Mobility Scooter Guide for Cruising

Of all the ways to travel, cruising is one of the most relaxing and care free. Unless, that is, you have to worry about mobility needs. Will the cruise ship accept my mobility scooter? Will it fit through my cabin door? Do I need to book a rare "handicap-accessible" room? Will I be able to take my device on a tender? Such questions are very common and can be nerve racking if you have a large, clunky mobility scooter. However, if you are traveling with a TravelScoot Escape, there's never a need to worry!

River Cruises

Sure, mobility scooters are generally accepted on larger cruise ships, but what about micro river cruise ships like Viking? For years, no mobility scooters were allowed on this luxurious cruise line. Even today, many believe the policy to still be in effect. The TravelScoot is one of, if not the only, mobility scooter that has been allowed on board due to its compact design and its ultra light weight at a mere 33.5 lbs total weight with battery. This exception came to be years ago when our customers would secretly carry their scooters aboard in the included duffel bag and then unpack the scooter once inside their cabin. From there, they'd ride it around the ship. The crew did not restrict our customers from using their TravelScoots; on the contrary, they were rather impressed! One of the main reasons that mobility scooters are often denied on a cruise ship is due to the scooter either not fitting through the door or lack of space once inside the cabin. While some cruise ships allow passengers to stow their mobility scooter in the hallway, most cruise ships will forbid such a practice due to safety concerns.

Cabin Doors

The above picture features the TravelScoot Escape going through an economy cabin door. Most cruise cabin doors are between 23 and 24 inches in width, automatically disqualifiying many mobility scooters from being able to enter without lifting or tilting the mobility scooter or, in some cases, disassembling it altogether. The TravelScoot Escape is a mere 21.5 inches in width, easily fitting through any cruise cabin door.

Inside the Cabin

There are many locations to store the TravelScoot Escape once in the cabin. For demonstration purposes, we are featuring the smallest economy cabin available. Virtually all cabins will be larger than the one in these photos.

One of the great advantages of the TravelScoot Escape is that it folds up very flat, which allows you to store it with limited room like next to your bed.

Even a small closet won't be an issue when storing your scooter. You'll have more than enough space to hang your clothes with room to spare!

Hallways and Elevators

When you're on a cruise, maneuvering tight spaces is a must. You will most likely be going to and from your room multiple times during the day during which stewards are busy cleaning rooms and their cleaning carts are blocking the hallway. If your scooter can't fit, it can be awkward to ask them to move. The same goes for elevators. The compact dimensions of the Escape will make you feel less of a burden to others around you and will allow you to easily navigate such crowded places with little difficulty.

Buffets

TravelScoot is the only company that offers unique accessories not found on any other mobility scooters. Our Cruise Set is one such great accessory. With the Cruise Set, riders can easily peruse the buffet lines hands free! The Cruise Set snaps on and off of our folding basket and even swings open when not in use to store things in.

Tenders

Tenders are small water vessels that are used to shuttle cruise passengers from the ship to their port in situations when the port is either not accessible or non-existant. Tenders are vey common when cruising and there are many mobility scooters that are not allowed on them depending on the situation. The most common reasons for the denial of mobility scooters are, you guessed it, size (bulk) and weight. Other cruise lines require the passenger to be able to lift or transport the mobility scooter aboard without assistance from the crew. Other cruise lines may also have a weight limit for a mobility scooter to board. Rest assured, we have not encountered a tender that has denied the TravelScoot yet, and are convinced we never will.

Ramps

Of course, the only way on or off a cruise ship is by ramp. Depending on the cruise ship, these ramps can vary in slope. Some are gradual while others have a very annoying bump at the beginning, making them more dangerous. Some cruise ships require their crew to assist passengers on mobility devices while others are ordered not to interfere. The TravelScoot Escape is equipped with rear-wheel drive, which performs much better on inclines over traditional front-wheel-drive scoters. This is largely due to the fact that the rider's weight is positioned over the drive wheel which helps the drive wheel gain much better traction. Regardless of which mobility scooter you have, we urge all our readers to be cautious when attempting any ramp on any mobility device. Be sure to always shift your weight from off the backrest to avoid tipping backwards. The TravelScoot Escape can easily handle any ADA ramp for passengers weighing up to 400 lbs.

Conclusion

Whether you cruise with the TravelScoot or not, hopefully this page has helped you plan for your next cruise with a mobility scooter in mind. If you have further questions about cruise travel with a TravelScoot mobility scooter, please feel free to contact us below.