wheelchair accessible mediterranean cruise

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Mediterranean Cruises

Enjoy a Mediterranean cruise with Limitless. Our Mediterranean cruises are designed for disabled people, and once you book with us, you’ll be travelling across azure blue waters in no time.

Accessible Cruises in Mediterranean

If you want to spend your holiday basking in the sun, a Mediterranean cruise is a great option. The Mediterranean sees sun all year round, so you can enjoy summer every day.

The cruises we offer dock at a wide range of European cities, including Western Mediterranean gems like Barcelona and Valencia . With one of our cruises, you're bound to feel relaxed and rejuvenated as you explore the stunning Western Mediterranean Sea.

Book today!

Wheelchair-accessible cabins can book up very fast so we would recommend booking as soon as possible to secure your holiday.

If you book early, you’ll have a greater choice of cabin grades and you may need lower deposits too. Contact us today .

France & Spain Cruise, August 2024

Royal Caribbean, Anthem of the Seas

Discover the best of Bordeaux, Bilbao, La Coruña, and Paris aboard the Royal Caribbean''s Anthem of the Seas.

Spain & France Cruise, 2024

P&O, Ventura

Enjoy a European medley of beautiful ports and sights, cruising aboard P&O’s world-class Ventura cruise ship.

Spain & Portugal Cruise, Summer 2024

Discover the best of the Mediterranean aboard P&O Ventura this summer, cruising to Spain and Portugal.

Portugal & Spain Cruise, July 2024

Visit the Iberian Peninsula aboard P&O's Ventura cruise ship on this accessible Portugal and Spain Cruise.

Spain & Portugal Cruise, August 2024

Set sail for Spain aboard P&O's Ventura Ship, the perfect opportunity to experience some of the best holiday hotspots.

Spain, Portugal, & France Cruise, October 2024

Cruise Spain, Portugal & France on P&O's Ventura Ship. Embarking from Southampton, escorted with our Limitless Care Team.

Spain & Portugal Cruise, October 2024

P&O, Iona

Embark from Southampton on the P&O Iona to Spain & Portugal. Escorted by our Limitless care team.

Spain & La Rochelle Cruise, May 2025

Make 2025 a year to remember, with this P&O Ventura cruise exploring vibrant destinations in Spain and France.

Spain & Portugal Cruise, June 2025

Experience an unforgettable disabled-friendly cruise along Spain and Portugal's west coast aboard P&O's Ventura ship.

Spain & France with Bilbao Cruise, October 2025

Sail aboard the Iona for an enchanting cruise to Spain and France. Visit Bilbao, La Coruña, Vigo, and Cherbourg

Spain, Italy, & Gibraltar Cruise, August 2025

P&O, Britannia

Sail the Mediterranean on a 14-night cruise. Explore charming ports like Cadiz, Palma, Cagliari, and Ibiza.

France, Portugal, & Spain Cruise, 2025

Cruise along Spain and Portugal's west coast aboard P&O's Ventura cruise. Visit Vigo, Lisbon, Leixoes, and Cherbourg.

Spain, Italy, & France Cruise, 2025

P&O, Arvia

Experience the luxury of P&O's Arvia cruise ship on this Mediterranean adventure. Includes Barcelona and La Coruna.

Spain & Cherbourg Cruise, April 2025

Embark on an accessible cruise aboard P&O's Britannia, includes Gijon, La Coruña, Santander, and Cherbourg.

Spain, France, & Portugal Cruise, Spring 2025

Cruise along Spain and Portugal's west coast aboard P&O's Ventura. Visit Santander, Vigo, Lisbon, Leixoes, and Cherbourg.

Spain & Gibraltar Cruise, Summer 2025

Cruise the Mediterranean on P&O’s Britannia ship. Includes visits to Cadiz, Ibiza, Mallorca, and Gibraltar.

Spain & France Cruise, 2025

Embark on a thrilling Mediterranean cruise aboard P&O's Arvia. Explore La Coruña, Costa del Sol, and Barcelona.

Spain & Portugal Cruise, March 2025

Relax on a 12-night cruise of Spain and Portugal's west coast P&O's Iona ship. Visit Gibraltar, Cadiz, and Lisbon.

Spain & France Cruise, September 2025

Royal Caribbean, Independence of the Seas

Embark on this 7-night accessible cruise to Spain and France aboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas.

Portugal & Canary Islands Cruise, February 2025

Look forward to a sun-soaked adventure exploring the Iberian Peninsula aboard P&O's Ventura cruise ship.

Spain, Portugal, & Canary Islands Cruise, May 2025

This 12-night Royal Caribbean cruise takes you through the Canary Islands, and the best sights of Spain and Portugal.

Spain & Portugal 8 Day Cruise, July 2025

Cruise Spain and Portugal aboard Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas ship. Includes Vigo, Bilbao, and Lisbon

Spain & Portugal 10 Day Cruise, Summer 2025

Cruise effortlessly through European beauty aboard The Independence of the Seas. Discover Lisbon, Vigo, and La Coruña.

Spain, Canary Islands, & Portugal Cruise, November 2025

Cruise the best of the Canaries and Portugal on this 14-night holiday. Includes visits to 4 beautiful islands.

Spain & France 14 Day Cruise, Autumn 2025

Discover Mediterranean gems with P&O's Arvia cruise, visiting La Coruña, Costa del Sol, Toulon, Barcelona, and Cadiz.

Mediterranean Classic Cruise, 2024

Spend two week cruising the Mediterranean aboard P&O's Ariva, P&O's newest ship! Escorted by our Limitless care team

Mediterranean with Cadiz Cruise, October 2025

Explore captivating Mediterranean destinations cruising aboard P&O's accessible Britannia.

Mediterranean with La Coruña Cruise, November 2025

Embark on a 14-night accessible cruise with Limitless. Explore La Coruña, Lisbon, Canary Islands, and Madeira aboard P&O Ventura.

Mediterranean Cruise 2025

Enjoy 14 nights cruising the Mediterranean aboard P&O's Arvia, P&O's newest ship! Escorted by our Limitless care team.

Canary Islands Cruise, November 2024

Explore seven exotic ports on this cruise of a lifetime, embarking on P&O's Iona from Southampton. Escorted by our Limitless Care Team.

Canary Islands & Lisbon Cruise, Autumn 2024

Experience 12 nights of winter sun in the Canary Islands & Portugal, accompanied by our Limitless Care Team.

Canary Islands Cruise, April 2025

Discover seven exotic ports on this care-supported cruise aboard P&O's Britannia. Includes Funchal and Las Palmas.

Canary Islands Cruise, Autumn 2025

Discover the best of the Canary Islands, cruising to 5 beautiful ports including Lisbon & Tenerife.

Canary Islands, Portugal, & Spain Cruise, November 2025

Set sail on a remarkable 14-night voyage in 2025 aboard the Iona.

Portugal, Canary Islands, & Spain Cruise, December 2025

Discover the beauty of Portugal and the Canary Islands sailing aboard the world-class Iona cruise ship.

Canary Islands Christmas Cruise, 2025

Embark on a 12-night Canary Islands and Portugal cruise from Southampton on P&O’s Ventura.

Canary Islands Christmas & New Year Cruise, 2025

For those looking for a little winter sun over the festive period, treat yourself to this 14 night accessible cruise.

