Mobility Scooters On Cruise

[GranJan]

We will be cruising on the Wonder Oct 2011 & I will be using a mobility scooter. It is a small one but I was wanting to know if anyone has had any problems getting through doorways of the cabins. We won't be staying in a handicapped accessible room as I'm able to get around small spaces with a walker. I also need to know if there will be any problems finding an electrical outlet for charging my scooter. Any tips or info would be appreciated.

 

[mellers]

We will be cruising on the Wonder Oct 2011 & I will be using a mobility scooter. It is a small one but I was wanting to know if anyone has had any problems getting through doorways of the cabins. We won't be staying in a handicapped accessible room as I'm able to get around small spaces with a walker. I also need to know if there will be any problems finding an electrical outlet for charging my scooter. Any tips or info would be appreciated.

I'd be interested as well--I'm taking my putt-putt.

 

[paraflier]

My mom used her mobility scooter on our cruise. She had an accessible room and had a hard time driving the scooter through the door and holding the door open at the same time. If you have someone traveling with you I think that won't be a problem. There are a few outlets in the stateroom if your battery comes off of your scooter. I saw a few scooters in the hallway because there wasn't enough room in the staterooms for them.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

The regular scooters are too big to fit through the regular stateroom doors. I called and asked about the door width prior to our first cruise. I can't remember the size now but it was definitely too small for DH's.

The stateroom hosts will move the scooters out of the hallways for charging purposes and because they can't get the carts down the hallways. If you can book a HCA stateroom go ahead and do it. It is not any more expensive. We have had my DH's ECV on 3 cruises now (Eastern, Western and Bahamas) so ask any questions you may have either about the ship or the ports.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

We will be cruising on the Wonder Oct 2011 & I will be using a mobility scooter. It is a small one but I was wanting to know if anyone has had any problems getting through doorways of the cabins. We won't be staying in a handicapped accessible room as I'm able to get around small spaces with a walker. I also need to know if there will be any problems finding an electrical outlet for charging my scooter. Any tips or info would be appreciated.

We were on the Wonder in a Cat 4 in October and I can tell you emphatically - No. There is no way a mobility scooter would be able to make the turn needed to get into the room. In addition, there is no way the room can accommodate a scooter. Even if you could get it thru the door, you won't get it out of the hallway.

I have a friend with a scooter, so I've seen it and know the approximate size. You CAN book a HC room with DCL regardless of a walker. I would only bring a scooter if you go that route. Honestly, it wouldn't even be simple with just a walker. Go the HC cabin route!

 

[GranJan]

Thanks for all the helpful responses. My husband will be with me but I know what you mean about trying to hold the door while driving through. My husband reminded me that my battery is removable for charging so I guess outlets won't be a problem. I'm a little worried about the door width now though. I guess I need to check the exact width. My scooter is just a 3 wheeled & is 20 inches wide at the wheels. The seat is 23 inches but the arm rests, which I don't really use much are removable which makes it about 19 inches. I doubt there would be a HCA room available now so I hope we can make it work. My scooter comes apart so if needed my husband could take it apart to get it in the room & out of the hallway.
I researched using a scooter on cruises a few years ago & I read that DCL is one of the best because of the slightly larger rooms. I also read last night that if you are able to get around in your room with something to hold on to, then you're better off without the HCA room because they have too much open space with nothing to hold on to. I hope everything works out with my scooter. We haven't been on a cruise in about 6 yrs & even then I had to pretty much be holding on to my husband all the time...no fun being so dependent. I've gotten much worse over the years but I'm actually enjoying travel more now that I've accepted that I needed to use a walker or a scooter for long distance. I just never wanted to look like an 80 yr old. No insult intended to elderly people but I'm just in my 50's.

 

[kcashner]

It absolutely will not fit thru a standard stateroom door; it's tight thru the HA doors! However, your stateroom host will take it to a cut out portion of the ship (an access area for the hosts) and plug it in for you.

