DCL after leg surgery; wheelchair

[maggie blossom]

I posted this on one of the other boards but I know there are insightful people here.

I will be 6 weeks after serious surgery to my lower leg when we go on DCL, Western on the Magic. It is our first cruise.
I have boot, use crutches and will bring a lightweight wheelchair.

Anyone done this and have and recomendations for excursions? Is it even possible for me to excursions?

We do not have an accessible room. Are there bars in all bathrooms? Do rooms have showers or tubs or both? We are in a 9C room. I did call and was told there are no accessible rooms available.

Thanks for any input!

 

[KPeveler]

I am sure someone who has been on cruises will come along shortly to help. Does your wheelchair fold? If not, it may not fit through the doorway of the room.

I have heard from others that using the wheelchair on the boat is easy and everything is accessible. I am not certain how the room situation works.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One thing is all doors on exterior decks open outward, are very heavy, and there is always a small (inch or two) step to keep water out in heavy seas.

 

[videogal1]

I will be 6 weeks after serious surgery to my lower leg when we go on DCL, Western on the Magic. It is our first cruise.
I have boot, use crutches and will bring a lightweight wheelchair.

Anyone done this and have and recomendations for excursions? Is it even possible for me to excursions?

We do not have an accessible room. Are there bars in all bathrooms? Do rooms have showers or tubs or both? We are in a 9C room. I did call and was told there are no accessible rooms available.

Thanks for any input!

Don't expect walking aboard the ship to be very predictable...The floor (read deck) moves in crazy directions at all times. Stay in the wheelchair for safety. Even ambulatory passengers walk funny for a while on shore excursions until they get used to walking on dry land again.
See if you can get on a waiting list for an accessible stateroom...you might be surprised with an unexpected upgrade when you board...
The ship is HUGE. Arm powering a manual chair is brutal. There are rental places that will deliver a scooter to the ship and pick it up when you disembark...Brevard Medical was one that I remember. Access in foreign countries is minimal. Expect to work hard on shore excursions. Take a few large plastic bags to put over your boot to keep it safe from water, sand, and stuff you don't want to track around. Have a great time!

 

[dclfun]

Policy has changed with DCL for reserving accessible staterooms. There is no longer a waitlist as an accessible room is either available or not, however you can continue to check to see if someone else who reserved one has cancelled. So no, there's not a chance of a surprise upgrade and you should be prepared. Your w/c will not fit through the doorway and there is a step- up into the bathroom. In a 9C you have a split bath. There are no rails around the toilet or tub/ shower combination. You can request a shower stool or transfer bench as well as a raised toilet seat which might help. You will be able to get around the ship and the crew is great about carrying a food tray or opening doors. I hope you have a great cruise and speedy healing from your surgery!

 

[mdvlprof]

The lightweight wheelchair - assuming it's foldable, so it fits thru the door - should be okay in a regular room. I don't know about the bars in bathroom. If you can manage a couple steps onto a bus/van, you should be able to do the low-activity excursions - sightseeing, etc. Unless you can go a few steps, you can't debark on tendered ports.