I have crazy friends...

[wcw57]

who told me what the procedure is on Carnival as far as bringing oxygen tanks on board (she has copd)...
I checked the dcl dvd rolleyes:) and couldn't find the answer to this question:

IF you bring oxygen along, do you need to carry it on board yourself as if it was carry-on luggage? Then you check it in for inspection? Then you can have 1 tank and the rest are stored but you have to get them from desk, they won't bring them to you...

THAT (according to my crazy friends) is the Carnival procedure.

Further, it seems, IF you use a wheelchair but don't book an accessible cabin, they don't assist you with boarding.

I doubt if any of that makes sense (except for the storage of tanks part) BUT what do I know???

Anyhow, anybody have any experience or knowledge on these topics?

btw, its national cherry turnovers day!

 

[Mrs Green]

Cherry turnovers yum! Now I need to go out to the store...

 

[lanejudy]

If you need oxygen onboard, you will have to contact DCL's Special Services department at 407-566-3500. You will also need to complete and submit a Special Services Information form at least 30 days prior to departure. You may bring it aboard yourself or arrange for delivery to the ship. This is the information on the form, as well as some questions to answer:

OXYGEN If you require oxygen, you must make independent delivery arrangements or bring your own. Due to safety concerns and storage limitations, Disney Cruise Line does not allow carriage or use of liquid oxygen or large tank systems onboard. Additionally, the types and quantities of oxygen tanks allowed on board may be limited. Oxygen concentrators are acceptable. Guests are responsible for notifying their air carrier of any oxygen requirements. Guests may carry one oxygen tank for use while on board Disney Cruise Line ground transportation.​

I'll also note that if you are flying, you will need to contact your airline for their specific procedures regarding oxygen.

As to wheelchairs -- it is recommended to book an accessible stateroom because the doorways of standard staterooms are not wide enough for most wheelchairs/ECVs plus the room layout leaves the equipment stuck in the little "hallway" between the closets and bathrooms, unless the person is able to transfer and fold a manual wheelchair. As to assistance at embarkation, that would depend on the passenger's needs. Most wheelchair users may not require any specific assistance with boarding, and/or family members are present to assist. If assistance or accommodation is required, please contact the Special Services department.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[wcw57]

evidently, on Carnival cruise...and, again, I have no first-hand knowledge of this, wheelchairs board on a different/less inclined ramp than other folks...
I was most curious about carrying on your own tanks....seems odd to me. I mean, your in need of breathing assistance and yet you need to lug your own tanks aboard?

 

[lanejudy]

evidently, on Carnival cruise...and, again, I have no first-hand knowledge of this, wheelchairs board on a different/less inclined ramp than other folks...
I was most curious about carrying on your own tanks....seems odd to me. I mean, your in need of breathing assistance and yet you need to lug your own tanks aboard?

I don't believe there is separate "disabled" boarding on DCL. I can't speak to whether the ramp inclines the same or different from other cruise lines. I do know that the ramp can be very steep at port stops, enough so make it rather difficult for ECVs at times (and probably wheelchairs as well).

As to oxygen -- I expect most passengers deal with a service and have it delivered. But that may depend on personal needs as well as travel plans (mode of transportation, extended pre- and/or post-cruise vacation plans, etc.).

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Minniemiss]

If you need oxygen onboard, you will have to contact DCL's Special Services department at 407-566-3500. You will also need to complete and submit a Special Services Information form at least 30 days prior to departure. You may bring it aboard yourself or arrange for delivery to the ship. This is the information on the form, as well as some questions to answer:

OXYGEN If you require oxygen, you must make independent delivery arrangements or bring your own. Due to safety concerns and storage limitations, Disney Cruise Line does not allow carriage or use of liquid oxygen or large tank systems onboard. Additionally, the types and quantities of oxygen tanks allowed on board may be limited. Oxygen concentrators are acceptable. Guests are responsible for notifying their air carrier of any oxygen requirements. Guests may carry one oxygen tank for use while on board Disney Cruise Line ground transportation.​

I'll also note that if you are flying, you will need to contact your airline for their specific procedures regarding oxygen.

