SHIRLEY’S ADVENTURE CRUISE 2011

This holiday was a very much last minute decision and all arranged within two weeks. Looking back I suppose I should have been a bit cautious about venturing off on my own but I could not see any reason why I should not be able to manage a cruise and had to give it a try for my own self esteem.

With the help of my friend Nigel of Thomas Cook Eastbourne we found a cruise which was supposed to visit Egypt but I later found that due to problems there earlier in the year it had been changed to include Turkey. Royal Caribbean were very helpful and although they only had a disabled mini suite available sold it to me for single occupancy.

The only problem I was a little uncertain about was that I had to take a flight to Barcelona from Heathrow as Gatwick was not an option and my flight on October 10th left at 7.10.am.

Needing to take both my power chair and manual chairs and to check in at 5.00.am meant that I would have to leave home between 2.00 & 3.00 and would require wheelchair transport and this was very difficult to find.

My friend Wayne came to the rescue and with the aid of his trailer attached to my car drove me, my wheelchairs and luggage to the airport reaching the check-in desk of British Airways with time to spare. I was very grateful for his assistance especially as he was leaving Eastbourne at 11.00.am the same day for a spell in Turkey.

I received great assistance at Heathrow and my flight which left on time was uneventful. My arrival at Barcelona however was not without hassle and although I was re-united quite quickly with my manual chair and luggage my power chair was missing and could not be located for almost three hours after my landing.

I heaved a great sigh of relief when I was seated in my electric chair but this did not last for long because when I found the Royal Caribbean Representative she had no record that I needed wheelchair transport to the Ship and said I had to use the coach that had five steps. Luckily I had written confirmation to produce that wheelchair transport had been requested but I had another two hours to wait for this to appear in the form of an accessible taxi.

When I eventually boarded Brilliance of The Seas and checked into my mini suite I could then relax and realise that I had a twelve night cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean to look forward to and enjoy. My accommodation was wonderful, a six foot bed all to myself and enough space for four wheelchairs with a large balcony to view the passing scenery from. The down side was that I didn’t get my luggage until 9.00.pm four hours after sailing so I was unable to change into some fresh clothes for dinner. My stewardess was an angel her name was Shella and there was nothing she wouldn’t do to assist me and we are hoping to keep in touch. Although she was born in America she is married and lives in Croatia when she isn’t working on board cruise liners to support her family as her husband is disabled with a back injury and unable to continue his work as a ships steward.