Royal Caribbean Key Club

MY .02. Its 24.95 per person, per day. I think that's outrageous. you do the math. My wife travels with a cane, not a scooter and so we get handicapped boarding. get in touch with RCI and talk to them re the limited mobility help at the port you're embarking from. Every line offers those services, some just do it better than others. Be aware that the piers at the ports you'll be visiting are VERY long. Its a factor when deciding to get off or access to a tour. The ports that require tenders is a separate issue. I saw quire a few people in scooters on the larger tenders. It didn't look like it was much fun, but by God they did it. more power to em. The short answer to your question is they try to accommodate folks with issues. I think this is just another way to separate you from your $$. We are considering changing from NCL to RCI in the future when Galveston is completed, so your query was of interest to me. good luck!!

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I will definitely need to give RCI a call. I had forgotten to consider how long the piers and some of the ports are to navigate through, so that will be another factor for this trip. We are only visiting Bermuda, so at least I only need to figure out embarking port Baltimore and Kings Wharf. Itinerary says docked, so thankfully not a tender. I just need to get Mom's feet in the pink sand and blue water if only for a couple of hours! I got the Key on sale for 19.99 pp , will hang onto it until I get more info. May cancel if it turns out we don't need - they have plenty of other opportunities to get me to spend my $$

Kings Wharf is a very easy place for getting on and off. Basically there are two births, one in front of the other and right in the middle of the two the road comes up and loops. This is where all drop offs and pickups occur. There are always taxis and shuttles waiting there as well as buses and the port itself is fairly flat and very close by with lots of shops. Was there in November and absolutely loved it. Hope you enjoy.

I think its wonderful you taking her. Just go thru literally every single step of the trip...as in "how to". Some piers have jitneys and lil trams...mostly run by locals for tips..they don't look like they'd accommodate a scooter. And if its your 4th, you may be a newbie compared to some folks who have skeighty-eight, but it puts you light years ahead of most true newbies who plan nothing, do no homework, and proceed to blame the cruise line for their own negligence. Come to think of it, theres veteran cruisers who do the same thing.

Thank you both OldGreyWolf and Yankee47 this information is so helpful and appreciated! I'm going to ask RC if they have a folding wheelchair I can take her in just for Bermuda pier to drop offs. I'm thinking she'll be fine to get in a taxi or shuttle van to Horseshoe Bay, where I've read they have the sand wheelchairs and umbrellas for rent. First 2 cruises were many years ago, but hubby and I just took one early Feb and after we got home I decided I have to take mom. Trying to think of all the little things that could come up - having this cruiseline community is invaluable!

I took my dad on Explorer of the Seas back in September. Dad split his time between a wheelchair and a walker.

We did not buy the key, and I would not seriously consider it given the cost.

All of the shows and dining rooms had wheelchair seating. Further the "key" areas weren't wheelchair accessible from what I could tell.

The crew did a great job of assisting whenever he was on a gangway. That said, some gangways are pretty narrow and would be difficult for a wheelchair. Dad was able to walk down the gangways so we did not have to deal with that problem. All of our ports were docked, so there were no tenders either.

A bigger problem is the staterooms. The doors are narrower than you typically find on shore and the rooms much tighter.

We got dad an accessible stateroom, and it made all of the difference. He couldn't even use his walker in my standard balcony room. Wheelchair wouldn't go through the door at all. However, these were not problems in his accessible cabin.

One more comment. The accessible stateroom door was plenty big enough for the wheelchair, but the door closer was very heavy. Dad was unable to open it without help.

I would also contact a Royal Caribbean rep or the Crown & Anchor Society and In form them of your Mom's needs. They will email you a "Special Needs Form". They have many items in that form that I'm sure will help. It covers items from allergies to mobility issues to dietary needs to storing medications that needs refrigeration and much more. Hope this helps.

Some really good advice to consider here.

Thank you steverk, really helpful information! I was lucky able to get us an accessible room. I was hoping that the door would stay open - seems like that should be a requirement, it's awfully hard to push your wheelchair while holding a door open. Maybe our ship will have them.

I found the form, thank you!