Portugal & Canary Islands Cruise, Winter Sun 2026

Embark on a unique 14-night adventure through the Canary Islands and Portugal aboard the luxurious P&O cruise ship Iona.

What kinds of cruises do we offer?

We offer a wide range of European cruises in the Mediterranean. Our cruise packages include river cruises that take you into the heart of Europe to sea cruises throughout the Mediterranean.

You can also go on a cruise for as long as you like. We offer short breaks and holidays lasting a month or more, so you’ll be bound to find the right break for you.

If you want to go on a tranquil holiday, a Mediterranean cruise is one of the best options out there!

What can you expect from a Mediterranean cruise for disabled people?

We know that there’s no better way to start your day than eating breakfast with the calm blue waters of the Mediterranean behind you.

We offer balcony and ocean view cabins, so you can always glimpse the sea from your room.

Each evening, you will be served by the same waiters and you can expect a nightly turndown service. Whenever you want a dip in the pool, the pool attendants will be on hand to assist you and they’ll offer fresh towels whenever required.

How accessible are our Mediterranean cruises?

Our Mediterranean cruises are designed to be very accessible for people with disabilities. Our cruises will have: 

✓ Wide doorways in both the cabin and bathroom

✓ Significant floor space allowing for easy wheelchair manoeuvrability 

✓ Access to the balcony via ramps

✓ Shower grab rails

✓ Pull down chair in the shower

How easy is it to embark on our cruises?

Our Mediterranean cruises for seniors and people with disabilities are easy to access. When the cruise ships dock at the ports, very often the ships will deploy a short ramped low level gangway which will allow wheelchair users to easily access the shore. 

Our cruise ships will do their best to ensure that all guests will be able to get ashore at all ports, but unfortunately there may be some occasions where the low level gangway cannot be deployed due to large tidal ranges. 

FAQ's - Accessible Cruises in Mediterranean

Are accessible cruise rooms bigger.

Accessible cruise rooms are generally more spacious compared to standard rooms. Royal Caribbean is known for prioritising the comfort and accessibility of individuals with limited mobility in these specially designed rooms. 

They feature wider doorways, providing easier access for wheelchairs or mobility aids. The increased square footage within the room itself ensures ample space to manoeuvre comfortably. 

Royal Caribbean’s accessible rooms are thoughtfully arranged to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility equipment, making them more accommodating for travellers with specific accessibility needs.

Are cruises good for people with limited mobility?

Cruises are a great holiday choice for individuals with limited mobility. Cruise lines have made significant efforts to ensure that their ships are inclusive and accessible to passengers of all abilities. 

This includes providing accessible staterooms with features such as roll-in showers, grab bars, and lowered sinks in the bathrooms. Ramps, elevators, and accessible dining options are also available to make navigation around the ship easier. 

Cruise staff members are trained to assist passengers with limited mobility, ensuring they have a pleasant and comfortable cruise experience. 

Many cruise destinations also offer accessible shore excursions, allowing travellers to explore various ports of call comfortably.

What does an accessible room on a cruise ship look like?

Accessible rooms on cruise ships are meticulously designed to cater to the specific needs of passengers with limited mobility. These rooms often have wider entryways and spacious interiors to facilitate easy wheelchair or mobility aid movement. 

The bathroom in an accessible cruise room typically features a roll-in shower with grab bars, a fold-down shower bench, and a lowered sink for convenient use. 

The cabin layout is optimised to ensure accessibility, with lower closet rods, accessible furniture placement, and additional space for mobility devices. 

Some accessible staterooms may also feature emergency call systems and other amenities to enhance the comfort and safety of passengers with mobility limitations. 

Overall, these rooms are thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable and enjoyable cruise experience for individuals with specific accessibility requirements.

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  MOBILITY DISABILITIES

Our goal is to make all our guests as comfortable as possible, both on and off the ship. Our cruise ships have spacious corridors to accommodate 180 degree turns for wheelchairs. Most decks are accessible through automatic doors, and all public rooms feature entrances with gradual inclines.

MOBILITY DISABILITIES

Wheelchairs.

We provide complimentary wheelchair assistance for embarkation and disembarkation only. If you would like to have a wheelchair or scooter during the cruise, you are welcome to bring your own or rent one from of the companies below who will deliver it your stateroom on the ship: Scootaround (formerly CareVacations) Phone: 888-441-7575 Local: 204-982-0657 Fax: 204-478-1172 E-mail:  [email protected]

Special Needs at Sea Phone: 800-513-4515 Local: 954-585-0575  Fax: 800-513-4516 E-mail:  [email protected] You may bring and use wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other assistive devices onboard our ships. Due to safety reasons, Segways may not be used onboard.

ASSISTIVE DEVICES

Assistive devices including mobility scooters must be stored and recharged in your stateroom so fire doors, corridors and elevator lobbies are kept clear for emergency evacuation. When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers. Assistive devices should fit through a standard stateroom entry doorway which is at least 23 inches wide. We offer accessible staterooms which have wider doors which are at least 32 inches wide and may accommodate larger devices. If you have an assistive device larger than 32 inches wide, please contact our Access Department for assistance. Note: Crewmembers are not permitted to lift assistive devices.

SERVICES PROVIDED

• ●   Early boarding
• ●   Cruise transfers utilizing a specialized bus or van with a lift or ramp
• ●   Boarding and departure assistance
• ●   Lifts for one pool and one whirlpool on each ship in the fleet
• ●   Accessible Blackjack tables in the casino
• ●   Accessible Guest Relations Desk

RELATED LINKS 

Accessible Staterooms Accessible Shore Excursions Additional Assistance: Shipboard & Offshore Autism & Developmental Disabilites Visual & Hearing Disabilites Service Animals

MORE INFORMATION

Call our Access Department at (866) 592-7225,  or  send an e-mail to [email protected], or have your local travel agent or International Representative contact us. Our fax number is (954) 628-9622.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE

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Accessible Port Guide For A Mediterranean Cruise

The Mediterranean countries are those that surround the Mediterranean Sea or located within the Mediterranean Basin . [1] Twenty sovereign countries in Southern Europe , the Levant and North Africa regions border the sea itself, in addition to two island nations completely located in it ( Malta and Cyprus ).

Barcelona Spain

Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. The fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí dot the city. Museu Picasso and Fundació Joan Miró feature modern art by their namesakes. City history museum MUHBA, includes several Roman archaeological sites.

• Tidal variance : Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation.
• Accessibility around port : Flat and even
• Distance to main town : Approximately 1.5 miles (2.5km)
• Accessibility of main town paving : Some cobblestones, most pavements have dropped kerbs
• Accessible toilets : Located at Muelle Adosado Terminal B and some hotels located on Las Ramblas
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – The Gothic Quarter has mainly cobblestoned streets
• Public transport : Generally wheelchair accessible
• Shopping areas : Approximately 3 miles (5km)
• Accessible places of interest : Most museums and public buildings. Regarded as one of Europe’s most accessible cities, Barcelona is overflowing with attractions that can be enjoyed by all. These include the iconic La Sagrada Familia cathedral, the colourful Park Güell, the Picasso Museum, beaches with beach wheelchairs, and many more. The city is reached via a wheelchair-accessible shuttle bus running from the docks to the foot of the Las Ramblas shopping street. The city also has a very accessible public transport system.

