Should HAL prohibit power scooters?

[mr green]

Of course scooters have to stay!

My only problem with them is how some of the dining staff drive them in the dining room. Once the cruiser has reached his/her table the scooter is removed by a staff member, and returned at the conclusion of the meal. Many staff members RACE those machines, while wearing the expression that my three year old son had while riding his trike in the house.

 

john

[tcook052]

The cruise line makes a lot of money from the disabled traveling. Don't think the Cruise Industry want to loose that revenue. Besides Cruise Lines that want to explore imposing a limit on the number of the disabled that use mobiliy equipment on board opens a whole legal mess. Can you say "CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS"

 

While I'm not a lawyer so can't comment expertly about whether under the law those using scooters while still having some mobility could be defined as "disabled" I wouldn't think the cruise lines would want to risk losing revenue from passengers who feel the impact of dozens of scooters in spaces not designed for them and may reconsider rebooking because of it.

 

And that doesn't mean I myself have felt the effects of a large number of scooters on my past HAL cruises as I haven't but am just imagining what the impacts on the others guests would be if there were a large number on one cruise. The logistics of everything from embarkation & disembarkation, lifeboat muster and emergencies to scooters storage would all be matters I would think important. A few one a cruise I could care less as there wouldn't be impacts but were there to be dozens I could see it causing many more problems and that's all I was questioning.

[xxoocruiser]

Of course scooters have to stay!

My only problem with them is how some of the dining staff drive them in the dining room. Once the cruiser has reached his/her table the scooter is removed by a staff member, and returned at the conclusion of the meal. Many staff members RACE those machines, while wearing the expression that my three year old son had while riding his trike in the house.

 

john

 

That's exactly the reason I never let any staff member park my scooter. I park it, remove the key and than basically hubble with my cane to the dining room. I request a table closet to exit just for this very reason. I've even seen wait staff drive it out of the MDR and that proceed to go for a joy ride around the entire deck before returning and parking it.

[mr green]

That's exactly the reason I never let any staff member park my scooter. I park it, remove the key and than basically hubble with my cane to the dining room. I request a table closet to exit just for this very reason. I've even seen wait staff drive it out of the MDR and that proceed to go for a joy ride around the entire deck before returning and parking it.

 

I applaud you!!:)

 

john

[mamaofami]

The waiters love the scooters and are anxious to ride them and park them for you. I park the scooter out of the way at the rear of the dining room and use a cane to get to my seat. By the way, I have a travel scoot which does fold down. On my last cruise, I was in an inside cabin and was able to fit the scooter through the door and park it there overnight.

[Se4deb]

Ok so we are going to ban scooters, electric chairs, baby strollers and basically anything that has wheels on it so that the able bodied can move more freely around the ship and not have to worry about being run into by some crazed driver or some wheeled beast. I get it. So the ships will be full of women on 6 inch heels and their drunk escorts that are trying to maneuver them through the MDR without spilling their drinks.

 

My DH uses a scooter when we sail. He has been run over, pushed aside, cursed at, had drunks sit in his lap, more foods and drinks spilled on him that either of us care to think about. Why, because, as one poster side, he is at butt level and most people can't or don't even look where they are going let alone down.

 

Hawaiidan opened a can of worms that should be welded shut and never opened again. There are enough opportunities every day for people to show their prejudices and ignorance, lack of human compassion for their fellow beings and just plain meanness.

 

Please people, before you make statements that are only designed to inflame your fellow humans, think again. The world is getting smaller everyday and we have to figure out how to live together.

[Copper10-8]

.........................

One serious reason to limit scooters is lifeboat issues. Not the lifeboat itself, but getting to it. If you are using a scooter on board, do you have to contact the front desk so they know to send someone to help you in an emergency? I have heard complaints on another board that getting wheelchair help for disembarkation can involve a long wait. So if helper-staff is limited, you would't want to have more scooter passengers than you could help in an emergency.

 

On all HAL ships, on every voyage, lists are prepared in advance based on booking info that show (by name, cabin # and disability) the number of handicapped pax on board and their specific needs. Those lists are distributed to specific crew and are posted near the service elevators along with the muster lists of all passengers. Crew are assigned to assist those pax in case of an emergency.

As far as parking scooters in pax corridors, once again, it is not allowed for safety/access reasons. If you have a room steward that says it is and/or "go ahead and do it" that particular steward is breaking a serious safety rule onboard the ship and, if known, will get a) a 'talking to', b) addl. discipline.

