San Diego wheelchair assist??

[Jim Avery]

Forgive me if this is "old news" but I used the Forum Search to little avail. We are traveling on Oosterdam r/t San Diego for a family Christmas Cruise. Mother in Law is 90 and in pretty good overall health but has difficulty walking distances or standing for much time. I called HAL in Seattle and asked about wheelchair assist but the man I spoke with was not very helpful. Said that the only assist HAL has is after security to the Main Lobby of the ship. I asked about prior to security and he says there is none and that they don't take the person to their cabin, only the Main Lobby (his term). Given HAL's age demographic, I am certain that MIL is not the first to need some assistance in the terminal as well as security and boarding. Any suggestions? Thanks..:cool:

[sail7seas]

Forgive me if this is "old news" but I used the Forum Search to little avail. We are traveling on Oosterdam r/t San Diego for a family Christmas Cruise. Mother in Law is 90 and in pretty good overall health but has difficulty walking distances or standing for much time. I called HAL in Seattle and asked about wheelchair assist but the man I spoke with was not very helpful. Said that the only assist HAL has is after security to the Main Lobby of the ship. I asked about prior to security and he says there is none and that they don't take the person to their cabin, only the Main Lobby (his term). Given HAL's age demographic, I am certain that MIL is not the first to need some assistance in the terminal as well as security and boarding. Any suggestions? Thanks..:cool:

 

A lighweight transport chair is not very costly and might be very useful foryou to have during the cruise. Youc annot use HAL wheelchairs off t he ship or to be kept for the whole time duri ngthe cruise. Why not look into having your own chair to use for a small investment. how would M-i- L manage foere whole cruise without transport? The information you were ggiden sounds quite accurate to me. Many people simply bring their own.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have been using wheelchair assistance since 2012.

Our TA makes the arrangements for embarkation and disembarkation. Even in San Diego.

Once we get out of the taxi, I do have to get to the door and tell them I need a wheelchair. They have a check list and a chair is gotten for me right away. Even before I went through security. Of course to go through the machines, I have to get out of the chair and then I stay in the chair until we are checked in. At that point I have to give up that wheel chair. When it is time to board, staff from the ship come with the ship's wheelchairs and take me onto the ship and I am delivered to my cabin.

At the end of the cruise, I get a letter telling me where to report to on the ship for wheel chair assistance to get off the ship. The crew member who took me off the ship in San Diego stayed with me until we got down the elevator and through immigration. Another man at the door wheeled me out -- in the same wheel chair -- to the taxi stand.

[Jim Avery]

I have been using wheelchair assistance since 2012.

Our TA makes the arrangements for embarkation and disembarkation. Even in San Diego.

Once we get out of the taxi, I do have to get to the door and tell them I need a wheelchair. They have a check list and a chair is gotten for me right away. Even before I went through security. Of course to go through the machines, I have to get out of the chair and then I stay in the chair until we are checked in. At that point I have to give up that wheel chair. When it is time to board, staff from the ship come with the ship's wheelchairs and take me onto the ship and I am delivered to my cabin.

At the end of the cruise, I get a letter telling me where to report to on the ship for wheel chair assistance to get off the ship. The crew member who took me off the ship in San Diego stayed with me until we got down the elevator and through immigration. Another man at the door wheeled me out -- in the same wheel chair -- to the taxi stand.

Most helpful. Thanks so much. She is ok for short distances and will be ok on board. Just the waiting in lines mostly that are a problem for her. thanks again. :cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

You are welcome.

Once I am on the ship, there is a Rollator waiting me in the cabin since I know that the ships can't let us use their wheelchairs at the various ports. I rent one from Care Vacations.

[sail7seas]

KK, It is good to read how well you have ebeen taken care of for embarkation and dismbarkation.

[Crew News]

Here is the Special Needs form that you need to complete for wheelchair assistance at the port. HAL had a wheelchair waiting at the San Diego terminal door for my DW which was pushed from there, through Security, through check-in, and all the way to our stateroom.:

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-planning/SRI_Form.pdf

[Jim Avery]

Here is the Special Needs form that you need to complete for wheelchair assistance at the port. HAL had a wheelchair waiting at the San Diego terminal door for my DW which was pushed from there, through Security, through check-in, and all the way to our stateroom.:

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-planning/SRI_Form.pdf

Perfect! Thank you so much.:cool:

[sail7seas]

Perfect! Thank you so much.:cool:

 

Depending upon where your M-I-L's cabin is located, it can be a fairly long walk getting t o mDR and back to her cab in.. . Does she wish to have a wheelchair for use on board should she feel it too far towalk ( a 'just in case convneience?)...what about for going ashore in ports?

[Jim Avery]

Depending upon where your M-I-L's cabin is located, it can be a fairly long walk getting t o mDR and back to her cab in.. . Does she wish to have a wheelchair for use on board should she feel it too far towalk ( a 'just in case convneience?)...what about for going ashore in ports?

Cabin is 7 deck near one of the lifts. She is ok in short trips. Not so good if standing in line. She is not planning on going ashore with us "younger" family members so no problem there. Thanks for all the help from you all.

[sail7seas]

Cabin is 7 deck near one of the lifts. She is ok in short trips. Not so good if standing in line. She is not planning on going ashore with us "younger" family members so no problem there. Thanks for all the help from you all.

 

Hope you all have great a cruise.

[IRL_Joanie]

Cabin is 7 deck near one of the lifts. She is ok in short trips. Not so good if standing in line. She is not planning on going ashore with us "younger" family members so no problem there. Thanks for all the help from you all.

 

Do you have a wheel chair for her? I ask because I think I see what Sail is saying. The distance from your stateroom to either the Front (Forward) of the ship, Show Lounge, shops, Casino or to the Back (aft/Stern), Main Dining Room, Lido, Aft Pool, are quite a long distance from wherever your stateroom is.