As to wheelchairs -- it is recommended to book an accessible stateroom because the doorways of standard staterooms are not wide enough for most wheelchairs/ECVs plus the room layout leaves the equipment stuck in the little "hallway" between the closets and bathrooms, unless the person is able to transfer and fold a manual wheelchair. As to assistance at embarkation, that would depend on the passenger's needs. Most wheelchair users may not require any specific assistance with boarding, and/or family members are present to assist. If assistance or accommodation is required, please contact the Special Services department.

Enjoy your cruise!

It is actually 60 days in advance. See the first paragraph.

http://dcl.wdpromedia.com/media/dcl...Media/SpecialServicesInfoForm-June-1-2015.pdf

 

[Weedy]

The times I have cruised out of Port Canaveral I've never noticed any prior boarding for wheelchairs. The que area is very wide and the ramp to the ship is not very steep.

It can be very crowded in the terminal bewteen 10:00 when they open and 12:30ish until they get the first group of people on board. If you wait until after 12:30 to arrive at the port you should be avle to board without any crowds.

Have a great cruise.

 

[wcw57]

since they driveto the ship, the bring the tanks....does it seem odd they would carry on as opposed to having ship handle the transport as they do luggage?

 

[PrincessTrisha]

who told me what the procedure is on Carnival as far as bringing oxygen tanks on board (she has copd)...
I checked the dcl dvd rolleyes:) and couldn't find the answer to this question:

IF you bring oxygen along, do you need to carry it on board yourself as if it was carry-on luggage? Then you check it in for inspection? Then you can have 1 tank and the rest are stored but you have to get them from desk, they won't bring them to you...

THAT (according to my crazy friends) is the Carnival procedure.

Further, it seems, IF you use a wheelchair but don't book an accessible cabin, they don't assist you with boarding.

I doubt if any of that makes sense (except for the storage of tanks part) BUT what do I know???

Anyhow, anybody have any experience or knowledge on these topics?

btw, its national cherry turnovers day!

That's not our experience on Carnival. My mother is a full time wheelchair user but by Dad is not. When we sailed on the Carnival Pride in March, I boarded with my mother but my dad was returning the rental car and boarded separately. He has a cane that he uses for any distance to help with some herniated disk pain. The moment he walked into the terminal with his cane, he was offered wheelchair assistance (my dad looks a lot like Santa - white bushy beard, a bit of belly and a big smile so people often go out of their way to help him). They had no idea what kind of stateroom he was in.

On DCL though, we've never been able to get boarding assistance. My mother is a full time wheelchair user and Disney is the only cruise lines that there has not been someone available to help with embarkation. When boarding the Dream one time, the ramp was so steep that even my me pushing and my dad pulling, we almost lost control of my mother's wheelchair. It wasn't until we were 2-3 feet away from the actual ship that an officer in white came to help us with the last little stretch (it was high tide and that ramp was very, very steep - there was a lady in a scooter behind us and the scooter could not make it up the ramp).

Our very best experiences with wheelchair boarding were on Royal Caribbean. The gentleman who pushed, insisted on taking us all the way up to the buffet, finding us a table and making certain we were settled before leaving us.

Celebrity has been good as well. Always an offer for assistance at boarding and debarking.

 

[lanejudy]

It is actually 60 days in advance. See the first paragraph.

http://dcl.wdpromedia.com/media/dcl...Media/SpecialServicesInfoForm-June-1-2015.pdf

Thanks for the correction! It states 30 days on the website; I didn't even notice the form stated differently. I believe the Special Services Information form has been updated fairly recently, probably the website hasn't.

 

[WanderLit]

My (very athletic) adult daughter broke her leg bouldering only a few weeks from our embarkation date. She uses crutches now but travel days often involve long corridors, swelling feet and cranky, impatient fellow travelers. Also, I wasn't sure I could manage my 5 year old granddaughter and all 3 of our carry-on bags alone while DD slowly navigated her way through the crowds.

I faxed in a last-minute request for assistance embarking and disembarking. I was prepared for them to tell me I was too late, but nope! They assured me they would be able to help us get us aboard comfortably and safely. I was instructed to flag down the first person I saw in a Disney Cruise Line name tag upon our arrival at port and give them the copy of our assistance request. I was told that person would bring us a wheelchair and an escort to help us hrough the embarkation process. No, that does NOT include expedited service. We'll still have to wait our turn, of course. But I won't have to worry about blocking others or slowing down the line or managing 3 carryons and a pre-schooler alone while DD slowly gimps her way along. I couldn't be happier!