A Coruña is a port city on a promontory in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. It’s known for its Roman lighthouse, the Tower of Hercules, which has sweeping coastal views. In the medieval old town is the arcaded Plaza de María Pita, surrounded by narrow pedestrianized lanes. In this square is the Estatua de María Pita, a statue of a 16th-century woman who warned the town of an invasion by Sir Francis Drake.

• Tidal variance : High tidal variance will restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Please see the onboard staff to confirm the accessible gangway times
• Distance to main town : Approximately 300 metres
• Accessibility of main town paving : The town itself is mostly flat and most of the pavements have dropped curbs
• Accessible toilets : Located in some cafes
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : Those areas/streets where road/construction works are being carried out. – The San Anton Archaeological Museum (many steps inside.) and the City’s Old Quarter (mostly hilly area and some uneven ground)
• Public transport : Although not many buses are accessible, a few buses have low-platforms which are wheelchair accessible.
• Shopping areas : Approximately 2km
• Accessible places of interest : Shopping:- El Corte Inglés Dept. Store
• Museums (Closed on Mondays):- 1. DOMUS (Museum of Mankind) – (Website: http://www.casaciencias.org/domus ) 2. Science Museum – (Website: http://www.casaciencias.org ) 3. Art Museum – (Website:www.museobelasartescoruna.xunta.es) 4. Museum of Contemporary Galician Art – (Website: http://www.cgac.org )
• Beach:- Beaches of Riazor and Orzan. There is a walkway/promenade along both beaches.
• Attractions:- – The Aquarium – (Website:ww.casaciencias.org/Aquarium)

Cartagena is a port city and naval base in the Murcia region of southeast Spain. Founded by the Carthaginians around 220 B.C., the city boomed during the Roman period. Among its many Roman ruins are a 1st-century B.C. theater and Casa de la Fortuna, a villa with murals and mosaics. The Muralla Púnica (Punic Wall) interpretation center houses the remains of a 3rd-century B.C. defensive wall.

• Tidal variance : Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation
• Distance to main town : within half a mile (350 metres)
• Accessibility of main town paving : Flat, some pavements have dropped kerbs
• Accessible toilets : Located at El Corte Ingles (department store)
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : None.
• Public transport : Not accessible
• Shopping areas : Within half a mile (350 metres) City of Cartagena is walking distance from the cruise terminal – approx. 500 metres.
• Accessible places of interest : The Panoramic lift and Interpretation centre of the History of Cartagena

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and headland, on Spain’s south coast. It’s dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, a 426m-high limestone ridge. First settled by the Moors in the Middle Ages and later ruled by Spain, the outpost was ceded to the British in 1713. Layers of fortifications include the remains of a 14th-century Moorish Castle and the 18th century Great Siege Tunnels, which were expanded in WWII.

• Distance to main town : Approximately 1 mile (1.6km)
• Accessibility of main town paving : Mostly a flat town, most pavements do have dropped kerbs
• Accessible toilets : Majority of public toilets have an accessible cubicle
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : None
• Public transport : Some are accessible. (In Gibraltar you can make arrangements for private minibus tours providing you, or your fellow traveller, are able to transfer into a standard minibus. The wheelchair must be a suitable size in order to store in the boot of the vehicle.)
• Shopping areas : Approximately 1 mile (1.6km)
• Accessible places of interest : Most museums, hotels and public buildings

Málaga is a port city on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, known for its high-rise hotels and resorts jutting up from yellow-sand beaches. Looming over that modern skyline are the city’s 2 massive hilltop citadels, the Alcazaba and ruined Gibralfaro, remnants of Moorish rule. The city’s soaring Renaissance cathedral is nicknamed LaManquita (“one-armed lady”) because one of its towers was curiously left unbuilt.

• Distance to main town : Approximately 1.8km
• Accessibility of main town paving : The town itself is flat and most of the pavements have dropped kerbs
• Accessible toilets : None
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : Monuments as the Alcazaba or Gibralfaro Castle
• Public transport : Some can be accessible
• Shopping areas : Approximately 3 km
• Accessible places of interest : Picasso Museum

The port city of Valencia lies on Spain’s southeastern coast, where the Turia River meets the Mediterranean Sea. It’s known for its City of Arts and Sciences, with futuristic structures including a planetarium, an oceanarium and an interactive museum. Valencia also has several beaches, including some within nearby Albufera Park, a wetlands reserve with a lake and walking trails.

• Accessibility around port : The quayside is flat and accessible for wheelchair users, the cruise terminal has 2 floors and there is a lift.
• Distance to main town : Approximately 3km
• Accessibility of main town paving : The town itself is mainly flat and some of the pavements have dropped curbs
• Accessible toilets : Located in El Corte Inglés
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : Port area.
• Shopping areas : Approximately 3km
• Accessible places of interest : Surrounding CAC

Italy, a European country with a long Mediterranean coastline, has left a powerful mark on Western culture and cuisine. Its capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins. Other major cities include Florence, with Renaissance masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s “David” and Brunelleschi’s Duomo; Venice, the city of canals; and Milan, Italy’s fashion capital.

Civitavecchia for Rome Italy

Civitavecchia is a coastal town northwest of Rome, in Italy. Built in the 2nd century, the Port of Civitavecchia still retains some of its original features, like the Roman Dock. The port area also includes the 16th-century Michelangelo Fort. Nearby, the National Archaeological Museum displays bronze and ceramic artifacts. Northeast of town are the Terme Taurine, the ruins of a Roman thermal bath complex.

• Distance to main town : Between approximately 500 – 1000 metres
• Accessibility of main town paving : Mostly a flat town; however, most pavements do not have dropped kerbs
• Accessible toilets : Located in bars, cafes and hotels
• Public transport : Generally not accessible
• Shopping areas : Between approximately 500 and 3500 metres depending on the berth
• Accessible places of interest : All bars/cafes along the seafront in Civitavecchia and Vatican and Colosseum in Rome however it is cobblestones in a lot of that area. For Rome, cruise ships dock at the port of Civitavecchia, approximately 90 minutes away via train or wheelchair-accessible taxi vans. Trains are accessible, but you will need to let the operator know your exact departure and arrival times. Rome is home to a wealth of accessible attractions, including the Vatican Museums, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Square, St Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Civitavecchia also has its own accessible shopping areas.

Livorno for Florence & Pisa

Livorno is an Italian port city on the west coast of Tuscany. It’s known for its seafood, Renaissance-era fortifications and modern harbor with a cruise ship port. Its central Terrazza Mascagni, a waterside promenade with checkerboard paving, is the city’s main gathering place. The bastions of the 16th-century Fortezza Vecchia face the harbor and open onto Livorno’s canal-laced Venezia Nuova quarter.

• Distance to main town : Between approximately 500 – 4500 metres depending on berth
• Accessibility of main town paving : The town itself is flat and most of the pavements do have dropped curbs in town centre
• Accessible toilets : Located in some bars, cafès and hotels
• Shopping areas : Between approximately 500 – 4500 metres depending on berth
• Accessible places of interest : All bars/cafes along the seafront. Trips to Florence & Pisa are taken from this port. Livorno is a very popular port as it’s the gateway to the tourist meccas of Florence and Pisa. The port itself can present some accessibility problems on account of shuttle buses not always being wheelchair-accessible. For this reason we would recommend booking one of several accessible excursions that will meet you at the port in accessible transport. These tours go to Florence and/or Pisa, as well as through the gorgeous Tuscan countryside to visit authentic rustic wineries. Trains are also accessible to take you from Livorno to Pisa (although you may need to contact the service provider in advance to arrange assistance).

