I have added a new page to this blog "Accessibility Information on Cruising" I want to give people as much information as possible about accessibility on cruise ships. The questions and queries that I have are nothing out the norm and I cannot understand why cruise lines do not give this information out freely to disabled customers before their cruise.
I am not criticising any one website but I have found much information on facilities to be generalised, I want to give specific information on cruise ships.
Tuesday 28 April 2015
Monday 27 April 2015
Cases Are All Packed!!
Cruise day is almost here! We have 4 days until we leave our home for an overnight hotel stay in Kent before heading down to Southampton's Ocean Cruise Terminal to join Britannia on Saturday (May 2nd).
Today (Sunday) we have just about finished packing. We said that on this cruise we would cut back on the clothes that we would take but It doesn't seem to have happened. We have 1 large case, 1 medium case, 1 small case and one large holdall plus a back pack, 1 wheelchair back pack and a vanity case. The hardest part is that each piece has to weigh no more than 20kg and because of this restriction we had to do a bit of Juggling with the clothes but we finally got there and then next Saturday we have to unpack the lot; are we mad or what!! Apart from a few bits and bobs we are ready to go. I have created a reminder door with lots of post it notes stuck to it to remind me of things we have to do before Friday. I am very organised when it comes to preparation and information, you can never do enough in my mind.
Both of us are now considered seasoned cruisers and know exactly what we want from this ship and have done extensive research of what facilities she has on offer. I have my blue cruise folder ready to go with everything we need from E-Tickets to Passports and information about every port we are visiting.
Tomorrow we are going into town to run a last few errands at the post office, bank and chemist. Even though we are both good travellers we still like to have motion sickness tablets as a just in case thing.
To be continued....
-1422001677.jpeg) |
| This is a "G" grade cabin type |
Both of us are now considered seasoned cruisers and know exactly what we want from this ship and have done extensive research of what facilities she has on offer. I have my blue cruise folder ready to go with everything we need from E-Tickets to Passports and information about every port we are visiting.
Tomorrow we are going into town to run a last few errands at the post office, bank and chemist. Even though we are both good travellers we still like to have motion sickness tablets as a just in case thing.
To be continued....
Wednesday 22 April 2015
10 Days and Counting!!
I can't believe that our cruise is almost upon us and suddenly I feel panic as I wonder if we have enough time to pack everything we need. At this point (10 days to go) we have packed 1 case and partially packed 2 more cases. We leave our very large one until last as this holds all our evening gowns and formal wear and this will be packed over this weekend.
Around
our bungalow there are carrier bags with things that we wish take such as chargers and a 4 way electric socket, this is a must on any cruise as there is never enough sockets. We also take with us a supply of our favourite welsh tea which is not available on board ship. I do not bother with taking coffee as there good quality coffee served on the ship. We are also taking a bottle of two of Prosecco to have on our balcony.
The other item you will probably need to take are extra clothes hangers as there are never enough. We like to take our own which include padded hangers for the evening wear but if you ask your cabin attendant they will arrange for extra wire hangers for you to use. Like a lot of people I prefer to use my own hairdryer but one is supplied. I alway have in my handbag a hand sanatiser, they are everywhere on the ship but I like to have one at hand.
Today my new wheelchair backpack was delivered. It is much bigger than my current one and has proper carry handles. I like to do a dry run about a week before just to make sure that everything fits in that I want to take as there is no point in leaving it until the last moment and then PANIC!!! I can report that everything does fit and I breathed a sigh of relief!
Around
1251605365.jpeg) |
| A must take item on any cruise! |
The other item you will probably need to take are extra clothes hangers as there are never enough. We like to take our own which include padded hangers for the evening wear but if you ask your cabin attendant they will arrange for extra wire hangers for you to use. Like a lot of people I prefer to use my own hairdryer but one is supplied. I alway have in my handbag a hand sanatiser, they are everywhere on the ship but I like to have one at hand.
Today my new wheelchair backpack was delivered. It is much bigger than my current one and has proper carry handles. I like to do a dry run about a week before just to make sure that everything fits in that I want to take as there is no point in leaving it until the last moment and then PANIC!!! I can report that everything does fit and I breathed a sigh of relief!
Friday 10 April 2015
Britannia - Access to Sports Deck for Disabled Passengers
I may be wrong but studying the deck plans for P&O's Britannia indicates that the Sports Deck has the promenade running around the edge and it appears not to be accessible for disabled or mobility challenged cruisers. I hope I am wrong but I fear I may be right. For a few weeks now I have done my usual research that I do before every cruise, some people say that I am a bit OTT but I have found you need to do a hell of a lot of research if you are disabled because the information is simply not there.
