Sarah@Sea Posted August 31, 2013 #1 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I book guaranteed balcony on Freedom, we were assigned cabin 6696, I think the TA said it was a Cat D. It's very AFT about 3rd from last cabin. I just saw there are 2 cat E midship balc still avail for our cruise but the price is more than I booked for...is E a lower cat than D! Would I be able to switch for no price difference? Would just be more convenient location given Mom limited walking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crookedhalo Posted August 31, 2013 #2 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Most people report being able to switch cabins within the same category they are assigned. Your best bet is to call your TA now because most ships are sailing full now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly361 Posted August 31, 2013 #3 Share Posted August 31, 2013 If you changed to an E you would have to pay whatever the rate is today. D cabins are a bit larger than E. They have a sofa as opposed to a loveseat. It looks like there are no more D cabins available for you to switch to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinfanatic Posted August 31, 2013 #4 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I book guaranteed balcony on Freedom, we were assigned cabin 6696, I think the TA said it was a Cat D. It's very AFT about 3rd from last cabin. I just saw there are 2 cat E midship balc still avail for our cruise but the price is more than I booked for...is E a lower cat than D! Would I be able to switch for no price difference? Would just be more convenient location given Mom limited walking. You pay the difference in price if you switch categories. Cabin category makes no difference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted August 31, 2013 #5 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I book guaranteed balcony on Freedom, we were assigned cabin 6696, I think the TA said it was a Cat D. It's very AFT about 3rd from last cabin. I just saw there are 2 cat E midship balc still avail for our cruise but the price is more than I booked for...is E a lower cat than D! Would I be able to switch for no price difference? Would just be more convenient location given Mom limited walking. Right now you are in a Category D1 cabin, and there are no other D1's avaiable right now to switch into. It's ashame because of your Mom's limited walking abilities you probably could have booked a handi-cap cabin more mid ship. Didn't your travel agent suggest that? Jimbo:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted August 31, 2013 Author #6 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Right now you are in a Category D1 cabin, and there are no other D1's avaiable right now to switch into. It's ashame because of your Mom's limited walking abilities you probably could have booked a handi-cap cabin more mid ship. Didn't your travel agent suggest that? Jimbo:) It was a late decision to cruise, no handicap rooms avail, that is why I check cabins to see if one opens. She will have a scooter but there are still times she'll need to be close since wont take scooter off ship, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starry Eyes Posted August 31, 2013 #7 Share Posted August 31, 2013 you cannot just swap from a D to an E without paying the difference. Do all the available E's appleal to you more than your current D? if so, are you a bit of a gambler? If so, you could ask your travel agent to ask them to put you back into the gty pool. Do not be surprised if they say no. if they say yes, you might get the same cabin back again. or you might get one of the E's. Or, less likely, you could be assigned some other cabin not currently showing in inventory. Edit: cross-post. See below for an extra caution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starry Eyes Posted August 31, 2013 #8 Share Posted August 31, 2013 It was a late decision to cruise, no handicap rooms avail, that is why I check cabins to see if one opens. She will have a scooter but there are still times she'll need to be close since wont take scooter off ship, etc. Somebody who uses accessible rooms may chime in, but I am concerned about your situation. I'm not sure that a scooter will fit in the standard room. if it doesn't, you'll have a parking and charging issue. if it does fit, it will be very crowded trying to get to bathroom and such. swapping to a smaller E cabin might only make it worse. there is a forum for disabled cruisers; you may want to post there for info and advice if nobody knowledgable chimes in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted August 31, 2013 Author #9 Share Posted August 31, 2013 you cannot just swap from a D to an E without paying the difference. Do all the available E's appleal to you more than your current D? if so, are you a bit of a gambler? If so, you could ask your travel agent to ask them to put you back into the gty pool. Do not be surprised if they say no. if they say yes, you might get the same cabin back again. or you might get one of the E's. Or, less likely, you could be assigned some other cabin not currently showing in inventory. I'm not a gambler, but Mom sure is! Thanks for that suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starry Eyes Posted August 31, 2013 #10 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I'm not a gambler, but Mom sure is! Thanks for that suggestion. Have you and your mom cruised with the scooter in a regular cabin previously? If