Naples for Pompeii

Naples, a city in southern Italy, sits on the Bay of Naples. Nearby is Mount Vesuvius, the still-active volcano that destroyed nearby Roman town Pompeii. Dating to the 2nd millennium B.C., Naples has centuries of important art and architecture. The city’s cathedral, the Duomo di San Gennaro, is filled with frescoes. Other major landmarks include the lavish Royal Palace and Castel Nuovo, a 13th-century castle.

• Distance to main town : Approximately 1.5 km
• Accessibility of main town paving : The town itself is mostly flat and some of the pavements have dropped kerbs however please note that occasionally the dropped kerbs are obstructed by parked cars.
• Accessible toilets : Not available
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : Pompeii and Herculaneum. Some areas in Naples town can also be inaccessible
• Shopping areas : Approximately 1.5 km
• Accessible places of interest : Sorrento, Pompeii. Naples is a very accessible port with a short dock just 500 metres from the city, providing easy access to some tourist attractions. Accessible ferries are available to take visitors to nearby Sorrento and Capri (where it’s best to hire a private driver), or you can book an accessible private excursion to visit major sights like Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Amalfi Coast.

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.

• Distance to main town : Approximately 2 km
• Accessibility of main town paving : The town itself is difficult to negotiate due to many step bridges
• Accessible toilets : Located in St. Mark’s Area, Rialto
• Cobblestone streets or unsuitable terrain : Venice is difficult to negotiate due to many step bridges. Some bridges are adapted for wheelchair users
• Public transport : Vaporetto Service (water bus) is accessible (subject to the Vaporetto captain’s approval)
• Accessible places of interest : Guests have several options to transfer from the cruise dock in Venice, including the vaporetto (water bus) and water taxi. Once in the city, wheelchair users can make use of barrier-free itineraries to avoid the inaccessible stepped bridges and use the vaporetti or water taxis to travel between neighbourhoods. Popular accessible sights include the famous Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. There are also wheelchair-accessible gondola rides.

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5 comments add yours.

Such Fab info. I although wheelchair confined also, am fortunate enough to still do caravanning, hosteling Uk, plus cruising , & short, Med & long haul travel too, but you’re info is so very useful. Would entice me to do more, as it’d be informed travelling. Thank you, . :)X well done you, your positivity is so inspiring:)X

Like Liked by 1 person

Thank you so much, you don’t know how much that means to me and how happy it makes me hearing you would do more just by my information! It confirms I’m doing something right. Being positive I believe is the only way to keep living! Keep safe and enjoy life, take care 🙂 xx

Just to let you know incase you don’t follow me on social media on Saturday I’m publishing Accessible Port Guide for another cruise destination- you can subscribe to my website and get an email when I post something new so you never miss it as the same with YouTube for my vlogs, no pressure though x

Brilliant information

Thank you, it takes a lot of time out of my holidays and research to make these up especially as I don’t get anything for it, so I truly appreciate that.

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Sail to all shores with accessible cruises

Visit multiple destinations and enjoy onboard accessibility. all included in one place, embark on accessible cruise journeys.

Fire & Sunset Soirées

Departing from Miami 5 days / 4 nights
 From $1,225 USD Price based on 2 travelers

Dominican Daze

Departing from Miami 6 days / 5 nights
 From $1,655 USD Price based on 2 travelers

Alaska landscape

Departing from Vancouver 8 days / 7 nights
 From $2490 USD Price based on 2 travelers

You have different ways to pay or finance your trip!

Ask our travel experts about installment plans.

Itinerary highlights: Key West (Florida), Beach Club at Bimini (Bahamas), and Miami.

Departure dates: 4 sailings in 2024 - March 20, April 17, May 1 and December 11.

Cruise amenities: exceptional dining experience available, free non-alcoholic beverages, wifi, and more onboard activities!

Room accessibility highlights: roll-in shower, step-free, turning space for a wheelchair user, and more. Check all the accessible features of the room.

Itinerary highlights: Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Beach Club at Bimini (Bahamas), and Miami.

Departure dates: every 1 month.

Cruise amenities: all meals included, pools equipped with pool lifts upon request, and more onboard activities!

Room accessibility highlights: roll-in shower with flat entrance, shower grab bars, turning space +60 in, and more. Check all the accessible features of the room.

Itinerary highlights: Alaska's Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway are other traditional towns.

Departure dates: upon request.

Cruise amenities: world-class dining venues, live entertainment, and more.

Room accessibility highlights: accessible ensuite rooms guaranteed. Check all the accessible features of the room.

Ratings from some of our travelers!

- Recommendation scale: 10 - Overall experience: Very good - Accessibility covered: Yes

- Recommendation scale: 8 - Overall experience: Very good - Accessibility covered: Yes

Unforgettable Journeys on Accessible Seas

Embark on an accessible travel where every detail is tailored to ensure comfort and accessibility for all. Our wheelchair accessible cruises feature spacious cabins, accessible routes throughout the ship, and personalized services to meet every need. From the moment you board, experience a world where inclusivity and adventure meet. Sail to breathtaking destinations, from the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean to the historic ports of the Mediterranean, and enjoy accessible excursions that bring the wonders of the world closer to you.

Join Our Community on Cruises for Disabled Travelers

Be part of a vibrant community of travelers who share your spirit of adventure on our cruises designed for disabled guests. Our ships are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure safety, comfort, and enjoyment for everyone. Participate in specially curated activities and events that celebrate accessibility and fun. With Wheel The World, every cruise is an opportunity to create lasting memories with fellow adventurers who understand the importance of accessibility in travel.

Do you have any doubts? Check these frequently asked questions.

What does "verified accessibility information" mean.

Our team visits each supplier to make an accessibility report. We carefully map every detail, take measurements and photos to record and show the accessibility of what we offer.

Are all the services on the website accessible?

Yes, everything we offer on our website is accessible, including: transportation, hotels and activities. Everyone is different, so we always check that everything matches your needs.

Are all cruise stops accessible? Can I disembark at each one?

Yes, all ports are 100% accessible to all manual and power wheelchair users.

Who are our accessible trips for?

You can choose our services if you have a disability or if you are a senior too. No matter if you are a manual or power wheelchair user, or if you can handle a few steps, this trip adapts to your needs.

Will I be charged additional costs for planning or customizing my trip?

No, our travel experts will help you with your trip without extra fees.

How is the personalized service offered by our travel experts?

Our travel agents are experts in accessibility, they can arrange transportation, rentals, special equipment, caregivers and much more, so that you don't have to worry about anything. We have specialized suppliers in each city on our tours.

Be the first to know about upcoming cruises!

The best cruise lines for wheelchair users and passengers with limited mobility

If you're a traveler with limited mobility, a cruise can be a great way to see the world without having to worry as much about logistics. Because all major cruise lines must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, they must ensure ships are equipped with accessible accommodations.