THANK YOU DISNEY!

PS - TIMELINE: I faxed in the request on Sunday. Called Monday to confirm they received it and learned they could honor it. We set sail Saturday.

 

[Churchladychurchlady]

My (very athletic) adult daughter broke her leg bouldering only a few weeks from our embarkation date. She uses crutches now but travel days often involve long corridors, swelling feet and cranky, impatient fellow travelers. Also, I wasn't sure I could manage my 5 year old granddaughter and all 3 of our carry-on bags alone while DD slowly navigated her way through the crowds.

I faxed in a last-minute request for assistance embarking and disembarking. I was prepared for them to tell me I was too late, but nope! They assured me they would be able to help us get us aboard comfortably and safely. I was instructed to flag down the first person I saw in a Disney Cruise Line name tag upon our arrival at port and give them the copy of our assistance request. I was told that person would bring us a wheelchair and an escort to help us hrough the embarkation process. No, that does NOT include expedited service. We'll still have to wait our turn, of course. But I won't have to worry about blocking others or slowing down the line or managing 3 carryons and a pre-schooler alone while DD slowly gimps her way along. I couldn't be happier!

THANK YOU DISNEY!

PS - TIMELINE: I faxed in the request on Sunday. Called Monday to confirm they received it and learned they could honor it. We set sail Saturday.

I've seen some of your other posts - I hope you three girls have a wonderful time and have some gentle moments.

 

[WanderLit]

I've seen some of your other posts - I hope you three girls have a wonderful time and have some gentle moments.

Thank you, Churchladychurchlady. I'm really looking forward to being a child again for a while.

 

[wcw57]

yes, enjoy!

however, does anyone know if you have to carry on your own oxygen tanks as opposed to the being handled for you ( 1 brought to the room, the others to storage....)????

 

[lanejudy]

No, the guest is not required to carry-on their oxygen. Guests can arrange for oxygen delivery directly to the ship. If you are asking whether oxygen can be packed in suitcases and/or dropped curbside with the porters as checked baggage -- I believe that answer is no. You either carry it on or make prior arrangements for it. I can't imagine a guest who relies on oxygen would trust it to be checked, not with the way those bags are handled. That's not particularly unusual with medical equipment; it's commonly recommended that any medical equipment be carried on to prevent possible damage/loss which might occur with checked baggage. I do not know if DCL will provide storage.

 

[terrybsw]

If you need oxygen onboard, you will have to contact DCL's Special Services department at 407-566-3500. You will also need to complete and submit a Special Services Information form at least 30 days prior to departure. You may bring it aboard yourself or arrange for delivery to the ship. This is the information on the form, as well as some questions to answer:

OXYGEN If you require oxygen, you must make independent delivery arrangements or bring your own. Due to safety concerns and storage limitations, Disney Cruise Line does not allow carriage or use of liquid oxygen or large tank systems onboard. Additionally, the types and quantities of oxygen tanks allowed on board may be limited. Oxygen concentrators are acceptable. Guests are responsible for notifying their air carrier of any oxygen requirements. Guests may carry one oxygen tank for use while on board Disney Cruise Line ground transportation.​

I'll also note that if you are flying, you will need to contact your airline for their specific procedures regarding oxygen.

As to wheelchairs -- it is recommended to book an accessible stateroom because the doorways of standard staterooms are not wide enough for most wheelchairs/ECVs plus the room layout leaves the equipment stuck in the little "hallway" between the closets and bathrooms, unless the person is able to transfer and fold a manual wheelchair. As to assistance at embarkation, that would depend on the passenger's needs. Most wheelchair users may not require any specific assistance with boarding, and/or family members are present to assist. If assistance or accommodation is required, please contact the Special Services department.

Enjoy your cruise!

Re Oxygen. You might check with your supplier and talk about cost for renting a concentrator for the trip vs using tanks. There are some medical limitations to the concentrators, but your provider can address that. The concentrator is much easier to manage and travel with than tanks both in terms of regulation and logistics. Additionally, many O2 providers have national affiliations. Working through your home provider, they may be able to arrange for your travel needs including delivery to the ship of the tanks if needed. Let your supplier know your plans and let them help you with the logistics.