Special Needs at Sea

This item appears on page 85 of the February 2009 issue.

For travelers with special requirements to accommodate their handicaps, Special Needs at Sea (2860 West State Rd. 84, Ste. 107, Dania Beach, FL 33312; 800/513-4515, www.specialneedsatsea.com) provides equipment to rent or buy, including mobility aides, patient lifts, oxygen equipment, devices for the blind or deaf and even materials for companion dogs.

The company will deliver to a cruise ship or hotel room or can meet the traveler at the airport. The price includes delivery, setup, pickup and 24-hour on-call emergency assistance for any equipment problems.

Prices are based on destination, type of equipment, length of rental, etc. Example — for a one-week cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, a scooter rental for a 250-pound person costs $226. One week’s rental of a standard wheelchair on a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale costs $96.