Ft Lauderdale scooter rental special Need at Sea

[driftychick]

We have always rented our mobility scooters from Special Needs at Sea and the last time we cruised from Ft Lauderdale on the Edge you were able to pick up your scooter at the check in area, that was pre-Covid.  We just ordered scooters for our upcoming cruise in November from Ft Lauderdale and we were told they no longer are offering that service and have gone back to delivering it to the Stateroom.  Bummer, it was so much easier picking it up in the terminal, perhaps they will hanger it back to dockside pickup by November.  Fingers crossed.

[kokopelli-az]

Picking up your scooter before check-in is definitely a bonus but we have only been able to do that a couple of times.   It depends on what berth the ship is docked (or at least that was how it was pre-Covid).   It would be nice if the scooters were available at the dock all the time.   

[Lauraally]

On 6/15/2021 at 5:52 PM, driftychick said:

We have always rented our mobility scooters from Special Needs at Sea and the last time we cruised from Ft Lauderdale on the Edge you were able to pick up your scooter at the check in area, that was pre-Covid.  We just ordered scooters for our upcoming cruise in November from Ft Lauderdale and we were told they no longer are offering that service and have gone back to delivering it to the Stateroom.  Bummer, it was so much easier picking it up in the terminal, perhaps they will hanger it back to dockside pickup by November.  Fingers crossed.

I am so glad you posted this; I haven't considered this yet.  My Dad's mobility has significantly deteriorated since my parents last cruised and I haven't thought about how he was getting from the gang way to the cabin. 

 

I understand if you don't know, but do the cruise lines offer an escort, wheelchair service if using their Air and transfer from the airport to the Port.  In this instance, I'm referring to Princess.  I'll definitely ask Princess, but curious of other's experience, also understanding that Covid has changed all past practices.  😞

[kokopelli-az]

3 hours ago, Lauraally said:

I am so glad you posted this; I haven't considered this yet.  My Dad's mobility has significantly deteriorated since my parents last cruised and I haven't thought about how he was getting from the gang way to the cabin. 

 

I understand if you don't know, but do the cruise lines offer an escort, wheelchair service if using their Air and transfer from the airport to the Port.  In this instance, I'm referring to Princess.  I'll definitely ask Princess, but curious of other's experience, also understanding that Covid has changed all past practices.  😞

Does he have his own wheelchair (or mobility scooter)?    Princess has wheelchairs (and someone to push them) for passengers who need assistance embarking or disembarking whether you're using their Air and Transfer service or not.  If your dad has his own wheelchair and someone in your party can push him, that would be beneficial not only on the ship, but at port stops.   Another idea to consider is renting a mobility scooter to use while on the cruise (it would be waiting in your stateroom).   

 

Contact Princess' Access Dept (they will want you to complete a form in any event):

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/pre_cruise/prepare.jsp#Passengers_Special_Needs

 

accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com   

 

 

[Lauraally]

22 hours ago, kokopelli-az said:

Does he have his own wheelchair (or mobility scooter)?    Princess has wheelchairs (and someone to push them) for passengers who need assistance embarking or disembarking whether you're using their Air and Transfer service or not.  If your dad has his own wheelchair and someone in your party can push him, that would be beneficial not only on the ship, but at port stops.   Another idea to consider is renting a mobility scooter to use while on the cruise (it would be waiting in your stateroom).   

 

Contact Princess' Access Dept (they will want you to complete a form in any event):

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/pre_cruise/prepare.jsp#Passengers_Special_Needs

 

accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com   

 

 

He will have his walker with him for very short distances and we will have a rented scooter delivered to his room.  He's not confined to a wheelchair so he won't travel with one, only the walker.  My concern is from the transfer from the airport to his cabin.  Will Princess have access to a wheelchair and be willing to push him for embarkation and disembarkation? His legs get tired after standing and walking even limited distances and his feet get tangled.  My husband and I have traveled with them in the past and take care of EVERYTHING.  This will be their first trip since he got so limited in his mobility and we won't be there to handle the wheelchair and push.  I feel like a nervous mother preparing for the child's first big trip.  😉

[kokopelli-az]

30 minutes ago, Lauraally said:

He will have his walker with him for very short distances and we will have a rented scooter delivered to his room.  He's not confined to a wheelchair so he won't travel with one, only the walker.  My concern is from the transfer from the airport to his cabin.  Will Princess have access to a wheelchair and be willing to push him for embarkation and disembarkation? His legs get tired after standing and walking even limited distances and his feet get tangled.  My husband and I have traveled with them in the past and take care of EVERYTHING.  This will be their first trip since he got so limited in his mobility and we won't be there to handle the wheelchair and push.  I feel like a nervous mother preparing for the child's first big trip.  😉

Princess has wheelchairs (and someone to push them) when you get to the pier to on the ship (although the first wheelchair person you encounter may be one of the porters who works for the port; usually they can only push you so far, then Princess pushers take over).    When you see the porters (taking people's luggage and putting them on carts) ask if you can get a wheelchair.   It will be the same, or similar, when you disembark (the ship will have the wheelchair people meet at a special place where the pushers will take people to the taxis/transportation area.   If you are using the Princess transfers to and from the airport, definitely ask their Access Dept for detailed information.

