Handicapped family member, do we get any....

[Missiowa]

Hello, we do have a handicapped member in our family, do we get priority on or off the ship or during tendering or anything? I know at airports we always get escorted to the front of the lines.

[firefly333]

Sometimes its only the HC member, not everyone depending on if they need help or not. Usually HC is first on the ship after wedding parties, before VIP.

[Missiowa]

Ok, thee are only 4 of us.

[firefly333]

Well if they are all adults, then only one person needs to help the HC person at most...so they might or might not let all of you board HC. think of people who got there earlier than you and VIPs in suites and platinum who earned it ...so like I said depends on how many waiting in HC boarding and if two of them are kids etc.

[QTPieRye]

On the Spirit, we noticed that Carnival staff were quick to assist and give priority tendering to visibily handicapped passengers. I say "visibily" because we actually have a handicap daughter that is severely visually impaired, but unless you are told, it is not obvious...... There was one specific time when Carnival assisted a family with 1 handicap member onto the tender and we gladly stepped aside to let them on before us :) Not sure if this is the norm, but hope it helps....

[TahoeBob]

Hello, we do have a handicapped member in our family, do we get priority on or off the ship or during tendering or anything? I know at airports we always get escorted to the front of the lines.

 

November 09 on my last cruise on the Legend in tampa DW (who is blind and uses a cane) and I were escorted to the front of the checkin line.

[QTPieRye]

November 09 on my last cruise on the Legend in tampa DW (who is blind and uses a cane) and I were escorted to the front of the checkin line.

 

This is a perfect example of a disabiliy that, without the cane, may not have been immediately noticeable to a Carnival staff member :)

[QTPieRye]

Another thought...... unfortunately you will always find people with minor disabilities, even temporary ones (i.e. a broken leg) who will try to cheat the syste into getting priority access for everything not only for themselves, but their entire group...... kind of like at an amusement park like Disneyland.... interesting that they now made the lines wider so that persons in wheelchairs have to wait with the rest of the guests.

[pattimelt]

I can tell you that when I cruised with a friend in a wheelchair, there were a total of 5 of us, and we were all allowed to go with her to check in at the front of the line after the wedding parties.

 

And yes, I work at Disneyland, and the abuse of the 'assistance passes' was partly why Disney has changed the width of the queues and has pretty much eliminated those passes, with a few exceptions.

[RMM34667]

I was checking in with my mother on the Legend. Before the cruise she had requested wheelchair assistance on boarding. Had Faxed in the requested forms. She was recovering from recent hip replacement. The woman at check in said "oh you'll be fine, it's right around the corner". She never received the wheel chair assistance.

 

Maybe if you are visibly in need of assistace they are quick to help. But my biggest grip with that cruise is that Carnival made no accomodations to those who had mobility issues. We could probably have INSISTED on more but we were trying to "make the best of our cruise".

[frazzledrazzle16]

It depends on which port you sail out of in terms of embarkation... A few weeks ago we were on our first cruise as platinum so we were able to enjoy the VIP lounge, but we also required special assistance to get on the ship as my grandmother is in a wheelchair. In this instance, VIP was called before special assistance. Other places we've been, special assistance was called before VIP.

[vanityfur]

I can tell you that when I cruised with a friend in a wheelchair, there were a total of 5 of us, and we were all allowed to go with her to check in at the front of the line after the wedding parties.

 

And yes, I work at Disneyland ... and has pretty much eliminated those passes, with a few exceptions.

 

Can you answer something for me? My son has Aspergers (with some sensory-processing issues) and he has trouble with being around people in line. My mother-in-law tried to take him last fall. (This was before was diagnosed with autism spectrum issues, we just thought he was quirky...) Needless to say, things didn't go well. He left Disney World not liking it.

 

My question is this: Do you know if they do assistance passes for Autism spectrum/ Aspergers children? We would consider taking him again only if he could get a pass. Otherwise, he would do like last time and never get to ride anything. (He wanted to leave the lines after being overstimulated every time...)

[kbmeow]

I never thought of asking. I know when we were in the line off the ship after the cruise we asked for a chair because my husbands protetic was bothering him and we were told no . But the elderly lady a few behind us got one. We look young and healthy. We even showed the leg. We asked why she got one and not Him and the guy said. " she needed it more" . So I guess very visible disabilitys get help

[firefly333]

It depends on which port you sail out of in terms of embarkation... A few weeks ago we were on our first cruise as platinum so we were able to enjoy the VIP lounge, but we also required special assistance to get on the ship as my grandmother is in a wheelchair. In this instance, VIP was called before special assistance. Other places we've been, special assistance was called before VIP.

