Splinter

Distance has nothing to do with it. This is why you can take the 4 day cruises out of LA that go to San Diego, Ensenada and Catalina Island and still comply with the act. You could not go from San Francisco and get off in San Diego without FIRST going to Mexico under the Jones Act, but if you go to Mexico first, then get off in San Diego on the way home, it would appear to comply.

Round trip cruises from San Diego or LA to Hawaii now only stop in Ensenada for 1-4 hours....Ensenada is only 90 miles from San Diego, so certainly is not "distant".

Try these resources:

http://www.e-dolphinswim.com/Swim_with_Dolphins_in_Florida.htmlhttp://www.e-dolphinswim.com/Swim_with_Dolphins_in_Florida.html

http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/wade.htm

http://www.dolphinworld.org/marine_workshop.htm

It will be very tight. I would give myself at least an hour, and a 1 1/2 hours is more realistic to get there. Traffic can be VERY bad between the cruise ship terminal and the airport. Remember that for an international flight you are supposed to be at the airport at least 2 hours ahead of time. I would try to get a later flight.

We don't have a category for central America, so will add this here. I have not used them, but have had them recommended from other cruisers:

Go With Wheelchairs (Costa Rica accessible tours)

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Eshzk/4tours.htm

We always go to the muster area early. I go to our cabin and bring back our life vests for all of us (I can take the stairs). We also plan to stay in the muster area for a while after it is over (take a book) as the elevators are generally jammed then too.

There is so much more to see in Monterey...I would skip Hearst's Castle as it will limit you to just that. You would have to plan on at least a 2 hour drive each way, then at least 4 hours at the castle.

Other things to see:

Drive the 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach.

Shop and stroll in Carmel (include a walk on Carmel beach)

Go to the Monterey Aquarium (one of the best in the world).

Walk Cannery Row for shops and restaurants.

Hike Point Lobos National Monument .

Drive to Salinas (40 minutes) and see the Steinbeck Center.

Visit some of the old adobe buildings and museums in downtown Monterey.

Visit Elkhorn slough nature preserve.

Rent kayaks and paddle with the sea otters and seals.

Drive part way down Big Sur and stop at Julia Pfiefer State Park and Beach. Drive further and have lunch at Nepenthe with its gorgeous view.

Walt, several of the links you posted to the resource threads do not work. Can you please test them and correct? Thanks.

We have had several people here in the past who did peritoneal dialysis on cruises. You don't need to do a dialysis cruise to do this...you do it on your own in your cabin. Getting the supplies delivered and disposed of are the biggest challenges. I would probably recommend a cruise where you leave from an American port though, as foreign ports might be a little iffy for delivery.

Celebrity Cruising: 800—242-6374 choice 3 - Accessibility contact

Sandra – e-mail: spierre@rccl.com

This is for USA citizens. The amount differs for Canadians and Europeans. Check with your local Chilian embassy for the specifics prior to departure, as the fee has changed recently.

Cash only, per person, and you must pay it as soon as you leave the plane (prior to going through immigration/customs), so be sure you have the money on you...not packed.

Here are a few others. Please add any corrections if you know of them:

RCI/Celebrity: tel 800-242-6374

HAL: 800-426-0327, X4574

This is a continuation of a reposting of valuable Europe information from the old message board. Due to new character limits, this is part 4 of this thread. Please don't post questions here...information only.

Mediterranean

hebeast

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 08-04-03 09:52 PM

I find the best source of private guides is on the PORTS site here on the board. Another guide that we used for Italy was Daniele which is the best for Rome, Naples, and Florence. Max is also very good for these locations. We used Rosie in Siciliy.

I agree that you can find many by searching the internet and then the board helps to see if anyone has used them. Daniele's website also lists a lot of other guides for other areas.

Here are links again:

Daniele and Max -- Italy

http://www.driverinrome.com/ - Daniele

http://www.maxleotta.com/home.asp - Max

Sylvie -- French Riv

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/dicristo/pivot-eng.htm

Debbie - Barcelona

http://castelldefels.com/toursbydebbie/

We would never had been able to see as much as we did without private guides.

Also if you go to the Connections area, we were able to post that we were looking to split the tour with other people on our cruise which brought down the price. We had 8 people on some of tours which made it a faction of the price charged by the ships.[/Quote]

 

Mediterranean:

Splinter

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 11-18-02 09:55 PM

Can you stand or walk at all, or are you totally none ambulatory? If you cannot climb into a bus, forget taking any bus tours from the ship. Tour companies will not lift you in and out of a bus, and it is unknown in these ports to have ship tours that are wheelchair accessible.

