Question regarding Scooters/Wheelchairs

[davidarti]

We have a large family group sailing out of Miami next week and recently my elderly mother has been having problems walking due to issues with her hips and knees. Does anyone know if DCL rents scooters or wheelchairs for use on the ships? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[wilkeliza]

They do not rent any on the ship. You can rent from a third party and have it delivered to you before you board the ship. Just note that wheelchairs and ECVs will have to be kept in your room and there are only a few places about the ship that are designated areas to leave a wheelchair or ECV.

If you do not have an accessible room it is possible to be very cramped if you get an ECV unless you are able to rent a type that can be easily broken down each night and put under the bed.

 

[lanejudy]

DCL does not rent wheelchairs or scooters, but I believe Special Needs at Sea ( www.specialneedsatsea ) will deliver to the Miami port. There may be other vendors as well but I'm not familiar with the Miami area.

Be aware that you may want to reserve an HA stateroom, particularly if she will be using an ECV. The doorways into the standard staterooms are too narrow for most ECVs and wheelchairs. And even if you were to get it into the stateroom, the layout of most prevents moving much beyond the door, which then leaves the ECV in the way of the closets, bathrooms and hallway door. If you don't have an HA stateroom, there are one or two designated parking areas on the ship, but be aware it may not be on the same floor so you may need to have a "runner" move it for mom.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have a large family group sailing out of Miami next week and recently my elderly mother has been having problems walking due to issues with her hips and knees. Does anyone know if DCL rents scooters or wheelchairs for use on the ships? Thanks in advance for any info.

No, they don't. You'd have to rent one privately, and bring it. Not sure what companies rent out of Miami. Try http://www.specialneedsatsea.com/

 

[davidarti]

Thanks so much for all of your help, I will check out Special Needs!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

We have a large family group sailing out of Miami next week and recently my elderly mother has been having problems walking due to issues with her hips and knees. Does anyone know if DCL rents scooters or wheelchairs for use on the ships? Thanks in advance for any info.

Disney does not rent out scooters or wheelchairs them self.
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/guests-with-disabilities/

Some authorized rental companies are allowed to deliver scooter to port and then they can pick up their scooter from port. My Mom used an authorized by Disney company and it was over $400 for 1 week several years ago
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2250923

My Mom had used rental scooters at the theme parks and it had worked out well for her. Both from Disney and from other rental places.

But when she rented a scooter and had it delivered to the cruise ship it was useless. The scooter was so bulky in the confines of a cruise ship that she was never able to use it especially as she was unused to the scooter so not very skilled at maneuvering it. Cleaning carts in the hallways were additional obstacles. Also if the cabin is not Handicap accessible it will be hard to fit through the stateroom door or have enough room to store a scooter.

There are smaller travel scooters such as http://www.travelscoot.com/. That is what she ending up buying used on Craigslist.
Some Senior centers lend equipment so if a fold up wheelchair could be borrowed then family could push the wheelchair wherever needed.