Cruise to Key West, Cozumel

paramoto · 04-06-2006, 05:02 PM

I am going on my first cruise. SCI T6 complete, 2 1/2 years out. Can anyone tell me how we can get off the ship safely in Key West and Cozumel? I understand both ports are docking ports. Also, my daughter wants to swim with dolphins in Cozumel, any tips?

shamrock88 · 04-06-2006, 10:10 PM

para, always wanted to go on a cruise, did you find some ships are more accessible etc. than others. My brother has spent considerable time at key West, I'll try to get some information.

Aly · 04-06-2006, 10:23 PM

I went on a cruise that stopped at both places and the staff was trained to help get you on and off. They flipped out when my friends helped me off because I don't like going down the ramps backwards like they are trained to do. I can't help with the dolphins, didn't do that.

SCI-Nurse · 04-07-2006, 12:48 AM

Since Hurricaine Katrina, Cozemel is not a docked port...it is tendered.

There is a shuttle in Key West that is accessible. Most of the town is pretty accessible. Remember you are in the USA here, so the ADA is in effect. Not so in Mexico. I know that some people have been able to get an accessible cab in Cozemel. Ask the other cab drivers when you arrive and they will call him for you (I am told). The botanical gardens at Chankanaab park are accessible, although unfortunately there is poor access for the snorkeling here (which is good). You can get into shops in Cozemel with help...many have a step up, so if you use a power chair you need to take your manual chair ashore and have someone with you who can help you up a step or two. Most people in Mexico are willing to help with stuff like this if you show them what to do. Learn a little Spanish...it does help.

You can get a lot of information on cruising....both general and disability information at www.cruisecritic.com. Check out the discussion forums for destinations and Disabled Cruisers.

(KLD)

paramoto · 04-07-2006, 03:36 PM

Shamrock, from what I have read anything that was built from the late 1990's should be fine. The newer the better. Some ships like the Voyager line from Royal Caribbean I understand are among the most accessible. They are a couple of years old with larger cabins close to the elevators. From what I am told, the concern is not the ship unless it is an older one. The problem is with the ports, docking, tendering, how you get down and how accessible the port will be once we are down. Like Kld says, Key West is ADA compliant, but there are very mixed accounts from other ports, so the more information you can have the better. I am going in July (first cruise too), so I can let you know how it goes then.

I have travelled twice since my injury, and I have found that I get really tired after the third or fourth day. It may be that I am not used to the activity so I started swimming three or four times a week for 15 or 20 minutes, hopefully getting more endurance little by little. I do about 200 or 250 yards per session, which does not seem like much, but I feel really tired when I am done. Then I try to rest for 20 minutes or so and I feel better with more energy after that.

paramoto · 04-07-2006, 03:38 PM

Aly, how steep are the ramps??

Aly · 04-07-2006, 04:16 PM

I remember one of them being very steep. I don't think we have pics, I'll see if anyone else that went with us has ay digitals of them. Not sure if anyone could have gotten up them without help, but like I said the staff are trained to help and I am not one to get help from strangers if possiable. Getting on the ship from Miami wasn't bad.

With Key West most places were accesable but you have to remember how the ADA is written, if the building is so old they do not have to modify it unless they have done xxx amount of dollars in construction since then.

I got off the ship at Cozummel but just went to the duty free shop and a little strip past there. I did not go into Cozumel.

SCI-Nurse · 04-07-2006, 04:43 PM

I have been on 15 cruise, and my parents are planning their 32nd. My mother is in a wheelchair (MS) so I go along now as her attendant, so we have seen a lot of ships and a lot of ports.

If they have a ramp, it may vary significantly in angle based on the time of day due to the tides. We have seen ramps up to 45 degrees in Alaska and South America. Sometimes there is no ramp, and you may get bumped or carried up/down vary narrow stairs. Anything over an 18" wheelchair will not fit. We have seen it take 6 crew to get a wheelchair up some of these ramps or stairs. You must be VERY directive about how to move or lift you in your chair. We always have to caution them to not lift by swing away foot plates or removable armrests. Often the crew helping with this (other than the officers) don't speak English, so you your body language and keep saying NO if they are doing it wrong.