I emailed my cruise agent to see if she knew if there was a "platform lift" from the sun deck up to the sports deck but from what she can remember from her visit to Britannia there isn't. If this is the case I am disappointed with P&O, after all they have a "platform lift" on the Azura from the aqua deck to the sun deck and on Ventura from the sun deck to the sports deck. The other thing I have noticed that neither of the lifts are shown on the deck plans. I remember finding out about these "secret" lifts from a forum and again it might be nice to have been told of there existence by P&O.
As disabled cruisers we are expected to comply with certain rules and restrictions set out by cruise lines. For me it was completing a questionnaire and giving detailed measurements of my wheelchair and any aids that I will be bringing. Once complete I emailed it to P&O and I received a reply saying that if I didn't hear from them within two weeks everything was OK and that was it. That was 4 months ago. I had the disabled excursions come through in February and that is another topic to tackle at another time. It would be nice to have more information from P&O as I feel I have been forgotten. I am a partial wheelchair user but can manage a shower in a non-accessible cabin leaving accessible cabins for my fellow travellers who need the space. Once you have registered your disability, condition or illness with P&O I think they should keep in contact with you for updates etc. I am on Britannia at the beginning of May for a fortnight and I have list of things that I will be checking out. So please keep checking back.
I emailed my cruise agent to see if she knew if there was a "platform lift" from the sun deck up to the sports deck but from what she can remember from her visit to Britannia there isn't. If this is the case I am disappointed with P&O, after all they have a "platform lift" on the Azura from the aqua deck to the sun deck and on Ventura from the sun deck to the sports deck. The other thing I have noticed that neither of the lifts are shown on the deck plans. I remember finding out about these "secret" lifts from a forum and again it might be nice to have been told of there existence by P&O.
As disabled cruisers we are expected to comply with certain rules and restrictions set out by cruise lines. For me it was completing a questionnaire and giving detailed measurements of my wheelchair and any aids that I will be bringing. Once complete I emailed it to P&O and I received a reply saying that if I didn't hear from them within two weeks everything was OK and that was it. That was 4 months ago. I had the disabled excursions come through in February and that is another topic to tackle at another time. It would be nice to have more information from P&O as I feel I have been forgotten. I am a partial wheelchair user but can manage a shower in a non-accessible cabin leaving accessible cabins for my fellow travellers who need the space. Once you have registered your disability, condition or illness with P&O I think they should keep in contact with you for updates etc. I am on Britannia at the beginning of May for a fortnight and I have list of things that I will be checking out. So please keep checking back.
Thursday 9 April 2015
An upgrade, a new evening bag and 23 days to go!!
On previous cruises we have pre chosen our cabin but on this cruise we decided to book a guaranteed cabin which meant we saved around £700. The cabin was GE grade (Deluxe Balcony Cabin) and as no one had cruised on Britannia we thought we would take the chance.
On 2nd April I went into my details at the website and to my surprise we have been allocated our cabin and we have been given an upgrade to a GD grade cabin. The cabin is E618 it is the same type cabin that we had paid for but in a better position on the ship.
I always say things happen for a reason. This cabin is on E Deck and this is our 4th cruise with P&O and we always have cabins on this deck. Six is Karen's birthday and considered a lucky number by us. Eighteen is our bungalow number. So I am very pleased with the cabin
number.
A couple of weeks ago we got our cases out in preparation for starting to pack. We started to pack swimwear and accessories such as handbags. It was only then that I realised that an evening bag that Mum had bought me a few years ago has some sequins missing, I was devaastated to find it this way as I am always very careful when putting it away. I fear it cannot be mended but I cannot throw it away. I have just bought another bag for the cruise. It won't replace the bag that Mum bought but I am sure she would like it. I am now done buying for this cruise. We only have the odd toiletries to buy. I cannot believe it is only 23 days away. Mum always said done wish your life away but I just can't wait!
On 2nd April I went into my details at the website and to my surprise we have been allocated our cabin and we have been given an upgrade to a GD grade cabin. The cabin is E618 it is the same type cabin that we had paid for but in a better position on the ship.
I always say things happen for a reason. This cabin is on E Deck and this is our 4th cruise with P&O and we always have cabins on this deck. Six is Karen's birthday and considered a lucky number by us. Eighteen is our bungalow number. So I am very pleased with the cabin
 |
| My new bag |
A couple of weeks ago we got our cases out in preparation for starting to pack. We started to pack swimwear and accessories such as handbags. It was only then that I realised that an evening bag that Mum had bought me a few years ago has some sequins missing, I was devaastated to find it this way as I am always very careful when putting it away. I fear it cannot be mended but I cannot throw it away. I have just bought another bag for the cruise. It won't replace the bag that Mum bought but I am sure she would like it. I am now done buying for this cruise. We only have the odd toiletries to buy. I cannot believe it is only 23 days away. Mum always said done wish your life away but I just can't wait!
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