Walker or Wheelchair on the ship?

[dsneygirl]

Hoping someone with experience can help. My mom is having knee replacement surgery in march after our cruise. Right now she is mobile but not really steady on her feet. For our cruise I thought maybe she would be better off with just a walker. It's the kind that makes a little seat as well if you are waiting in line (for pics, at the theatre) . Right now we are not planning on any excursions and we may not even go ashore in Nassau.

We are then hoping to get onto CC early enough to snag one of the sand wheelchairs for that day.

has anyone done the cruise before with a walker?

 

[truck1]

My grandfather, had bad knees when he traveled with us, several years ago. He used a ecv to get around with no problems.

1 thing Id be concerned with, is the possibility, that someone inadvertantly hits her, or her walker, or the ship shifts, and cause her to lose her balance, causing her to fall. There are several places where people could be in tight quarters,Like trying to get into and out of the elevators, waiting, in the hallway before a rest. opens etc.

With that in mind, Id say use the ECV for most of the trip,and keep the walker handy for short trips like to get the beach wheel chair.

 

[nydisneyfamilly]

i just got off the the wonder a few days ago and i had my mother in law in a wheel chair for most of the trip. if the walker will do i recomend it. one of the toughest parts of the wheelchair use is the elevators. at busy times we had to let several elevators go by till we could find one with room for a wheelchair in it and often had to break up our group or 5 to get where we were going. also the ship has breaks in the floors with steal saddles that arent the easiest to roll over with a wheelchair, i almost dumped my mother in law more than once if i wasnt paying attention!! of cours eif she isnt stable on her feet i wouldnt risk a fal but if a walker is ok thats how id go. of course this is just my $.02

 

[taswira]

My mom is elderly, can't walk long distances without resting, and sometimes gets a little off balance. This January we were on the Magic and she just used her cane, but I got very frustrated with her VERY slow pace (and I do TRY to be patient). In a couple of weeks we will be on the Wonder. This time she is taking her rollator - nice rolling walker with a seat and a little basket beneath it so she won't have to carry her bottle of water or whatever. It is lightweight and is not one of those wide models. She walks at a normal pace with the rollator. It also has brakes that can be locked. I'm not worried about someone bumping into her or the rollator. She holds onto the handlebars so unless she is literally rammed hard, she wouldn't be knocked off her feet. ECVs and wheelchairs are a lot more difficult to maneuver in a crowd and in narrow corridors or elevators.

However, my mom plans to use her cane when we go to dinner. She doesn't want to take the rollator into the dining rooms. That's just her choice. It would be fine if she did.

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

DH uses canes on a day-to-day basis, but a wheelchair on the cruise. On our first cruise, we brought the wheelchair for long distances, but thought he would be okay walking around the ship. Well, the ship jerked or rocked, he lost his balance and fell. Since then, we have used the wheelchair at all times. If your mother is comfortable with a walker, I would use that. But, I strongly suggest you use something.
I do agree with pp, that it can be hard to snag an elevator. But, sometimes you will find a compassioate group who will offer theirs. Have a great cruise!

 

[clten]

I would recommend getting a wheelchair for her. Even if the ship isn't moving much, you have to steady yourself a lot more than you notice. When I sailed last fall with a knee injury, I thought I was healing nicely but just having to steady myself put me in pain and set back my recovery.

We have sailed and used a wheelchair for my father (who can't walk long distances without a break). The elevators are the worst part. You need at least two people in addition to the person in the wheelchair. One to hold the elevator when it arrives and the other to push the wheelchair over (because it never fails that whichever side you are standing near, the elevator will arrive on the other side, and they don't wait long enough to get from one end to the other.) The midship elevators are the biggest but are also the busiest. We tried to use the forward or aft elevators when we could and also head out a little earlier during busy times (when everyone is heading for a deck party or dinner).

 

[mamawsnest]

We took my mother-in-law last October in a wheelchair. We also took her walker for use in the room. She is basically wheelchair bound but can walk short distances. We had no problems with either.
The room hosts would also move their carts when they saw us coming and a couple even helped with the elevators. Do whats comfortable for your family. Hopefully the rest of understand .