Most cruise lines except Princess have a "Special Needs" office where you can ask very specific questions. We even got HAL to send us digital photos of the bathroom when we first booked with them.

Again, I would recommend the Cruise Critic discussion boards above. They have the best information including some "sticky" topics about various cruise lines and ports.

Ships build since 1995 are the best for access. There are more accessible cabins on ships built since 2000. Orient and Oceania suck for access. Avoid these lines. We have had the best success with HAL, Princess, Celebrity and RCCL. Remember that the ADA does not yet apply to cruise ships, in spite of the Supreme Court decision a year ago, because the regulations have yet to be published. Hearings were a year ago in July...it is taking a LONG time.

Accessible cabins book up many months ahead. Get your reservations in early.

(KLD)

paramoto · 04-08-2006, 02:36 PM

Thanks. I was not aware that Cozumel is now a tender port. Does that make it harder or easier, is it safe (in terms of tranferin in and out of the boat)?

SCI-Nurse · 04-08-2006, 08:10 PM

If it is rough, they won't let you go ashore at a tender port. The captain's word is law on this. If it is smooth, depending on the ship, they will either take you down a chair lift or elevator to the level of the tender and then lift your entire chair into the tender. You stay in your chair for the ride ashore. You must use a manual chair for this (no power chairs, no scooters if you are riding on one). Which ship/cruise line are you on?

The last I heard, it will be the end of the year at least until the pier at Cozemel is repaired.

(KLD)

04-06-2006, 05:02 PM	#1
paramoto Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,977	Cruise to Key West, Cozumel I am going on my first cruise. SCI T6 complete, 2 1/2 years out. Can anyone tell me how we can get off the ship safely in Key West and Cozumel? I understand both ports are docking ports. Also, my daughter wants to swim with dolphins in Cozumel, any tips?

04-06-2006, 10:23 PM	#3
Aly Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Radford, Va Posts: 2,112	I went on a cruise that stopped at both places and the staff was trained to help get you on and off. They flipped out when my friends helped me off because I don't like going down the ramps backwards like they are trained to do. I can't help with the dolphins, didn't do that. __________________ www.cawvsports.org The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. ~ Don Juan Matus We are Virginia Tech… We must laugh again… No one deserves a tragedy… We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid…We are better than we think and not quit what we want to be…We are the Hokies…We will prevail, we will prevail, we will prevail. We ARE Virginia Tech! ~ Nikki Giovanni

04-07-2006, 04:16 PM	#7
Aly Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Radford, Va Posts: 2,112	I remember one of them being very steep. I don't think we have pics, I'll see if anyone else that went with us has ay digitals of them. Not sure if anyone could have gotten up them without help, but like I said the staff are trained to help and I am not one to get help from strangers if possiable. Getting on the ship from Miami wasn't bad. With Key West most places were accesable but you have to remember how the ADA is written, if the building is so old they do not have to modify it unless they have done xxx amount of dollars in construction since then. I got off the ship at Cozummel but just went to the duty free shop and a little strip past there. I did not go into Cozumel. __________________ www.cawvsports.org The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. ~ Don Juan Matus We are Virginia Tech… We must laugh again… No one deserves a tragedy… We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid…We are better than we think and not quit what we want to be…We are the Hokies…We will prevail, we will prevail, we will prevail. We ARE Virginia Tech! ~ Nikki Giovanni

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04-06-2006, 10:10 PM	#2
shamrock88 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 171	para, always wanted to go on a cruise, did you find some ships are more accessible etc. than others. My brother has spent considerable time at key West, I'll try to get some information.

