Elevator usage by ADA persons

[A2Mich]

5 minutes ago, iuki said:

 

You’re right about handicapped bathroom stalls.  The stall is made for accessibility and not for exclusive use.  How else would a young mother with a baby stroller use the bathroom?  She can’t leave babies or toddlers outside the stall unattended.

 

One thing that I forgot to mention is that in many public restrooms, changing tables are installed in the accessible stalls, though sometimes they are in the common area. Should parents just plop their kids on the dirty floor and change them there?  If they did, people would be complaining that they are in the way!

[actuarian]

I need a scooter to get around the ship and, on most of the cruises I have been on, the elevators are only a problem during the half hour following the end of the muster drill.  That problem could easily be rectified without any special elevators.  Instead, there should be a special muster drill for handicapped people that ends 15 minutes before the regular muster drill ends.  The regular muster drill is meaningless anyway for us who are handicapped because, in the event of a real emergency, we would not get to our muster stations or to the lifeboats without assistance from the crew.  The procedures for getting handicapped people to the lifeboats should be covered in that special muster drill.

[proggieus]

21 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

Typical thinking by. Many, “The accessible toilet is fair game if the others are occupied” what it doesn’t even consider is that for many the accessible toilet is the ONLY option and many physical disabilities come with bowel and bladder issues.

well that would makes sense, as the accessible toilet IS fair game.

 

so let say there are 2 stalls, 1 accessible and 1 not, should 6 people wait for one stall while the other remains free just in case somebody comes in that needs it? and if that person comes in they pass the 5 still waiting?

 

nope, not going to happen.

 

the laws says accessible options, not priority options.

 

and i say that as a person who has literally at one point or another in my life had every grandparent and parent need to use wheelchairs, walkers or oxygen to get around.

Edited May 3, 2019 by proggieus

[time4u2go]

2 hours ago, iuki said:

 

The Seapass card could be programmed with a code to access a separate elevator.  This would make all those people who are irritated with scooters taking up space on elevators very happy.

 

On one occasion, a Security Officer escorted me to retake my photo.  After not being able to board an elevator for five times, he used his bypass card to get us on an elevator.  I told him this happens all the time.

When this special elevator is summoned by someone with their card, do you not think others without special access won't also board it?  And as others have asked, what about people accompanying the person in the scooter?  Do they get to ride the special elevator too?  What do you think other people will think when they see several non-scooter-riders board this elevator without swiping cards?

[actuarian]

22 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

When this special elevator is summoned by someone with their card, do you not think others without special access won't also board it?  And as others have asked, what about people accompanying the person in the scooter?  Do they get to ride the special elevator too?  What do you think other people will think when they see several non-scooter-riders board this elevator without swiping cards?

My guess is that if Royal Caribbean ever does have reserved elevators, they will be reserved for people occupying suites, not for handicapped people.  Nevertheless, it is easy to reserve elevators.  MSC already has elevators reserved for Yacht Club members.  MSC does not keep non-Yacht Club cruisers out of those elevators but those elevators will bypass any floors not selected by someone by swiping a Yacht Club card.  Royal Caribbean could easily reserve elevators the same way; anyone can board the elevator but it will not stop at their floor.

Edited May 3, 2019 by actuarian

[A2Mich]

1 hour ago, actuarian said:

I need a scooter to get around the ship and, on most of the cruises I have been on, the elevators are only a problem during the half hour following the end of the muster drill.  That problem could easily be rectified without any special elevators.  Instead, there should be a special muster drill for handicapped people that ends 15 minutes before the regular muster drill ends.  The regular muster drill is meaningless anyway for us who are handicapped because, in the event of a real emergency, we would not get to our muster stations or to the lifeboats without assistance from the crew.  The procedures for getting handicapped people to the lifeboats should be covered in that special muster drill.

