Wheelchairs on Noordam

[kaleighsgram]

Recently my husband and I traveled the Caribbean on the Noordam. Three days into the cruise, my husband hurt his back climbing out of the hot tub. An MRI done here at home has shown a bulging disc and we see the surgeon tomorrow. In any case, after laying in bed a few days, he was able to sit up again and I looked into renting a wheelchair. I was informed by the front desk that it would cost anywhere from $200 to $300 to rent the chair for three days. The rental was determined by the size of the chair we needed. After talking about this on the Lido deck with another passenger, she informed me that her mother had fallen on one of the dance floors and was in the same predicament. Her rental was $300 for five days. We found this just a BIT excessive and declined. Does anybody else know what the policy is on other cruise lines? I'm just curious.

Thanks!

[elmorejj]

I do not know what policy is on other lines, but I do think HAL had gone over the top on this. Last year we were on a cruise and a pax had an accident on board, he was charged $175 for 10 days. Prices??? go figure, it seems like they charge whatever the feel like at the time.......jean:cool:

[kryos]

I do not know what policy is on other lines, but I do think HAL had gone over the top on this. Last year we were on a cruise and a pax had an accident on board, he was charged $175 for 10 days. Prices??? go figure, it seems like they charge whatever the feel like at the time.......jean:cool:

Would seem to me that if the passenger got hurt on the ship, and needed a wheelchair in order to enjoy the rest of his cruise, prudence would seem to dictate that HAL should just provide the chair without charge.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[wrp96]

Royal Caribbean doesn't charge for using wheelchairs if you get hurt on the ship.

[elmorejj]

Rita, that`s what I thought too, but evidently it`s not the case. Just another way to make money for the line........jean:cool:

[Oceanwench]

I understand if a cruise line wants to rent a wheelchair to a passenger who didn't take his/her own chair onboard. Or to someone who decides there is too much walking on the ship and needs assistance.

 

But to charge someone who was injured onboard?!!! :eek:

That just seems wrong.

[kaleighsgram]

Thanks for the replies. A friend suggested I write to HAL and I am thinking about it. I figured it would at least give me the opportunity to point out to them that sitting in the room meant we weren't sitting in the casino, or shopping in the shops, etc. At the very least, I feel they should have prorated the cost. Why shouuld it cost one person $300 for ten days and somebody else $300 for three days? Oh well, thanks again.

[BruceMuzz]

Actually, you have missed the point entirely on wheel chairs. Revenue has very little to do with it. Legal liability has everything to do with it.

 

In America, a wheel chair is legally considered a vehicle. If you loan your vehicle (whatever that might be) to someone, who then has an accident in that vehicle, you are legally responsible for any consequences. So if you borrow a ship's wheel chair in Acapulco and get hit by a bus on the street, the cruise line is completely responsible for all damages. It doesn't matter that you are in Mexico and the ship has a flag from Bahamas. Since you bought your cruise ticket in America, US Law covers the case. You can be the next owner of the cruise line if get injured and you play it right.

 

As a result, all the major cruise lines will not ever allow one of their wheel chairs to leave the vessel - except in extreme emergency situations, or if one of the crew is transferring someone between ship and terminal.

 

So in order to legally protect themselves, the cruise lines have been forced to hire a concessionaire who owns the wheel chairs and rents them out to you. You need to sign a rental contract (very much like a car rental contract) that releases the cruise line from all liability. Even so, many people still sue the owners of the wheel chairs. So the wheel chair rental company has to carry some very expensive liability insurance for all the lawsuits. That's why the rentals are so expensive. You are paying for all that insurance.

The rental concessionaire company folds the chairs up and seals them with a security strap. If the strap is broken for use, the cruise line must pay the concessionaire for use of the chair for the entire cruise. The concessionaire does not sail with the ship, so has no way of knowing how many days you used the wheel chair. That's why you had to pay a high fee for only a few days. You rented the wheel chair for the entire cruise - whether you used it or not for the entire time.

 

You can blame your fellow Americans who love to sue everyone at the drop of a hat - and the American juries who award millions of dollars for frivolous lawsuits - for putting you in this situation.

[kaleighsgram]

Bruce, As a matter of fact, I didn't consider the legal liability involved in renting a wheelchair so I gues you're right. I did miss the point. I still feel that $300 for a wheelchair for the last days at sea was/is a bit excessive and a bit offensive, considering my husband hurt himself on the ship.