"In my experience, I've found that the newer the ship is, the more accessible it tends to be," Cory Lee, owner of wheelchair-accessible travel website Curb Free with Cory Lee , told TPG. "Any time a new cruise ship comes out, it seems like accessibility improves a bit.

"The major cruise lines here in the U.S. have pretty good accessibility usually. I'd also say that the larger the cruise ship is, the more accessible it is. Small ships and river cruises are not ideal for wheelchair users, and many are completely inaccessible. But if you stick to the big cruise lines, at least some level of accessibility is guaranteed," he added.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

We're calling out the cruise lines that do their best to cater to wheelchair users and passengers with limited mobility. Here are our top choices for lines offering everything from wider gangways, automatic doors, grab bars and lowered sinks to accessible theaters and restaurants.

Carnival Cruise Line

In addition to wheelchair-accessible seating in theaters and restaurants, Carnival Cruise Line's ships offer accessible elevators and public restrooms. They also offer three different types of accessible cabins.

Cabin types include ambulatory accessible cabins for cruisers who require canes and walkers but not wheelchairs. Wheelchair and scooter users can access fully accessible, stair-free, flat-threshold cabins; these offer wider (32-inch) doorways, turning space and bathrooms equipped with grab bars and shower seats. Some fully accessible rooms provide extra space on only one side of the bed, while others have wider access on both sides.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries

Pool lifts are available on Carnival Celebration , Carnival Firenze, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee , Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Pride, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Vista and Mardi Gras.

Wheelchairs and scooters can be rented and made available on board via Carnival's partnership with Scootaround. The line also provides airport transfers with wheelchair lifts when you make arrangements in advance.

Carnival has a dedicated Guest Access Team to answer questions and assist with cruise planning related to accessibility. You can reach the team by calling 800-438-6744 (extension 70025) or emailing [email protected].

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises offers airport transfers for travelers who need wheelchair lifts, as long as you make the arrangements in advance. Additional assistance is available upon request at the pier during embarkation and disembarkation.

Related: The ultimate guide to Celebrity Cruises ships and itineraries

Celebrity's ships offer accessible public restrooms, wheelchair seating in restaurants and the theater, automatic doors, wheelchair-friendly elevators, lowered machines and tables in the casino, lowered counters at guest services, and pool lifts for at least one pool and one hot tub per vessel.

Ships also feature a number of accessible cabins. The accommodations include wider (32-inch) doorways, a 5-foot turning radius, lowered closet bars and accessible balconies (in select cabins). Accessible cabin bathrooms offer ramped thresholds, grab bars, lowered sinks and vanities, higher toilets, roll-in showers with fold-down benches and hand-held showerheads.

To reach Celebrity's Access Department, cruisers can call 954-628-9708 or email [email protected].

Related: Tips for going on a cruise as a wheelchair user

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line offers both pre- and post-cruise transfers with lifts if requested in advance.

All of the line's ships offer accessible cabins across a variety of categories. They include entryways at least 32 inches wide, emergency call buttons, open bed frames, ramped bathroom thresholds, bathroom and shower grab bars, roll-in showers with fold-down seats, hand-held showerheads, and lower closet and towel bars. Bedrails, shower stools and raised toilet seats are also available on request.

Related: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

Most public areas on Disney's ships — including theaters, restaurants and shops — are also accessible, and wheelchair-friendly public restrooms are available. You can find pool lifts on all ships in the fleet, but you must make appointments to use them.

Passengers who need wheelchairs, scooters or other assistive devices must bring their own or arrange for pickup and delivery through a third-party provider for use on board. Although Disney doesn't have a partnership with any particular company, it does reference Scootaround and Special Needs at Sea as providers that can deliver necessary equipment to your vessel.

For questions about or help with planning travel as a person with limited mobility, contact Disney Cruise Line Special Services at 407-566-3602 or email [email protected].

Holland America

Lee touts HAL as one of the most accommodating cruise brands he's tried. " Holland America is a great cruise line for wheelchair users," he said. "Since the clientele for Holland America skews older, their ships are designed with that in mind. I've cruised Alaska and even Antarctica with Holland America, and both cruises were phenomenal."

Cabin specifics vary by ship, but Holland America generally offers three types of accessible rooms for passengers with limited mobility. Ambulatory-accessible cabins are for passengers who require canes or walkers but not wheelchairs. Fully accessible cabins and fully accessible single-side approach cabins cater to wheelchair and scooter users. These accommodations provide wider doorways and accessible bathing facilities with grab bars, seats and hand-held showerheads. Single-side approach cabins have bed access from one side only, while fully accessible cabins have extra space on both sides.

Related: The ultimate guide to Holland America cruise ships and itineraries

Within these types of cabins, the line features three bathroom types. Roll-in showers offer enough turning space for wheelchairs to enter and maneuver in the shower area. Transfer showers allow room for wheelchairs to be positioned next to the shower for transfers from a wheelchair to a shower seat. Accessible bathtubs, like transfer showers, allow space for wheelchairs to maneuver alongside the bathtub for transfer to a seat in the tub.

Additionally, most ships in Holland America's fleet (all except Volendam and Zaandam) have been outfitted with tender lifts that allow passengers in wheelchairs or scooters to roll directly onto and off tenders while remaining seated.

Passengers requiring regular wheelchair or scooter use must bring their own assistive devices with them on board. If you're not bringing your own equipment, HAL recommends contacting Scootaround or Special Needs at Sea for rental options. Although the line cannot provide wheelchair assistance at airports or train stations, it can arrange for lift-equipped transfers to the embarkation port.

For help, questions or more information, cruisers can reach out to Holland America's Guest Accessibility Department at [email protected].

Related: Traveling with a disability? Why you should consider a cruise

MSC Cruises

Cruisers requiring special equipment such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and canes should arrange to bring those devices with them. Otherwise, they can contact a rental company that will deliver those devices to the ship pre-cruise and pick them up at the conclusion of the sailing. MSC Cruises can provide airport transfers with lifts if requested in advance.

Public areas, such as restaurants and theaters, are designed to be accessible, and pool lifts are available on some (but not all) ships.

Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises ships and itineraries

Each MSC Cruises ship is outfitted with accessible cabins for passengers with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. Accommodations vary from ship to ship but include additional space and special amenities, such as grab bars and flat thresholds.

For questions about special requirements, email [email protected] or call 954-772-6262.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line offers wheelchair-accessible public spaces, such as theaters, restaurants and public restrooms. Each of the line's vessels is equipped with a pool lift, and airport transfers with lifts are available upon adavnce request. On embarkation day, NCL also organizes a meeting with onboard staff dedicated to ensuring your voyage is enjoyable and your needs are met.

Accessible cabins are available for booking on all ships in the line's fleet. They include larger entryways, roll-in showers with benches, high-rise toilets and handrails in the toilet and shower areas.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries

Passengers who wish to rent assistive devices for use on board rather than bringing their own can contact Scootaround — Norwegian's authorized vendor.

Travelers looking to cruise with NCL can contact the line's Access Desk for more information and answers. The desk can be reached at 866-584-9756 or [email protected] .

