Cruise ships to ban "scooters" going forward?

[Roz]

I've only sailed on Uniworld.  I don't see how a scooter could make it up and down the ramps, not to mention where you're rafted to another ship(s) and have to go thru the other ship(s) to get out, many times involving steps.  The hallways on the ships are narrow, and then there are steps and cobblestone streets on the tours.  How did the 2 scooter passengers manage?

Edited January 1, 2021 by Roz

[Roz]

I found this:

 

A Guide to Accessible River Cruises (cruisecritic.com)

[mcrcruiser]

6 hours ago, Roz said:

I found this:

 

A Guide to Accessible River Cruises (cruisecritic.com)

Yes Roz there are many limitations  for wheel chairs & power scooters   on river cruises  ;however ,it also depends on ones level of mobility issues  .All I need is a scooter for longer distances  .  I have walking  issues .  

 In general   the streets are not great for either wheel chairs or scooters in Europe 

 

 Because of this pandemic our gyms have been closed for the most part . when this is over & we can get back into the gym ,the use of weight training hekos us to a greater level .

 

 Any one who never has had mobility issues finds it hard to walk in ones shoes who has mobility issues & that is very understandable  

 

  We all hope we live to a ripe old age .Well I can address that because we are in our  early 80s . As we age out bodies can lack flexibility as well as other related issues .  Gyms can really help as can swimming regularly for flexibility  .Unfortunately ,this darn pandemic has shut down those facilities ;but ,the good news it is not a forever thing 

 

 

[Homosassa]

FYI - Viking does not ban the use of mobility scooters on its ocean going ships. However, scooters must be under 22" wide.

 

A full Viking statement on the use of mobility assistance devices is included in the Terms and Conditions avail bale on the Viking website. The pertinent section is below:

 

Passenger’s Warranties and Fitness; Pregnancy; Accessibility Limitations; Health and Special Needs ; Expedition Cruises: a. Warranties and Fitness: You warrant that you and all other passengers traveling in your party are physically, emotionally and otherwise fit to undertake the cruise or cruise tour; that you and they have received all medical inoculations necessary; that you and they will at all times comply with the Ship’s rules and regulations and orders and directions of the Ship’s Master, officers and medical staff, as applicable, and that your conduct will not impair the safety of the Ship or jeopardize or inconvenience other passengers. VRC and Carrier are not required to provide any inoculations or specialized health or mental care during your cruise tour and all such arrangements are your responsibility. VRC and the Carrier are unable to accommodate women past their 24th week of pregnancy. A certificate of fitness may be required of any passenger with significant health issues. You are further advised that the living standards and practices at your travel destination(s), including those with respect to the provision of utilities, services and accommodation, may differ from those found in the U.S. or Canada. b. Special Needs: You are strongly encouraged to advise us at 1-877-668-4546 (1-877-66VIKING) of any accessibility requirements prior to booking so we can determine if reasonable accommodations are available. Please request the appropriate accessibility form for you to review, sign and return to us. Passengers are requested to advise us in writing, at or prior to the time a cruise or cruise tour is booked, of any physical, emotional or mental condition which may require professional attention during the cruise or cruise tour, including if the passenger requires the use of a wheelchair or other mobility equipment, not to exceed 22" in width. Passengers must bring and be solely responsible for all necessary items related to the medical condition or mobility challenge. If a mobility, medical, physical, emotional or mental condition arises after the cruise or cruise tour is booked, you are requested to advise us in writing immediately. VRC and Carrier endeavor to reasonably accommodate special access needs but cannot guarantee they will be able to do so in all cases. When requested due to safety concerns, you must provide a completed medical questionnaire (“Fit to Travel letter”) from your physician. c. General Accessibility Limitations: Some ports of call may have physical conditions which may preclude certain passengers from going ashore. Additionally, for cruise tours in China, on the Mekong River, in Egypt, Peru/ Galapagos and for other destinations not specifically noted, certain additional conditions, restrictions and 200217 Booking and Sale Terms and Conditions Page 8 of 14 CST#2052644-40 limitations exist onboard, at the ports, in excursions and on land that are beyond our control. Ship and airport access in these and other regions, including lack of wheelchair, walker or scooter accessibility, extended periods of standing and steps, are inherently present in tours that may not be appropriate for guests with certain medical conditions and physical restrictions. Due to restrictions on boat, ship and cabin sizes, certain cruise tours are not appropriate for travelers who use wheelchairs, walkers or scooters. Airports in certain regions typically do not have ramps or elevators. Excursions visit ancient sites with uneven terrain and stairs and include extended periods of walking over uneven surfaces. Passengers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids or who may need physical assistance throughout the trip should consider these needs when making a booking as our onboard personnel are not required to perform personal tasks or assist with eating, dressing, toileting, lifting or pushing a wheelchair. Motorized scooters typically cannot be taken onboard planes in certain regions because authorities such as the China Aviation Administration forbid any battery of capacity greater than 160Wh (most scooter batteries) onboard an aircraft. Additionally, lithium batteries cannot be placed in checked baggage and must be hand-carried as onboard carry-on. All batteries must have the capacity clearly printed on the outside or they will not be allowed onboard. To calculate your battery capacity if it is only marked in mAh, divide the mAh number by 1000 and multiply by 3.7. For example, a capacity of 10400mAh./1000=10.4Ah×3.7v=28.48 Wh (under the limit of 160Wh). All vessels and motorcoaches are equipped to European standards. Most transportation services, including the vessels and motorcoaches, are not equipped with elevators or wheelchair ramps. VRC and Carrier are not liable for any denial of Services by the Carrier, air carriers, hotels, restaurants or other independent suppliers. VRC and Carrier cannot provide individual assistance for walking, dining, getting on and off vessels, motorcoaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. You assume the full risk of use and of any prohibitions imposed by the Carrier or third-party vendors. Motorized scooters are not typically suitable on international tours. d. Ship Access: To embark/disembark from all River ships, and on Ocean ships in various foreign ports, guests must be able to walk down/up steps and ramps without a walker or wheelchair, as gangways/ramps are typically not wide enough to accommodate these items. Not all ships have elevators, and some have split-level decks and/or significant thresholds. Please note: Our personnel are not required to lift guests or push wheelchairs. Passengers with any medical, physical or other special needs should review their proposed ship’s layout on our website and consider their needs. There are inherent risks associated with traveling aboard ships that are unique to cruise tour travel. For people who are ill, or have a mental or physical disability or impairment, the risks can be more significant. Passengers must be able to independently move around the ship in case of an emergency, rough seas, deal with the lack of immediate access to medical services in certain parts of the world and acknowledge that access to some areas of the ship and ports of call may be limited or impossible.

