consider.

 

Or is it just open during the sailing itself?

 

I think I should know this and do apologize for not... yet! 😎

 

TIA and bon voyage

I can’t say from experience, but the app shows lunch hours on embarkation day. I do hope it is, since I find the buffet difficult in a wheelchair.

hopefully some one else knows for sure.

When/where/how can I make lunch reservations at Le Grand Bistro on the Edge. I tried to find it in the cruise planner on-line but could not find anything. Do I have to wait until we are on-board, or is it possible to do ahead of time.

12 hours ago, Ashland said:

Yes...but do opt for the water taxi...a great ride and view. Once there and you see it I have no doubt you'll water taxi...most everyone does.

Are the water taxis wheelchair accessible?

13 hours ago, vtcruising said:

Speaking of the Apex Art Collection, one of the things many of us would love is to have is Edge and Apex Art Tours of some of the important pieces on the ship, led by someone familiar with art on the ship and its artists (not Park West). I envision it being similar to the Behind the Scenes Theater Tour - it could be the Behind the Scenes Art Tour. Some of us are developing our own art tours for the Edge and Apex, but one organized by Celebrity would be even better.

Here is a resounding second for having an Art Tour available. I am sailing on the Edge Dec 15, 2019 believe there would be lot of interest. I don't just think that because I'm an artist, either. I know how many people come to art shows and go to museums because they love art.

1 hour ago, vtcruising said:

I'm going to make a binder with pictures, explanations and info about the artist so that I can use it for my own art tours, if X doesn't provide one.  I too would pay for an art tour, though hope it is a bit cheaper (depending on length of tour). It will be interesting to see what LLP says, if she answers that question on the sub-forum.

Did you ask that question? I hope they do have an Art Tour, I would totally do it! I'm sure it would appeal to a lot of people. 

Right now I'm wishing we were cruising on the Jan 12 cruise instead of the Dec 15 so I could tour with you. Ah well ... if nothing else I will explore on my own.

Thanks for this post. I can’t wait to see these and more in December 

1 hour ago, DebInAntigua said:

 

I am actually surprised that in addition to Theater tours and Behind the Scenes ship tours, that EDGE doesn’t offer a curated art tour. No, not art for sale disguised as a tour. A real tour of the art on Edge by a knowledgeable art curator who can talk about the artists, why major pieces were selected, etc. I’d pay for that in a heartbeat. And my DH would love all the photo ops. 

Me too!

You might consider renting a transportable scooter. Transportable scooters can collapse, come apart and fit into the trunk of most medium to full sized cars.

I will be going to Tortola in Dec 2019 using my wheelchair. I'd be happy to come back and share my experience after the cruise.

What cruise line and ship are you traveling on? Have you checked to see if it is a tender port?

Anyone seen an improvement in this situation yet? I'm hoping they have addressed it.