 

[mellers]

Thanks for all the helpful responses. My husband will be with me but I know what you mean about trying to hold the door while driving through. My husband reminded me that my battery is removable for charging so I guess outlets won't be a problem. I'm a little worried about the door width now though. I guess I need to check the exact width. My scooter is just a 3 wheeled & is 20 inches wide at the wheels. The seat is 23 inches but the arm rests, which I don't really use much are removable which makes it about 19 inches. I doubt there would be a HCA room available now so I hope we can make it work. My scooter comes apart so if needed my husband could take it apart to get it in the room & out of the hallway.
I researched using a scooter on cruises a few years ago & I read that DCL is one of the best because of the slightly larger rooms. I also read last night that if you are able to get around in your room with something to hold on to, then you're better off without the HCA room because they have too much open space with nothing to hold on to. I hope everything works out with my scooter. We haven't been on a cruise in about 6 yrs & even then I had to pretty much be holding on to my husband all the time...no fun being so dependent. I've gotten much worse over the years but I'm actually enjoying travel more now that I've accepted that I needed to use a walker or a scooter for long distance. I just never wanted to look like an 80 yr old. No insult intended to elderly people but I'm just in my 50's.

I've had to be in one since my 30's, so I hear you.

 

[Shebbieal]

I can help you with some issues.

I use a power chair and have been on 4 Disney cruises.

It will not fit thru a non accessible door. Please make sure when leaving the scooter outside that it doesn't prevent another wheelchair to go down the hall. Disney's hallways are narrow in sections.

The elevators are VERY small. Give yourself plenty of time and whenever you fit in the elevator, get in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eventually thr floor you want it will stop. In other words, go ANY direction you can. You may go up first when going down. A lot of people may rush to get on by you. Simply be assertiive and smile. People will use their strollers as battering rams. PATIENCE and allowing plenty of time is the key. The aft and forwad elevators are way less crowded.

In the main theatre there are w/c seats on the bottom floor, otherwise it is the very back row.

Castaway Cay is amazing for getting around in a chair. Now there is even a cabana for w/c use!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any other questions just ask, we are doing the Dream in October!

Sherry

 

[wallyboag]

My mom cruised the Wonder to the Mexican Riviera with us. She rented a powered wheelchair, and it actually worked out wonderfully for everyone. She was able to park her chair outside of the state room in the hallway. There were outlets out there for charging about every 20 feet or so, so while there might not be one right next to your stateroom, it should be close enough for you to walk back to the room with (or maybe even without) your walker.

As someone said, the elevators can get a little crowded, especially during meal times. I would suggest using the forward elevators during mealtimes, as all the restaurants are in the back.

The doors leading to outdoor areas of the ship have a steep up/down ramp leading to them, and the chair being a "low rider" got stuck on these a couple of times. The forward elevator lobbies had the best entrance/exits on deck 9 and 10, so that's another reason to try and stick to the forward elevators.

One more thing to consider that we didn't think about before the trip. Mexico is not as accommodating to wheelchairs as the US is. we wanted to explore the area around the ship and go to WalMart and the mall near the boat in Pureto Vallarta. There are no ramps at street crossings. My mom had to get out of the chair and my brother and myself had to pick the chair up and set it down so that she could cross the street. Not a fun thing to do when crossing a busy Mexican street. So please be aware of that should you want to get off the boat, I would recommend doing excursions through Disney and making sure that they are wheelchair friendly.

 

[mellers]

My mom cruised the Wonder to the Mexican Riviera with us. She rented a powered wheelchair, and it actually worked out wonderfully for everyone. She was able to park her chair outside of the state room in the hallway. There were outlets out there for charging about every 20 feet or so, so while there might not be one right next to your stateroom, it should be close enough for you to walk back to the room with (or maybe even without) your walker.

As someone said, the elevators can get a little crowded, especially during meal times. I would suggest using the forward elevators during mealtimes, as all the restaurants are in the back.

The doors leading to outdoor areas of the ship have a steep up/down ramp leading to them, and the chair being a "low rider" got stuck on these a couple of times. The forward elevator lobbies had the best entrance/exits on deck 9 and 10, so that's another reason to try and stick to the forward elevators.

One more thing to consider that we didn't think about before the trip. Mexico is not as accommodating to wheelchairs as the US is. we wanted to explore the area around the ship and go to WalMart and the mall near the boat in Pureto Vallarta. There are no ramps at street crossings. My mom had to get out of the chair and my brother and myself had to pick the chair up and set it down so that she could cross the street. Not a fun thing to do when crossing a busy Mexican street. So please be aware of that should you want to get off the boat, I would recommend doing excursions through Disney and making sure that they are wheelchair friendly.

One thing I would add, if you're going on the Alaska cruises, is that both Vancouver and Victoria are pleasantly wheelchair friendly. Also, if you need to travel to or from downtown Vancouver or the Vancouver Airport and Seattle, the QuickShuttle is wonderful to and for people with scooters--just let them know in advance, and they'll take good care of you.