Related: How to travel on a budget as a wheelchair user

Princess Cruises

In addition to ADA-compliant public spaces, including elevators, theaters and restaurants, all Princess ships also have pool lifts that can be used by appointment. The cruise line offers airport transfers that can handle wheelchairs and scooters with advance notice.

A selection of cabins for wheelchair and scooter users is available on each ship. Each provides ample turning space for assistive devices, wider doorways with flat thresholds, a roll-in shower with a fold-down seat and grab bars, and an accessible closet and vanity. Specific layouts and amenities vary by ship, but some also include emergency call buttons.

Related: Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Princess Cruises ships

To rent assistive devices in lieu of bringing your own, Princess recommends Scootaround and Special Needs at Sea as third-party providers.

Cruisers needing special mobility accommodations can contact Princess' Access Office at [email protected].

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean provides airport transfers with lifts to accommodate passengers using wheelchairs and scooters. Additionally, the line can provide assistance at boarding and disembarkation. All public rooms have entrances with gradual inclines, and all hallways provide enough space for a 180-degree turn. Additionally, most deck spaces employ automatic doors.

Blackjack tables in the casinos are lowered for accessibility, as are sections of the guest relations desks. At least one pool and one whirlpool on each ship can provide lift access to passengers with limited mobility.

Related: Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Royal Caribbean ships

The line's accessible cabins vary by ship but feature doorways with a minimum width of 32 inches, no doorsills, ramped bathroom entryways, roll-in showers with benches and grab bars, lowered sinks and vanities, hand-held showerheads, lowered closet rods and extra cabin space to offer a 5-foot turning radius. Raised toilet seats are also available on request. Some rooms also have accessible balconies.

If you aren't bringing your own assistive devices, Royal Caribbean recommends renting one for your cruise via either Scootaround or Special Needs at Sea.

Royal Caribbean's Access Department can help with planning and answer your questions. Call 866-592-7225 or email [email protected].

Bottom line

If you're booking a cruise and you or someone in your party has mobility or other disabilities that require an accessible cabin, it's important to plan ahead. Many cruise lines require a minimum of 30 days' notice for disability-related requests; others require 45, 60 or even 90 days. If you book an accessible cabin, most cruise lines will ask you to fill out a special needs form attesting to the need for accessible accommodations.

Cruisers should also remember that they will likely have to store assistive devices — such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and canes — in their cabins. For safety reasons, cruise line crew members are not permitted to assist with lifting passengers into or out of wheelchairs. They are also unable to provide help with bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding or other daily tasks.

Additionally, ports on certain itineraries require tendering when the ship cannot dock. Tender boat accessibility is often limited. Prospective passengers should keep all of this in mind when booking.

Keeping all of that in mind, a cruise vacation is still one of the best ways for wheelchair users to see the world without worrying about additional logistics. Do your research and preparations in advance, and you'll have a relaxing, worry-free trip once you're on board.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

10 Wheelchair Accessible Cruises to Consider for Your Next Vacation

cruising with kids Taking a cruise is a very popular vacation option for wheelchair accessibility and for those with disabilities because everything is available within the confines of the ship. Wheelchair accessible cruises and disabled cruises are floating vacations with everything from pools and fine dining to relaxation and spacious living quarters. There’s no need to worry about transportation or mobility once you’re on the ship, as it’s all included and ready for you to explore.

The following 10 wheelchair accessible and disabled cruises cover 5 different destinations: Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Bahamas, and Scandiavia or Northern Europe, with 5 different cruise lines. This gives you a wide range of destinations and experiences to choose from. For each of the handicap cruises mentioned in this article , there are disabled cabins on cruise ships and they would be perfect for any wheelchair user or senior with disabilities. Almost all cruises are handicap accessible cruises due to the staterooms and accommodations.

When planning a cruise, whether it’s one that’s been recommended below or to any destination you choose, it’s important to remember to contact the cruise line with any questions. Many cruise ships will dock at each destination, but not every port of call is wheelchair accessible. Speaking with the cruise line about excursions and wheelchair accessibility is the best way to ensure your wheelchair cruise suits your needs.

The Best Wheelchair Accessible Cruises and Disabled Cruises to Consider

1: Alaskan Cruise with Holland America

Alaska is a great destination for disabled cruises because you can see so much from the ship itself and enjoy the destination without having to disembark sometimes. Many of the ports are also docked, which makes it easy to go explore each city, see a show, and do some shopping, along with take in the sights and experiences.  Ports of call  on these cruises include Ketchikan, Juneau , Skagway, and Glacier Bay.

One of the best ways to take a cruise to Alaska in terms of wheelchair accessibility is with  Holland America . There are a variety of Alaskan wheelchair accessible cruises available through this cruise line. The best time to see Alaska is from April to September, due to the weather and these cruises can be scheduled quickly if you’re booking in that window.

Half of the Holland America cruise ships travel to and from Alaska, but  one of the most wheelchair and handicap accessible ships is Nieuw Amsterdam . This ship provides 7 day cruises in Alaska, including the Glacier Discovery Northbound, Glacier Discovery Southbound, and Alaskan Inside Passage. Cruises depart from Vancouver, BC, Canada and Whittier, Alaska.

Holland America is excellent in terms of accessibility from check in to check out. There’s a specific wheelchair and special assistance check in, the staterooms are very accessible and spacious, and there are accessible restrooms on the most popular levels so you don’t have to waste vacation time traveling back to your room.

2: Alaskan Cruise with Carnival

Another great Alaska option is taking a cruise with Carnival. There are  three different Carnival cruise ships that offer an Alaska trip : the Carnival Miracle with 10 day or 11 day cruises leaving from San Francisco, California, the Carnival Spirit with a 7 day or 8 day cruise leaving from Seattle, Washington, and the Carnival Legend with a 9 day cruise leaving from Vancouver, BC, Canada. The Alaska cruises typically run from April to September, as this is the best weather window for visiting Alaska.

The ports of call depend on how long your cruise is, but typically most Alaska cruises with Carnival visit several of the same destinations. The most popular destinations with wheelchair accessible excursions include: Skagway, Ketchikan , and Icy Strait Point. There’s also plenty to do in Juneau and Victoria. Most wheelchair and handicap accessible excursions include a tour, from  a train ride at White Pass Summit  to a village tour in Ketchikan and a whale cruise at Icy Strait Point.

A unique feature of the Carnival Alaska cruises is the day of  Cruising the Tracy Arm Fjord . This is an on ship experience because everyone stays aboard the ship and the ship passes through a narrow waterway surrounded by glaciers on both sides.

Carnival offers a variety of accessibility accommodations, including wheelchair accessible staterooms. There are four different types of accessible staterooms available and  Carnival uses a Mobility Questionaire  to help assign the appropriate room to guests requiring accommodations.

3: Caribbean Cruise with Carnival

Carnival is also a great cruise line for traveling to the Caribbean. This cruise line offers trips to the  West, East, and Southern Caribbean  departing from multiple locations along the east coast including Florida, Alabama, Texas, Virginia, New York, South Carolina, and Maryland. Cruises can last anywhere from 4 days to 14 days, which makes it easy to enjoy the trip no matter the length of your vacation. The shorter trips, 4 to 7 days, typically cover the West and East, while the longer trips, 14 days, visit the south.

