First cruise ever! Experiences with an ECV?

[The Parkhoppers]

Hello, collected wisdom!
My husband and I are booking a cruise on the Dream to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I have MS, so I will be bringing my ECV. I’ve seen lots of discussion about getting on and off the ship and in and out of cabins with an ECV, but can anyone give me an idea of what it’s like on elevators, in the hallways, and where carts can be left while we’re in restaurants, the pools, etc.?
TIA,
Molly

 

[serenitynow]

Parking outside of the restaurant while dining is readily available if you don’t need the ECV at the table. The hallways are narrow and if there is a housekeeping cart in the hall you will be stuck until a cast member comes to move the cart. But you won’t have to wait very long, as they keep a pretty good eye on the hallways. There are places along the wall at the pools and theaters where an ECV can be parked. The hardest thing is that the elevators are small and tricky. If there is room to back into the elevator, it will be easy to just drive it off. If you pull into the elevator and have to back out you’ll want someone to step out first to spot you to clear a path for you to back out.
We found it easier to wait for an empty elevator, especially if the family in the elevator had a stroller.
It’s very crowded, but cast members are very aware of the challenges and helpful to ECV users. Have a great time!

 

[CM Dad]

Hello, collected wisdom!
My husband and I are booking a cruise on the Dream to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I have MS, so I will be bringing my ECV. I’ve seen lots of discussion about getting on and off the ship and in and out of cabins with an ECV, but can anyone give me an idea of what it’s like on elevators, in the hallways, and where carts can be left while we’re in restaurants, the pools, etc.?
TIA,
Molly

My wife can walk for short periods of time, but usually uses a collapsible wheelchair around the ship. Elevators can be an issue at times with people that probably should use the stairs rushing into the elevator before you. There are some people that will block others to allow you on. If everyone is heading in one direction, the elevators may be full when they arrive at your deck. Consider riding the elevator the opposite direction when you find one with space available, and just ride until it reverses direction.

Hallways can be difficult to maneuver with carts or luggage in the hallways. If you can get an accessible room, you should be able to get thru the doorway, but we did have one accessible room on the aft of the ship, where the door was at an angle, and it was easier for my wife to get out of the wheelchair and walk, while I partially collapsed the chair.

In the restaurants, many time one of the servers would push her chair to the table, she would transfer, and then they would park the chair somewhere. After dinner, they would retrieve the chair for her.

For the shows in the Walt Disney theater, there was a handicap entrance on the lower level thru one of the bars when some reserved seating.

 

[The Parkhoppers]

Thank you!

 

[The Parkhoppers]

Thank you!

 

[randumb0]

I'm sorry, I'm not really answering your question but my only experience with an ECV on the Fantasy was when a lady rammed it into the back of my ankle an hour after I got on board, leaving me bloody and in pain for the week. She clearly didn't know how to drive it and there were a lot of people to maneuver through.

This post was more harmful than helpful