Wheelchair Acessible Cabin on Wonder 6154

[MODisneyfan]

 

[cats mom]

Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

What was your overall experience as far as accessibility goes on DCL?
What about...

Lifeboat Drill
Castaway Cay
Dining rooms
Shows
Parties
Ports
Anything else I'm forgetting

My FIL will be cruising DCL with us soon. He can get around with a walker if necessary, but he uses his chair almost exclusively.
Unfortunately all the accessible cabins were gone by the time he decided to join us.
I'm sure he will need to make some adjustments, especially since I understand his chair will likely not even fit through the door of the cabin, but does DCL do a pretty good job of making accomodations?

 

[SueM in MN]

thanks for sharing.

 

[dclfun]

Yes, thanks for sharing. Loved the saying on your t-shirt! We've been in that stateroom a few times. Unfortunately some able bodied folks have seen the verandah or the square footage of that stateroom and reserve it ( some even do it on a regular basis) without needing the accommodations just because it's larger. It's sad and I hope that for the poster who couldn't get an accessible stateroom on her cruise for her FIL it was due to others truly needing them. They are limited so it's best to reserve asap if you know you need one, which I realize isn't always possible as they do book quickly.

I'm not the OP but I can answer some of the questions. For the lifeboat drill if you're in your stateroom beforehand you'll get a call from a crew member offering assistance. Take them up on it! Someone will escort you to the muster station. Your station will likely be inside Animator's Palate. You'll be seated towards the front of the restaurant and someone will come over to tell you and other guests with w/c's that you're welcome to leave a bit early. Take them up on it! There's a mad rush for the elevators. Sometimes we don't want to miss the sailaway party afterwards so if you have a person who can bring all the lifejackets back to the stateroom then the person in a w/c might want to head straight up to deck 9 or 10 afterwards to get a good seat by the stage. ( there's a raised platform area with railing on deck 9 that's nice for observation ). For the theater shows there is seating in the back and also up front if you can transfer. For front row seating you need to be there early as a crew member will have to escort you down the elevator to get there. For the movie theater there's designated seating in the rear. The restaurants are all accessible. The only trouble I've ever had is with elevators and rude people who will run in front of you even if you were waiting first, or elevators that come full and people won't get out, even to walk up/down one flight of stairs. Once you're at your destination though you should be fine but it IS best to travel with an able bodied person who can assist you with some of the doors, etc. As to the ports of call, it depends on which ports you're visiting as to how accessible they are. Remember that other countries don't have to follow the ADA.---Kathy

 

[cats mom]

Kathy,
Thanks for the reply. Lots of good info!

I was surprised when there was not an accessible cabin left in any category when I called at 10 months out. I guess you really have to plan ahead.

I ended up putting my in-laws on deck 5 aft near the little seating area outside the movie theatre. Hopefully that shorter hallway will be a bit easier to navigate.

We hardly ever use the elevators, but I will be sure to remind my family to be thoughtful should they encounter someone who must rely on them. That's got to be extremely frustrating.

 

[dclfun]

I hope the res agent you spoke with or your t/a if you have one waitlisted the accessible stateroom for your parents. Sometimes people cancel and they do work the waitlist and try and fulfill those requests. Sounds like this must be a really popular cruise date to have all those staterooms gone at 10 months out. As an alternative though you did choose a great location for them.---Kathy

 

[merryweather20]

I hope the res agent you spoke with or your t/a if you have one waitlisted the accessible stateroom for your parents. Sometimes people cancel and they do work the waitlist and try and fulfill those requests. Sounds like this must be a really popular cruise date to have all those staterooms gone at 10 months out. As an alternative though you did choose a great location for them.---Kathy

I was sort of worried if even the walker would fit through the door to the state room and the door to the washroom.

I've used a rollator like this:
http://www.activelite.com/NexusIII_Rollator.htm

It collapses by pulling the strap in the middle so I can could "cheat" and get through narrower door-ways fairly easily.

Hopefully you'll be able to wait list for a room as Kathy suggested. Lots of luck and Pixie dust for that