The 4 to 5 day cruises occur on the Carnival Sensation and the Carnival Fantasy. These trips have  two ports of call ,  Key West  and  Cozumel  where you can take tours to explore the port and maybe even spend some time at the beach. A 6 day cruise typically has 3 stops, but these ports are all different from the shorter cruises, with ports at Nassau, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, and Half Moon Cay, depending on the cruise. Each port has plenty to explore from shopping and dining to beaches, tours, and other excursions. The Carnival Magic, Breeze, and Fascination all run 6 day cruises.

Carnival cruises are great options for anyone looking to take their first cruise. It’s a common cruise line and can be a solid opportunity for a wheelchair cruise, a cruise for seniors with disabilities, or even cruising with kids , as Carnival has a kid’s club and many activities are geared toward children. Carnival offers 4 different accessible staterooms on most of their cruise ships and works with guests to ensure their stateroom suits their needs.

4: Caribbean Cruise with Disney

Disney is a popular cruise line and their cruises to the Caribbean are more popular due to the Disney island stop, Castaway Cay. Disney cruises are great for families and because of this target audience, they’re also great in terms of wheelchair and handicap accessibility. When looking for a cruise for wheelchair users, consider a Disney cruise. While they are typically more expensive, they may also offer more accessible excursions with a family focused atmosphere.

Disney cruises visit Western, Eastern, and Southern Caribbean, depending on which trip you book.  4 night cruises  are aboard the Disney Wonder and depart from Galveston, Texas or New Orleans, Louisiana. These short cruises have one port of call, Cozumel, Mexico , which is great for exploring the beach. There’s also 2 days at sea with plenty to do, as Disney hosts magnificent days at sea parties with unique themes. The ideal time of year to take a Disney cruise to the Caribbean is December to May, outside of hurricane season.

7 night cruises  are aboard the Disney Fantasy and depart from Florida, Texas, or Lousisana. Some of these cruises even stop at Castaway Cay twice, which is perfect for getting in beach time and to explore each destination.  Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, is very handicap accessible  with wide, paved walking paths, sand wheelchairs, an accessible tram, and accessible bathrooms.

Disney cruises are very accessible , from spacious staterooms to accessible bathrooms. Disney provides a list of amenities in each accessible stateroom, as well as a Special Services department to ensure your cruise fulfills all your accessibility needs. A Disney cruise is a great option for all ages, as each cruise provides plenty of on board entertainment and activity along with beautiful ports of call.

5: Hawaiian Cruise with Disney

Another great destination with  Disney Cruises is Hawaii . You get all the luxury and accessibility of the  staterooms , the wonderful on board entertainment and events, along with a beautiful destination and beachy ports of call. Hawaii cruises with Disney tend to be longer trips, 9 and 10 nights, and have a limited range of ports to depart from.

There is limited availability on these cruises as well, with the  Disney Wonder  leaving from Vancouver, BC, Canada. Each cruise has a port of call at three or four Hawaiian islands, making sure your whole trip is spent in paradise. The best time to take a Hawaii cruise is during good weather, to avoid storms, ideally April to September.

A  10 day cruise to Hawaii with Disney  includes 5 days at sea and 5 destinations, all of which are different Hawaiian islands. A cruise of this length gives you plenty of time onboard to enjoy the shows, dining experiences, character meet and greets, and onboard entertainment, while also getting to visit several Hawaiian destinations to visit the beach, tour the towns, take pictures, and enjoy the atmosphere.

6: Hawaiian Cruise with Norwegian

A unique cruising experience is visiting Hawaii with  Norwegian Cruise Line . This line offers long, 14 day cruises starting or ending in Hawaii, along with 7 day Hawaii round trip cruises. This is a unique cruise experience in that you start your cruise in Hawaii and can end in Tahiti or take the ship all the way to Vancouver, depending on your preference. Many cruises are round trip from one specific port, but Norwegian offers a chance to explore even more on one cruise.

The  7 day round trip cruise  starts and ends on the island of Hawaii with the ship Pride of America. Ports include popular Hawaiian islands such as Kahului, Hilo, and Kona, and is one of the most well-known and popular cruise options to this destination. Norwegian runs this cruse year-round, which makes it easy to book for whenever you’re ready to take a vacation.

The  11 day cruise  starts in Hawaii and ends in Vancouver, which is an amazing way to end a vacation. You can start in Hawaii for a few days, enjoy the island, then island hop your way home to Vancouver and fly from there. Port activities include visiting the beaches, shopping, and spending time at museums, educational centers, and national parks. There’s something for everyone on these trips for all ages and mobility restrictions.

Norwegian Cruise Line believes that cruising should be enjoyed by everyone, which is why they strive to provide the best service for guests with disabilities, handicaps, mobility restrictions, and wheelchair users. Norwegian has  Special Assistance Coordinators  to help ensure your cruise fulfills your needs, from a specific stateroom to any other accommodations.

7: Bahamas Cruise with Norwegian

Norwegian Cruise Line also offers wonderful cruises for wheelchair users to a variety of destinations, including the Bahamas. Just like with Hawaii,  Norwegian offers  some unique experiences on their cruises to the Bahamas, including one cruise that leaves New York City, stops in Florida for some theme park fun, and then cruises to the Bahamas for fun, sun, and beachy afternoons. They offer 3 day, 4 day, or 5 day cruises from Florida, or a 10 day or 11 day cruise from NYC. The ships that travel this route include the Norweigan Sky, Norweigan Sun, and Norweigan Escape.

Most of these  cruises are round-trip , which makes it easy to arrive at your port, board the ship, and enjoy the trip. Ports of call include Grand Bahama Island, Grand Stirrup Cay, and Nassau on the shorter trips, and additional stops in Orlando and Bermuda for the 11 day cruise. This is a great cruise to visit the beaches, enjoy the warm weather, and to escape daily life for a few days. The best time to travel to the Bahamas is after November and before May, to have the best weather.

Norwegian wants everyone to enjoy their stay and works to provide the best staterooms and service to accommodate the needs of every guest. They have wheelchair accessible staterooms and events for everyone both onboard and at each port as an excursion.  Contact Norwegian Cruise Line  for specifics.

8: Bahamas Cruise with Royal Caribbean

Similar to traveling to the Bahamas with Norwegian, Royal Caribbean cruises leave from Florida, Texas, and other eastern coastal states of the United States to explore Nassau, Key West, and Cozumel. This is the perfect cruise for wheelchair users, people with disabilities, and seniors with disabilities as it gives everyone a chance to enjoy the warm weather and get a chance to enjoy beyond their everyday.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises  in a range of lengths, from 3 nights to 4 and 5 nights, along with a week long 7 day to 14 days and beyond. Ships that travel to the Bahamas include the Mariner of the Seas, Empress of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas. All ships offer accessible staterooms and excursions. Reservations require a  Guest with Special Needs Form  to ensure you are assigned the proper stateroom. 

Nassau  is a docked port, which means it will be the most wheelchair accessible and allows everyone a chance to get off the ship and explore. There’s beautiful beaches, boat rides, tours, and plenty of shopping. This is a great place for a short cruise over a weekend or a longer cruise to enjoy more of the Bahamas. 