HAL, and most other Cruise Lines, have 2 companies that they will allow to bring on and take off Rental Wheel Chairs, Scooters and Oxygen equipment. They are Special Needs at Sea (http://www.specialneedsatsea.com/

) and CareVacations Is Now Part of the Scootaround International Network (https://www.scootaround.com/cruise-rentals?ref=carevacations). Both of these very reputable companies have Lockers down in Housekeeping with spare parts for their Rentals, just in case something breaks (I know from experience:) )

Joanie

[Krazy Kruizers]

Cabin is 7 deck near one of the lifts. She is ok in short trips. Not so good if standing in line. She is not planning on going ashore with us "younger" family members so no problem there. Thanks for all the help from you all.

 

Even though she is not getting off the ship, I think she should consider having either a wheelchair or a rollator which you can rent for the ship. The Rollators that I rent have 4 wheels and a seat that she can use when she needs to sit down.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Here is the Special Needs form that you need to complete for wheelchair assistance at the port. HAL had a wheelchair waiting at the San Diego terminal door for my DW which was pushed from there, through Security, through check-in, and all the way to our stateroom.:

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-planning/SRI_Form.pdf

 

How the wheelchairs are handled depends of the staff at the various ports.

In Tampa and Seattle I have stayed in the same wheelchair all the way to the cabin. In Ft Lauderdale it has been a mixed bag. Sometimes all the way to the cabin --sometimes not. One time we had a bad experience in Ft Lauderdale. Our ship was docked at pier 25 and all taxis had to drop off passengers quite a distance from the entrance. There was pier staff crew member sitting on a chair not too far from where we left off. DH asked him for a wheelchair for me and he refused to get me one. DH left me there and said he was going to get security to find out what to do. The man asked if I had proof that I was handicapped. YUP -- I pulled out my handicapped card and he went immediately to get me a wheelchair and gave DH the evil eye.

[Krazy Kruizers]

KK, It is good to read how well you have ebeen taken care of for embarkation and dismbarkation.

 

 

It can be slow at times when there are many people requiring wheelchairs.

You just have to have patience.

[Lizzie68]

Here is the Special Needs form that you need to complete for wheelchair assistance at the port. HAL had a wheelchair waiting at the San Diego terminal door for my DW which was pushed from there, through Security, through check-in, and all the way to our stateroom.:

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-planning/SRI_Form.pdf

 

 

This form is a little out of date, they changed the system prior to our cruise in April., Go to Accessible Cruising on the HAL website for info, and email halw_access@hollandamerica.com

They are extremely helpful, and they send youa form specific to you and you then deal directly with them and do not have to go through your TA or PCC at all.

While we have not gone through San Diego, at most ports you may have to walk a few yards to the wheelchair assistance area, and when boarding begins you are usually taken directly to your cabin.

[DAllenTCY]

The longer the cruise, the more guests require them. The average for a 7 night cruise is about 20 wheelchairs....for a 15 day about 60.....and a longer voyage 100+ either embarking or disembarking. Staffing level is the same every sailing....please realize our limitations at times. Note that you did not "reserve" a wheelchair....you "requested" one. They are available on a first to arrive basis....by way of a log at the front gate.

 

Available wheelchairs are used for disembarkation as a priority, so arriving "early" might result in a longer wait time before you board. Boarding time in SD is noon.

 

Sometimes we can take you to the stateroom other times only to the lobby onboard just past the gangway. If there are many patrons waiting in the terminal, we will prioritize them. When able.....and the ship allows it.... all the way to either your stateroom, the dining room, or the Lido.

 

Some ships have 6-8 onboard personnel who come off to help. Other ships might not offer assistance at the pier until after lunch (because they are dining room staff). We do our very best to provide you a good experience.

 

My challenge each sailing is to provide airport or hotel transfers for you. That is why it is so important to fill out the new ADA form ahead of time. We have to place the bus order 48 hours ahead.....so if you need a lift coach.....we need to know in advance. Often I've been told by ADA guests that they didn't fill out the information because they expect HAL to provide it.

 

Last sailing....there were 3 guests from the airport and 2 from the hotel that needed lift equipped coaches. Only one of the 5 had contacted HAL. Therefore, a long wait was the result at the airport....because only one ADA coach was chartered.

 

Scooters must weigh less than 50 pounds to be put under the bus. Size and weight limits are part of the new form.

 

David

[Krazy Kruizers]

This form is a little out of date, they changed the system prior to our cruise in April., Go to Accessible Cruising on the HAL website for info, and email halw_access@hollandamerica.com

They are extremely helpful, and they send youa form specific to you and you then deal directly with them and do not have to go through your TA or PCC at all.

While we have not gone through San Diego, at most ports you may have to walk a few yards to the wheelchair assistance area, and when boarding begins you are usually taken directly to your cabin.

 

 

Since I have other special needs that need to be taken care of, this is why we let our TA fill out the forms and take care of everything.

[Lizzie68]

Since I have other special needs that need to be taken care of, this is why we let our TA fill out the forms and take care of everything.

 

Good plan, KK. I was just pointing out that the form and process is different now and that you don't HAVE to go through a third party if you don't want to.

[IRL_Joanie]

Good plan, KK. I was just pointing out that the form and process is different now and that you don't HAVE to go through a third party if you don't want to.

Thank You for the updated form link. I'll have hubby download it ffor future use.

Joanie

[Lizzie68]

You're welcome.

 

Sent from my SM-J320W8 using Forums mobile app

[DAllenTCY]

I need both hands and one foot to count the number of times I've been told that "My TA contacted HAL" for my ADA needs.

 

Sorry....they didn't.

 

Why didn't you?

 

David