ClairetoCruise Posted March 11, 2013 #1 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I'm worried about leaving the Eclipse in April. Whether using cane/walker/wheelchair how do we manage the luggage to walk off the ship, or manage the luggage to depart last, get a porter, wait at the curb with luggage for a taxi to the hotel? The Ft. Lauderdale Eclipse Disembarkation "fiasco" thread has me feeling like this cruise is a bad decision. We don't have a wheelchair or a walker since a cane will do as long as we're careful. The "fiasco" thread makes us consider our mobility, stamina, and strength. Are there any ideas to help us? How does Celebrity handle baggage left at baggage claim? Can we arrange to have it shipped to our home address? Claire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulajj Posted March 11, 2013 #2 Share Posted March 11, 2013 There were people being wheeled past the lines in wheelchairs holding canes. Maybe you can hire porters to do this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapr Posted March 11, 2013 #3 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I'm worried about leaving the Eclipse in April. Whether using cane/walker/wheelchair how do we manage the luggage to walk off the ship, or manage the luggage to depart last, get a porter, wait at the curb with luggage for a taxi to the hotel? The Ft. Lauderdale Eclipse Disembarkation "fiasco" thread has me feeling like this cruise is a bad decision. We don't have a wheelchair or a walker since a cane will do as long as we're careful. The "fiasco" thread makes us consider our mobility, stamina, and strength. Are there any ideas to help us? How does Celebrity handle baggage left at baggage claim? Can we arrange to have it shipped to our home address? Claire From our balcony, I witnessed folks with mobility issues struggle going down Eclipse's steep 'jerry-rigged' ramp. I did observe Celebrity personnel assisting folks down the ramp, but you are on your own with carry-on luggage. Once you retrieve your checked luggage, there will be plenty porters that will assist you with all luggage to curbside pick-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClairetoCruise Posted March 11, 2013 Author #4 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Flappr & Paulajj, You've given me a fresh outlook. We'll request wheelchair assistance from the ship and keep fingers crossed for porter services through customs to hold our luggage for a taxi. Your words somewhat calm my anxiety. Claire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaroleSS Posted March 11, 2013 #5 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Why don't you investigate the luggage program? Fr a small fee, they pick it up a your cabin and the next time you see it, it's at the baggage carousel at your home airport! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan722 Posted March 12, 2013 #6 Share Posted March 12, 2013 If you contact Celebrity Special Needsthey can arrange to help you leave the ship. (866) 592-7225 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abuelita2012 Posted March 12, 2013 #7 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I'm worried about leaving the Eclipse in April. Whether using cane/walker/wheelchair how do we manage the luggage to walk off the ship, or manage the luggage to depart last, get a porter, wait at the curb with luggage for a taxi to the hotel? The Ft. Lauderdale Eclipse Disembarkation "fiasco" thread has me feeling like this cruise is a bad decision. We don't have a wheelchair or a walker since a cane will do as long as we're careful. The "fiasco" thread makes us consider our mobility, stamina, and strength. Are there any ideas to help us? How does Celebrity handle baggage left at baggage claim? Can we arrange to have it shipped to our home address? Claire There were not enough baggage handlers in the Miami terminal when I disembarked the Constellation in December 2012 and passengers waited for long periods to obtain assistance in taking luggage to the taxi area. If you need a wheelchair you can ask for it in advance of disembarkation by going to the front desk but you may have to wait sometime for it. I hope this is helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiannaD Posted March 12, 2013 #8 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Flappr & Paulajj,You've given me a fresh outlook. We'll request wheelchair assistance from the ship and keep fingers crossed for porter services through customs to hold our luggage for a taxi. Your words somewhat calm my anxiety. Claire First the terminal is inadequate for a ship the size of Eclipse which leads to delays and confusion and the posts you have been reading. The later it gets the more congested things become BUT.. We disembarked from the Celebrity Eclipse this past Saturday and had no problems at all. One of us is disabled and walks slowly with a cane. I contacted Celebrity well before the cruise and requested wheelchair assistance. They were wonderful. We were given an early departure and told to be in the Passport Lounge near Guest Services rather than in the theater which was our designated waiting area. Celebrity had wheelchairs ready and we were taken quickly to deck two and off the ship with staff members handling the wheelchair. After the long walk to the terminal we were met by a person to push the chair the rest of the way and a porter to help with the bags. We were taken to the head of the immigration and customs lines and out to the curb and helped into a cab. The process was very smooth and we were at the gate at FLL airport in about one hour total. As far as carry on goes I pulled mine and the other carryon was placed on the other person's lap. I was grateful for the help and thank Celebrity for their assistance. The airport was a zoo with 6 large ships in port that morning and all the other spring break tourists but Southwest airlines did a good job. The driver unloaded our suitcases right at the curbside check in, there was a wheelchair available and our bags were taken promptly. There were lots of people waiting in chairs so I pushed the wheelchair to the gate which was nearby. A Southwest employee preboarded us and another wheelchair met us at our home airport. At times like this I really appreciate the wonderful acomodations that allow those with disabilities to travel. Luggage valet is an option for some airlines, very convenient and you may also want to look into it. Unfortunately it is not available for Southwest. We also used a wheelchair for embarkation but that was not as smooth which was partially our fault. Our flight was very early and we arrived at the port quite early. Unfortunately debarkation was still in progress and there were people everywhere and cabs and vans trying to pick up passengers while others were dropping off. The road area is shared with two ships which led to traffic congestion. We waited on a bench outside the terminal and then found a door with a handicapped designation. We waited quite a while in the terminal until the ship was ready to board and someone was available to escort us. We were then taken through the registration lines and up to the ship. A Celebrity staff member met us and pushed the chair up the ramp to deck 5 to board and from there to the buffet. I am quite certain that arriving after 11:30 would alleviate the congestion and our wait. We were thankful for the assistance and made sure to tip those who helped us. Relax and Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project_gal Posted March 12, 2013 #9 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Flappr & Paulajj,You've given me a fresh outlook. We'll request wheelchair assistance from the ship and keep fingers crossed for porter services through customs to hold our luggage for a taxi. Your words somewhat calm my anxiety. Claire Claire Contact Celebrity in advance and once on board to request a wheelchair for disembarkation at Fort Lauderdale. We did this although it was the only port for which my husband needed assistance. [And thanks to Cruise Critic for alerting us to this issue in adavance!] You will be well looked after. You will be told to go to a special waiting area at a certain time and will be allocated a wheelchair and Celebrity pusher. They will help stow your husband's carry-on luggage on the wheelchair and stick [just like at an airport]. You will be pushed to the far terminal building and then "parked" in a special area to wait for your on-shore "pusher" and a porter. The pusher and porter will then take you to collect your luggage, take you through Immigration/Customs and to the queue for your selected method of transport. If you opt for taxi [an option not recommended by Celebrity] the wheelchair passenger will be taken, with all luggage, to seats st the front of the quene while the walking passenger will be requested to quene for the taxi, meeting the luggage at the point a taxi is available for them. If you search back through this board for other threads on this topic you will find a photograph I posted showing the distance you have to walk when leaving the ship this January. [Apologies, I do not have ready access to the photograph at the moment.] Sue PS I found the link for you: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=37117872&postcount=8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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