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Trip on a Ship

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  • January 3, 2011 at 2:14 pm #73406
    Trip on a Ship

    After a poor health 2010, I would like to go on a cruize in 2011 before my health gets any worse.

    I have never been abroad and feel at 28 its time I lived a little. So I am looking for some input and experiences from you guys and if you could answer a few questions for me. :D

    1. What cruise lines are good to go with?
    2. What ones have good disabled access?
    3. I use a ventilator, will that be permitted on board?
    4. I use a power scooter (smallish boots scooter) can I use it on board?
    5. Does any of the ships rent out powerchairs or scooters?
    6. Does anyone know of a travel company who specialises in disabled bookings?
    7. Will I need any kind or special insurance for the ventilator or scooter?
    8. What about travel health insurance, where do I get that?

    Sorry for all the questions, my mother normally deals with this stuff but shes afraid of going far from home and just wont fly. So I’m trying to gather my own research and convince her its a good idea ;)

    I did go into a Thomas Cook to enquire about cruise trips leaving from Scotland but the woman just chucked a couple of brochures at me, and turned walked away. :evil:

    Cat
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    January 3, 2011 at 2:43 pm #78348
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    Try this web site they have cruises on there

    Accessibile Travel & Leisure

    Vicki
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    January 3, 2011 at 5:04 pm #78349
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    I am also wanting to do the cruise thing. Last year I came across a blog written by someone with MD who sailed to the US and back.

    http://hastienewyork.blogspot.com/2010/05/day-1-all-aboard.html

    It is a really good read and gave me a bit of a taste of what to expect, facilities on the ship etc. I now think a cruise is definitely do-able for me :) I’d better get saving!

    A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams

    sar78 sar78
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    January 3, 2011 at 5:32 pm #78350
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    I’ve often been on cruises with my ventilator but all of them have been on Baltic Sea.

    hartwig
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    January 4, 2011 at 9:17 pm #78351
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    I’ve often been on cruises with my ventilator but all of them have been on Baltic Sea.

    it was a Norway Fjords trip I was looking at as its a shorter trip and leaves from scotland and dont have to fly to meet it. do you know if the ports are disabled friendly.

    thanks

    cat

    Cat
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    January 4, 2011 at 9:43 pm #78352
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    My friend and her husband did the Fjords. The ship sailed from Southampton, they are both disabled. The only problems she had if I remember correctly is her electric chair wouldn’t go up the gang plank very well so the char had to be lifted on and then she was lifted on, by her carers i think. She also found that doing day trips off the ship was problematic as they wouldn’t or couldn’t arrange accessible transport and if transport was arrange she had to pay extra cost and sometimes full cost even if transport was included because it was specialised.

    Sorry hope I haven’t put dampner on it!!

    Vicki
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    January 4, 2011 at 10:43 pm #78353
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    Well, I haven’t been in Norway but I assume that ports itself can be accessible. Other question is indeed the transport services for wheelchair users. In 2008 I was in Stockholm, Sweden, and in fact we couldn’t even get a wheelchair taxi because in order to travel by a specially equipped taxi I should have been a customer of city social services which I naturally wasn’t because I was there as a tourist. Fortunately the underground network in the city is relatively large and there was three or four stops to reach the port so we used it.

    hartwig
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    January 5, 2011 at 12:48 pm #78344
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    Sorry hope I haven’t put dampner on it!!

    no no. this is the info Im looking for. would rather know of problems before I go. the travel agents just want to sell you a holiday they dont really care if the area has good access as long as your accommodation meets company policy.

    Another problem ive meet is that the ships that leave from glasgow and edinburgh are older ships and probably are less disabled freindly than the newer ones that leave from southhampton.

    http://www.specialneedsatsea.com/index.cfm/reserve-equipment/powerchair-rentals/
    I came accross the above in my research, has anyone every hired a powerchair or scooter on holiday. is it very expensive.

    Cat
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    January 5, 2011 at 2:57 pm #78345
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    I’ve never hired a powerchair but I have a shower chair. It wasn’t very comfy as it wasn’t specific to me. I took my own to Singapore. I think this would be the same for a power chair/scooter unless you could try it before you go so you could get comfy rather than trying to do it on holiday.

    Vicki
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    January 6, 2011 at 5:13 pm #78346
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    hi vicki :- rentals

    Heard all these bad things about chairs being damaged in planes etc.. I thought it would be easier to hire a small folding one from my local shop mobility and a power one for the trip to get me about. My scooters ok in and out of a few shops but not to sit in all day.the way I would on holiday and I would be worried it would get damaged. and also shops and restaurants aren’t all that good at letting scooters inside and Im having trouble walking about.. :?

    Cat
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    January 6, 2011 at 6:38 pm #78347
    Re: Trip on a Ship

    The only problem with renting is they often won’t let you take them abroad as they don’t have insurance to cover this. It may be a trial error thing with contacting different companies and seeing what they say. Also bear in mind that if they do let you, you may have to put down a deposit for any possible damage that may occur and this might be a bit pricey as your taking the item out of the country.

    Vicki
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