so, you know how much space you need better than I. if not, as mentioned in a later post, I am a little concerned about scooter space in any regular balcony stateroom, but especially a smaller E. You know your situation, so use your best judgement, and have a blast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerif Posted August 31, 2013 #11 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Have you and your mom cruised with the scooter in a regular cabin previously? If so, you know how much space you need better than I. if not, as mentioned in a later post, I am a little concerned about scooter space in any regular balcony stateroom, but especially a smaller E. You know your situation, so use your best judgement, and have a blast. I'm concerned about even getting it through the doorway into the cabin unless it breaks down as you can't leave it in the hallway. Did your TA check doorway widths? Otherwise, I'd stay in the slightly larger cabin as with the scooter it won't be so hard for your mom to get around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted August 31, 2013 #12 Share Posted August 31, 2013 The travel agent should know better then to book someone with a scooter in a regular cabin. Would have be wiser to look for another ship or another sailing that had one available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxoocruiser Posted August 31, 2013 #13 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Somebody who uses accessible rooms may chime in, but I am concerned about your situation. I'm not sure that a scooter will fit in the standard room. if it doesn't, you'll have a parking and charging issue. if it does fit, it will be very crowded trying to get to bathroom and such. swapping to a smaller E cabin might only make it worse. there is a forum for disabled cruisers; you may want to post there for info and advice if nobody knowledgable chimes in here. Whether or not the scooter will fit through the cabin is totally dependent on the type of scooter. RCCL's standard balcony cabin doors are 23" wide and that measurement is from door frame to frame. 2" has to be deducted for the depth of the door when it's open making the final clearance only 21" . The widest base point which is generally the back wheels of the scooter cannot be more than 21". The arm rests have to be adjusted no wider than 21" or totally removed in order for the scooter to fit through the door. There will be no floor space to maneuver the scooter once in the cabin so it will be a tight fit but can work. OP will most likely have to have the coffee table removed and the desk chair removed. Provided that the scooter would need to be pulled as close to the desk for charging each night. All this is based on the Bed being positioned next to the Balcony if the bed is the first thing upon entering the cabin than the scooter most likely will not fit into the room. OP should have had her TA contact RCCL's Special Needs Dept. Reason being that any unsold Accessible Cabins after the final payment date can be released to the general public. Therefore there may be a possibility that an Accessible Cabin was assigned to an able body person . RCCL does have the capability to make that switch provided that the OP can certify the need for the features that an accessible cabin provides. This is a requirement per a USA Federal Law that went into effect 1/1/2012. According to RCCL and Coast Safety Regulations assistive devices including mobility scooters must be stored and recharged in your stateroom so fire doors, corridors and elevator lobbies are kept clear for emergency evacuation. When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaO Posted August 31, 2013 #14 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I travel with my mother who has walking issues and we book accessible when available. When we do so, we have to submit the special needs form. If we do not... we run the risk of loosing the stateroom to someone else. Unfortunately, many people book these staterooms to get the larger stateroom, not needing the special facilities. I suggest you have your TA call the special needs department and see if a stateroom is or may become available. They are very helpful in the special needs department... and they are cracking down on abusers of the accessible staterooms. But it is a very difficult thing for them to do. We booked an available accessible stateroom for our next cruise and had little choice.... No balcony accessible were available so we took the outside that was available. And the price was a little higher than the other available outsides. But it is so much easier for my mother without the steps up into the bathrooms or shower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted August 31, 2013 Author #15 Share Posted August 31, 2013 We wanted this specific sailing and ship because it's when I have a break from school and I have a friend who is crew on the ship. Both TA and I checked the measurements on the door before I finalized the rental scooter from CareVacations. The TA immediately sent me the RCL special needs form after I booked, and called again to give me the dimensions of the door. I am very much aware it cannot be left in the hallway, even CV asked for door dimensions to double verify. Reading that the D has a couch vs E love seat does sound like there will be more space to "clear" the scooter to move around and I should stay put. Thanks for the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerif Posted August 31, 2013 #16 