04-07-2006, 12:48 AM	#4
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,326	Since Hurricaine Katrina, Cozemel is not a docked port...it is tendered. There is a shuttle in Key West that is accessible. Most of the town is pretty accessible. Remember you are in the USA here, so the ADA is in effect. Not so in Mexico. I know that some people have been able to get an accessible cab in Cozemel. Ask the other cab drivers when you arrive and they will call him for you (I am told). The botanical gardens at Chankanaab park are accessible, although unfortunately there is poor access for the snorkeling here (which is good). You can get into shops in Cozemel with help...many have a step up, so if you use a power chair you need to take your manual chair ashore and have someone with you who can help you up a step or two. Most people in Mexico are willing to help with stuff like this if you show them what to do. Learn a little Spanish...it does help. You can get a lot of information on cruising....both general and disability information at www.cruisecritic.com. Check out the discussion forums for destinations and Disabled Cruisers. (KLD)

04-07-2006, 03:36 PM	#5
paramoto Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,977	Shamrock, from what I have read anything that was built from the late 1990's should be fine. The newer the better. Some ships like the Voyager line from Royal Caribbean I understand are among the most accessible. They are a couple of years old with larger cabins close to the elevators. From what I am told, the concern is not the ship unless it is an older one. The problem is with the ports, docking, tendering, how you get down and how accessible the port will be once we are down. Like Kld says, Key West is ADA compliant, but there are very mixed accounts from other ports, so the more information you can have the better. I am going in July (first cruise too), so I can let you know how it goes then. I have travelled twice since my injury, and I have found that I get really tired after the third or fourth day. It may be that I am not used to the activity so I started swimming three or four times a week for 15 or 20 minutes, hopefully getting more endurance little by little. I do about 200 or 250 yards per session, which does not seem like much, but I feel really tired when I am done. Then I try to rest for 20 minutes or so and I feel better with more energy after that.

04-07-2006, 03:38 PM	#6
paramoto Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,977	Aly, how steep are the ramps??

04-07-2006, 04:43 PM	#8
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,326	I have been on 15 cruise, and my parents are planning their 32nd. My mother is in a wheelchair (MS) so I go along now as her attendant, so we have seen a lot of ships and a lot of ports. If they have a ramp, it may vary significantly in angle based on the time of day due to the tides. We have seen ramps up to 45 degrees in Alaska and South America. Sometimes there is no ramp, and you may get bumped or carried up/down vary narrow stairs. Anything over an 18" wheelchair will not fit. We have seen it take 6 crew to get a wheelchair up some of these ramps or stairs. You must be VERY directive about how to move or lift you in your chair. We always have to caution them to not lift by swing away foot plates or removable armrests. Often the crew helping with this (other than the officers) don't speak English, so you your body language and keep saying NO if they are doing it wrong. Most cruise lines except Princess have a "Special Needs" office where you can ask very specific questions. We even got HAL to send us digital photos of the bathroom when we first booked with them. Again, I would recommend the Cruise Critic discussion boards above. They have the best information including some "sticky" topics about various cruise lines and ports. Ships build since 1995 are the best for access. There are more accessible cabins on ships built since 2000. Orient and Oceania suck for access. Avoid these lines. We have had the best success with HAL, Princess, Celebrity and RCCL. Remember that the ADA does not yet apply to cruise ships, in spite of the Supreme Court decision a year ago, because the regulations have yet to be published. Hearings were a year ago in July...it is taking a LONG time. Accessible cabins book up many months ahead. Get your reservations in early. (KLD)

04-08-2006, 02:36 PM	#9
paramoto Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,977	Thanks. I was not aware that Cozumel is now a tender port. Does that make it harder or easier, is it safe (in terms of tranferin in and out of the boat)?

04-08-2006, 08:10 PM	#10
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,326	If it is rough, they won't let you go ashore at a tender port. The captain's word is law on this. If it is smooth, depending on the ship, they will either take you down a chair lift or elevator to the level of the tender and then lift your entire chair into the tender. You stay in your chair for the ride ashore. You must use a manual chair for this (no power chairs, no scooters if you are riding on one). Which ship/cruise line are you on? The last I heard, it will be the end of the year at least until the pier at Cozemel is repaired. (KLD)