 

Depending on what you want to spend, there are tours available in all these ports for people in wheelchairs, but they are VERY expensive. I know people who have done Venice in a chair, and there are more accessible routes around the city than others, but there are many steps along most routes. Some of the water taxis are accessible with help though.

 

In Istanbul we took cabs to the Grand Bazaar (most is accessible), and to some of the larger mosques (accessible with help). Check the cab first though...many had an extra gas tank in the trunk and no place to put the wheelchair. Keep in mind though that they will not allow wheelchairs or shoes into the active mosques (does not apply to Aya Sophia, which is now a museum). I understand you can get into several areas at the Topaki Palace. People here were very friendly and willing to help.

 

Athens is not very accessible, but since they are preparing for the 2004 ParaOlympics this may have changed some since our visit in 1998. It is a ways from the port, so a cab will be more expensive here.

 

In Naples you can walk from the pier to see the old fort on the point (first floor only is accessible) and walk around town a bit. No curb cuts though. We got brave and lifted my mother into a bus here so she could see Pompei.... what a nightmare!!! I would not recommend it unless you have multiple lifters with you and lots of young strong backs available. The drive along the Amalfi coast would be nice if you can get a cab reasonably. Capri is not at all accessible.

 

You can take a cab to the train station and then the train to Florence with assistance. There are steps to nearly all museums and churches in Florence, but you can certainly see much of the outdoor areas and statuary, and it is a great walking city.

 

Barcelona is probably the most accessible of all your listed cities. This is due to having the ParaOlympics there in 1996. This was the only place we found a lift equipped cab (the ship arranged this for us). The main shopping area downtown is fairly accessible with outdoor cafes and shops with only 1-2 steps. Be careful of pickpockets here though.

We did price accessible tours in Italy. They exist, but are incredibly expensive. Here are a couple resources:

http://www.accessibleitaly.com/

http://www.accessibleurope.com/aziende/accitaly/search2.asp

http://www.initaly.com/travel/handicap.htm

Here is some information on Greece:

http://www.disabled.gr/english.html[/Quote]

 

Ephesus:

Cruisin' Crazy

 

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 07-09-02 08:26 PM

Ephesus in wheelchair.

 

 

It can be done! I took my wheelchair bound wife there in 1995. Starting from the top of the hill it was downhill to the Library where the Marble Way is smooth and level. But that downhill section is BRUTAL! Our bus escort was a wonderful young lady who worked in the casino as a cashier. She was from Columbia. As our escort she was always at the rear of the group to sweep us along and not lose anyone. When she saw the huge marble blocks and the chasms in between she offered her help to work the chair over the looming cracks, and between the two of us we got my wife down the hill without tipping her out. It works best to pull the chair backwards with the big wheels bridging the gaps better than the small front ones. And this way too, if the chair tips because of jamming on something, the occupant is pushed against the back of the chair, not in danger of being flung out the front. We lost several of the spokes (an old type of chair with bicycle type spoke wheels)

which snapped at various insults to the wheels as we bumped over the lumpy path. Horrendously hard? Yes, Yes, Yes. BUT, worth every effort to see this wonderful archaeological site. Don't let anyone on the cruise ship talk you out of it. BUT do try to organize some help among friends if you can. Otherwise try ot get the bus escort to help you bring up the rear. You will be in the rear as it takes much time and patience to do this. Once you get down the hill and turn right onto the Marble Way, it's pretty easy from thereon. Good luck!![/Quote]

 

Please add to these.

Please put your known and tried resources for shore excursions as well as cruise reviews from old messages about Alaska here so we don't loose them. Please don't post questions here...just older information. Will start a similar message for other destinations.

Here are a few:

JSR

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 07-17-03 08:10 PM

Round trip--Vancouver to Vancouver

Excursions-- I am a T5 para so no walking or standing. We made all the excursions we booked accessible. We did not book anything thru the crusie line.

 

Juenau

We took an accessible trolly tour of the town. The trolly had a lift and you could get on and off as often as you want. http://www.juneautrolly.com Did not book in advance just got in outside the cruise ship dock.

Dog Sledding--

We booked our trip with Coastal (http://www.coatalhelicopters.com)thru Orca (http://www.alaskawhaleatching.com). Orca provided a wheelchair lift van which picked us up at the crusie dock and took us to the coastal helicopter pad/office. Orca does not usually do this unless you also book a whale watching tour with them as well.

The coastal office has a ramp and a fully accessible bathroom. Coastal provided boat covers which they helped get on my feet. The pilot and another fellow lifted me into the helicopter. When we arrived at the ice field the pilolt and one of the mushers lifted me out of the helicopter onto the sled minus the dogs. They then pulled my sled over to the dogs and hooked us up. I had to use my hands to balance but once I got the hang of it it was the most incredable experience of my life.

