JVes

(That said, anyone who grabs a wheelchair's handles and just starts moving a wheelchair without so much as ASKING fully deserves a verbal takedown by an absolutely irate wheelchair user.)

Quoting one specific part of your message, Banditswife: "Those offering the assistance gain so much pleasure by giving assistance when needed." This is something we in the disabled community (including our families) need to learn to do. Accept with grace. We are so stubborn about doing things ourselves, about keeping as much independance as we can. Or we can stubbornly refuse to see ourselves as disabled, or as needing help - even if the help is simply a tool to pick things up off the floor. Some of us feel like we're imposters when taking a disabled parking space, or the space intended for mobility scooters in public transit - when using such a scooter. Accept with grace. Using a reacher helps us remain independant. Yes, I am in the disabled community. Yes, I need help. Yes, I need medication or physiotherapy or a psychologist or that space for a mobility scooter. And yes, I will learn to accept it with grace. Smile and sincerely thank the person providing the help. Even if you thank them for the offer but turn it down.

Pain is not normal for a healthy body. Even an old body. More precisely, unexplained pain is not normal."Oh, that's because I have arthritis in my knee" is a normal pain. Rather like stubbing your toe or hitting your elbow just the right way. Please talk to your family doctor about unexplained pain. You might discover that it's fixable. If it's a non-fixable arthritis, at least you'll know why it hurts. And if it can be improved, you'll have more fun on your next cruise! Good luck.

It took me years to accept that yes, I need help. Maybe even decades. Even now, I hate it. I hate it so very very much that it's a constant scream in the back of my mind. I rage against my body, sometimes quite literally screaming into my pillow. Shadow, I'm glad you took the courage to post that. I don't have answers. All I can tell you is that it's normal to grieve your former freedom and what your body used to be able to do.

You make an excellent point. And thank you - all of you have managed to explain not only that it's normal, but why. It was all terribly confusing to me, but I get it now.

Thank you! Not all of us will find cruising a good match, sadly, but for me it's a way to put all my entertainment desires in one place. The only advice I have for someone where mobility is the main problem: try cruising in a smaller ship, and try to book far enough ahead to get an accessible cabin close to the central lifts. You mention that balance is a major problem: talk to your PT about walkers/rollators. I find them frustrating, mainly because when I'm physically okay I can move around more freely - I don't have the same turning circle & the like. BUT, mine has stopped me from falling many times. I'm a terrible falls risk. If you're happy with your PT, work with them. Do what you (reasonably) can, and give yourself small sub-goals so you get that nice 'I succeeded' emotional rush. I hope your next cruise is more successful!

The specific port is Port Melbourne, in Australia. (Melbourne is on the south-east of the continent, having a staring match with Tasmania.) I was expecting something a lot more like an airport. But you're right, the airport has people stuck waiting for planes, and makes money off hosting shops and cafes. The cruise port just has to make sure we're not carrying contraband and get us onto the ship as efficiently as possible.

Is it normal for a cruise terminal to look more like an empty warehouse than something enticing? We arrived from the taxi into what was basically a concrete shell, and the security screening stuff seemed to be something pulled out of a closet. It was difficult to find the disability area, too.

I have a wobble board. My physio doesn't want me using it yet. You have a good point about the ship & balance.

Question for this guy: how much stuff does a non-floating city of 10K people use/generate? Wow: probably about the same as the floating city of comparable size!

I've talked to many people who want to come to Australia 'some day'. And for them, yes, the travel time is a deal breaker.

I wish my body allowed me to do such things. I need to use a walker just to safely get around at home. I like small ships, for an obvious reason. As for the mega-ships, I don't think that Australia/NZ has the cruising population to support those.

I used to live just off tram 96' route. I think it was that one. I no longer live on a tram route, and I miss it. It led past some lovely places, so sometimes I'd just ride the tram, get off on a whim. There was a great supermarket - independant so I never knew exactly what was in stock (other than the basics). I love the Melbourne trams. I really do. If you're looking for a city which has a wide variety of 'you never know what you'll find' shops, move to Melbourne and live close enough in that you're on a tram line.

I just had a tooth break, and now extracted. I need a cruise.

When I see it like that, I'll definitely give it a try. I'm not sure if it's in our mainstream supermarkets, but I'm sure a grocer or a farmer's market might have some. If I can find it, I'll buy one and hunt down a recipe.