[GUT2407]

22 hours ago, Aquahound said:

 

Well, truth be told, if a person uses these devices due to age or health, they probably shouldn't be rushing to cruise anyways.  That's just the harsh reality.  Actually, none of us should be rushing for that matter.  

Well see that is just rubbish, what about a perfectly healthy Paralympian with a broken back for example.

[kevingastreich]

23 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

There has been ZERO chatter about travel restrictions related to guests who use mobility devices.  That said we may see more staff enforce storage/parking requirements of them in future and/or be less able to physically assist guests using them for contact health/safety reasons.

Sounds like chatter to me.

[Aquahound]

3 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

Well see that is just rubbish, what about a perfectly healthy Paralympian with a broken back for example.

You obviously misunderstood the context of my post. I was saying that if this temporary ban is true, it’s not a big deal for those who use scooters due to failing health or age. Point was, folks in those categories shouldn’t be rushing to cruise anyways. 

Edited January 1, 2021 by Aquahound

[tommui987]

I know that if there were a prohibition against mobility scooters, i would not be able to cruise again.

 

Had limited use of my legs for a while, 

and rented scooters for my last four or five cruises

[mcrcruiser]

20 hours ago, Aquahound said:

You obviously misunderstood the context of my post. I was saying that if this temporary ban is true, it’s not a big deal for those who use scooters due to failing health or age. Point was, folks in those categories shouldn’t be rushing to cruise anyways. 

Instead of renting there is a mobi;ity scooter that is on;y 54 lbs made of super strong aircraft aluminum, /With the lithium  ion batter pre approved for airline a you get 30 mile range on a charge level ground . you can get .  2 of those batteries  & get 60 mile range .It is a marvelous scooter that just folds up & can be pulled just like ca piece of luggage when not on use .Comes with a cover & all accessories .Total cost with the 2 batteries lithium(battery weight add 7 lbs ) is $1847  out of the box .Holds up to 270 lb person . Call 1-888-701-8799  .The scooter is called Easy Travel Elite  .I saw a video on the internet of this marvelous scooter . so easy to use & it folds up 

[KroozNut]

On 12/31/2020 at 5:43 AM, ontheweb said:

 

What about scooters going backwards? That would be even more dangerous.

🤣

 

 

 

I was wondering the same thing when I first read the title of this thread. If cruise ships were to 'ban scooters going forward', they'd have a much bigger problem on their hands dealing with all those scooters trying to navigate those narrow passageways going backwards only.😲

[ontheweb]

1 minute ago, KroozNut said:

 

I was wondering the same thing when I first read the title of this thread. If cruise ships were to 'ban scooters going forward', they'd have a much bigger problem on their hands dealing with all those scooters trying to navigate those narrow passageways going backwards only.😲

Do scooters even have rear view mirrors?😃

[KroozNut]

5 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Do scooters even have rear view mirrors?😃

 

I think the fancy rigs do.. 😐

[GUT2407]

2 hours ago, KroozNut said:

 

I think the fancy rigs do.. 😐

Many do, my new power wheelchair has reversing cameras.

[chengkp75]

On 12/31/2020 at 3:04 PM, Hlitner said:

It is an interesting policy that would seem to run afoul of the ADA.  The US Supreme Court (6-3 decision) has already ruled that the ADA applies to foreign cruise ships in American waters although the issue of "reasonable accommodations" is still an open question.