[robertmnch]

Take it from this Disabled Veteran. I was asked to pay $700 for a wheelchair on the Oosterdam last month. I had sailed with HAL 26 times, and had 2 cruises to Alaska for September and one to Mexico in December on Deposit. I guess you know what I'm going to say, "Goodby HAL"! I did my time for my country in the early 1960's and I'm INSULTED and HUMILIATED to have to pay for the Rental of a wheelchair. I'm going to enjoy a "relaxing" trip across Canada on VIA Rail this Fall!:mad:

[FoxyTerrier]

Take it from this Disabled Veteran. I was asked to pay $700 for a wheelchair on the Oosterdam last month. I had sailed with HAL 26 times, and had 2 cruises to Alaska for September and one to Mexico in December on Deposit. I guess you know what I'm going to say, "Goodby HAL"! I did my time for my country in the early 1960's and I'm INSULTED and HUMILIATED to have to pay for the Rental of a wheelchair. I'm going to enjoy a "relaxing" trip across Canada on VIA Rail this Fall!:mad:

 

Robert - I don't understand your complaint. If you are disabled and know that you will need a wheel chair why can't you just bring your own chair.

 

I think it is totally different if you become injured while under sail. I did not know that wheel chairs are vehicles and that HAL contract that service out. I could see requiring a deposit on one so they don't lose the chair at the end of the cruise.

 

My mother sometimes needs a wheel chair and I purchased a "travel wheel chair" and will be taking it to Europe for the second time this June.

 

PS. Thanks for serving our country.

[dakrewser]

Take it from this Disabled Veteran. I was asked to pay $700 for a wheelchair on the Oosterdam last month. I had sailed with HAL 26 times, and had 2 cruises to Alaska for September and one to Mexico in December on Deposit. I guess you know what I'm going to say, "Goodby HAL"! I did my time for my country in the early 1960's and I'm INSULTED and HUMILIATED to have to pay for the Rental of a wheelchair. I'm going to enjoy a "relaxing" trip across Canada on VIA Rail this Fall!:mad:

 

What's humiliating about renting a wheelchair???

 

And was this the first time you've been charged???

[elmorejj]

I understand about w/chair rental companies, but the ones I have seen being rented out are clearly marked Veendam (or whatever ship) and HAL in large white lettering, and are the same ones being used at em/disembarkation. I don`t think they are from an outside company........jean:cool:

[carol louise]

I would think if you saw the on-board doctor, which would document your injury having happened while on the ship, perhaps you could claim the wheelchair rental cost from your travel insurance?

[Splinter]

Robertmnch, if you are a disabled veteran, you are entitled to have the VA purchase a wheelchair for you, and take it with you on your cruises. I am not sure why you think that HAL has an obligation to provide you with a free wheelchair rental when they don't do this for other people who have disabilities. The VA is who owes you a wheelchair....not HAL. Taking a wheelchair on the plane is pretty easy, and does not incur an excess baggage charge.

[robertmnch]

Robertmnch, if you are a disabled veteran, you are entitled to have the VA purchase a wheelchair for you, and take it with you on your cruises. I am not sure why you think that HAL has an obligation to provide you with a free wheelchair rental when they don't do this for other people who have disabilities. The VA is who owes you a wheelchair....not HAL. Taking a wheelchair on the plane is pretty easy, and does not incur an excess baggage charge.

Sorry Splinter, but it took me 22 years to get Hearing Aids from the VA! You don't just walk into the VA and ask for something. It takes a lot of people at the VA who have to touch the "paperwork" before you can get something. I've been a Disabled Vet since 1966 and know how the SYSTEM works! Iraq Disabled Veterans are being dumped out of the Military so the VA can be responsible for them......just another Vietnam hassle for Disabled Vets all over again! My airline only flies DHT's with 19 passengers, so I cannot bring a wheelchair along on trips or cruises.

[michmike]

robt - have you ever contacted the ADA folks? I can't believe in this day and age that an airline can get away with refusing to accommodate your wheel chair if you need it.

 

Another option at your disembarkation port would be to rent a chair from a local medical supply in that town. I know that is a bit more inconvenient but it certainly couldn't be as expensive as renting one on board.

 

How did you manage on your previous cruises?

 

Not questioning anything you reported.. just trying to offer some options

 

And you are right.. there is far more tragedy involved with events in Iraq than just the fatalities.. and I'm not at all sure that the VA is up to the challenge.

 

USAF 66-70 and a SEA vet

[Krazy Kruizers]

I can't believe the prices that HAL is charging to rent a wheel chair - especially if someone is hurt on the ship.

 

Talk about nickle and diming people.

 

That's totally out of line - JMO.