cruise line

[Wade Shrader]

I thought I'd seen a post about the cruise line here before, but I couldn't see it when I did a search... oh well...

Has any of our forum members in wheelchairs been on a Disney cruise? I've heard the elevators are quite slow for the chairs. How was accessibility otherwise? Are the rooms big enough? What about the ports? I suppose that 5 people (2 adults, 3 children) would have to have 2 staterooms?

We're thinking of taking our kids, but I'm a little wary of the size/assessibility issue. One of our DS's could probably get away with only using his crutches on the ship, but our other one would have to have his chair.

We want to have a HUGE vacation next year when I finish my residency, but it may be a better value for my kids to stay at WDW for 10days or so!

Thanks for any advice!
Wade

 

[SueM in MN]

Either one sounds like a great way to finish your residency.
We have not been on a cruise, but I know several disABILITIES Board poster have been (some more than once), so if you don't get many replies, just keep bumping it up. I know some people are not able to visit the boards that often.

The official Disney site has a
FAQs page about the Cruise line , but it doesn't appear all the helpful to me. I've read a lot more from other DISers than is on the FAQs.

 

[Talking Hands]

When I was on the cruise last month there were several using wheelchairs or ECVs. While I did some walking I used my wheelchair as needed and really had no problems except for Castaway Cay. There is a tram but it was not accessible and my DH had to push which he is not used to since I normally have a power wheelchair and was using a rented manual since the power wheelchair was in the shop. As far as we could get in the heat was the family beach.

 

[dclfun]

I've been on the DCL cruise several times and the ship is fully accessible with wonderful accomodations in an adapted stateroom. There are several in different categories, but with 5 guests you are correct in needing two staterooms. The elevators aren't large but they are located in three different areas of the ship. The disabled access rooms are located either aft or forward, so taking those elevators is easier than trying to go to the ones that are midship which seemed to have the most guests. Some of the ports on the 7 night itinerary aren't able to accomodate guests in power chairs due to tenders, but a manual chair can be used. On Castaway Cay, complimentary beach wheelchairs are available. ---Kathy

 

[cupcake]

I personally think that the excursions or other times off the ship would be the things you have to think about as the non-Disney portions of the proceedings may not be ADA compliant. For example, we took a short stroll around Cozumel and had I been in my wc, we would not have been happy (obstructed and narrow sidewalks and some truly steep makeshift ramps to get into shops). I'm sure you can plan around it and have a great time, but it would be a good idea to figure out your options ahead of time. If you post re which cruise you were thinking of, hopefully others who have been there can comment. We have done the four night & the 7 night Western.

And... we are doing the 4 night again September 28!!!!!

Cupcake

 

[LindaDVC]

We have done the 7 night Eastern and 4 day !
Dreaming about another cruise sometime

The ships and Castaway are fine-- first sailing we had a few problems but all were corrected by the next cruise. As stated the tendering and ports can have accessibility problems.

Linda

 

[abitjaded]

I recently dug up an old post of mine for a new cruise questioner, there are some new questions that so far haven't been addressed. C'mon over and help us out, past cruisers! Sorry about all the cross posting, but the questions and threads are pretty scattered.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?postid=4211166#post4211166

Carla

 

[cathie]

We were on the 3 day Wonder this past February with our friend Steve who has Muscular Dystrophy & uses a large power wheelchair with vent attached. It wasn't bad getting around the ship except for the narrow halls & small elevators. Steve's stateroom in the aft section was huge, very accomodating. The verandah is beautiful with plenty of room to move around. The only problem we had in the stateroom was the very low bed, which made it very difficult to transfer Steve in & out of bed. We are going back this coming Feb. on the 4 Day & DCL has promised to put another mattress on top of the bed so he can transfer more safely. We sent an e-mail to DCL when we returned home & they were open to suggestions about how they can improve the accomodations on the cruise for guests with disabilities. We didn't spend much time in Nassau & there is no accessible transportation to Paradise Island. Steve loved CC, but he wasn't able to transfer to one of their chairs & there are no ramps near the beach or water. We made suggestions to DCL & hopefully they will take them into consideration. If you have any questions just ask away!! Cathie

 

[tigger2on]

I took my disabled 4 year old then on a 4 day land/ 3 day sea trip. WE loved it.
These are my recommendations. Get a disabled veranndah room on the back of the boat on the 6th or 7 th deck, it will only accomdate 3 people but the verrandahs are huge as are the bathrooms. They also have a storage closet for wheelchairs and baggage. Get a secind stateroom, on the same floor but obtain only an inside stateroom. The verandahs are sooo big, you can all use them. We had a patio table, 2 lounges and enough room for a dance party!
The elevators were a pain because the able bodied people are lazy and can't walk up one flight. They need to have one of the main elevators designated for only disabled /strollers out of the four they have. One way to get around this is go to the ones closer to the front of the boat and back track, They don't seem to be as busy!
WE loved the cruise... if you have a chance, do it. It is a trip you and your kids will never forget. We are trying to save the money to go again....
PS. they have special wheelchairs on the island to go over sand... they are free. But it is first come/ first serve. though they didn't all get taken.
Feel free to ask any other questions. We used the kids clubs too!

 

[kylkat]

tigger2on
I read that you used the kids clubs on the ship. I have a 4 year old boy with CP. We are thinking about the Ship but want him to be able to participate in the programs with his sister. He is not cognitively affected and he taalks. He likes to be involved in what is going on. We have stayed away from cruising with the kids as we don't want him to feel left out. Can you tell me about your experience? Was your child toilet trained? We are almost toilet trained. I understand from what I have read that they do not allow diapers or pull ups.

Thanks

 

[tigger2on]

My daughter Ryleigh was four when we went and she is non-verbal, non-mobile and in a wheelchair. She is not toilet trained. Our experience on the boat was that the peple who worked in the Oceaneer's Club were very accommodating. I think that you have to take a chance and see but I am sure he'll be allowed into the club especially if he is able to tell them his needs and get you if needed. They give parents beepers if they need to get you though I was never beeped once. In fact, I just went back every couple of hours and changed her. I did however take her out of the club for meals.
They also put on a little show in the Theatre at the end of your cruise and They actually carried Ryleigh down the stairs and onto the stage... though I would never recommend tis to them I went and asked them if they wanted me to carry her and they told me to go and sit down with the rest of the families.
She even was able to participate in the Beach things as they have a beach wheelchair. It is not very supprtive. We used her booster seat from the car for extra support as she wasn't able to sit up back then as she is now.
If you go... get a verandah room if you can afford it, on deck 6 or 7. The verandah's are huge. as are the rooms... however I don't know if they have any for families of 4 . You need to have a cruise medical form filled out by a doctor before you are given an accessible room. Get in touch with special services on the boat as well... before you go. We went through Dreams Unlimited travel and they did all the research possible for us.
Suzanne