Handicapped Equipment Rental?

We are sailing from the NYC Manhattan Cruise ship terminal in May of 2007 on the NCL Cruise line and I need to rent a power wheelchair and either a power or manual recliner chair to sleep in for the week. Does anyone have a contact number or the name of a company that they rented handicapped equipment from (power wheelchair and recliner) on a previous cruise from NYC? Thank you in advance for the info.

Did you post this on the Disabilities board? should get most response there.

Why do you want to sleep in a wheelchair vs. a bed? You can rent a hospital bed instead. If you must rent a power wheelchair, you can check with http://www.carevacations.com and see what they would charge.

I've been corresponding with Care Vacations about the possibility of renting a power scooter for my voyage on the QM2. They are telling me

that the 23 inch dimentions are at the widest point, "All of our

standard & heavy-duty equipment WILL go through a stateroom door. This is to your advantage, as a handicap-accessible room will NOT be required with this equipment." :eek:

Does anyone know this for sure? I'm almost certain it is not true unless you take the cabin door off the hinges?

When speaking to Care Vacations recently about renting a patient lift, it became clear that the person I was talking to had never seen one "in the flesh" - she was trying to be helpful, but was saying things that I knew were incorrect. I will rent from them, but intend to be careful that we get what we need. So you do well to question their assurances.

- Richard

Why do you want to sleep in a wheelchair vs. a bed? You can rent a hospital bed instead. If you must rent a power wheelchair, you can check with http://www.carevacations.com and see what they would charge.

I have used Carevacations several times successfully, For a 7 dauy Carib. trit from Ft Lauderdale. They put the scooter in your cabin or suite and pick 7it up on return. My cost was about $250.

May I please add my query to this thread?

Has anyone experience with power chair rental for a tall person? My DH is 6'4. We have a great power chair here at home but our equipment specialist advised against travelling with our personal chair to avoid damage to our chair.

I'm getting ready to book one for our Dec cruise out of LA to Hawaii and would appreciate any suggestions/advice/comments.

I'm a 6'3" PWC user. I've rented a PWC in the past & have 1 rented for a Nov. cruise. Their PWCs are almost identical to my Jazzy. I use & highly recommend Care Vacations. Contact them at www.carevacations.com or 877-478-7827. I agree with your specialist about flying your chair. Care Vacations is a great co. to deal with. They have the chair in your cabin on charge when you board & you leave it there when you leave the ship. I hope you've book an accessable cabin!

:)Happy Cruising:)

Thanks bunches for your advice...I've sent them an email.

How did you manage the transfers at the airport? We've never done a fly/cruise as we usually just go right from home. I am trying not to bog myself down with too much "stuff" to have to be a minder for lol

Thanks for letting me pick ya brain :)

Hi LuLaLuvlee,

I flew with my own manual chair. The airport chairs are junk! I took my chair to the gate, gate checked it (some planes have room in the cabin for a limited # of folding chairs) & it was brought to the plane door at the next airport. If your DH can't walk they will bring an aisle chair to get from the plane door to your seat & back. I can walk short distances with crutches so this was not an issue with me. I did have WC assistance since I travel alone & am not suppose to wheel myself. The air line was very accommodating about this. I did tip the Sky Cap when 1 was helping me but if it's an air line employee they can't accept tips.

:)Happy Cruising:)

Thanks so much for the heads up about Care Vacations. I have made arrangments with them for a pwer chair for my DH. A word of advice to tohers, don't watch your email for a reply, these folks CALL you after you request info and speak to you to make arrangements :)

I'm still of 2 minds about the WC for the airport. Perhaps as the time draws closer I'll settle which way I want to go - crummy free chair or nice comfy homeowned transport chair. lol I suspect you see which way I am leaning.

Have a nice weekend.