Staggered Boarding??

[Nancyquilts]

I need a wheelchair. How do they accommodate the disabled waiting outside the terminal?

Our TA asked for one, we asked for one when we got there, and we were never able to get it. I just brought a cane, but if they keep doing this, I may need to bring my rolling walker with a seat.

[Captain Canuck]

no wheelchair..that is outrageous..and I mean it

customer service levels of Air Canada...

requested a wheelchair in Vancouver for elderly in laws..long long walk from plane to customs

never saw a single agent helping anybody

I know some good people at Air Canada but the airline itself sucks

hope Princess does not continue to go down that road

[latebloomer56]

Hi Folks,

We have a princess transfer for the Golder RT LA/Hawaii in Sept. Wonder if this will effect all of us on the buses from LAX? We are platinum so wonder how this will effect our preferred boarding? We have only been this level for the last trip in Oct.2011. Really haven't noticed any difference from gold. Oh well I'll pick up lunch at the airport just in case. My husband needs to eat due to sugar issues.

Thanks for the heads up about a possible hang up.

Laura

[Captain Canuck]

we were on by about 1230...I am diabetic so food is an issue..carry emergency stuff but buffet on cruise beats airport food any day

you should have not problem ..but it should not even be an issue

[Sweetpea]

Do they have a check-in line for the disabled? My husband uses a cane and can walk short distances but cannot stand for any length of time. May will be our first Princess cruise and we've never had a problem checking in before on other other lines (Celebrity, Royal and Carnival). I never imagined it would be a problem.

[Bob&Kate]

Booked to sail this Friday. Having read Cruise Raiders experience of this cruise ie embarkation "process" and decline in food quality we are considering cancelling the 2 other cruises we have booked later this year. Perhaps these were abberations and not the norm? We will post a full review on our return.

We are platinum members so will be watching very carefully to make sure that we do get the only worthwhile benefit - priority embarkation. Perhaps we will need to consider RCL or Celebrity? Other cruise reviewers havent reported experiencing these drop offs in service.

[sassyredhat]

I need a wheelchair. How do they accommodate the disabled waiting outside the terminal?

 

Do they have a check-in line for the disabled? My husband uses a cane and can walk short distances but cannot stand for any length of time. May will be our first Princess cruise and we've never had a problem checking in before on other other lines (Celebrity, Royal and Carnival). I never imagined it would be a problem.

 

Talked to my TA last night. She said PCL is trying this (following Disney) to see if it works when more than 1 ship is in port, or for the massive ships like in FL. And every one hates it !

We also board disabled. We arrive early and I tell the first person who tries to direct me--showing the printout you get from DMV as proof. I also wave around my blue placard to get attention.

They send us ahead to the check-in desk. As soon as you

are checked in, they direct you to the wedding party area. Disabled go in with them, before Elites. Sorry guys. :)

I have only tried this with early boarding. Don't know how it works if you arrive later.

Pat

[compozer]

Here is another thought. Around here, the handicapped parking spaces are full all the time, it seems more and more people are getting cards. I remember some of my MIL's friends had them and she decided at 83 that she should have one. She told her doctor she wanted one and he filled out the form but when I told her she would get a new plate with handicapped on it and she went nuts - NO NO she just wanted the card and she got one. She needed the exercise and should have been walking since there was NOTHING wrong with her - I took her to all of her appointments. You'd have to know my MIL - lets just say she changed as she got older - she figured she lived a long time and deserved a few extra things like- when she went grocery shopping, she would stand behind her car with the trunk opened until someone came along and put the groceries in her trunk. She managed to get so many things done for her and then it just started to be a game for her.

 

So, what I'm asking is - can someone just show their state's auto handicapped card and be allowed to go to the front of the line???

I'm thinking if that is the case, and you are on a long cruise (not flying), it could be full of elderly people with those cards - then some elite, suite, and platinum could be the last people to board.

 

BY NO WAY am I saying everyone that has one does not deserve it - please - that is not where I am going. I've been in a wheelchair and it is no fun. I remember at Disney World when we went early to get a spot for the parade. You wouldn't believe how many people moved in front of me to watch. I finally got tired of asking people to move since I couldn't see AND was there first.

[Sweetpea]

Thank you, Pat! We will make sure he has his card and get to the port as soon as we can.

[sassyredhat]

Compozer, no you can't just show the blue card. You have to show the print out from DMV that they send with the placard.

You are right--anyone could grab a blue placard. They do look at the info from the printout. I use that at the casino buffets too. Everyone wants that printout for proof. :)

Sweetpea, be sure he has copies of that printout.

Pat

 

PS: I forgot to add, on our last Alaska cruise, there were only 2 wheelchairs and me in disabled boarding.

