ECV rental for DCL Norway cruise?

[bobbiwoz]

A friend is asking. She is also doing ABD in London. Any information about a company that rents in London, Dover?

 

[happycamper47]

I'd check with Scoot-Around and Special Needs at Sea. I know Scoot-Around does Europe.

 

[BadPinkTink]

They are called mobility scooters in the UK and the person should look at companies local to Dover, in Kent county or London companies.

 

[SteveMouse]

I would check explicitly with the tour operator about the ability to accommodate an ecv.

Is the friend capable of climbing stairs/getting into a full-size van? Lifts in some hotels can be much smaller than what is normal in the US, and there are often some stair or steps in halls that limit where wheels can go, or at least the ease at which one can get there.

Hotel rooms are often much smaller. Having a place to park/charge the ecv is a consideration

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would check explicitly with the tour operator about the ability to accommodate an ecv.

Is the friend capable of climbing stairs/getting into a full-size van? Lifts in some hotels can be much smaller than what is normal in the US, and there are often some stair or steps in halls that limit where wheels can go, or at least the ease at which one can get there.

Hotel rooms are often much smaller. Having a place to park/charge the ecv is a consideration

Climbing stairs yes. She is not able to walk very much at all.

I will tell her to check with ABD as far as hotels.

 

[SteveMouse]

And really the entire experience. It may not be safe to assume that the itinerary can accommodate wheels. I don’t know ABD’s standard practice.

in similar fashion, if you are planning to use an ecv on the cruise, do be aware that not all ship’s excursions will accommodate an ecv, and some may have very specific requirements. if you have not booked an accessible cabin, you may have challenges in getting the ecv in the cabin or finding a place to park it whilst inside.

Some cruise lines do not allow (and have no where for) parking an ecv on a cabin deck.

Many of the ports are quite accessible, some have cobblestone streets that can make for some bumpy rideso.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

She should most certainly check with ABD. As I understand it, the coach buses cannot accommodate an ECV and if she’s using a wheelchair, she will need to climb the bus stairs and someone she is traveling with will need to be responsible for loading and the chair from the bus.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have expressed your concerns mentioned here to my friend.

We travelled to Alaska, and she was able to access boats for whale watching, for instance without a scooter. I think she only used the ECV on land at ports like Icy Point Strait, and places like Juneau after she did a mild excursion.