 

Just a thought, but have you ever considered a wheelchair (with someone else pushing it) for your dad for travel?   They can be folded up and put in the trunk of most vehicles, and can definitely be put in the luggage hold of a tour bus.   Your dad would not have to worry about how far he has walk just in case it's farther than anticipated.   The airline will transport it free of charge.   At the airport we use one of the airport pushers with my husband's own wheelchair and he gets wheeled right up to the door of the airplane where they take the wheelchair and stow it until your flight arrives.  

What he has is actually a transport chair and has been a true life saver.  

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Lightweight-Expedition-Wheelchair/dp/B00537S944

The pushers at the cruise ship pier push his transport chair (with him in it) and then he gets his mobility scooter when we get to our stateroom.  

 

 

[Lauraally]

On 6/19/2021 at 4:16 PM, kokopelli-az said:

Princess has wheelchairs (and someone to push them) when you get to the pier to on the ship (although the first wheelchair person you encounter may be one of the porters who works for the port; usually they can only push you so far, then Princess pushers take over).    When you see the porters (taking people's luggage and putting them on carts) ask if you can get a wheelchair.   It will be the same, or similar, when you disembark (the ship will have the wheelchair people meet at a special place where the pushers will take people to the taxis/transportation area.   If you are using the Princess transfers to and from the airport, definitely ask their Access Dept for detailed information.

 

Just a thought, but have you ever considered a wheelchair (with someone else pushing it) for your dad for travel?   They can be folded up and put in the trunk of most vehicles, and can definitely be put in the luggage hold of a tour bus.   Your dad would not have to worry about how far he has walk just in case it's farther than anticipated.   The airline will transport it free of charge.   At the airport we use one of the airport pushers with my husband's own wheelchair and he gets wheeled right up to the door of the airplane where they take the wheelchair and stow it until your flight arrives.  

What he has is actually a transport chair and has been a true life saver.  

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Lightweight-Expedition-Wheelchair/dp/B00537S944

The pushers at the cruise ship pier push his transport chair (with him in it) and then he gets his mobility scooter when we get to our stateroom.  

 

 

Thank you for replying!  I have reached out to Princess with the Access form and our request.  It will just be my mom and dad traveling, by themselves - with their luggage and his walker.  Without us accompanying them, they can't manage an additional mobility device other than what Dad will use on the ship. And, even a handicap cabin gets small with a mobility scooter, a walker, a wheelchair and luggage.  I want to minimize the stumbling blocks in the cabin as well.  He's not confined to a wheelchair, he just stumbles without his walker and can't go for long distances, even with the walker.  They have had great attention and care in airports with airport wheelchairs and pushers in the past.  I feel good about them navigating airports, I just don't know what to expect once they arrive in Ft Lauderdale and are turned over to Princess.  They are using the Princess ezair and Princess transfers.  I'm hopeful, with up front coordination, I can make this seamless for all.  Ideally, he can just transfer from the airport wheelchair to the Princess wheelchair to the bus and bus to wheelchair that will take him to his scooter.  That's what I'm trying to arrange, in your experience, is that possible?

[kokopelli-az]

4 minutes ago, Lauraally said:

I feel good about them navigating airports, I just don't know what to expect once they arrive in Ft Lauderdale and are turned over to Princess.  They are using the Princess ezair and Princess transfers.  I'm hopeful, with up front coordination, I can make this seamless for all.  Ideally, he can just transfer from the airport wheelchair to the Princess wheelchair to the bus and bus to wheelchair that will take him to his scooter.  That's what I'm trying to arrange, in your experience, is that possible?

I think Princess is going to have to answer this since they may have changed things with Covid.   Their Access Desk is very helpful.  

[GoHuskies!]

I don't know exactly what your dad's needs are--you say he is using a walker, but is it truly that (something you push or lift and set down in front of you, or is it a rollator, which you can lean on to roll in front of you, with brakes?   A walker doesn't get me anywhere, and I can't walk far or fast with a cane, but my rollator lets me keep up with my family for quite a long distance.  And if I need to rest, it has a seat, although I have never had to do that with the rollator.  It's made by Drive, same manufacturer as the transporter mentioned above--and collapses sideways so that you can get it into doorways easily on its wheels.  I had been contemplating getting a power chair but the rollator will fit the bill for my upcoming Hawaii cruise, now that I know I can walk the length of the ship with it--which was impossible with a cane or walker.

[LuAnn]

On 6/26/2021 at 12:41 PM, GoHuskies! said:

I don't know exactly what your dad's needs are--you say he is using a walker, but is it truly that (something you push or lift and set down in front of you, or is it a rollator, which you can lean on to roll in front of you, with brakes?   A walker doesn't get me anywhere, and I can't walk far or fast with a cane, but my rollator lets me keep up with my family for quite a long distance.  And if I need to rest, it has a seat, although I have never had to do that with the rollator.  It's made by Drive, same manufacturer as the transporter mentioned above--and collapses sideways so that you can get it into doorways easily on its wheels.  I had been contemplating getting a power chair but the rollator will fit the bill for my upcoming Hawaii cruise, now that I know I can walk the length of the ship with it--which was impossible with a cane or walker.

I've been thinking about taking my DH's transport chair for the cruise..but I'm worried that it won't be "sturdy" enough to get over the metal strips that are all along the way for the water tight doors..it's so much lighter than a standard wheelchair I thought it would be easier for me to push..but those strips concern me...your thoughts? Thanks!!