One other item to be aware of; in case of an emergency on the ship, (fire, requiring a muster on boat deck and an abandon ship, in a worst case scenario) the ship's elevators could very possibly be out of order. If that were to happen, pax depending on mobility scooters would obviously have a problem reaching their muster station. In that case, there are mechanical/motor-driven "ascenders" that run on tracks, located in those same crew elevator areas on each ship on which a mobility impaired passenger will be transported to the boat deck.

Scooters should, and will not, be banned from cruise ships. They are not going to go away and there's no reason for that to happen! I've seen most of what has been brought up here on the ships including bad behavior by both scooter drivers and non mobility-impaired passengers. Childish behavior at times of the type you can only shake your head at! It takes some courtesy and, I hate to say it, common sense, on the part of the driver(s) and the other passenger(s) to make it work and to get along. Some know how to apply that, others don't.

[Typhoon1]

[*]the American's with Disabilities Act!

 

This is why they are such an important piece of equipment.

[3rdGenCunarder]

On all HAL ships, on every voyage, lists are prepared in advance based on booking info that show (by name, cabin # and disability) the number of handicapped pax on board and their specific needs. Those lists are distributed to specific crew and are posted near the service elevators along with the muster lists of all passengers. Crew are assigned to assist those pax in case of an emergency.

 

As far as parking scooters in pax corridors, once again, it is not allowed for safety/access reasons. If you have a room steward that says it is and/or "go ahead and do it" that particular steward is breaking a serious safety rule onboard the ship and, if known, will get a) a 'talking to', b) addl. discipline.

 

One other item to be aware of; in case of an emergency on the ship, (fire, requiring a muster on boat deck and an abandon ship, in a worst case scenario) the ship's elevators could very possibly be out of order. If that were to happen, pax depending on mobility scooters would obviously have a problem reaching their muster station. In that case, there are mechanical/motor-driven "ascenders" that run on tracks, located in those same crew elevator areas on each ship on which a mobility impaired passenger will be transported to the boat deck.

 

Scooters should, and will not, be banned from cruise ships. They are not going to go away and there's no reason for that to happen! I've seen most of what has been brought up here on the ships including bad behavior by both scooter drivers and non mobility-impaired passengers. Childish behavior at times of the type you can only shake your head at! It takes some courtesy and, I hate to say it, common sense, on the part of the driver(s) and the other passenger(s) to make it work and to get along. Some know how to apply that, others don't.

 

That's good to know. If I couldn't use the stairs, I'd want to know that there was an alternate way to get around in an emergency.

[Copper10-8]

That's good to know. If I couldn't use the stairs, I'd want to know that there was an alternate way to get around in an emergency.

 

 

Pic of Rescue Squad training using one of the emergency wheelchairs attached to an ascender

[Ians Grandma]

Yes, that is interesting, Copper. I always travel with my son who is confined to a chair yet I was never told about the alternate route. I always figured that if a crew member didn't show up I would have to carry him upstairs even though he is 5" taller and 40 lbs heavier than me. A daunting thought.

[chrispb]

No, of course disability scooters should not be banned. I can't even think why OP asked the question.

I would be in favour of banning strollers, though.:cool: Some mothers use them as battering rams and I can't begin to count the number of times the backs of my ankles have been scraped and bashed.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Yes, that is interesting, Copper. I always travel with my son who is confined to a chair yet I was never told about the alternate route. I always figured that if a crew member didn't show up I would have to carry him upstairs even though he is 5" taller and 40 lbs heavier than me. A daunting thought.

 

Many years ago, I had a work colleague who used a wheelchair due to polio. He couldn't walk, and certainly couldn't climb stairs. He was a big guy, not much overweight, just a big frame--standing he'd have been 6 feet or taller. Our offices were on the second floor, and several of his friends were designated as his "team" to get him down the stairs if the elevator couldn't be used during an emergency. I never saw them practice, but I know they did. Fortunately, the building never had such an emergency. That ascender device would have been a huge help.

[mr green]

Ok so we are going to ban scooters, electric chairs, baby strollers and basically anything that has wheels on it so that the able bodied can move more freely around the ship and not have to worry about being run into by some crazed driver or some wheeled beast. I get it. So the ships will be full of women on 6 inch heels and their drunk escorts that are trying to maneuver them through the MDR without spilling their drinks.