 

Hopefully Chief will stop by, but I would guess that there is not a separate drill by design.  I believe that part of the reason behind the drill is for everyone to meet at their assigned station for passenger accountability (souls on board), also, all souls on board have to be able to be evacuated within a specified time frame, and lastly, if the captain did call for muster with the possible intent of evacuation, there wouldn’t be two separate muster assemblies.  Crew would have to be able to account for all persons onboard, and that wouldn’t be possible if people are split into shifts.  I may be mistaken, but I believe that the USCG may occasionally observe and time muster drills and grade the crew.

[actuarian]

3 minutes ago, A2Mich said:

 

 I believe that part of the reason behind the drill is for everyone to meet at their assigned station for passenger accountability (souls on board), also, all souls on board have to be able to be evacuated within a specified time frame, and lastly, if the captain did call for muster with the possible intent of evacuation, there wouldn’t be two separate muster assemblies. 

Understood, but what is the point of knowing your assigned station and how to put on a life vest if you cannot walk stairs and the elevators are all tied up or not running?  There should be a special procedure for people who cannot walk stairs to contact an assigned crew member for help.  That procedure should be explained to the people to whom it applies. 

[A2Mich]

2 minutes ago, actuarian said:

Understood, but what is the point of knowing your assigned station and how to put on a life vest if you cannot walk stairs and the elevators are all tied up or not running?  There should be a special procedure for people who cannot walk stairs to contact an assigned crew member for help.  That procedure should be explained to the people to whom it applies. 

 

I believe that there is a procedure in place whereby crew help the mobility impaired, though it probably is not conveyed to the passengers that may actually need to know.  Though, I do not know what their procedure may be, my guess is that crew would do a stateroom search. I don’t know if the crew would automatically check every stateroom in an actual emergency, as it would be time consuming, but there is no guarantee that computer systems would be operational to perform an actual roll call.

[gaylemh]

Too bad there wasn't more room by the elevator banks, they could have a queue like they do in banks.  Everyone would get on an elevator when it was their turn, scooter or not.

[Bloodgem]

I can only talk about cruises out of Southampton.  On every cruise I have been on, with my wheelchair confined son, we have been allowed to leave the muster drill early to avoid the congestion at the lifts.

It depends on the crew when we leave the drill. Some allow us to leave as soon as the Captain starts his 'welcome aboard address'. Others are not as generous and make us wait until the end of the address but before everyone else is released from the drill.   

[Slugsta]

47 minutes ago, Bloodgem said:

I can only talk about cruises out of Southampton.  On every cruise I have been on, with my wheelchair confined son, we have been allowed to leave the muster drill early to avoid the congestion at the lifts.

It depends on the crew when we leave the drill. Some allow us to leave as soon as the Captain starts his 'welcome aboard address'. Others are not as generous and make us wait until the end of the address but before everyone else is released from the drill.   

 

That's interesting - I cruise out of Southampton and have never seen this happen, on any line I have been on!

[chengkp75]

9 hours ago, actuarian said:

Understood, but what is the point of knowing your assigned station and how to put on a life vest if you cannot walk stairs and the elevators are all tied up or not running?  There should be a special procedure for people who cannot walk stairs to contact an assigned crew member for help.  That procedure should be explained to the people to whom it applies. 

Those with mobility issues should have notified guest services when boarding.  They and their cabin will be noted on a special list for emergencies.  The elevators are not "not running", they are in "firefighter mode", meaning they can only be called from inside the cab, not from a deck, and are specifically for assisted use by those with mobility issues, and will be called to the deck needed by radio.  Further, there are not "assigned" crew for each passenger with mobility issues.  This is because there is no way of knowing where you will be at the time of an emergency, nor where the crew member will be at that time, and consequently how long it will take the crew member to get to their assigned station and then to you, so the team leader will assign personnel as they arrive.  There will be a pool of these crew who will be dispatched to the cabins of those on the list to see if that person is there and needs assistance.  However, it is best practice to move towards an elevator, as there will be crew stationed at the stairwells there, as well as the elevator bank, who can summon assistance for someone with mobility issues.

 

And, yes, in an actual emergency, or even a crew drill, there will be crew assigned to check each and every cabin and public space, and the cabins will be marked with tags in the key card slots as having been searched.

