Norwegian Cruise for Sue and I

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

Sue and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords aboard the IONA taking a carer with us. Luckily “celebration night” where everyone dresses up in DJ’s and posh frocks was our actual anniversary, so it was special. Sue and I had done cruises before when she was able to transfer but not recently so this was a test.

The easiest way I describe a cruise to people is by imagining a 16-story 5-star hotel with 3 floors of shops, a gym, a cinema, a casino and a 2-floor theatre with multiple restaurants and bars and you wake up to a new port every morning. Our ship was over 350m long which is more than 3 premier football pitches long and a walk around the ship can be nearly 1km.

Our Itinerary was as follows.

Saturday – Board ship at around 1 pm, the ship leaves the dock at 6 pm

Sunday – a day at sea as we travel to the first Norwegian Port

Monday – Stavanger – A great regional port town that has lovely, cobbled streets and many shops. Museums are around the town also.

Tuesday – Olden where we did the Skylift which was a 3300ft cable car ride up a mountain with stunning views. Fully disabled capable.

Wednesday – Hellesylt a quaint little village with a picturesque waterfall

Thursday – Haugsund is a more commercial port town with plenty of shops and museums.

Friday day at sea sailing back home.

Background to Sue to give context.

Sue had an initial diagnosis of MSA in Early 2017 with the onset of issues in 2010.

She is now unable to move and needs support and moving equipment. We have a manual wheelchair and is Peg fed but does eat and drink at risk.

We went on the cruise for a week, with P&O around the Norwegian Fjords which we found a week was enough as the days can be tiring for anyone with Sue's condition The Fjords were a great place to visit as the sun isn’t that strong as Sue can’t regulate her temperature and I didn’t want her to overheat.

Equipment

I decided that I needed a profile bed, air mattress, hoist and a commode chair for the toilet.

I was put in touch with a company registered with the cruise companies to provide disability equipment and I could hire all required, it was delivered and assembled ready for us.

Go to mobilityatsea.co.uk to learn more as they do more equipment.

You can take your own equipment but if you have anything electrical such as an electric scooter, COP devices then you will have to ensure that they are OK to take by checking with the cruise line.

Tip – book well in advance as peak summer times equipment may be scarce.

Medical Needs

We had to fill in a couple of questionnaires for the cruise company to explain about Sue’s mobility and medical issues. This showed up a couple of things to be aware of.

1. Sue needed a doctor's letter saying she is fit to travel, again make sure this is done in plenty of time and you will probably have to pay your GP.

2. Medical Insurance You need to provide this on your document checks

3. Medical Assessment We had to fill in a questionnaire about Sues abilities

4. Medicines take more than you need in case there is an issue.

Ensure these are done in plenty of time.

Medical Insurance

We used Staysure as they seemed the most economic for us. They actually have a listing for MSA and the key questions are about chest infections, UTIs, and swallowing along with hospital and doctor visits. The cost for a week for me and Sue was about £260, Don’t misrepresent anything because if you claim they will be looking to not pay out.

Getting on and off

The ship had ramps to get on and off at all times and assistance was always available to help you.

At Ports they will docked with a ramp or by a tender, so for a tender you need to be able to transfer.

Trips

Cruise companies sell trips to many places but these will be on a coach that has limited if no capability for the disabled so check with the trip booking desk as soon as you are on board. You can do your own thing but remember to be back in time as the ship will not wait for you…

Dining

The ship we were on had flexible dining which meant that you booked a table just before you wanted dinner on the in-ship app and it notified you when it's ready. The staff were very helpful and attentive to our needs as Sue was eating but I had to cut everything up ready for her to eat.

There are boutique restaurants, but you will pay a surcharge.

All food in the standard or cafeteria restaurants is free along with tea and coffee.

All soft and alcoholic drinks were extra and charged to your room or you can buy a package, but these looked expensive for us.

Money

You will have to register a credit card to your cabin and you get given a boarding card on arrival that acts as the charge card. Just remember that they do “hold” your outstanding amount daily against the card and this can build up a holding amount.

Around Norway, everyone accepts debit or credit card payments.

[Gill-C]

well done to you both and very many anniversary congratulations. A lot of work went into planning the trip and you have given us all some excellent tips. Taken overall did you both enjoy the holiday and would you do it again? Best wishes

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood in reply to Gill-C]

HiWe really enjoyed ourselves and yes Sue already wants me to book the next one and we are looking into it.

It is expensive but overall worth it.

Don't let the condition ruin your lives adapt and move on.

Paul and Sue

[Ruffner]

I admire you both for attempting this vacation with so many barriers to work through. Everyone with this disease is so different and I struggle to understand why that is. We don't go anywhere because my husband feels dizzy and unwell moving about. If he was confined to a wheelchair would he feel better and motivated to go to a restaurant or take a "walk"? He can still walk on his own but he is very slow and wobbly. I wish I could give him a better quality of life. Would love to hear what others are doing. Thank you for sharing your experience (the photo was really nice - your wife looks so happy, as do you).

[SDSDYew]

Congratulations on your anniversary! Lovely photo! Thank you for posting all this. My mum has MSA and she is wheelchair bound, though we are able to help her transfer to a car if need be. She is still able to eat and drink and enjoys trying to get out and about when she feels well enough. She and her partner used to cruise so much in their years before the beast of MSA took hold. We have been toying with the idea of a cruise recently and the info you have given has greatly helped. Huge thanks and best wishes to you both x

[Kaye31]

Congratulations!!

We did a 2 night Southampton to Amsterdam to try but I never knew you could hire equipment and never thought of taking a carer! How does that work??

