Which Mobility Equipment is Right for Me - Scooter, Wheelchair or Powerchair?

As 2009 closed, several new ships made a huge splash within the cruise industry, foreshadowing the future of cruising, including Disney Cruise Lines’ 4,000-passenger Dream and Royal Caribbean Cruises’ 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, the largest passenger cruise ship ever floated. Within the next twelve months, several more behemoth vessels will enter the waters including Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, sister ship to the Oasis; and the largest ship ever for Norwegian Cruise Line, the 4,200-passenger Epic. With increased ship lengths—1,184 feet from bow to stern for Oasis and Allure—more and more cruisers are requiring wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and other mobility aides to navigate these newer ships.

For the customer who has never rented mobility equipment before, the differences between renting a scooter, wheelchair or powerchair can be quite confusing. Customers frequently ask us, “What is the best mobility equipment for my needs?” Below are simple differences and descriptions about scooters, wheelchairs, and powerchairs.

Scooters
Scooters can benefit anyone who gets tired after walking or has pain when walking. When renting through Special Needs Group, customers have an option of three types of scooters: standard, heavy duty, or bariatric. All scooters have three wheels due to easier navigation although four wheel scooters are available upon request and on limited availability. Standard and heavy duty scooters can fit through most standard cruise staterooms and hotel rooms; the bariatric scooters can only fit in wheelchair accessible cabins. All scooters are steered using a bicycle-style handlebar (or tiller). Scooters may be used indoors or outdoors and can generally travel easily over different surfaces. The maximum weight capacity for scooters is as follows: standard scooters - 250 lbs.; heavy duty scooters - 350 lbs.; bariatric scooters - 500 lbs.

Wheelchairs
Manual wheelchairs require human power for movement. They are light, maneuverable and collapsible. If you are on one of the smaller ships or if you are traveling with a companion who is willing to push the wheelchair, manual wheelchairs may be the best option. When cruising, there are times when a passenger must use the ship’s tenders (small boats) to visit ships’ ports of call. Because situations may occur where mobility scooters may not be carried off-board, such as sea conditions, we encourage guests to ask about ordering a manual wheelchair in addition to their mobility scooter. We generally recommend mobility scooters when you are on a larger ship, have not used a wheelchair before and when you want your independence.

When renting through Special Needs Group, customers have an option of four types of wheelchairs: transport, standard, heavy duty or bariatric. The maximum weight capacity for the wheelchairs is as follows: transport wheelchairs - 450 lbs.; standard wheelchairs - 250 lbs.; heavy duty wheelchairs - 350 lbs.; bariatric wheelchairs - 500 lbs.

Powerchairs
Powerchairs operate by using a joystick controller on the armrest. They are often used by individuals who do not have the dexterity or mobility to use a mobility scooter. Due to the complicated nature of using the joystick, we do not recommend ordering a powerchair unless you have previously used one and feel comfortable as cruise ship hallways are more narrow and more difficult to use in that environment.

When renting through Special Needs Group, customers have an option of three types of powerchairs: standard, heavy duty or bariatric. The maximum weight capacity for powerchairs is as follows: standard powerchairs - 250 lbs.; heavy duty powerchairs - 350 lbs.; and bariatric powerchairs - 500 lbs. Powerchairs may be used indoors or outdoors.

Should you still have questions about the differences between the equipment, you may always talk to one of our customer service reps by calling 954 585-0575 or toll free 800 513-4515.

Ride the 2010 Wave of Travel Trends for More Sales

Just in time to help you sell more cruises during Wave Season, the convergence of specific travel industry trends can give a selling edge to agents who understand the fast-growing special needs market and know how to effectively service cruisers with special needs.

Already, one in five families has a family member with a disability. These individuals spend an average of $13.6 billion a year on trips and cruises, representing a large and underserviced pool of potential clients to tap into. As 2010 Wave Season kicks off, the trend curves of aging populations in the U.S. and Europe and increasingly larger cruise ships are boosting the numbers of persons who require special needs equipment for cruising. Understanding this market can transform your cruise selling experience for Wave Season and beyond.

Aging Populations in U.S. and Europe

By 2015, the percentage of persons 65 or over is expected to jump to nearly 25 percent of the population in Europe and 20 percent in the U.S. This so called “Silver Segment” of the population has the time and resources to travel. They also tend to have special needs relating to hearing loss, diminished vision, limited mobility, breathing problems and other consequences of aging.

Larger Ships

As 2009 closed, several new ships made a huge splash within the cruise industry, foreshadowing the future of cruising, including Disney Cruise Lines’ 4,000-passenger Dream and Royal Caribbean Cruises’ 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, the largest passenger cruise ship ever floated. Within the next twelve months, several more behemoth vessels will enter the waters including RCI’s Allure of the Seas, sister ship to the Oasis; and the largest ship ever for Norwegian Cruise Line, the 4,200-passenger Epic. With increased ship lengths—1,184 feet from bow to stern for Oasis and Allure—more and more cruisers are requiring wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and other mobility aides to navigate these newer ships.

All of this translates to increased sales and added profits for agents who know how to accommodate the lucrative special needs and slow walker market. Special Needs Group / Special Needs at Sea makes it easy for you. We work closely with the travel community to help you earn more by providing everything you need to service the accessible travel/special needs niche. Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea is a “one stop shop” for all the special needs equipment your clients might want, from wheelchairs and scooters to oxygen cylinders, patient lifts, hospital beds, baby cribs, equipment for individuals who have hearing impairments, service animal relief materials, and more.

In addition to making your job as an agent much easier by placing the full range of special needs equipment at your fingertips, we also pay a commission on each piece of equipment rented, providing you with an additional profit center. Special Needs Group has delivery and pick-up capability within most of the world’s travel destinations like Ft. Lauderdale, Barcelona, Vancouver, and Sydney to mention a few-- and can even accommodate “one-way” travel.

“Our goal at Special Needs Group is to remove all barriers to travel and to ensure that no one misses an opportunity to see the world or participate in a family vacation because of a permanent or temporary physical impairment,” says Andrew Garnett, founder and CEO.

For more details about Special Needs Group / Special Needs at Sea or to request a brochure, call Special Needs Group toll free 1.800.513.4515, email info@specialneedsgroup.com or log onto http://www.specialneedsgroup.com/.