PurpleKomodo
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2015
- Messages
- 471
While planning for our cruise, I was scouring for information, so I thought I would compile some thoughts in case anyone else is looking. We are just back from a 3-night cruise on the Wish. Our traveling party consisted of my Mom and Aunt in one stateroom and myself, my husband, and my three kids (ages 10, 6, and 4) in another stateroom. My Mom and Aunt had a veranda stateroom that slept 4 and we had an ADA veranda stateroom that slept 5. My 4-year old has a neuromuscular disease, uses both a power wheelchair and a manual wheelchair, has a trach (sleeps on a ventilator), and is complete tube fed.
Embarkation: Prior to boarding, we had to do some prep to make our equipment compliant with what Special Services told us. We removed a multiplug extension cord from our ventilator stand (knowing we would be able to get one on the ship) and put our cooler items in 2 size compliant coolers instead of the larger single cooler we typically travel with. We had labeled all bags with medical supplies as medical and placed inventories in them. We had a really easy time getting through security to get on the ship. They were kind and patient as we walked through all that we had with us. They did not question any of the equipment we brought onto the ship and we were on our way. Our PAT was 12:15. We did not get unloaded and ready to board until closer to 1pm just because it takes us awhile. By the time we were on the ship, staterooms were due to be ready in fifteen minutes or so. So, we headed to our floor and waited. While we could have taken our stuff to get food, we were glad we choose not to as we had to hand carry all bags with medical supplies (3 bags worth), the power chair, the manual chair, and the vent pole. We got our stuff to our stateroom and went to get lunch from Festival of Foods and it was easy peasy. **Things I would differently on Embarkation in the future: Not worry about a super early PAT knowing that we don't want to keep our stuff with us long and probably just eat lunch before we get on board. Since we had the early dinner seating, eating lunch at 2:30 and then dinner at 5:45 was a little strange.
During the Cruise: We had not difficulty navigating the ship or caring for our kiddo during the cruise. It was a bummer that he couldn't go the kids club, but there are plenty of things he can't participate in at home because of his needs, so that is easily anticipated and accommodated. Unfortunately, making it to the club during open houses proved really difficult and we didn't really get him down there at all. I would like to try harder to do that if we cruise again. The ADA stateroom was great. We were mid-ship and had plenty of space for all of our things. We left out the bed our youngest used during the day, which was the murphy bed under the couch and we were still able to get his wheelchair past the bed to the veranda. We did not get off the ship at Nassau, but did at Castaway Cay. Accessibility on Castaway was pretty good. I do wish the trams were able to transport powered wheelchairs. We didn't explore as much just because we didn't really want to have to walk. Even though the sand wheelchairs were adult sized, my four year old was able to ride one without difficulty. They also let us park our power chair and equipment near the stand where we got the sand wheelchair in the shade. On the ship, we did not really encounter any barriers to participate in what he wanted to do. The elevators were sometimes a little challenging, but we never really waiting longer than maybe 5 to 10 minutes (but sometimes choose to go up to go down). **Things I would do differently: Take a longer cruise. Everything takes us longer including transitions around the ship. Even one more day would have helped us feel like we were able to enjoy more.
Debarkation: The early debarkation was a challenge. My kiddo has a respiratory treatment every morning that takes around an hour. Since we were at the early dinner seating, we were also at the early breakfast seating. Luckily, we were able to speak with the head server and he was able to accommodate us at the late seating. If he had not, we would have just gotten breakfast from Marceline Market. Getting off the ship through customs was also easier than anticipated. No one questioned any of the feeding ingredients that were brought back with us off of the ship. The porters at the port were so great and helped us get all of our things to our vehicle. **Things I would do differently: Really nothing. The process was smooth. But, we will likely always request the later breakfast. That 6:45 business is just not going to happen.
