Royal Carribean Cruise Experience, "No Problem Man"

By John Quackenbush, PALS

My name is John Quackenbush and I have legs onset ALS. A recent newsletter from the ALS chapter had a blip about Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines wanting to extend an invitation to the mobility impaired to join them on a cruise. They provided a special phone number for their accessibility desk. The people at this desk could not have been more helpful. The questions asked about my status and mobility were done in a very caring and professional manner. They do want to give their accessible rooms to those that need them and not to those with a sprained ankle. These rooms are twice the size of a regular state room with wider doors, bigger bathrooms, grab bars, shower chair, and other needed features. Before you knew it, we had signed up for two nights in the hotel and a seven day cruise to the western Caribbean leaving from Tampa.

The trip started with the first flight of the Day at 6:15am on Delta. The cruise lines take advantage of the fact that the cheapest fares are on the first flight of the day. The airport personel with Delta and the airport security were very helpful and professional. On arrival in Tampa, my wife and I were meet at the baggage claim area by a RCCL representative. They helped us from baggage claim to our transportation to the hotel. It was a Yellow cab with a ramp in back for my wheelchair and me. This same driver and cab took us from the hotel to the pier and after the cruise back to the airport. The hotel had our accessible room ready. The room was a standard accessible room found at most hotels.

On cruise day we were picked up at the appointed time 11am for the cab ride to the pier. At the pier we were meet by an RCCL representative who showed us to the elevator and then to the sign-in desk. The sign-in procedure could not have been smoother. We were on the ship and in the Windjammer having lunch at 11:50am. The people involved appeared to have special training to deal with those with mobility issues. If not, they have a large number of very caring people.

Our room on the ship was complete in every way. Smooth carpet floor with plenty of room for my wheelchair. The ship has many different passage ways, some easy to get through, others going to the same area have large thresholds making it difficult to maneuver the wheelchair. These could have been identified by the access symbol. The inside swimming pool had a lift for the mobility impaired. The lift only took you half way to the pool. Need to have some ability to move on your own to use this lift.

The people who worked in the dining rooms were extremely helpful. They had to have some special training in dealing with the mobility impaired.

The first stop was Georgetown, Grand Caymen Island. We went ashore in a local tender with no problems. The folks on the tender helped get you on and off. The trolley tour that we signed up for went very well. The tour lasted about one hour. There was no room on the trolley so had to leave my wheelchair with Leo at the pier. The only stop was at a beach but could not have gotten through the sand with the wheelchair anyway. When we returned to the pier, Leo was waiting with the wheelchair – no problem man.

As far as I know I was the only ALS person on board, many others have walkers, wheelchairs and scooters. Some have rented small scooters from local medical suppliers and had them delivered to the ship. Others living close by brought them from home when driving to the pier. Having seen this, I would have rented a scooter and saved my wife and friends the trouble of pushing me around. Smaller airplanes such as regional jets can not carry power wheelchairs or scooters, so be sure to check with your airline before travel. The trip may include a connecting airport and you should make sure of the connections with your power conveyance.

Costa Maya is a new stop for cruise ships . This stop is mostly shops and some Mexican heritage displays. There was a pool and swimming in the ocean available. Tours can take you to the Mayan ruins and other historic areas. This site is not accessible for the mobility impaired.

I found Belize to be the most friendly for the mobility impaired. The tour guides could not have been more caring and helpful! The trams had a driver and guide. At each stop one or the other would stay with me and explain what was being seen and heard by others in the non-accessible areas. A touch of class for this tour operator in Belize! Cozumel is very similar to Grand Caymen. It is a resort and has all the bells and whistles.

The process of leaving the ship and reclaiming luggage was done without any problems. Clearing through customs went very well. The trip home on Delta again went very well. The trip was absolutely wonderful and a big thank you to RCCL and the folks at the accessibility desk for making this a special time for my wife and I!

* Helpful Hints for RCCL: 1, The shower chair could be a few inches higher for ease in getting up. 2, The long wall from the bathroom door to the sink could have a grab bar on it. 3, There needs to be more informed people at the tour desk. On this cruise only one person at the tour desk seemed to be informed about mobility issues on the tours. This is a tuff call since all of us are at different levels of mobility. On RCCL’s Baltic capitols cruise, they had tours set up for mobility impaired individuals and their care givers. Special vans were used and best of all the mobility impaired did not slow down others on the same tour. 4, The passage ways could be identified as accessible by use of a symbol. 5, I could not get my wheelchair over several thresholds on decks 4, 5 and 9 without assistance.
The one inch rise on the threshold was just too high to get over without assistance. The thresholds could have a ramp of sorts for scooters and wheelchairs. These do not need to be the full width of the opening but 36 inches would be fine. These could be used by saying to the mobility group think PORT or left when coming to a threshold. The “ramp” would be on the left side.

-John Quackenbush

Sunset Beach, NC

Legions of the Sea, Sail date February 10, 2007