04-05-2010, 12:04 AM | #1 | |||||
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 59
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Just returned from taking Segway on Norwegian Cruise
Apologies in advance - I suspect that this is going to be a long post.
I just returned from taking my i180 on a 7 day cruise on Norwegian Cruise lines. Although they have expressly not allowed them previously, I decided to push the issue. I contacted their 'special access' group prior to the cruise, as I did not want to get declined while boarding. They refused based upon the following reasons: 1. against USCG regulations 2. no other cruise lines permit them I would have respected the decision and just dropped it if they took the Disney response and said "tough s**t". So, I decided to respond to each claim. I started by saying that I had done research and there are no USCG regulations that forbid Segways. The rep responded with "well, you need to show where the USCG allows them" I tried to use logic and say that the USCG doesn't have a list of things that they allow - it would be like having laws that list everything people CAN do - laws just list stuff that you can't do". Whatever. So, I forwarded - a PDF copy of the DOT regulations that explicitly state that Segways are permitted as mobility aids on planes - I can send anyone the PDF, but the relevant section is: Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
SO, I sent this to NCL with: Quote:
Quote:
YAY - I WON!!! Ok, quick notes about my experience:
Anyway, sorry for the long post, but based upon the fact that I didn't fall overboard or run anyone over, hopefully I served as a good 'first Segway ambassador'. If you do decide to take your Segway on NCL, you should definitely have printed approval from the access desk, as I was stopped just as I was boarding the ship - the guy made a photocopy of the emails. |
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04-05-2010, 03:55 PM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: York, PA
Posts: 644
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Great job and I'm sure others using their Segways for disability reasons will be in better standing to plead their cases after hearing your experience. Always nice to hear success stories!
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Warm Regards, Jason Abel Battery Builders / MTO Battery |
05-15-2010, 04:25 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA.
Posts: 14
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Dave--
Great info that you've shared. I certainly wish Segway would do some of this work for us dealing with airlines, companies, etc. to get pre-approval. By the way, back in 2004 I took my segway on an NCL cruise around Hawaii and was never hassled about bringing it on board or using it on board. I hadn't checked ahead of time to see if it was OK, so i guess I caught them off guard. --Marsha |
05-16-2010, 09:25 PM | #4 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 59
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Ncl
I don't really expect Segway to ever do this legwork - while they recognize that they are sometimes used as a disabled mobility device, they have explicitly taken the stance that they are not marketed as such and do not assert that they are ADA certified.
I thought about going without a pre-cleared permission, but didn't want to risk being denied and having to arrange for storage at the port. Plus, as soon as they said the coast guard forbid them, I had to call BS. |
05-16-2010, 09:26 PM | #5 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 59
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Marshai -
Did you find that some of the corridors were pretty tight on the ship? - Did you use it for all of your mobility on the ship, or walk for some of it? |
05-18-2010, 01:04 PM | #6 |
New Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: wichita kansas
Posts: 2
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You are correct that hadicap rooms are much larger. The best value on a cruise is a handicap room... even a room without windows is huge compared with others.
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