Amtrak, on the other hand, has real problems with wheelchairs on short run trains. While I've never taken the train to and from Vancouver in the chair, I took Amtrak from LA to Anaheim, on a connector, and it took a bunch of people screaming at the conductor and forcing the doorway open to get me off at my stop--they nearly left my daughter on the platform (ALONE!!!) and sent me on to the next stop. I have avoided Amtrak ever since.

 

[GranJan]

The advice about the elevators is something I'll certainly keep in mind. We'll be going to the MR & I don't think I'll be getting off the boat. I'm going to just relax & hopefully see some pretty scenery from the boat. From looking at some of the photos posted here, I think I'll be able to do that. Thanks, everyone for all the tips. I'm new on here & after I figured out how to do a search, I found lots of info about using mobility scooters on cruises. Now I can stop worrying & look forward to the cruise.

 

[paraflier]

So we got mixed signals about the chair and getting off the ship. My mom asked at guest services about which ports she would be able to debark at. She was told that they absolutely do NOT allow electric scooters down the ramp (gangplanks). So she stayed on board through the whole cruise. Was that bad info??? I noticed she would have easily been able to get off the ship in Cozumel but then I don't know how she would have left the port area, I didn't see an elevator and you had to go up and over the street to go down to the main street. I'm annoyed now that she didn't get off the ship and fully enjoy the cruise.

 

[Shebbieal]

You got bad info. I have been to Cozumel MANY times via cruising and always disembarked. I assume the ship docked at Punto Langosta (sp), yes there is an elavator. Ask someone if you don't see it. Cozumel is do-able in a chair, not perfect. They even have wheelchair taxis, ask at the taxi stand.

The ports that are harder are the tender ports, like Grand Cayman. Sometimes chairs are NOT allowed due to rough seas, it varies with the Captain. Sometimes I also take a manual chair for excursions. I just leave the powerchair onboard. There are companies to rent from, do not count on borrying a chair from the cruiseline.

Exucursions with a chair require a lot of personal research. Make sure if you need the services of a Travel Agent that they are well versed in wheelchair travel, very very few of them are.

Sherry

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

We were on the Wonder Panama Canal cruise and the people in the stateroom across from us had one person with a scooter. He had to leave it in the hallway. He was able to stand and get into his stateroom with a little help from his family. During the evenings and mornings; the hallways and elevator lobby were scooter parking lots, all of them plugged in charging up for the following day.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

So we got mixed signals about the chair and getting off the ship. My mom asked at guest services about which ports she would be able to debark at. She was told that they absolutely do NOT allow electric scooters down the ramp (gangplanks). So she stayed on board through the whole cruise. Was that bad info??? I noticed she would have easily been able to get off the ship in Cozumel but then I don't know how she would have left the port area, I didn't see an elevator and you had to go up and over the street to go down to the main street. I'm annoyed now that she didn't get off the ship and fully enjoy the cruise.

The only place we haven't taken it off is Grand Cayman. Sorry but you got bad info. I would have questioned that. Sorry to hear this happened.

 

[paraflier]

I had a feeling that I should have double checked that info. Thanks for the input and we'll know better for next time! I knew Grand Cayman would have been a problem but I think she really wanted to get out to Key West, she had been there as a girl and wanted to see how much it had changed in the last 55-60 years.

After asking her about it she says she asked at the shore excursion desk so maybe they thought she was asking about organized excursions she could possibly do. Oh well, she still had a great time on our vacation!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I had a feeling that I should have double checked that info. Thanks for the input and we'll know better for next time! I knew Grand Cayman would have been a problem but I think she really wanted to get out to Key West, she had been there as a girl and wanted to see how much it had changed in the last 55-60 years.

After asking her about it she says she asked at the shore excursion desk so maybe they thought she was asking about organized excursions she could possibly do. Oh well, she still had a great time on our vacation!

That could be true about the desk. Sorry to hear that. I know a great solution though!! You need to treat her for another cruise!!!

 

[maily]

We will be cruising on the Wonder Oct 2011 & I will be using a mobility scooter. It is a small one but I was wanting to know if anyone has had any problems getting through doorways of the cabins. We won't be staying in a handicapped accessible room as I'm able to get around small spaces with a walker. I also need to know if there will be any problems finding an electrical outlet for charging my scooter. Any tips or info would be appreciated.

I would ask someone from the 'wonder' team

Enjoy your cruise