[5456partner]

Happy Anniversary and well done! I'm full of admiration for all the effort you put in to making that trip work. What a lovely photo too. My husband suffers from MSA, can't walk unaided, but it's also his extreme tiredness that stops us doing much. I think that alone would mean it wasn't worth planning such a trip as it would all be too much for him. Such a shame. Still we are having a break next week for a week near Fareham (Portsmouth way). Friends have lent us their luxurious and very accessible bungalow for a week. They usually let it out as an AirBnB when they're not using it. So looking forward to a change of scenery. All the best. Rosie

[mandg in reply to 5456partner]

5456.. Its also too much for the carer sometimes!! But seriously have a great break and I would be interested in knowing about this Air B&B, if it may be available, as finding suitably accessible accommodation tricky

[5456partner in reply to mandg]

Will do - I'll try and out a link to it on here after we've been so I can tell you what it was like.

[5456partner in reply to mandg]

Hi mandg, back from our week away now, we were so blessed, wall to wall sunshine. But drove back Sunday in those terrible storms and floods, but safely back. the bungalow was fantastic, really comfortable and accessible. My husband used a Zimmer frame indoors and a wheelchair outside, but I think you could use a wheelchair inside, they have portable ramps too. No real steps to get in, apart from the usual one step over. I can't find how to put a link to it here and can't find it in airbnb without putting in a load of dates, but I've found it on another site: HolidayLettings.co.uk/rentals/hill-head/13226046. It can comfortably sleep 8, so it's quite pricey, but luxurious. Hope you can find it ok. I don't know if you know the area, but from the bungalow it's a 5 mins walk (push) to a very steep slope down to beach, but in the other direction it's about 10mins to a really flat, level path along the seashore and if you drive there's free parking there for blue badge holders. Let me know if you want to know anything else.

[mandg in reply to 5456partner]

Thanks for that 5456, I`ll look at that and let you know how I get on.

[mandg in reply to 5456partner]

Hi 5456, I looked at that property and indeed it looks very nice, however it does not look like it has a wet room or grab handles in the bathroom, so that would be a problem. Shame. Glad you had a good holiday, and thanks for letting me know about it.

[5456partner in reply to mandg]

The shower room has a large walk in shower, hardly any lip to get over, and we took our own suction grab handle. But understand if you need a wet room.

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

Hi,

We planned it so that Sue had an afternoon snooze everyday.

I also believe that a change in environment also livens Sue up as being in the same 4 walls all the time drains her.

Enjoy your break.

Paul

[5456partner in reply to Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

Thanks Paul, nap sounds a good idea!

[mandg]

Thanks for that report Paul, did you book an accessible room and was the bathroom big enough to get round withs chairs etc. I find that on any trip the size round the bedroom and bathroom the biggest issue....even with Premier Inn😂

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood in reply to mandg]

Hi, yes accessable cabin was booked and yes big enough for wheelchair and equipment.

[Photo1250]

Hi Paul and Sue.

Happy Anniversary

We tried to book Iona, but it was fully booked. So opted for MSC Virtuosa leaving Southampton on the same day. We didn't need any specialist equipment and took our own wheelchair, but did book an accessible room. Adrienne is probably at an earlier stage, or, indeed, on a different path, but we managed to have a great time. We did take our son and family and daughter and family with us, which also made it special. However, would like to endorse Paul & Sue's recommendations that you should try, if you can, and if it's what you want. The positive effects of going are immeasurable!

By the way, our 46th Wedding Anniversary the day after we returned.

gala night

[Monkeyfeet1]

congratulations on your wedding anniversary! Norway is on my list. Thank you for letting us know this is do-able. It sounds like you had a great time!

[diyducky]

Congratulations Paul and Sue,

Thank you for all the information you have included. I am sure many of us wonder if travel is still an option and you two have proved that with great care and planning, it is!

Kind Regards

Lorna

[Columbia_Rocky]

Happy Anniversary. I’m glad you had such a lovely time. And Iona is such a nice ship. We’ve done a few cruises now. 2 on Iona. She’s my favourite ship although we haven’t been in her sister Arvia. We have another coming up in December but it’s on Ventura, which is a bit older and not quite as big but still lovely. Paul takes a small mobility scooter which folds up which can get him right up to the table and I can transfer him on to a chair. There are loads of accessible toilets around the ships. The entertainment is great and the theatres cater for wheelchair access, at the front of the lower deck theatre and the back of the upper deck part of the theater. And as you say, getting off at ports is really easy, although we don’t tend to bother, we just enjoy the pool area being less busy. The only downside is that to get an accessible cabin on a specific cruise you often have to book so far in advance and with MSA you never know what the person’s abilities will be like by then. But if you’re not too fussed as to where you go, you can normally get one within about a 6 months period. We’ve found cruising to be the best holidays. Great food, great entertainment and best of all easy to get there. Just drive up to the terminal unload your bags (and you can take as many as you like), and then the next time you see them is outside your cabin door. And the reverse getting off, put them outside the cabin the last night and grab a porter when you get off, they’ll collect them and take them to your car.

[chester2107]

congratulations on your anniversary and so lovely you could celebrate it in this way

it’s sounds like you had a great time x.

[Bizzyissy]

Thank you for the tips. We had a great time. Although not sorry to see the end of using lifts. We did the sky lift which was fabulous. Unfortunately was far too tired to enjoy third port so had a very nice extra day on board. Found it overwhelming in a few places but still enjoyed lots of shows etc. loved the Privateeers & greatest days show. Silent disco was highlight though.

[Diver23]

Happy Anniversary. Hi glad you had a good time we went to the fjords in March on Iona had great time unfortunately I was ill for a couple of days so missed a couple of excursions but still had a good time. It’s a big ship.