Some random questions.

[Jennifer777]

Sailing on Magic this fall and having to micromanage and plan every aspect of our trip as I'm traveling with my Mom who has Alzheimers so bear with me as I ask what may seem like silly or insignificant questions.

- The new Rapunzel themed restaurant has a dinner show from what I'm reading. Does this always happen on the first night during a dining rotation? Is it loud? How long does it last? Oddly enough, I can't even find it listed on DCL's website as a dining option.

- I've also heard DCL has limited in-room dining for Cat. T staterooms to Lumiere's menu. Can anyone confirm?

- We are not sailing in a handicap accessible room but will need a bath stool for the shower and if seas are really, really rough, we may need a walker for stability. Does DCL have those available to use/rent or will I need to make other arrangements?

Thanks!

 

[Girl of the South]

I don't have any answers for you but emphasize with you for traveling with your Mom. My Dad had Alzheimer's. We almost lost him in the Chicago airport. And he often would try to leave hotel rooms (but we always caught him). My Mom and I took my Dad to DisneyWorld's "Hollywood Studios" and for some reason we ended up on the Tower of Terror! I think it was me just maybe getting back at them for the caregiving stint BUT we all survived and my Dad didn't remember it later that day. All the best on your cruise! The handicapped accessible rooms are very large and don't cost more, although not sure about Cat T. They probably go fast.

 

[Agent 86]

I can only try to answer one of your questions - if it is a seven night cruise, there are actually two shows in Rapunzel's restaurant. Part 1 on your first night dining there and Part 2 on the second night dining there.

Each night has ... loud moments. The second probably has the loudest or at least rowdiest, depending upon the crowd. Each "segment" probably lasts between 5 and 10 minutes, but there are multiple ... segments / acts throughout each night.

Perhaps you could submit a request to be seated at a table away from the main floor / area (i.e. in a "quiet" section of the restaurant) if you're concerned about the noise and activity having an adverse impact.

 

[k3chantal]

I can only try to answer one of your questions - if it is a seven night cruise, there are actually two shows in Rapunzel's restaurant. Part 1 on your first night dining there and Part 2 on the second night dining there.

Each night has ... loud moments. The second probably has the loudest or at least rowdiest, depending upon the crowd. Each "segment" probably lasts between 5 and 10 minutes, but there are multiple ... segments / acts throughout each night.

Perhaps you could submit a request to be seated at a table away from the main floor / area (i.e. in a "quiet" section of the restaurant) if you're concerned about the noise and activity having an adverse impact.

The other 'part' of this restaurant that you need to know is that it is VERY crowded. The furniture is big and heavy; making it difficult for the servers to get around. We had a table by a port hole and by a serving station. It was very difficult to see the show. I don't remember being blasted out though. I could talk to my table mates just fine throughout. You may want to request a table that is next to the entrance and aisle so that she doesn't have to navigate so far. Honestly, it was my least favorite restaurant amongst the four ships.

 

[Weedy]

The bathroom shower is kind of small. There is a small step to enter the bathroom and you have to step up over the edge of the tub to get into the shower.
This could be a challenge for someone who has trouble walking

 

[mevelandry]

Can't you book a HA cabin or at least a reassigned HA cabin? There must be a way to get on e of those cabins?

I agree that the shower/bath is not very "mobility-friendly".

You should call DCL to see what they can do.

 

[southerngirl528]

I've also heard DCL has limited in-room dining for Cat. T staterooms to Lumiere's menu. Can anyone confirm?

My understanding is that Cat "T" suites can order breakfast or dinner to their room from any of the MDR restaurants, just not Palo or Remy.

I most definitely agree with the PP re: your mom's needs. The master bathroom in a Cat T looks huge but by looking at photos/videos of these rooms and bathrooms, will this work for your mom? Please call DCL to see if they can get a bath stool for you. I will be surprised if they cannot provide the bath stool.

If she might need a walker you want to bring that with you.

 

[Jennifer777]

My understanding is that Cat "T" suites can order breakfast or dinner to their room from any of the MDR restaurants, just not Palo or Remy.

That is what I always understood but I saw a report on another website a couple weeks ago that they recently limited the in-room dining to one or two restaurants for each ship, the Magic being limited to Lumiere's. I can't seem to find confirmation of this anywhere though.

I can only try to answer one of your questions - if it is a seven night cruise, there are actually two shows in Rapunzel's restaurant. Part 1 on your first night dining there and Part 2 on the second night dining there.

Each night has ... loud moments. The second probably has the loudest or at least rowdiest, depending upon the crowd. Each "segment" probably lasts between 5 and 10 minutes, but there are multiple ... segments / acts throughout each night.

Perhaps you could submit a request to be seated at a table away from the main floor / area (i.e. in a "quiet" section of the restaurant) if you're concerned about the noise and activity having an adverse impact.

Thank you! This actually helps a lot! It's a 5 night sailing but the current rotation we requested would put us in Rapunzel's twice. From the way it sounds, this may be a little much for her.

Can't you book a HA cabin or at least a reassigned HA cabin? There must be a way to get on e of those cabins?

I agree that the shower/bath is not very "mobility-friendly".

You should call DCL to see what they can do.

The video's we've seen of the room we're going to be in look like they will work well for her. She's fine walking but does have some issues with balance when her eyes are closed (which makes showering dangerous if she's not sitting) or when she's on unstable ground. I don't think a HA room would make much difference.

I don't have any answers for you but emphasize with you for traveling with your Mom. My Dad had Alzheimer's. We almost lost him in the Chicago airport. And he often would try to leave hotel rooms (but we always caught him).