Overall, our cruise experience was incredibly positive and Disney continues to be such a great, safe place for us to take our whole family to have fun together. Now, would I love a discount on my 4 year old's fare considering he does not eat or drink anything on the ship, sure, but I can let that one go. I know how difficult it would be for Disney to estimate that cost and manage the process. I think we are likely to cruise again. We all had a really great time. If others traveling with medical needs have questions, I am happy to share any more of our experience.
Embarkation: Prior to boarding, we had to do some prep to make our equipment compliant with what Special Services told us. We removed a multiplug extension cord from our ventilator stand (knowing we would be able to get one on the ship) and put our cooler items in 2 size compliant coolers instead of the larger single cooler we typically travel with. We had labeled all bags with medical supplies as medical and placed inventories in them. We had a really easy time getting through security to get on the ship. They were kind and patient as we walked through all that we had with us. They did not question any of the equipment we brought onto the ship and we were on our way. Our PAT was 12:15. We did not get unloaded and ready to board until closer to 1pm just because it takes us awhile. By the time we were on the ship, staterooms were due to be ready in fifteen minutes or so. So, we headed to our floor and waited. While we could have taken our stuff to get food, we were glad we choose not to as we had to hand carry all bags with medical supplies (3 bags worth), the power chair, the manual chair, and the vent pole. We got our stuff to our stateroom and went to get lunch from Festival of Foods and it was easy peasy. **Things I would differently on Embarkation in the future: Not worry about a super early PAT knowing that we don't want to keep our stuff with us long and probably just eat lunch before we get on board. Since we had the early dinner seating, eating lunch at 2:30 and then dinner at 5:45 was a little strange.
During the Cruise: We had not difficulty navigating the ship or caring for our kiddo during the cruise. It was a bummer that he couldn't go the kids club, but there are plenty of things he can't participate in at home because of his needs, so that is easily anticipated and accommodated. Unfortunately, making it to the club during open houses proved really difficult and we didn't really get him down there at all. I would like to try harder to do that if we cruise again. The ADA stateroom was great. We were mid-ship and had plenty of space for all of our things. We left out the bed our youngest used during the day, which was the murphy bed under the couch and we were still able to get his wheelchair past the bed to the veranda. We did not get off the ship at Nassau, but did at Castaway Cay. Accessibility on Castaway was pretty good. I do wish the trams were able to transport powered wheelchairs. We didn't explore as much just because we didn't really want to have to walk. Even though the sand wheelchairs were adult sized, my four year old was able to ride one without difficulty. They also let us park our power chair and equipment near the stand where we got the sand wheelchair in the shade. On the ship, we did not really encounter any barriers to participate in what he wanted to do. The elevators were sometimes a little challenging, but we never really waiting longer than maybe 5 to 10 minutes (but sometimes choose to go up to go down). **Things I would do differently: Take a longer cruise. Everything takes us longer including transitions around the ship. Even one more day would have helped us feel like we were able to enjoy more.
Debarkation: The early debarkation was a challenge. My kiddo has a respiratory treatment every morning that takes around an hour. Since we were at the early dinner seating, we were also at the early breakfast seating. Luckily, we were able to speak with the head server and he was able to accommodate us at the late seating. If he had not, we would have just gotten breakfast from Marceline Market. Getting off the ship through customs was also easier than anticipated. No one questioned any of the feeding ingredients that were brought back with us off of the ship. The porters at the port were so great and helped us get all of our things to our vehicle. **Things I would do differently: Really nothing. The process was smooth. But, we will likely always request the later breakfast. That 6:45 business is just not going to happen.
Overall, our cruise experience was incredibly positive and Disney continues to be such a great, safe place for us to take our whole family to have fun together. Now, would I love a discount on my 4 year old's fare considering he does not eat or drink anything on the ship, sure, but I can let that one go. I know how difficult it would be for Disney to estimate that cost and manage the process. I think we are likely to cruise again. We all had a really great time. If others traveling with medical needs have questions, I am happy to share any more of our experience.