[Sweetpea]

Thanks you again! I looked and found that it says "disabled person" on his car tag receipt, so I will make sure we have that in hand. You've been very helpful!!!

[LARGIN]

Showing a California Handicap placard means nothing unless you are in an auto. From the DMV..

 

Disabled Person Parking Privileges

 

Once you have a valid DP placard, DP plates, or DV plates, you may park:

 

• In parking spaces with the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair symbol).
  
• Next to a blue curb authorized for persons with disabilities parking.
  
• Next to a green curb (green curbs indicate limited time parking) for as long as you wish. There is no time limit with a DP placard, DP license plates, or DV license plates.
  
• In an on-street metered parking space at no charge.
  
• In an area that indicates it requires a resident or merchant permit.
  

In addition to parking privileges, service stations must refuel a disabled person’s vehicle at self-service rates unless the service facility has only one employee on duty.

 

 

Waving the placard does not place you in the front of the line. It is like someone waiving their "Black" card when trying to move to the head of the Tender boarding line to get back on the ship...

[deelastcre]

Seems like I missed the priority boarding in Fort Lauderdale. It would be helpful to have some signage to assist you.

[4cats4me]

Showing a California Handicap placard means nothing unless you are in an auto. From the DMV..

 

Disabled Person Parking Privileges

 

Once you have a valid DP placard, DP plates, or DV plates, you may park:

 

• In parking spaces with the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair symbol).
  
• Next to a blue curb authorized for persons with disabilities parking.
  
• Next to a green curb (green curbs indicate limited time parking) for as long as you wish. There is no time limit with a DP placard, DP license plates, or DV license plates.
  
• In an on-street metered parking space at no charge.
  
• In an area that indicates it requires a resident or merchant permit.
  

In addition to parking privileges, service stations must refuel a disabled person’s vehicle at self-service rates unless the service facility has only one employee on duty.

 

 

Waving the placard does not place you in the front of the line. It is like someone waiving their "Black" card when trying to move to the head of the Tender boarding line to get back on the ship...

 

 

My sentiments exactly, Largin. :rolleyes: After all, when my mom and dad sailed with us out of SF five years ago, we parked in one of the garages at 55 Francisco St and dad, who DID have a placard due to his heart ailment, actually wheeled his carry-on all the way to Pier 27 at the age of 78. It was nearly a half mile walk, and I was a little concerned, but my mom kept insisting that it was actually good for him to walk, as was the recommendation from his cardiologist, too. I offered to drop them off curbside, but he insisted on walking.

 

So now it seems, according to some, that we now should have four classifications of cards, embarking in this order:

NEW BLUE:rolleyes:

BLACK

PLATINUM

GOLD

INFERIOR BLUE [or whatever the latest design for first-time cruiser cards might be]

[dtb55]

[quote name=4cats4me

 

So now it seems, according to some, that we now should have four classifications of cards, embarking in this order:

NEW BLUE:rolleyes:

BLACK

PLATINUM

GOLD

INFERIOR BLUE [or whatever the latest design for first-time cruiser cards might be]

 

Inferior blue, love it! That will be me in September.

 

 

 

 

Denise

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sassyredhat]

Well yes it does matter if you have the receipt. You can't get it without a Dr. order for it.

PCL did tell me it was ok. They do look.

And I am NOT taking cuts in front of anybody. I will gladly trade my disability for your legs any day. :mad:

If I could stand or walk, does anyone really think I would jump line..? Of course I wouldn't.

I do realize that some people will abuse that priviledge, but most of us won't. Good grief.

Enough said.

Pat

[LARGIN]

Well yes it does matter if you have the receipt. You can't get it without a Dr. order for it.

 

PCL did tell me it was ok. They do look.

 

And I am NOT taking cuts in front of anybody. I will gladly trade my disability for your legs any day. :mad:

 

If I could stand or walk, does anyone really think I would jump line..? Of course I wouldn't.

 

I do realize that some people will abuse that priviledge, but most of us won't. Good grief.

 

Enough said.

 

Pat

 

I understand you need "The Receipt" to show with the placard. What I am saying is the placard is to be placed in your automobile for parking privileges not to be carried on person to prove you are handicapped as one sees fit. Also by the ADL, Princess cannot ask for proof if you tell them you have a disability.

[sassyredhat]

I wasn't going to come back to this thread, but I wanted to add something.

Yes Largin, you are correct. Possibly I offended some when I said "Sorry Elite". That wasn't meant to be flippant. I really am sorry that Elites work so hard to get that status, and then get bumped back. I truly understand that, and I AM sorry.