 

Up until lately I was cruising with my sister who is platinum and on a cane, so we got to experience it first hand too. You phrased it better than I did, it just depends. It does seem to vary from port to port to me too.

 

Iv even had them both board together, HC and VIP from the same waiting area, if its not too crowded. I think it was Host Mach who told me HC technically was supposed to board first, but I know it doesnt always.

[frazzledrazzle16]

I can tell you that when I cruised with a friend in a wheelchair, there were a total of 5 of us, and we were all allowed to go with her to check in at the front of the line after the wedding parties.

 

And yes, I work at Disneyland, and the abuse of the 'assistance passes' was partly why Disney has changed the width of the queues and has pretty much eliminated those passes, with a few exceptions.

 

That always makes me rage when I'm at Disney!!! Especially the cheapo families that rented wheelchairs once the price of strollers went up, squeezed their 3 kids on one chair and still took advantage of the special assistance lines :rolleyes:

[*love2travel*]

Can you answer something for me? My son has Aspergers (with some sensory-processing issues) and he has trouble with being around people in line. My mother-in-law tried to take him last fall. (This was before was diagnosed with autism spectrum issues, we just thought he was quirky...) Needless to say, things didn't go well. He left Disney World not liking it.

 

My question is this: Do you know if they do assistance passes for Autism spectrum/ Aspergers children? We would consider taking him again only if he could get a pass. Otherwise, he would do like last time and never get to ride anything. (He wanted to leave the lines after being overstimulated every time...)

 

I don't have an answer for you but I know where you can find it. Go to disboards dot com. They have a disablilties forum. Very helpful.

[vanityfur]

I don't have an answer for you but I know where you can find it. Go to disboards dot com. They have a disablilties forum. Very helpful.

 

Thank you! I found the info! They allow a quiet place to wait! Yay.

[Karysa]

Thank you! I found the info! They allow a quiet place to wait! Yay.

 

What a perfect solution. I am impressed.

[familycruzinnewbie]

Vanityfur - usually they recommend you use the Fastpass as much as possible, they may also send you through the Fastpass line, without the Fastpass or through the Exit. It really depends on the ride, the line and the cast member. I would recommend going in the off season if at all possible as well as going as soon as the park opens. Also, while most people will bring a doctors note to get the pass, they will tell you they can't look at it. You need to explain your child's needs and they will choose what gets checked on the GAC

[Missiowa]

Well if they are all adults, then only one person needs to help the HC person at most...so they might or might not let all of you board HC. think of people who got there earlier than you and VIPs in suites and platinum who earned it ...so like I said depends on how many waiting in HC boarding and if two of them are kids etc.

 

Earned it?? That is so rude! You push around a wheelchaired person for a day through sand, up and down hill, in and out of crowds and trust me, you will earn it. My husband has brain tumors and multiple sclerosis and is dying, he would do anything to be able to walk again. Trust me, you need to respect the handicapped and special needs. They have earned it more than a VIP(someone that has taken several cruises). You never know when a disease or disabilty is going to take over someone in your families life.

Grow up!

[tk5953]

Vanityfur - the answer to your questions is ABSOLUTELY YES. Contact the carnival special needs department ( Jill Garmon) at jgarmon@carnival.com and she will be able to assist you based on your child's specific special needs. I have had excellent response from this dept. and Jill. My 7yr old son is severly autistic, non-verbal, still in diapers, dietary needs, severe sensory issues, cannot handle lines or crowds at all, etc. I have been able to arrange for priority boarding prior to any other guests (including wedding parties) with a dedicated guest services staff member from the ship, exemption from the safety (muster) drill for my son and 1 caregiver, cabin available as soon as on the ship, priority disembarcation (we wait at the gangway as customs clears the ship), and anything else to make the cruise comfortable and enjoyable for my son and the rest of my family. Because I have made a life choice to include my son in everything possible, this is precisely why I now only cruise with Carnival. In short, if Carnival can accomodate the special need, they will! I hope this helps you make the decision to book a Carnival cruise.

[tk5953]

Firefly - my son's special needs trump your "vip" status all day, every day. Happy sailing:)

[firefly333]

Earned it?? That is so rude! You push around a wheelchaired person for a day through sand, up and down hill, in and out of crowds and trust me, you will earn it. My husband has brain tumors and multiple sclerosis and is dying, he would do anything to be able to walk again. Trust me, you need to respect the handicapped and special needs. They have earned it more than a VIP(someone that has taken several cruises). You never know when a disease or disabilty is going to take over someone in your families life.

Grow up!