It is a completely different experience traveling with someone who has Alzheimers and getting separated is one of my biggest concerns. There are so many considerations you normally wouldn't have to think about but I'm so grateful she is still able to travel with me.

 

[southerngirl528]

That is what I always understood but I saw a report on another website a couple weeks ago that they recently limited the in-room dining to one or two restaurants for each ship, the Magic being limited to Lumiere's. I can't seem to find confirmation of this anywhere though.

Since you are concierge, please contact the concierge shoreside team with all your concerns and questions. They do a great job and will be able to get all your concerns addressed. Please let us know how things work out. Hope your cruise with your mom turns out wonderful!

 

[mevelandry]

That is what I always understood but I saw a report on another website a couple weeks ago that they recently limited the in-room dining to one or two restaurants for each ship, the Magic being limited to Lumiere's. I can't seem to find confirmation of this anywhere though.



Thank you! This actually helps a lot! It's a 5 night sailing but the current rotation we requested would put us in Rapunzel's twice. From the way it sounds, this may be a little much for her.


The video's we've seen of the room we're going to be in look like they will work well for her. She's fine walking but does have some issues with balance when her eyes are closed (which makes showering dangerous if she's not sitting) or when she's on unstable ground. I don't think a HA room would make much difference.



It is a completely different experience traveling with someone who has Alzheimers and getting separated is one of my biggest concerns. There are so many considerations you normally wouldn't have to think about but I'm so grateful she is still able to travel with me.

The HA room has only a large shower with a bench in it.

 

[Girl of the South]

Not sure what 'level' your Mom is at but I wished, at the airport in Chicago, that we had gotten my Dad some sort of medical alert bracelet with his name and our phone number on it. At that point he knew his name but probably couldn't tell someone that he was on his way to Ohio for a funeral on United Airlines. Just googled the options and there are bracelets now with GPS tracking! I hope you have a great time making a sweet memory for you. You can always eat up at Cabanas if you don't want to eat in the room or one of the main dining rooms, which I, personally, find to be too busy and noisy and not fun. But that's just me!

 

[lanejudy]

An HA cabin would have a roll-in shower, so no tub to step over. It would also have a bench and a hand-held. However, some people complain that the floor is always wet unless you put down lots of bath towels. Another option is to use the HA shower at the spa if you find the situation in your room doesn’t suit her needs. You may be able to request a bath stool; it may or may not be a style that works best for her.

I highly recommend bringing the walker. DCL does have some wheelchairs for emergency use, but to be sure she has what she needs it’s best to bring your own.

Brevard Medical (from Port Canaveral) Special Needs at Sea (most ports) should be able to supply and deliver to the ship mobility equipment and a bath chair.

Enjoy your cruise and I hope you make some special memories with your mom!

 

[southerngirl528]

An HA cabin would have a roll-in shower, so no tub to step over. It would also have a bench and a hand-held. However, some people complain that the floor is always wet unless you put down lots of bath towels. Another option is to use the HA shower at the spa if you find the situation in your room doesn’t suit her needs. You may be able to request a bath stool; it may or may not be a style that works best for her.

I highly recommend bringing the walker. DCL does have some wheelchairs for emergency use, but to be sure she has what she needs it’s best to bring your own.

Brevard Medical (from Port Canaveral) Special Needs at Sea (most ports) should be able to supply and deliver to the ship mobility equipment and a bath chair.

Enjoy your cruise and I hope you make some special memories with your mom!

Excellent advice for the OP!!

 

[Jennifer777]

I highly recommend bringing the walker. DCL does have some wheelchairs for emergency use, but to be sure she has what she needs it’s best to bring your own.

Brevard Medical (from Port Canaveral) Special Needs at Sea (most ports) should be able to supply and deliver to the ship mobility equipment and a bath chair.

This is super helpful, thank you! The only HA rooms left on our sailing are OV and Inside rooms and having concierge has been and will be a tremendous help so we're going to stay where we're at. I know she'll be fine in a Cat. T room as long as we can get our hands on a bath stool. I will contact Special Needs at Sea and get that and a walker reserved.

Not sure what 'level' your Mom is at but I wished, at the airport in Chicago, that we had gotten my Dad some sort of medical alert bracelet with his name and our phone number on it. At that point he knew his name but probably couldn't tell someone that he was on his way to Ohio for a funeral on United Airlines. Just googled the options and there are bracelets now with GPS tracking! I hope you have a great time making a sweet memory for you. You can always eat up at Cabanas if you don't want to eat in the room or one of the main dining rooms, which I, personally, find to be too busy and noisy and not fun. But that's just me!

Thank you! I feel very fortunate because my Mom still remembers me and she knows her name. She also knows she has Alzheimers and worries about getting lost so she usually stays close to us when we're outside home. She often remembers we are going on a cruise this fall, though she can't remember any of the details. Whenever she does remember, she is so excited! We are getting her a medical ID bracelet with GPS. We've also got a plan for keeping her close by one of us at all times, she will never be alone. My sister and I took her to NYC in May and it was a good trial run but also an eye opener. We learned we weren't adequately prepared. Hoping to do better this time around so we can keep her safe and she can have the most enjoyable time possible. Thanks again for your kind words and advice!

 

[Sunshine2U]

This warms my heart. I wish you lots of love on your trip. Definitely reach out to concierge. I suspect that they will refer you to shore based rental service. In that case the equipment should be delivered to your cabin and then picked up after the cruise.