 

Skagway

We went to the gold dredge and panning, http://www.klondikegolddredge.com. We tried to book this through the cruise line but they could not get the accessible van. We called the company from Skagway and they sent a wheelchair lift van to pick us up. The entire tour was accessible. We did get a little gold panning and it was a lot of fun. Great people.

We took a hekicopter--Pilots choice through http://www.Temesco.com. They are the only helicopter company in Skagway and Pilots choice is the only tour they will take a wheelchair person on. We rolled across the parking lot from our ship to the Temesco office and Heliport. 2 People lifted me into the helicopter. We stopped and landed at two spots on various glaciers--i was not able to get out. All and all it was fun but nothing to compare with Juneau. Also, Temesco is all bussiness get you on and off. Coastal had a friendly warmer feel.We booked Temesco the day of our arrival by phone.

 

Kethcikan

We took a seaplane with Michelle at http://www.islandwings.com. She flies an amazing plane. They picked us up about a block from the ship in a van. The van had not lift but did open on the side. Her driver is a big fellow. He and my husband lifted me into the van. They had another person available if my husband was not able to help. We then drove a short distance to the seaplane. That was a tricky transfer since you are on the dock and the patoons stick out. Anyway her crew and my husband got me up there. The trip was amazing. Michelle is the only pilot with headsets that you can hear her and also speak to her and each other. We landed in the water but unlike other tours she pulls the plane over to land and the others got out and hiked around. She did not like the view I had so she rotated the plane so I could see the water falls better. When we returned we reversed the process.

I have a list of accessible tours for each place we went to. There were some we did not do do to lack of time. There is one helicopter company with a lift on the plane I believe it is ERA in Juneau.

I did not take my chair with me on the helicopters or seaplane. (not much use in water or an ice field)

Jean[/Quote]

 

Here is another:

Splinter

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 03-29-04 06:42 PM

We have been to Juneau and Sitka. Cannot speak to Ketchikan.

In Juneau and Sitka we had wheelchair accessible lift-van tours arranged through our cruise line (Princess). I would check with them first. In Juneau we took a half day trip that included the Alaska State Museum, Mendenhall Glacier, the fish hatchery, and a botancial garden. We still had the rest of the day for a little shopping (close to the pier). I don't recommend the cable car here...you cannot see out from wheelchair height, although you can get onto the car.

In Sitka we had a lift-van tour that included the Archangel dancers, the Russian Orthodox cathedral, the Native Museum and a drive around town. We also did some shopping here and then walked back to the tender dock after being dropped off in town.

I would check with the ship's tour office first. If they cannot accomodate you, I would address this as an ADA issue since these are American ports and companies providing tours in USA ports must offer alternatives that are accessible (or are in violation of the ADA). This applies to the tour company, not to the cruise ship (which is a little shakey about applicability of the ADA).

[/Quote]

 

And another:

Splinter

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 04-27-04 08:21 PM

We got tours through the ship (Princess) on vans with lifts in both Sitka and Juneau. I would recommend contacting tour companies there by doing an internet search and then ask about van-lift tours.

Per the ADA, if they provide the service of tours, they must either provide their own tours in lift-equipped vans or contract (for the same price) with another company who can provide the same service. Remember, these ports are all in the USA (except for Victoria), so the tour companies are governed by the ADA.

This company will provide some services, but not information (they only want to help you if you purchase through them):

http://www.accessiblealaska.com/

 

Also check out this as a place to find tour companies:

http://www.insidepassage.com/

 

Check out this resource for Victoria:

http://www.accessvictoria.com/

 

erni

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 05-05-04 01:43 PM

Splinter,

Thanks for your help. We have now secured a van for us in Victoria thanks to the web site accessvictoria. It is $38 an hour, negotiable with the driver, not sure if this is US $ we were quoted or Canadian. Could be cheaper. It is a van that you just go into in your chair. The van seats 3 others. We will be able to do our own thing and at the pace we want, which is something we enjoy instead with a big group from the ship. It should even be cheaper for the 4 of us then taking a group tour and we will probably see more.[/Quote]

 

And another (for Juneau):

Coral

Cool Cruiser

 

posted 04-24-04 10:36 PM

Check out Capt Larry with Awesome Orca for whale watching - they are handicapped accessible:

http://www.orcaenterprises.com/1-Our%20Tour.htm[/Quote]

 

Please add to this before the old message disappear!

Please use this thread to post information for all to use on the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of Special (Disabled) Services offices for the various cruise lines (since this information was lost when they cut off the pre-April 1, 2004 messages here).

I'll start:

RCL Special Services, Alex or Charles

800 722-5472, X34492

(anyone have an e-mail?)