Thread: ELEVATORs

This is going to be my first cruise using my scooter as I can no longer walk any distances due to my Parkinson's Disease. I'm concerned about accessing elevators-seems to me from my past cruises when I was still among the mobile, that wheeled vehicles had problems getting on an elevator at certain decks as the elevators would always be full. Any suggestions? Grandeur of the Seas, 5/16/2009 and the ship is fully booked.

Wish I could help you...but I haven't been on the Grandeur. I'll see if I can find someone who would know more about this. Stay tuned.

I can tell you from personal experience on many other ships that it is difficult for scooters, and everyone else, immediately after the shows if you are trying to get on the forward elevators.

This is perfect timing, just as I saw this post my dear friend called who cruised with us on the Dawn Princess. She is wheelchair bound as she is a double amputee. She said they never really had any problems with the elevators as most are roomy and people were very, very considerate. The most they waited were a few minutes. Just remember that the show area elevators are very crowded just before and after a show, so sometimes they would go further mid ship to get the other elevators.

My brother in law has cruised with us on the Carnival Spirit and used a scooter. He also is a amputee so cannot walk. He loved going in the glass elevators -- with those in pulled in and backed out .. people would hold the door and it was never an issue. Same thing, during show times and dinner times the elevators closes to the venue were crowded.

If you have a regular cabin, the scooters may not fit thru the cabin doors on these ships. If you have a HA cabin, the doors are wider and the bathrooms should be roll in with a roll in shower. E-mail the cruiseline for door widths if you are in a regular cabin. You want to be sure that your scooter or wheelchair will fit thru the door.

My BIL has a mini suite - Cat 11 and the scooter fit right thru. Large cabin and scooter fit to the side. Not a lot of extra space tho so he parked the scooter and moved to the bed.

My friend had a ocean view handicap acessible cabin with a roll in shower etc. Their cabin was HUGE with lots of space to move around.

Hope this helps. Have a wonderful cruise.

Thank you Mary! I knew yo would have some good advice.

Also, did you realize that CLF has a section that focuses on disabled cruising? Here's the link:

http://www.cruiselinefans.com/disabled-cruising/

Quite a few photos are there of cabins, etc.

Char ... glad I could be of help.

Thank you all for your input. Unfortunately I can't afford a suite - my budget runs the other direction - I've e-mailed RCI to ask door widths of various category rooms and am waiting to hear back from them. I'm afraid I may have to find a smaller scooter for the trip as mine is 24 inches wide.

Thank again for all of your invaluable input.

Help - I managed to get my 'signature' done but can't figure out how to get 'past cruises' and 'next' cruise onto that page--

Originally Posted by mrsunclebill

Help - I managed to get my 'signature' done but can't figure out how to get 'past cruises' and 'next' cruise onto that page--

Hey Carolyn!

I see your past cruises.

To put your future cruises in, go back to "Edit Signature" and type them in underneath the line for your picture. Save changes and that should have it for you.

Originally Posted by mrsunclebill

Thank you all for your input. Unfortunately I can't afford a suite - my budget runs the other direction - I've e-mailed RCI to ask door widths of various category rooms and am waiting to hear back from them. I'm afraid I may have to find a smaller scooter for the trip as mine is 24 inches wide.

Thank again for all of your invaluable input.

Please give us an update on what you're going to do about your scooter. I think your 24" will fit fine but I don't really know .... BUT interested!

No skateboarding -darn
I've ended up renting a smaller scooter - if mine did fit it would be hard maneuvering to get through the door
. I'm getting one through my med supply for $100 for the week. I am traveling with a group of 45 and we are getting to Norfolk by bus and there are others with scooters and wheel chairs in the group so we're asked to keep size to a minimum-the one i've rented folds up smaller than mine.
I'll let you know how it worked out when I return -
39 days til we leave