Mobility question

[Overtyme]

My dad is taking the family on Allure in June and is slow on the go, to say the least.

He refuses to get a scooter, and they have to be reserved in advance from what I can tell.

It’s his first cruise, so he has no idea how big this ship really is.

He gets around and can go up and down stairs, albeit slowly.

Does anyone have any experience traveling with a slow, 75 yr old on an Oasis class ship?

[Clarea]

We travelled with two 85 year olds on Allure several years ago. No scooters, wheelchairs, or walkers. You just have to budget extra time to get places.

[Overtyme]

We travelled with two 85 year olds on Allure several years ago. No scooters, wheelchairs, or walkers. You just have to budget extra time to get places.

 

 

 

No shows immediately after dinner for us [emoji16]

[Clarea]

No shows immediately after dinner for us [emoji16]

Right. I'd budget at least 15 minutes to get from one end of the ship to the other.

[Havingfun2010]

My dad is taking the family on Allure in June and is slow on the go, to say the least.

He refuses to get a scooter, and they have to be reserved in advance from what I can tell.

It’s his first cruise, so he has no idea how big this ship really is.

He gets around and can go up and down stairs, albeit slowly.

Does anyone have any experience traveling with a slow, 75 yr old on an Oasis class ship?

 

Did you know that "old" and "slow" people already know they are "old" and "slow"? Sometimes people forget that people that are older, slower, or disabled are very much aware of their limitations, and live with it every day. They will enjoy their trips at their pace and be perfectly content. I'm part of the fast/slow crowd. I'm fast, wife is disabled. We adapt, but of course adapt to the slowest person. WE NEVER USE A SCOOTER ON A SHIP BECAUSE IT IS A BIG PAIN IN THE NECK TO USE!. However, we use a scooter in port, and go Internationally with it. We plan and adapt.

[Snit13]

Right. I'd budget at least 15 minutes to get from one end of the ship to the other.

 

You are dreaming Bob. To get from one end of ship to other with DH might take an hour. Some are slow, some slower and DH slowest. With mobility issues, Oasis class almost to big for us thus we plan our small trips around ship carefully.

 

Grace

[Grandma Dazzles]

My dad is taking the family on Allure in June and is slow on the go, to say the least.

He refuses to get a scooter, and they have to be reserved in advance from what I can tell.

It’s his first cruise, so he has no idea how big this ship really is.

He gets around and can go up and down stairs, albeit slowly.

Does anyone have any experience traveling with a slow, 75 yr old on an Oasis class ship?

 

Would suggest a cabin mid-ship so that he is in the middle of things.

 

Make plans and try not to "double back" - a good idea of where you want to go and study the deck plans ahead of time. If you look at the deck plans ahead of time you will have a better feel of things.

 

Depending on the time of day, I think it takes longer than 15 minutes for a slow walker to get from one end of the ship to the other, especially if different decks are involved.

 

Make sure he has comfy shoes with non-slip sole.

 

Allow extra time to get to things with reservations like shows/dinner - lots of other people with the same idea. Also plan for bathroom stops - don't know about men's room, but ladies can be busy!

[Clarea]

You are dreaming Bob. To get from one end of ship to other with DH might take an hour. Some are slow, some slower and DH slowest. With mobility issues, Oasis class almost to big for us thus we plan our small trips around ship carefully.

 

Grace

Wow, I guess my parents were speedy!

[jpcello]

I've been on both Allure and Oasis with a mobility scooter user. You can try to measure it out to something he might understand. Compare it to ... (maybe a local mall or shopping area) so he understands just how far it is.

 

If you haven't reserved an accessible cabin you wouldn't be able to rent a scooter anyway because they won't fit in a regular cabin.

[MaryCS62]

I'm a slow walker (knee & back issues), but we're already dealing with DD in a wheelchair, so no scooter/chair for me. If I'm pushing her, it actually helps me to go a little faster. I looked into a rollator, but eventually I did end up buying a quad cane for my upcoming cruise, partially for walking, but also possibly for assistance in standing from something like a lounger where I won't be able to get good leverage to stand up.