 

[dsneygirl]

My mom is elderly, can't walk long distances without resting, and sometimes gets a little off balance. This January we were on the Magic and she just used her cane, but I got very frustrated with her VERY slow pace (and I do TRY to be patient). In a couple of weeks we will be on the Wonder. This time she is taking her rollator - nice rolling walker with a seat and a little basket beneath it so she won't have to carry her bottle of water or whatever. It is lightweight and is not one of those wide models. She walks at a normal pace with the rollator. It also has brakes that can be locked. I'm not worried about someone bumping into her or the rollator. She holds onto the handlebars so unless she is literally rammed hard, she wouldn't be knocked off her feet. ECVs and wheelchairs are a lot more difficult to maneuver in a crowd and in narrow corridors or elevators.

However, my mom plans to use her cane when we go to dinner. She doesn't want to take the rollator into the dining rooms. That's just her choice. It would be fine if she did.

That is exactly the type my mother has.

Thanks everyone for all your tips, I wasn't taking into account when the ship is moving.

 

[pluto1979]

I have seen people with both walkers or wheelchairs and I would suggest a wheelchair. It makes it easier to get through guests as well as getting around on decks. In cases where the decks could be wet due to water spray, pools etc. it could be dangerous on a walker. It is also easier to get around in restaurants especially on the carpets, less slipping.

Hope this helps!

 

[taswira]

I have seen people with both walkers or wheelchairs and I would suggest a wheelchair. It makes it easier to get through guests as well as getting around on decks. In cases where the decks could be wet due to water spray, pools etc. it could be dangerous on a walker. It is also easier to get around in restaurants especially on the carpets, less slipping.

Hope this helps!

Hmmm. I've seen both and had the opposite impression. Not meaning to be contradictory, as it seems it is all in the perception. People I've seen in wheelchairs had a more difficult time space-wise in a crowd & elevators. I haven't seen anyone with wheels hanging around the pools where it was wet, but I've never noticed the decks being too slippery anyway as they are not a slick material. A good (and narrow) rollator with brakes & good wheels being used by someone wearing non-slip shoes is no more hazardous than any other wheels - in fact safer because you are standing on your own two feet, using the rollator only for a sense of security "just in case." If someone is so incapacitated that they have to lean on the rollator when they walk instead of properly standing up straight, then they are definitely better off in a wheelchair or ECV. I sure see your point if that is what you mean. My mom's rollator has not "slipped" anywhere in the many months she has been using it, but she will leave it in the room & use her cane when headed to the restaurants, which is perfectly do-able for her.

It's all a matter of with which "assistance device" one feels most comfortable.

 

[CADisneyMom]

I would have to say whichever your mother feels more comfortable with. If she feels that she will be steady enough with her little walker w/the seat then I would say to bring that. She could always bring both since she probably has good days and bad days and one day the walker may work for her but another day the wheelchair may be better suited for her. My daughter had knee surgery at the age of 12 and sometimes we wished she had a wheelchair to get around instead of the crutches because people just wouldn't move for her on crutches (rude). No matter what she decides to bring she will still have a good time.

 

[mdvlprof]

DH says you can scoot around when you're sitting on the seat of the rollator. Rollators have the benefit of being smaller than wheelchair, and are foldable. If only reason for rollator is 'just in case', no need for HC cabins, either.

 

[taswira]

DH says you can scoot around when you're sitting on the seat of the rollator. Rollators have the benefit of being smaller than wheelchair, and are foldable. If only reason for rollator is 'just in case', no need for HC cabins, either.

That's true, BUT . . . If you read the fine print in the instructions for most rollators, it will say NEVER to sit on it and scoot or move the wheels because it is not made to support the full body weight when moving and can damage the rollator, as well as possibly be unsafe. I think there are a few models you can "scoot" around on, but they specifically state that in their ads and are heavier.

 

[mdvlprof]

DH doesn't scoot distances. Just around the table, etc. Of course, its also an older, heavier model.