Thanks. We've really enjoyed cruising over the years. You can see our experiences on Holland America here as well. We've mainly cruised with Carnival but, unfortunately, that was before we were recording. Gotta have the pizza during a cruise!
Thank you for all the details!! It helps me if I can visualize what will happen when we arrive. Did you guys use wheelchair assistance? If so can you give some details on how that went? At what point do you meet them to get wheelchair assistance?
We actually did have wheelchair assist. As we were entering the main checkin building, the employees asked if we would like assistance. Sometimes it takes a little while, depending on how busy they are, to get the assistance but they will guide you to an area to sit and wait - this one took about 10 minutes. Once the wheelchair arrives, they will push that person through the security area, to the checkin area, and then onto the ship. Once on the ship, you have to get out of the chair as they don't take you further and the chair will be returned to pus the next persion. But it certainly does help getting onto the ship. On our previous Holland America cruise, the wait time was closer to an hour but there were many people waiting (maybe 10-15 people ahead of us) for a wheelchair so they kept having to wait until one pushed on the the ship was returned down to take the next person. Even with the longer wait time, they were well organized! And we had arrived early anyway but they told us to go on in.
Thank you so much for your reply! That helps me a lot. I wasn’t sure if I would have to go through security first or not. I will have a rollator walker with me and hubby will push that. Do you remember if they have somewhere to put my carryon on the wheelchair?
@dawnwelsh3801 The carryon will have to be carried. If it can sit on the walker your husband pushes, that might be an option. Or if you can carry it on your lap while being pushed in the wheelchair, that could also be another option. But you will get the wheelchair before security and they will assist all the way to the ship. You and the luggage still have to go through the scanners too.
I found this video full of useful information.
Have never been on a cruise.
Plan to and will use your video as a guide.
Did someone mention pizza ?
Thanks. We've really enjoyed cruising over the years. You can see our experiences on Holland America here as well. We've mainly cruised with Carnival but, unfortunately, that was before we were recording.
Gotta have the pizza during a cruise!
Thank you for all the details!! It helps me if I can visualize what will happen when we arrive. Did you guys use wheelchair assistance? If so can you give some details on how that went? At what point do you meet them to get wheelchair assistance?
We actually did have wheelchair assist. As we were entering the main checkin building, the employees asked if we would like assistance. Sometimes it takes a little while, depending on how busy they are, to get the assistance but they will guide you to an area to sit and wait - this one took about 10 minutes. Once the wheelchair arrives, they will push that person through the security area, to the checkin area, and then onto the ship. Once on the ship, you have to get out of the chair as they don't take you further and the chair will be returned to pus the next persion. But it certainly does help getting onto the ship.
On our previous Holland America cruise, the wait time was closer to an hour but there were many people waiting (maybe 10-15 people ahead of us) for a wheelchair so they kept having to wait until one pushed on the the ship was returned down to take the next person. Even with the longer wait time, they were well organized! And we had arrived early anyway but they told us to go on in.
Thank you so much for your reply! That helps me a lot. I wasn’t sure if I would have to go through security first or not. I will have a rollator walker with me and hubby will push that. Do you remember if they have somewhere to put my carryon on the wheelchair?
@dawnwelsh3801 The carryon will have to be carried. If it can sit on the walker your husband pushes, that might be an option. Or if you can carry it on your lap while being pushed in the wheelchair, that could also be another option. But you will get the wheelchair before security and they will assist all the way to the ship. You and the luggage still have to go through the scanners too.