handicapped waiting in line

We are on a four day trip out of LA. My mom had recent foot surgery. Standing in a long line to check in will be difficult. Is there a way around waiting in long lines? I do not mind showing up early if that means she will have a seat. Can we let RCCL know ahead of time that this may be a problem? Is there anything they can do to accomodate her? Is there a special line for handicapped check in? Could we use that line if she is not in a wheel chair but has obvious mobility problems?

Thank for any tips

You can ask your travel agent to alert the cruise line that your mother will need a wheelchair for boarding and disembarking the ship. When you arrive at the pier, just tell one of the cruise line staff (usually have on blazers of some color) that you need a wheelchair for your Mom, due to her recent surgery. They will find you a chair, and someone to escort you through the line and to your cabin. If she's having trouble walking, you may want to rent a wheelchair for your cruise. Ships are very large, and there is a lot of walking to and from dining rooms, show rooms, and your cabin. You can rent a chair from Carevacations.com or Scootaround.com, and they will have it in your cabin when you arrive, and you leave it there when you leave. It is sometimes difficult to push a wheelchair over all those miles of carpeting, so you may even look into renting a battery powered scooter, if your Mom is willing. If you do rent a chair, you can also use it when you go ashore.

Have a great cruise.

Agree with above. Renting a wheelchair for the week would be prudent. Ask for ultra light weight. Also check with her doctor re meds for seasick and pain killers.

Getting a wheelchair for her would make sense.

I cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, and there are basically 2 lines to check in for the general pax.

The line for handicapped pax typically has 2 windows to check in.

The line for all other pax has a dozen or more windows.

So the long line for the non-handicapped pax tends to move quickly.

We've been 5th or 6th in the line for handicapped pax, and have had about a 30-minute wait!

So she would be better off sitting in a wheelchair, in case this happens to you.

Agree with the above that she must be allowed a wheel chair if not provided make it write with a doctor and show the prescription if needed.

Cheers

It has been my personal experience, both with myself, and with my mother, that one did NOT need a prescription to use a wheelchair to get on or off of a ship in the U.S. This may be different in other countries. We merely had to ask. We did always notify the cruiseline of our need ahead of time. When I rented a chair, I did not need a prescription, and I could stow it, folded, in my cabin. As stated, I have not done this outside of the USA, so dont know the procedure in other countries. I have rented chairs to use on Princess and on RCI.

Happy Cruising!

I agree with DD. Getting a wheelchair for use in boarding/disembarking is pretty easy -- no documentation required. Booking an accessible room (on some lines) is another story -- varying degrees of documentation required for that.

I also agree wbout the wc rental. Most people don't realize how much walking there *really* is on a cruise ship. I think she will be more comfortable if you rent a wc for her.

Candy

The prescription I talked about was for pain killers mixed with sea sick med? Is it safe. Not for wheelchair.

sorry captain, I was replying to travelau's reference to perscription (scroll up 4 posts) not yours. I agree that's it's prudent to investigate all possible drug interactions. some folks overlook interactions with otc drugs. i have no idea, but i would ask doc before taking (seasickness med). Ginger has always worked for me (love those ginger altoids!)

candy

Hi Queenie...first I agree with everyone about renting your own w/c and carevacations.com is a good place to get one from. The w/c's on the ship are not always available and many times not in very good repair. I am bringing my own w/c and renting a scooter from care for my next cruise in Feb on the Island Princess. I wll warn you that pushing a w/c over the carpets on the ships is sometimes very difficult (as my husband will agree), you play dodgeball with the carts and vacuum machines and luggage in the halls at times...its somewhat easier with the scooters. I think I will bring a bicycle horn this time to attach to my scooter so I can warn people that I am coming LOL. I am an amputee that is having problems with my prostheis, hope it is fixed prior to the cruise.

I also use ginger (a liquid from the health food store called 'Ginger wonder' works almost instantly...never heard of Ginger Altoids..only mint and cinnamon...where did you get them...they must be new.

Yes, Ginger Altoids sound interesting, where DID you find them? Will look forward to hearing ArleneD236's review of the Island, too.................I am getting very excited about our trip.

Captain, I agree, prescriptions for meds should be carefully considered.........I, too, was addressing the need for having a prescription for a wheelchair.

Stay warm and cozy, everyone.........weather is pretty awful, everywhere except warm, sunny, southern Florida.........wish I was there!!! :)

No ginger altoids aren't new, but believe it or not they are seasonal (who knew ginger had a sesason?). They are only available about half the year. I get them at Trader Joe's and I hoard them so I have them when not "in season". LOL -- I have a desk drawer half full of them!! I get very seasick (great for a travel writer, huh?) and before I found the ginger altoids I used the ginger capsule, which also worked good but took longer and wore of with no warning. I supplement with a seaband during the night and when it's not hot and icky outside (the sweat under the band causes a rash -- gees I'm just a mess!!).

If you can't find the ginger altoids in time for your cruise Arlene, e-mail me your mailing address and I will send you a tin:) candy@EmergingHorizons.com

Wow, another great reason to go to Trader Joe's!!!! :) Thanks.........

I use the patch, but every once in a while, things roll a bit much even for that......for me, and then I go find ginger ale..........Altoids would be much easier....

http://www.roll-a-bout.com/

I don't know about your mother's needs, but I used the roll-a-bout (rented one) when I had foot surgery last year. It made all the difference in mobility during that time when I could not put weight on the foot. I could really scoot around pretty well - MUCH faster than with crutches or a walker.

Just FYI.