 

I think you missed the part where I travel with my HC sister...dont even start in on me until you have walked a mile in my shoes. how dare you!!!!

 

My sister has a huge brain tumor dark place, seizures, cant judge stepping up and falls and has multiple breaks, in fact she literally rolled out of bed the morning we boarding conquest and broke her shoulder, wrist surgery when she fell and caught herself, her fingers still wouldnt straighten and useable ... you have no idea her problems that we have dealt with since birth either.

 

I also take my elderly parents around, and have dealt with a wheelchair myself, even if I dont take it in sand.

 

The reason I know HC sometimes board first, but not always is because Iv been there. I let another HC person come so I had two HC people and we did wheelchair debarkation from the Ike Conquest that took 4 1/2 hours!!! we were last off the ship.

 

We just finally did the surgery for my sister to help control seizures where they put something in your neck to send stimulus every 5 minutes to your brain. Find someone else to attack.

 

All this being said ...I stand by what I said ...platinum people have earned their VIP status ...!!!!! People who think they have to be first because of being HC doesnt pass the smell test ..first or second, whats the difference?? they will be among the first on the ship. I would never push if they let VIP on before HC, which has happened, its not a big deal if you are second.

 

And I was on Ecstasy when they took all the wheelchairs ..and their extended families ...even one whole bus full of people off the ship and wouldnt let HC people and sick people who were doing self disembark off first...thats just wrong.!!! self disembark should get off before all those wheelchairs, some of whom just cant walk. We had people throwing up, one with a broken leg, all the people trying to be more independent and walk off ...had to wait for two elevators of able bodied who were not HC, just one of them. Thats why I stated the whole family shouldnt be allowed to go first for just one person in my opinion. We couldnt get a elevator until 10 am... because some dummy on Ecstasy was in a hurry to get the wheelchairs off. Yell at someone else ...

 

to your point that I never took a wheelchair over sand in a excursion ... actually since we never know what day or days my sister might have seizures, I never plan excursions ahead of time (well once in all my cruises)... anyone who throws up to another HC person that being in a wheelchair is worse without knowing the other HC persons issue .. as you can see Im angry at your reply. My sister is also a slow learner so I cant let her alone, since she cant find the cabin by herself and on and on ...dont you dare say you deserve more than another HC person because you are dealing with a wheelchair ..everyone has problems, no one is more special than another.

[firefly333]

Up until lately I was cruising with my sister who is platinum and on a cane, so we got to experience it first hand too. You phrased it better than I did, it just depends. It does seem to vary from port to port to me too.

 

Iv even had them both board together, HC and VIP from the same waiting area, if its not too crowded. I think it was Host Mach who told me HC technically was supposed to board first, but I know it doesnt always.

 

Firefly - my son's special needs trump your "vip" status all day, every day. Happy sailing:)

 

I guess you missed my earlier post saying we also are boarding HC.

 

So should I get on before you since we were both platinum and VIP?? I trump you if you are counting some kind of invisible score...

[wantocruisemore]

Can you answer something for me? My son has Aspergers (with some sensory-processing issues) and he has trouble with being around people in line. My mother-in-law tried to take him last fall. (This was before was diagnosed with autism spectrum issues, we just thought he was quirky...) Needless to say, things didn't go well. He left Disney World not liking it.

 

My question is this: Do you know if they do assistance passes for Autism spectrum/ Aspergers children? We would consider taking him again only if he could get a pass. Otherwise, he would do like last time and never get to ride anything. (He wanted to leave the lines after being overstimulated every time...)

 

Yes, we've received accommodations from Disney with respect to lines and crowds. Just go to Guest Services and they will give you something.

Disney World was wonderful to my disabled daughter.

 

And as for accommodations for a cruise, YES, absolutely. They offer assistance to all persons with disabilities.

 

My daughter looks normal to see her. However, she is mentally disabled, communication difficulties and has autistic tendencies and does not do well in loud, crowded rooms. I spoke with Carnival ahead of time about it just to ask for the best time to get to the port. They voluntarily put her down as needing special assistance and this applied to the entire party (although there were just 3 of us). She was treated with the utmost respect and dignity. I only had to show my email from Special Needs that we would have priority boarding because of her.

 

We were EXTREMELY pleased with Carnival's behavior and treatment of our daughter. It was for her birthday and made her vacation the best ever!

 

This summer our extended family of 9 are taking a Med. cruise, but this time with RCCL. (I got overruled with respect to Carnival since most wanted to cruise out of Rome and spend more time there). I have already corresponded with Special Needs and they have assured me they will handle things for our entire group the same way that Carnival did.