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Glad you did some advance checking. Have a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted August 31, 2013 Author #17 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I travel with my mother who has walking issues and we book accessible when available. When we do so, we have to submit the special needs form. If we do not... we run the risk of loosing the stateroom to someone else. Unfortunately, many people book these staterooms to get the larger stateroom, not needing the special facilities. I suggest you have your TA call the special needs department and see if a stateroom is or may become available. They are very helpful in the special needs department... and they are cracking down on abusers of the accessible staterooms. But it is a very difficult thing for them to do. We booked an available accessible stateroom for our next cruise and had little choice.... No balcony accessible were available so we took the outside that was available. And the price was a little higher than the other available outsides. But it is so much easier for my mother without the steps up into the bathrooms or shower. She is ok with a few steps so bathroom will not be a problem, she actually has a few steps up to her bedroom at her house. It's the long hallways I was most concerned with, but hey that's why we have the scooter, since CV will leave in cabin I'll go retrieve it for her where ever we wait if we arrive to port before rooms are ready, etc. I am confident it will be an enjoyable trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaO Posted August 31, 2013 #18 Share Posted August 31, 2013 I'm glad you have a plan for those long hallways... seems like the Freedom class has the longest hallways!! But you have a good plan in place. If your mother will do so... take advantage of the wheelchair at the port to the ship... Those ramps are long and can be steep... and since the scooter will already be on board, if she will use the wheel chair it will be so much easier for her. I made arrangements through special needs to have a chair at check in... it worked great!! Enjoy your cruise!! I am grateful for every minute I get to spend with my mom... and I try to make the cruises as easy as possible for her... I know you are both going to have a fantastic cruise.. and bring back a lifetime of memories!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted August 31, 2013 Author #19 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Yes, wheelchair for embarkment already on the reservation also! She was hesitate to cruise I think because of the concern of getting around and enjoying it, even after I told her we can rent a scooter (saw gentleman on last cruise with a CV one and asked him more about how it worked!), she questioned on how she'd get ON the ship, I told her hey will have chairs, and VERY friendly crew to push her...since I'll be wraggling the carry-on. :D I've also thanks to the CC boards, found excursions she can enjoy, there was not a need for her to do one where she just sat in the scooter for the entire tour...however, it was awesome to see there are several avail if that need were to ever arise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awhcruiser Posted August 31, 2013 #20 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Not sure if scooters can be left outside the cabin overnight.. It was a late decision to cruise, no handicap rooms avail, that is why I check cabins to see if one opens. She will have a scooter but there are still times she'll need to be close since wont take scooter off ship, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxoocruiser Posted August 31, 2013 #21 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Not sure if scooters can be left outside the cabin overnight.. Scooters CANNOT be left outside the cabin overnight. Suggest going back back and read my post #13 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted September 1, 2013 Author #22 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Scooters CANNOT be left outside the cabin overnight. Suggest going back back and read my post #13 . I realize you are replying to the other post... But to reiterate... No, scooters cannot be left outside at night but they can fit in non-accessible rooms. RCL has typical doorway measurements listed online, but you can also verify the width of the door entry. Scooter width was available from CareVacations website. I knew from before booking not to expect to leave a scooter in the hallway...actually I would never imagine that as I know the hallways aren't that wide to begin with...and the scooter needs to charge, etc...oh yeah and we are responsible for it...can't afford for it to be taken for a joyride! http://www.royalcaribbean.com/allaboutcruising/accessibleseas/mobilityImpairment.do Assistive devices including mobility scooters must be stored and recharged in your stateroom so fire doors, corridors and elevator lobbies are kept clear for emergency evacuation. When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers. Assistive devices should fit through a standard stateroom entry doorway which is at least 23 inches wide. We offer accessible staterooms which have wider doors which are at least 32 inches wide and may accommodate larger devices. If you have an assistive device larger than 32 inches wide, please contact our Access Department for assistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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