Is your dad willing to use a wheelchair / transport chair/rollator? If he doesn't want to buy one, they can be rented (chairs anyway, don't know about rollators). With a rollator, he can still go up & down stairs if someone else can carry the rollator for him

[wendychloecruiser]

I've been on both Allure and Oasis with a mobility scooter user. You can try to measure it out to something he might understand. Compare it to ... (maybe a local mall or shopping area) so he understands just how far it is.

 

If you haven't reserved an accessible cabin you wouldn't be able to rent a scooter anyway because they won't fit in a regular cabin.

 

My mother’s Pride GoGo Elite Traveller scooter fits in a regular cabin just fine.

[Jasukkie]

Slow is one thing, but prone to falls is another. How steady is he? I'd be very concerned about traffic and people unintentionally knocking into him.

[maria1122]

I've been on both Allure and Oasis with a mobility scooter user. You can try to measure it out to something he might understand. Compare it to ... (maybe a local mall or shopping area) so he understands just how far it is.

 

If you haven't reserved an accessible cabin you wouldn't be able to rent a scooter anyway because they won't fit in a regular cabin.

 

You don’t need a handicap stateroom. If the scooter takes up too much space I have seen many of them in the hallway as long as they are not blocking anything. Stateroom attendants will also tell you the best place to keep it.

[cb at sea]

Scooters and wheelchairs have to be rented from some outside company...the ship doesn't rent or provide them. And, they must fit in the cabin...the hallways are not for storage!

 

If he can manage without the devices, he'll just have to go slowly, and plan his moves!!

[MaryCS62]

Slow is one thing, but prone to falls is another. How steady is he? I'd be very concerned about traffic and people unintentionally knocking into him.

Exactly why my daughter has a wheelchair. She is mobile, although slow, at home, because we keep rooms clear & she only goes specific places. In public, slow is one thing, but if someone brushes past her, between her balance issues (CP) & scoliosis surgery (titanium rod from her neck to the base of her spine), she'd go down like a tree.

[spookwife]

You don’t need a handicap stateroom. If the scooter takes up too much space I have seen many of them in the hallway as long as they are not blocking anything. Stateroom attendants will also tell you the best place to keep it.

 

 

wrong wrong a thousand times wrong. they MUST stored inside the cabin, period. and they WILL block access. the hallways are too narrow for ANYTHING to be left outside( to include RS trays..) any length of time. the housekeeping carts are bad enough

 

this is one time you should not go by what a crew member tells you.

[champagne123]

I don’t get a H/C cabin and my scooter fits just fine.

[It'sRC4ME]

Here's an idea. Check travelscootrentals.com. These little scooters break down into a compact package, and when fully assembled they fit neatly in a cabin. Rent one and have it delivered to YOUR cabin. That way if the size of the ship does turn out to be a real issue for your dad, you'll have an option to fall back on.

[Grandma Dazzles]

You don’t need a handicap stateroom. If the scooter takes up too much space I have seen many of them in the hallway as long as they are not blocking anything. Stateroom attendants will also tell you the best place to keep it.

 

Definitely not allowed to be stored in hallways. In case of emergencies people with wheelchairs, other scooters, etc. need to get by. Have seen people told to move them into their stateroom on multiple occasions. The same thing applies to strollers. Hallways have to be kept clear. You usually don't see a housekeeping cart unless steward is close by and able to move.

[iuki]

We travelled with two 85 year olds on Allure several years ago. No scooters, wheelchairs, or walkers. You just have to budget extra time to get places.

 

Just need clarification - Is Oasis OTS not ECV friendly?

[iuki]

My mother’s Pride GoGo Elite Traveller scooter fits in a regular cabin just fine.

 

Do you remove seat to get it through the door? Does a standard room have enough space to store the scooter when walking around the room?

[Clarea]

Just need clarification - Is Oasis OTS not ECV friendly?

Women who are pregnant 24 or more weeks cannot cruise on Royal.