And possibly I misunderstood some of the remarks. I thought you guys were calling people like me--inferior blue.. It's mean to even joke about that. :confused:

I don't usually go around waving the blue placard. Actually, one time we forgot to put it on the mirror, and we had to pay that big fine.

I'm just very sensitive about the whole thing, because I don't look like anything is wrong with me, and I people have said mean things about it.

Saturday, when we sail Sapphire, DH will drop me off with the luggage, park, and hobble and limp back to the terminal. He has a bad back, bad knees, and had knee surgery 4 weeks ago. But, he does NOT have the blue placard, so he will walk just like everyone else.

Can we start over ???:)

Pat

[Kamloops50]

When I see a handicapped sticker on a vehicle and the driver gets out.

I don't assume that they aren't handicapped . They might back knees , back or any number of things wrong . The only time I get mad about it (I'm not handicapped ) when a group of young adults run to a car with a sticker in a reserved spot and drive off. I see this a lot at the gym or in malls.

[Sweetpea]

I'm sorry, it seems like I started something here! The only reason I asked for advice is because the thread started addressing disabilities and it sounded like the disabled were not given some kind of priority for embark/debark like on other lines. You've been a sweetie--thank you!

[Dayenu]

O. M. G.

 

I am reading this... and cannot believe! While I didn't see it, I can imagine! I know that area of San Francisco - it's not a dock area, it's a highly touristy area with small piers. I cannot imagine a group of people standing there, waiting for boarding, luggage being dropped off, some passengers may still be walking off the ship...

 

So it will be a crowd on a regular-sized sidewalk with luggage and taxi drop-off and tourists who are not on a cruise - you cannot put a finger in, all space is taken!

 

And most of the passengers are elderly, and there are no benches to sit on unless you walk a few blocks... and if you don't know the area, you don't know which way to walk to get lunch, especially if you have sugar issues and cannot be hungry, and maybe children crying and people arguing...

 

Please tell me it's not as bad as I think it is! :(

[Nancyquilts]

O. M. G.

 

I am reading this... and cannot believe! While I didn't see it, I can imagine! I know that area of San Francisco - it's not a dock area, it's a highly touristy area with small piers. I cannot imagine a group of people standing there, waiting for boarding, luggage being dropped off, some passengers may still be walking off the ship...

 

So it will be a crowd on a regular-sized sidewalk with luggage and taxi drop-off and tourists who are not on a cruise - you cannot put a finger in, all space is taken!

 

And most of the passengers are elderly, and there are no benches to sit on unless you walk a few blocks... and if you don't know the area, you don't know which way to walk to get lunch, especially if you have sugar issues and cannot be hungry, and maybe children crying and people arguing...

 

Please tell me it's not as bad as I think it is! :(

It was as bad as you think it was for the March 19th boarding - I hope it got better soon, as we want to take another Star cruise to Hawaii in another year, but we won't book the first one from SF.

[mr green]

O. M. G.

 

I am reading this... and cannot believe! While I didn't see it, I can imagine! I know that area of San Francisco - it's not a dock area, it's a highly touristy area with small piers. I cannot imagine a group of people standing there, waiting for boarding, luggage being dropped off, some passengers may still be walking off the ship...

 

So it will be a crowd on a regular-sized sidewalk with luggage and taxi drop-off and tourists who are not on a cruise - you cannot put a finger in, all space is taken!

 

And most of the passengers are elderly, and there are no benches to sit on unless you walk a few blocks... and if you don't know the area, you don't know which way to walk to get lunch, especially if you have sugar issues and cannot be hungry, and maybe children crying and people arguing...

 

Please tell me it's not as bad as I think it is! :(

 

It sounds to me then that if San Francisco can't make its docks accessible

to cruisers, the city should forgo hosting cruise ships, until it learns how to accommodate them, WITHOUT inconveniencing the paying passengers.

 

john

[aaerobear]

This has gotten way out of hand, the port and the city are more than capable of handling disabled passengers as well as everyone else. The policy of staggered boarding and not opening the terminal at a specific time come from the cruiseline, NOT the city/pier management.

 

Disabled passengers need to contact a curbside employee and their needs will be handled (no need to wave a blue placard). However, if the terminal has not opened up, no-one will be allowed in. There are not a lot of wheelchairs available for passenger use and it is generally on a first come-first served basis.

 

That being said, I believe that there will not be a problem on Friday (4/13) and that the staggered boarding will not be as bad as people think. But, hey, I could be wrong. Have been several times. I just think that everyone should come with an open mind and just plans to enjoy their cruise.

 

As Roy Rogers said... Happy Sails to You...or was that trails?:rolleyes:

[Captain Canuck]

gov in sfo are too busy banning happy meals and goldfish and declaring the city a nuclear free zone to do something to enhance tourism