Travel With A Scooter

[bludnut]

Good morning,

For those of you who have been asking about travel problems, especially insurance, just stick to your guns to get what you deserve. Like most of you we were having problems getting insurance. Our previous company Staysure wouldn't even give us a quote. All Clear came in at over £4,000, others were around that price. Eventually, after reading a post on here, I went to our bank Nationwide and that solved our problems. I then had problems trying to find a cabin on our upcoming P&O Cruise to the Caribbean in October.I was told that I would have to have an accessible cabin, one which is much larger that a normal one, but doesn't have a balcony. Being inside, or having to get up to a higher deck to get outside didn't sound like a good holiday for us, so I asked for a normal cabin. At first this was refused, so I went on the Carnival website to look at their information about Folding Scooters. I found out that my new folding scooter fitted inside their recommended measurements, and weight limit. Armed with this information, I challenged P&O to find us a balcony cabin for the four week cruise. They finally agreed and we now have a balcony cabin. I was having the same discussion with Cunard for a cruise next year on Queen Anne. Again we faced the same problems, being told that we couldn't have a balcony cabin with a scooter. So I again told them that my scooter fitted inside the dimensions and weight limits on the Carnival website. I was then allowed to choose our balcony cabin, which we then discovered on this new ship is also an accessible one, win win. My message is, that whatever you require or belive your needs are, stick to your guns, persevere. If any of you are thinking that we have loads of money to take cruise holidays, we haven't. I was told at age 50, that after 34 years working underground, I was 'unfit for work'. That meant that I could never get a job because any employer wouldn't be able to get insurance cover for me.Therefor we have had to live on my superannuation which I had to take early. Therefor take your time and look at what cruises have to offer.You can get a cruise to the Canaries for under £1500, and on board you will find excellant medical facilities, the cost of which if needed can be covered by travel insurance. I have just seen a cruise to the Caribbean for £1299 for 14 nights, probably cheaper than a staycation and lotts of sunny islands.

Sorry for the length of this, but I just wanted to give you hope of what you can achieve with a bit of self beliefe, and don't take no for an answer.

bludnut

[10gingercats]

We were speaking about this attitude this very morning. GP requested an appoint in a specific depart. at the hospital.Hospital decided to shiff husband to another more minor dept that will not address his issues.After a few phone calls and 'a bit of a to do' he now has an appoint .where he wishes .A tel call this very morning brought on an apologetic secretary of senior consultant and appoint now scheduled for next Tuesday and not close to Christmas. As you say keep fighting for what you need and do not be put off.

'

[bludnut in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks 10 gingercats,

I had a similar problem with one of our GPs when I asked for a scan or x-ray because of severe chest pain. He said 'NO what do you expect at your age,it's arthritis'. A few months later I asked again, and managed to have an x-ray. That proved that my osteo arthritis in my spine had Deteriated Significantly, just keep taking your medication was his advice.I was eventually diagnosed with Angina on a cruise last october and we have now changed to a different practice.

bludnut

[RufusScamp]

Well done for persisting, and thanks for sharing the information. I hope you have a wonderful holiday(s)!

[bludnut in reply to RufusScamp]

Thanks Rufus, and as we are sailing to and from the Caribbean, we will not be caught up in any delays at an airport.

bludnut

[Blearyeyed]

That's really great advice, very inspiring, especially for myself as I love to travel and I am hoping to try to do that again soon.Just out of interest , what did your insurance cost in the end, I'm trying to work out exactly how much I need to budget to afford annual travel. Thanks and Bon Voyage , Bee

[bludnut in reply to Blearyeyed]

Hi Blearyeyed,

We had to change our usual Flex account with Nationwide to their Nationwide Flex Plus account. The Flex Plus allows us to take advantage of their Worldwide holiday insurance. We had to pay an upfront £ 240 to cover my angina and spondilosis, and then we pay £13 / month. Compare that to Staysures £ 4,000 +, and you can see why we changed. That cost of using Staysure, would have been more than a normal two week cruise for both of us.Just out of interest for any of you that take cruises, or are thinking of taking one, and maybe use a High Street Holiday shop, we use a dedicated Cruise only Company, and for the past 23 years have never booked with anyone else. Our reason for this started when we took our first, and one and only cruise. I went to all of the holiday shops in a nearbye town, and asked the cost of the same cabin grade on the same cruise. None of them came within £100 each of what we had paid, I have since done this to further check, but our booking agent still gives us the best deal. They have won many awards for being the best cruise agent in the UK, and are still winning awards.

I hope that this helps, carry on cruising it surely is the safest way to take a holiday for all hearties.

bludnut

[Silvertail]

I'm glad you have got your cruise problems sorted. We love cruising too (I'm in Australia) and like you, have trouble getting insurance because of age and pre-existing conditions. Insurance costs almost as much as the cruise since the dreaded blight on society. We usually have interior cabins so that we can afford more cruises. Agree with you re cruise holidays - they're cheaper than having a 'land' holiday because everything is included.

[bludnut in reply to Silvertail]

Hi Silvertail,

I'm so glad that like us you enjoy cruising with all the benefits they provide, long may you continue to enjoy them.

bludnut

[Silvertail in reply to bludnut]

Hi there Bludnut. The best holiday isn't it?

[Dino40]

Staysure have really cracked down this year. I'm awaiting tests to improve one of my conditions and they wouldn't let me remove it so that I could get cover for my other conditions. That was the UK only as well. Thy told me that from now on they'd only cover routine blood tests etc for pre existing conditions to be covered. Not sure they'd even cover an annual X ray.

[bludnut in reply to Dino40]

Staysure are one of the recomended insurance companies for people with disability or health issues, but it appears that they don't go out of their way to welcome us.

bludnut

[Cruise1]

What make is your scooter? We cruise a lot and it would be useful to know.

[bludnut in reply to Cruise1]

My scooter is a OiLiving V8. It is very easy to fold and weighs around 18 kg. We took it with us on a cruise this year and it was put with the cases on the coach, and was then taken to our cabin with the cases. On that occasion we did use an accessable cabin because we were sailing to Norway in the winter and wouldn't be spending time on deck.

hope this helps,

bludnut

[Cruise1 in reply to bludnut]

Yes thanks. Currently cruising around Britain.