 

Just who said that all of the above would be banned??

 

john

[Bearnaise]

Many years ago, I had a work colleague who used a wheelchair due to polio. He couldn't walk, and certainly couldn't climb stairs. He was a big guy, not much overweight, just a big frame--standing he'd have been 6 feet or taller. Our offices were on the second floor, and several of his friends were designated as his "team" to get him down the stairs if the elevator couldn't be used during an emergency. I never saw them practice, but I know they did. Fortunately, the building never had such an emergency. That ascender device would have been a huge help.

A couple years ago DW broke her ankle while we were vacationing in Bonaire. When it came time to fly home, I was curious how they would get her in the plane since there's no jetway at the Bonaire airport, just stairs. The answer was in the form of two burly baggage handlers who pulled a sliding wheelchair-like seat with her in it up the stairs. I was impressed.

[HamburgAvonLady]

Personally, I think it's time to put this thread "To Bed". Some very good points have been made BUT enough already !!!!

[DizzyDallasDi]

It should also be noted that it's hard to book an HC Cabins because so many Abled Body book them because they want the extra space. Even TA's encourage abled bodied to book HC Cabins due to the extra space . So why not think about fixing that problem to free up HC cabins for people that actually need them rather than rallying to prohibit scooters or imposing limits on scooter ?

 

Isn't that the truth! I've read posts from severely obese people who book the HC cabins if they can't find a regular room where the bathroom is big enough for them. They don't use a scooter, walker, cane, wheelchair or any other mobility device. It's just that they need an extra large bathroom for their girth and feel that booking a HC cabin is completely acceptable. Unbelievable!! :mad:

[510picker]

Every cruise I go on I keep hoping to see "Scooter/Wheelchair Races" as one of the daily activities so I whoop up on these sissys with "power" :)

 

No offense intended towards anyone that uses a scooter or power wheelchair. Most of us (note that I said most) in the disabled community have learned that laughter is a powerful way of dealing with life. This is simply my attempt to add a little humor.

 

[tcook052]

Isn't that the truth!

 

No, actually I don't think it is. An able bodied person booking into a HC cabin risks being bumped out of it and into a cabin not of their choosing that maybe undesirable in some ways. And any TA worth their salt wouldn't make such a recommendation.

 

Nobody has that I've seen spoken to maritime regulations about emergencies and how having many scooters onboard changes the crew response in those cases.

[xxoocruiser]

No, actually I don't think it is. An able bodied person booking into a HC cabin risks being bumped out of it and into a cabin not of their choosing that maybe undesirable in some ways. And any TA worth their salt wouldn't make such a recommendation.

 

Though the cruise line will they will bump someone assigned to a HC cabin when there's truly not a medical. In actuallity tmany of the Cruise Lines do not enforce their own policies and will tell the disabled person there's nothing they can or will do about . Just go on the disabled forum and do a search about this very topic.

[babyher]

Pic of Rescue Squad training using one of the emergency wheelchairs attached to an ascender

 

 

When I was an EMT we had a Frequent Flyer that weighed 800 lbs and us and the fire department had to bring him up and down 2 flights of stairs several times that way . OY:(

[cruz chic]

Isn't that the truth! I've read posts from severely obese people who book the HC cabins if they can't find a regular room where the bathroom is big enough for them. They don't use a scooter, walker, cane, wheelchair or any other mobility device. It's just that they need an extra large bathroom for their girth and feel that booking a HC cabin is completely acceptable. Unbelievable!! :mad:

Is that on cruise critic? I don't I've ever read such a thing on the HAQL board.

[Copper10-8]

When I was an EMT we had a Frequent Flyer that weighed 800 lbs and us and the fire department had to bring him up and down 2 flights of stairs several times that way . OY:(

 

Yep, that's not a day at the beach especially with DBRs, but at times, it's gotta be done.

[Sea42]

Is that on cruise critic? I don't I've ever read such a thing on the HAQL board.

It's been discussed in the past (you have to scroll down a bit):

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1218007&page=5

[oofroggie]

DH had to use a wheel chair because of a stroke and was lucky to have a DW and DD to push him where he needed to go on the cruise ships. He could not use a scooter because he could not use his hands and arms. It would have been easier for him to have some independence in the most basic of functions. I have often thaught that they should have organized wheel chair and scooter races.