Wheelchair needed in San Juan airport?

Hello, I am taking my cane-dependent elderly mother on a Princess cruise out of San Juan in two weeks. We've booked transfers with the ship but I have a couple of questions, if anyone can help:

1. Would we be wise to bring our own wheelchair just to get her through the airport in San Juan? I have one reserved on the ship as she gets tired at night and wants to see the shows. It could be a long walk for her from the dining room. But I've heard it's a long walk through the airport to the shuttle. Are there motorized carts available for her in S.J. airport?

2. I'm not sure how I can handle my mother in a wheel chair and our suitcases and carry-ons by myself. I've heard we have to get our own luggage to the shuttle. Are porters available in the airport? How do others handle this situation?

It's the first time I have taken Mom through an airport since she broke her hip two years ago. I'm worried about how I can get her and our stuff to the ship.

Thanks for your help.

I don't know if this works in San Juan, but we notify our airline that we need wheelchair assistance at all of the airports we travel through, if I am not traveling with my own chair, and they have a wheelchair with an airport porter pick me up at the check in area, take me to the airplane, and meet me when I get off the plane, and take me to baggage, my car, or airport transportation, such as a cab. We tip for this service, but there is no charge, and we make sure to reconfirm with the airline a day ahead of traveling. I would suggest you call your airline and ask them to set this up for your Mom. There are taxi vans available at the airport, and you just need to tell the outdoor dispatcher that you need a "Handicapped Taxi".

Hope you have a great time!

I agree with what DD said.

I also have to add, that I advise all slow walkers (anybody who tires easily, uses a cane, walker or the arm of a companion) to request wheelchiar assistance as DD outlined. Some folks come back with "I can tough it out" or "i'm not that disabled", but remember, airports can be very big places. If you even have a tiny question in your mind about it, reserve a wc.

Also, if you are sailing on any other line besides Carnival, you need to bring your own wc (or rent one and have it delivered to your room). The wcs on the other cruise lines are reserved for embarkation and disembarkation and for emergencies. They don't let you use them on the ship or take them ashore. And yes, the distances are great on the ships, so if your mom does not have one she will probably be miserable.

Candy

All I do is make sure the need for a wheelchair is in my record when I make the airline reservation. I've never had a problem except in Las Vegas, where they never seem to have enough WC's. You can also call the airline and have them put the request into your record.

You will definitely need a WC in San Juan. That's one insanely crowded airport and walking the long terminals is difficult, at best.

I agree with what DD said.

 

I also have to add, that I advise all slow walkers (anybody who tires easily, uses a cane, walker or the arm of a companion) to request wheelchiar assistance as DD outlined. Some folks come back with "I can tough it out" or "i'm not that disabled", but remember, airports can be very big places. If you even have a tiny question in your mind about it, reserve a wc.

 

I agree. My mother is usually pretty steady on her feet, but due to back problems she has to use a cane for long distances and uneven ground. Except for our small local airport, I arrange for her to have transportation inside airports, unless it will be a very short distance for her to walk. While she usually does fine, it is hardest for her to walk steadily right after she has sat for long periods of time, like on an airplane.

I did contact the airline and I have arranged for a wheelchair at both airports, both ways. I'm surprised to hear the wheelchairs on the ship cannot be used during the voyage. We will be going on Golden Princess and they have that choice on our cruise personalizer. It's a big ship, I hope we can use their wheelchair if we need it. Otherwise, I'm not sure how I can handle her, a wheelchair, two suitcases and carry-ons all by myself? Yikes!

Suzy

You won't have to worry about Princess not helping you if you need it with a wheelchair. They will offer to either push your mother on. There are porters to take your luggage at the port and the crew will even offer to carry your carry on luggage when they help with your mother.

Hi Suzy,

Another possibility to add to your arsenal would be to RENT a folding wheelchair from CareVacations.com or Scootaround.com. You order by phone, they deliver to your cabin, where it will be waiting for you when you arrive, and you leave it in the cabin when you leave, for them to pick up. You can use the airport wheelchairs, with porters to push, at the airports, the Princess wheelchairs, with helpers to push your Mom to your cabin, and from your cabin, for Embarkation and Disembarkation at the end of the cruise, and use the rented chair onboard, so you wont have to mess with having a wheelchair to wrestle around. You can also use the folding chair for on shore browsing, or it can be folded and put into a taxi trunk, or on the bottom of the bus. On the other hand, you can use your Mom's own wheelchair, if you take it, to push your carryons and suitcases. I know there are porters and people that will help you all along the way...........don't worry, honestly, it will be okay. Grab a porter at the baggage claim when you arrive at the airport, and he can load your suitcases and carryons on his cart, and get you to the cab. The cabbie will help you get a porter at the dock, and he will transport your stuff to check in.............while you find a Princess staff person who will get you a wheelchair and a porter to push your Mom to check in and then on to your cabin.

DD, who uses a scooter, and accompanied my 88 year old Mom with her walker on a cruise with two airplane changes, two suitcases, two carryons, and two purses. I never touched the luggage after we arrived at the airport!! (My Mom refused to use a chair or scooter, thought she'd be fine with her walker, and ended up going only to the dining room, the casino, right next to the dining room, and our cabin because she was so exhausted from walking so far on the ship) We did use the airport wheelchairs, and the cruiseline wheelchairs for transport to and from the ship at embarkation/disembarkation.

I hope this is not too confusing to read.................

Hi DD,

I appreciate the advice and the words of understanding. I just don't want my mom's cruise to be limited to, just as you said, the dining room and the casino just because she can't walk the distance. And, believe me, if her cruise is ruined SO WILL MINE BE. LOL. So I am thinking of both of us!

Unfortunately, I don't have much experience at traveling with Mom since she had her hip broken and replaced so it will be a learning experience for me.

Thanks again.

Suzy

I jsut got back from San Juan. Just request a wheelchair when you check in and they will meet you at the gate with the chair. When leaving San Juan, ask for a chair at the counter and they will get one for you. Service was great and the people helping in San Juan were wonderful.

If you have not already done your trip by now by all means rent a scooter from scootaround or some such place for use on that ship it is huge and those carpets are a major pain in a WC and you will not be able to use the wheelchair on or off the ship. you might also want to bring your own WC or rent a manual one as well as the scooter for use IN PORTS. since you cannot bring the scooter off ship at many ports.

during embarcation and debarcation they will assist you and have someone to push the wheelchair but the rest of the time you are on your own. also you really need a HC cabin if you have a scooter or wheelchair or they won't fit in the room not can you move about in the cabin.