[carolitis]

Info Special Needs at Sea (Special Needs Group) recently told me they rent mobility scooters at the kiosk at pier on sailing day and also informed me that on the Allure actually rent some on the ship.This may depend on the number of rentals needed on an individual cruise - so would not count on this. I would reserve one even at the last minute before cruise if fear of having to cancel is an issue. If it helps, tell them that after I was disabled at 31 I kept waiting to be able to walk it to do Disney, cruises etc... with my kids and wasted a lot of time before I finally accepted the situation, then wished I had done so earlier. Does not mean they are "getting old. Lots of young ones are on scooters on the ship. Getting around the smaller ships was one thing, these monsters is another thing entirely. If I walked from one end of Allure to other on day one, I would be stuck in bed the rest of the week, in agony, and have to be wheeled off ship, and the only place I would go all week would be to be wheeled for massages and acupuncture in the spa. If they have managed on a cruise ship of this size w/o scooter in the recent past and truly know what they are dealing with- then more power to them. If not, I would rent one for them and let them choose to use or not use it. The $185 will be best money spent. Personally at 84, my Mom is harder to reason with as she is declining rapidly and we have to make some choices for her whether she likes it or not. I am not saying your parents are declining. But mine is. My family puts it to me that if I do not take care of myself they cannot enjoy themselves. When I was in my 30s and 40s on a scooter, I would hear people say things questioning why I needed to do so. I hated that. At their ages this would never happen. I celebrate any day I am well enough to be out of bed and go somewhere on a scooter. Any day I am vertical (rather than horizontal) even if sitting on a scooter, is a good day and I feel blessed.

[yuvraj]

I am not that old but I am that slow guy. I find walking even 20 metres difficult but I manage to get around without a scooter. For me it isn't a convenient option because I would have problems getting stuck waiting for lifts and some places may not be accessible. For example, the WJ is not that disabled friendly.

 

I have been on Oasis class ships three times. Getting around has not been a problem. I just take my time and plan my journey to avoid crowds. The Oasis is really good for this with routes through Central Park, Casino as well as the Promenade "highway".

 

For support I use a walking stick and I pause from time to time to lean on something.

 

On my last cruise (different cruise line - P&O), over 50% had visible mobility problems and most of the guests were elderly. Quite a few with walkers, some with wheelchairs including ones with motor, a large number with walking sticks but hardly anyone on a scooter. Apart from cost, I believe the reason is the practical problems caused by having a scooter (storage, ability to drive it responsibly if inexperienced), navigating through crowds etc.

 

One piece of advice, book a cabin near the lifts. The walk from cabin to lifts is the most painful bit.

 

As for catching shows. I never had a problem. Show times vary and are repeated so it just requires a little planning and book accordingly.

 

I did use to take my father on cruises few years ago. He is slow and frail. Again a walking stick and adapting worked better than getting a wheelchair. A scooter was not an option as he wouldn't be able to drive it properly.

[grapau27]

I am not that old but I am that slow guy. I find walking even 20 metres difficult but I manage to get around without a scooter. For me it isn't a convenient option because I would have problems getting stuck waiting for lifts and some places may not be accessible. For example, the WJ is not that disabled friendly.

 

I have been on Oasis class ships three times. Getting around has not been a problem. I just take my time and plan my journey to avoid crowds. The Oasis is really good for this with routes through Central Park, Casino as well as the Promenade "highway".

 

For support I use a walking stick and I pause from time to time to lean on something.

 

On my last cruise (different cruise line - P&O), over 50% had visible mobility problems and most of the guests were elderly. Quite a few with walkers, some with wheelchairs including ones with motor, a large number with walking sticks but hardly anyone on a scooter. Apart from cost, I believe the reason is the practical problems caused by having a scooter (storage, ability to drive it responsibly if inexperienced), navigating through crowds etc.

 

One piece of advice, book a cabin near the lifts. The walk from cabin to lifts is the most painful bit.

 

As for catching shows. I never had a problem. Show times vary and are repeated so it just requires a little planning and book accordingly.

 

I did use to take my father on cruises few years ago. He is slow and frail. Again a walking stick and adapting worked better than getting a wheelchair. A scooter was not an option as he wouldn't be able to drive it properly.

Sorry to hear your pain and mobility issues.

We bought a wheelchair with wider wheels from a mobility shop about 12 years ago for MIL because of her angina and mobility issues.

We took her on 6 cruises and pushed her wheelchair with her in it everywhere so she never missed anything and it was great for her.

 

 

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