 

And no, there should not be a "special" drill for those with mobility issues.  The purpose of a drill is to be as close to the real thing as possible, so everyone's "muscle memory", both pax and crew, reacts the exact same way every time.  Therefore, both the mobility challenged pax and the special needs assigned crew need to experience the actuality of the entire ship mobilizing for the passenger muster.  Remember, the passenger drill is also training for the crew, as this is the only time the crew gets to experience performing their duties while "herding cats" with an actual large group of uncomprehending or uncooperative passengers.

[iuki]

10 hours ago, time4u2go said:

When this special elevator is summoned by someone with their card, do you not think others without special access won't also board it?  And as others have asked, what about people accompanying the person in the scooter?  Do they get to ride the special elevator too?  What do you think other people will think when they see several non-scooter-riders board this elevator without swiping cards?

 

So what is your idea how to deal with the scooter issue?   I thought the scooter haters would LOVE not having any scooters on “THEIR” elevators.  Why would they want to join “scooter people” on a small elevator?

 

This issue will continue to be a problem.   After muster, we sit and wait until the crowd is gone.  Before and after dinner, we use the elevators located at the front of the ship.  After the shows, we go to the elevators toward the back of the ship.

 

Yes, it’s inconvenient, but it’s better than listening to nasty remarks about scooter people being lazy instead of walking, not to mention having people jumping in front of you to get on the elevator.

 

Fortunately, most people are friendly, helpful, and very nice.  

[time4u2go]

7 minutes ago, iuki said:

 

So what is your idea how to deal with the scooter issue?   I thought the scooter haters would LOVE not having any scooters on “THEIR” elevators.  Why would they want to join “scooter people” on a small elevator?

 

This issue will continue to be a problem.   After muster, we sit and wait until the crowd is gone.  Before and after dinner, we use the elevators located at the front of the ship.  After the shows, we go to the elevators toward the back of the ship.

 

Yes, it’s inconvenient, but it’s better than listening to nasty remarks about scooter people being lazy instead of walking, not to mention having people jumping in front of you to get on the elevator.

 

Fortunately, most people are friendly, helpful, and very nice.  

My idea is for everyone to share all of the elevators.  Your last sentence is what makes that possible.

[Sancho_proudfoot]

"Yes  it is unfortunate that your health requires that you use a cane/frame/scooter. I am pleased that that doesn't stop you enjoying a cruise

 

Like you, l am a paying guest. If you are ahead of me in the line, you will board the elevator/enter the restaurant/ go down the gangway ahead of me

 If you are behind me, then l am going before you do. Simple queueing etiquette"

[slyster]

16 hours ago, A2Mich said:

 

I believe that there is a procedure in place whereby crew help the mobility impaired, though it probably is not conveyed to the passengers that may actually need to know.  Though, I do not know what their procedure may be, my guess is that crew would do a stateroom search. I don’t know if the crew would automatically check every stateroom in an actual emergency, as it would be time consuming, but there is no guarantee that computer systems would be operational to perform an actual roll call.

They allowed our deaf blind, 88 year old father to bypass the craziness from disembarkation.  When we were walking to the special needs area, I had to request help from staff because the area was so incredibly crowded and I was worried my dad would fall or get knocked over.  He rented a wheelchair but it had to be left in the cabin.  The staff person used their special key card to help us go up two floors to the special needs area.  Then when we were called, they used their key card to bypass the disembarkation line and took us out a different way to bypass the entire line. 

 

They should have a plan in place for giving special assistance to those who can only use an elevator right after the muster drill and for those at disembarkation.  That's the CRAZIEST time and it can be totally unsafe.

[spookwife]

24 minutes ago, slyster said:

They allowed our deaf blind, 88 year old father to bypass the craziness from disembarkation.  When we were walking to the special needs area, I had to request help from staff because the area was so incredibly crowded and I was worried my dad would fall or get knocked over.  He rented a wheelchair but it had to be left in the cabin.  The staff person used their special key card to help us go up two floors to the special needs area.  Then when we were called, they used their key card to bypass the disembarkation line and took us out a different way to bypass the entire line. 