SCOTUS, in Specter v NCL, ruled that the ADA does not apply to cruise ships when it comes to the ship's "internal policies and procedures".  Viking is not restricting disabled passengers, which would not be allowed by the ADA, but their "internal policy" of banning motorized scooters does not.  The question of making the cruise lines responsible to the ADA for all policies was found to be Congress' purview, and without an amendment to the ADA, specifically mentioning foreign flag cruise ships, that their policies do not have to meet the ADA.  Also, Viking can argue that scooters are a hazard under SOLAS, and SCOTUS, in the same ruling, held that SOLAS overrode ADA.

[KirkNC]

There you go, ADA has far reaching implications but it’s not always the guiding law.

[Copper10-8]

2 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Do scooters even have rear view mirrors?😃

 

But the real question is, does the owner/rider/driver use them for their intended purpose as opposed to hanging "stuff" from? 😉 

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

But the real question is, does the owner/rider/driver use them for their intended purpose as opposed to hanging "stuff" from? 😉 

Isn't hanging your handicap parking permit the intended purpose?

[Copper10-8]

9 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Isn't hanging your handicap parking permit the intended purpose?

 

For scooters, on a cruise ship?

[foodsvcmgr]

I believe Cunard also has at least some restrictions in this regard.

[ontheweb]

47 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

For scooters, on a cruise ship?

Yes, the handicapped parking spaces on a cruise ship are very limited.🤦‍♂️

[Horizon chaser 1957]

7 hours ago, KroozNut said:

 

I was wondering the same thing when I first read the title of this thread. If cruise ships were to 'ban scooters going forward', they'd have a much bigger problem on their hands dealing with all those scooters trying to navigate those narrow passageways going backwards only.😲

But it would make ‘On Deck for a Cause’ much more entertaining!😂

[Copper10-8]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Yes, the handicapped parking spaces on a cruise ship are very limited.🤦‍♂️

 

Sorry to disagree, but there is no designated handicapped parking onboard HAL ships, so no handicapped/disabled parking decals are required to be placed from rear view mirrors on scooters. Having said that, there are spaces on the ship used for the parking of scooters at night but they are not known by the crew as "handicapped parking" spaces. Most, if not all, require an electrical outlet so that the scooter batteries can be charged overnight. Some of these areas are immediately outside some of the the elevator/public stairwell lobbies, as well as some of the gangway break areas (break as in what the crew calls the door breaks in the hull, as opposed to the term used to designate a lunch break).

 

What is not allowed, even though some scooter owners persist in doing it, is to park a scooter in the corridors outside passenger cabins. Doing that presents a safety hazard, especially in case of emergencies. For instance, a stretcher, always part of an emergency medical response that used to be known as a "bright star" response will not fit through a corridor in which a scooter is parked, and neither will what's known as the "crash cart" brought by one of the nurses responding to such an emergency. Same goes for a fire team response which brings lots of equipment to the scene of an emergency. A parked scooter inside a pax corridor will present a serious hazard to those fire teams.  

 

Kinda/sorta off topic in the content of scooters, but same goes for placing used food trays with various contents on the floor of those corridors as can be done/is allowed in land hotels. Ships are a different ballgame however

[StanHansen]

What a stupid thing to ban everything...

[ontheweb]

8 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Sorry to disagree, but there is no designated handicapped parking onboard HAL ships, so no handicapped/disabled parking decals are required to be placed from rear view mirrors on scooters. Having said that, there are spaces on the ship used for the parking of scooters at night but they are not known by the crew as "handicapped parking" spaces. 

I know that, but maybe there should be especially on HAL ships.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

11 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Sorry to disagree, but there is no designated handicapped parking onboard HAL ships, so no handicapped/disabled parking decals are required to be placed from rear view mirrors on scooters. Having said that, there are spaces on the ship used for the parking of scooters at night but they are not known by the crew as "handicapped parking" spaces. Most, if not all, require an electrical outlet so that the scooter batteries can be charged overnight. Some of these areas are immediately outside some of the the elevator/public stairwell lobbies, as well as some of the gangway break areas (break as in what the crew calls the door breaks in the hull, as opposed to the term used to designate a lunch break).

 

What is not allowed, even though some scooter owners persist in doing it, is to park a scooter in the corridors outside passenger cabins. Doing that presents a safety hazard, especially in case of emergencies. For instance, a stretcher, always part of an emergency medical response that used to be known as a "bright star" response will not fit through a corridor in which a scooter is parked, and neither will what's known as the "crash cart" brought by one of the nurses responding to such an emergency. Same goes for a fire team response which brings lots of equipment to the scene of an emergency. A parked scooter inside a pax corridor will present a serious hazard to those fire teams.  

 

Kinda/sorta off topic in the content of scooters, but same goes for placing used food trays with various contents on the floor of those corridors as can be done/is allowed in land hotels. Ships are a different ballgame however

Thanks for posting this ..