 

They should have a plan in place for giving special assistance to those who can only use an elevator right after the muster drill and for those at disembarkation.  That's the CRAZIEST time and it can be totally unsafe.

Or you can do what most other people do and  just stay put for ten minutes while it clears out.  Same for port calls  

[slyster]

14 minutes ago, spookwife said:

Or you can do what most other people do and  just stay put for ten minutes while it clears out.  Same for port calls  

 

This wasn’t for ports of calls.  Special needs passengers were given a specific time and location to go to for disembarkation.  

 

Our cabin was by the centrum and was VERY long going back well past our cabin. If we waited for that to die down we would have waited a long time.  Folks standing outside our cabin in line were very courteous by making room for us.  It’s when we got to the centrum that it was jam packed.  

 

The whole point was they have staff available to assist special needs when they need to get on an elevator during disembarkation.  

[John&LaLa]

On 5/2/2019 at 7:32 PM, actuarian said:

The shortage of Handicapped Parking Spaces is everywhere in South Florida, not specific to cruise terminals.  Have you ever tried to find a handicapped parking space at a Publix supermarket here?  I think that the number of handicapped parking spaces at any facility is mandated by law and the high median age in South Florida makes that mandated number completely inadequate here.  Nevertheless, I have no idea why they have so many (or any) "green vehicle only" slots at the new terminal.  Does it make sense to give a closer parking slot to a 25-year old athlete than to a 75-year old retiree just because the 75-year old cannot afford to purchase a "green vehicle"?

 

Yes

[actuarian]

3 hours ago, slyster said:

 

 

Our cabin was by the centrum and was VERY long going back well past our cabin.

I would like to see that cabin.

[ONECRUISER]

On 5/2/2019 at 3:32 PM, actuarian said:

The shortage of Handicapped Parking Spaces is everywhere in South Florida, not specific to cruise terminals.  Have you ever tried to find a handicapped parking space at a Publix supermarket here?  I think that the number of handicapped parking spaces at any facility is mandated by law and the high median age in South Florida makes that mandated number completely inadequate here.  Nevertheless, I have no idea why they have so many (or any) "green vehicle only" slots at the new terminal.  Does it make sense to give a closer parking slot to a 25-year old athlete than to a 75-year old retiree just because the 75-year old cannot afford to purchase a "green vehicle"?

My Grandfather, a retired cross country Truck driver, got job as Deputy Sheriff. His only job for 5yrs was patrolling parking lots ticketing Auto's parking in Handicapped spots...and he was busy

Edited May 3, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[ONECRUISER]

22 hours ago, actuarian said:

My guess is that if Royal Caribbean ever does have reserved elevators, they will be reserved for people occupying suites, not for handicapped people.  Nevertheless, it is easy to reserve elevators.  MSC already has elevators reserved for Yacht Club members.  MSC does not keep non-Yacht Club cruisers out of those elevators but those elevators will bypass any floors not selected by someone by swiping a Yacht Club card.  Royal Caribbean could easily reserve elevators the same way; anyone can board the elevator but it will not stop at their floor.

As other's have said not going happen, if was practical other lines would be doing it... 

[sailor05]

One thing I always do is jump on an elevator going in the opposite direction of the crowd then ride it back going the intended direction. I love the looks on peoples face when the doors open and I've got my spot! 😂 I'm amazed at how many have not figured this out thank goodness.

[slyster]

1 hour ago, actuarian said:

I would like to see that cabin.

 

Cabin 4066, 4th deck grandeur.  The line to get off the ship was on that deck for self assist and it went all the way down the hall to the other elevators.  

[klfrodo]

If the scooter and others who feel they need a dedicated elevator, I say Make It So. However, be careful what you ask for. Don’t even think about getting on a non scooter elevator. You now have your own Special dedicated Elevator. Not my problem that it’s at the other end of the ship.