9: Scandinavia with Royal Caribbean

On  Royal Caribbean, their ship Jewel of the Seas  takes guests to Scandinavia and Russia over 7, 8, or 10 days. This ship departs from Copenhagen, Denmark or Stockholm, Sweden depending on the trip. These trips are part of the Baltic Cruises this cruise line offers. The best time to visit Scandinavia and Northern Europe is from April to August for the best weather window.

One of the benefits of traveling with Royal Caribbean is that the itinerary tells you if your port will be docked or tendered. Docked is the best option for those with disabilities, mobility limitations, and wheelchair accessibility. Most of the ports of call on the Baltic Cruises are docked, with the rare exception depending on your cruise.

Popular ports of call include Tallinn, Estonia , St. Petersburg, Russia , and Helsinki, Finland . Longer cruises have a few more ports of call including Visby, Sweden. Each location on any of the  three cruises  include amazing local dining, comprehensive tours and museums to take in the local history, and plenty of shopping for gifts, souvenirs and pictures to document your trip.

Royal Caribbean fully supports that travel should be accessible for all and works to provide accessible staterooms and excursions to all their guests. Their website includes a  request form for accessible excursions and a list of tendered ports , which are not typically wheelchair accessible. Accessible staterooms can be requested with a  Guest Special Needs Form .

10: Scandinavian Cruise with Holland America

A Scandinavian cruise is commonly referred to as a  Northern Europe cruise  and visits locations such as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In addition to cruising with Royal Caribbean, you can also cruise with Holland America, which is known as one of the most accessible cruise lines, as we saw with cruising to Alaska. The same standard is upheld with cruising to Scandinavia.  Holland America  offers 7 day, 10 day, 14 day, and 21 day cruises that explore the waterways of Sweden, Norway, and the Baltic sea. Ships available for these trips include Ship Nieuw Statendam and Ship Rotterdam.

Many of these excursions are taking water and motor tours of the surrounding areas, like driving through one of Norway’s longest tunnels, visiting farm villages, sampling local coffee and treats, and exploring the steep roads with hairpin turns. While these are exciting ways to explore the area, it can also make wheelchair accessibility difficult. The best way to approach these excursions is to speak with Holland America directly, as accessible vehicles, ramps, and other accommodations can be made in advance.

Holland America Line strives to provide any accommodations you may need during your stay and uses a  Special Requirements Information Form  to help provide the proper stateroom and any other adjustments a guest with disabilities or mobility limitations may need. It is suggested to plan ahead and to contact the cruise line well before your stay in order to answer questions about cruises for wheelchair users and to confirm your reservation.

As you can see, there are a variety of handicap cruises and disabled cruises available to consider for your next vacation. Most cruise lines are accommodating in terms of disabled cabins on cruise ships and exciting excursions.

Cruises are a great opportunity to travel for wheelchair users, those with mobility restrictions and disabled individuals. The all inclusiveness of a cruise makes it the perfect way to relax and enjoy without all the planning of a traditional vacation.

Are you interested in booking one of these cruises?? Contact my accessibility-focused travel agency, Curb Free Travel, by emailing me at [email protected]

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After being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, Cory's thirst for adventure never ceased. He went on many trips around the US when he was younger, and then started taking things internationally when he turned fifteen. Since then, Cory has traveled around the world, all while managing to successfully graduate college and start up his travel blog curbfreewithcorylee.com, where he shares his accessible, and sometimes not so accessible, travel adventures with others. Through this, he hopes to inspire other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zone and see all of the beauty that the world has to offer.

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Cruises are a luxurious way for you to travel the world; often without even having to get on a plane! Picture staying in a five star hotel, surrounded by the ocean and with different views every day - it’s no wonder cruises are so popular! Relax on the upper deck, bask in the sun and let amazing destinations come to you! Take a look at some of our many cruise offers .

They also happen to be some of the most accessible holidays you could imagine! Fully adapted cabins and wetrooms, hired equipment delivered to your cabin, accessible excursions and transfers, plus fantastic accessibility of on-board entertainment - all part of an accessible cruise booked with DisabledHolidays.com!

Our disabled cruise specialists have also written an exclusive guide to disabled cruising - perfect for people who have never been on a cruise!

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We can arrange assistance at ports, hire equipment such as electric beds and arrange fully accessible excursions and cabins just for you - and with many cruises departing from Southampton you don’t have to fly.

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How to Choose the Very Best Accessible Cruise (for YOU!)

By  John Sage

Choosing the best accessible cruise for your accessibility needs and personal preferences can be overwhelming. When you start to look at all the different cruise lines, all the different cruise itineraries, the dates, and the various shore excursions, you can soon find yourself choosing from hundreds of options!

Many disabled and senior cruisers focus on the wrong aspects when selecting their cruise. They first pick a cruise line based on a friend’s recommendation or their own previous cruise experience. Next they select an itinerary that they like and book their cruise. Finally they check the accessibility of the ports. They end up staying on the ship in some of their cruise ports because they didn’t check the accessibility first!

These  12 Steps to Choose the Best Accessible Cruise  are  proven  to work! They will ensure you focus on the right things so you can quickly narrow down the options and select your perfect cruise!

Mediterranean cruise port accessibility can vary great. The  best accessible cruiseports  have attractions within walking/rolling distance on the cruise dock (Monaco, Naples) while the least accessible cruise ports require using buses with steps to get anywhere ( Livorno, shown on the right ).

There’s no need to spend any days on your cruise trapped on the ship while other people go ashore…check out the accessibility of the ports before selecting the best accessible cruise.

2) Decide on your embarkation/disembarkation ports  – Are there any cities that you would like to spend more time visiting before or after your cruise? The most popular embarkation ports in Europe are  Venice ,  Barcelona , and  London . Other popular cities include  Rome  (Civitavecchia),  Naples , Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and  Athens .

Of all these cities, Barcelona and London are the best accessible cruise ports in terms of wheelchair accessibility. If there’s a particular city that you want to spend additional days in, you can quickly eliminate some cruise itineraries.

3) Compare cruise itineraries  – Many cruise lines run similar itineraries such as the popular “Grand Mediterranean” cruise between Barcelona and Venice.  However the subtle differences can make a big difference on your trip!

Sage Travel Tip: Research the ports before deciding on a cruise line! Does one itinerary dock in Monaco and another one  tenders  in Villefranche?  You can see the same sights from either port so you will definitely want to go with the cruise that docks in Monaco!

Naples instead of Sorrento, Dubrovnik instead of Split, Mykonos instead of Santorini, Livorno instead of La Spezia…each of these choices can mean the difference between you enjoying world-class destinations or having to stay on the ship! Choose the best accessible cruise itinerary before deciding on a cruise line.

There are also certain periods to avoid. If you want a relaxing time on the beaches, avoid the crowds in August.  Visit Venice during high water season, and you could be trapped by extensive flooding ( shown in the photo on the right ) throughout the city!

5) Choose your accessible cruise length  – Cruise lengths vary drastically…from 1 day re-positioning cruises between London and Rotterdam, to 3 month long world-wide cruises. In the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, most of the itineraries are between 7 and 21 days.

The shorter cruises visit a smaller region (for example, Venice, Athens, and some Greek islands), while longer cruises such as the  12 Day Grand Mediterranean Cruise  will have at least one “day at sea” built in and visit cities throughout the Mediterranean (such as Venice, Athens, Ephesus, Istanbul, Mykonos, Naples, Rome, Florence, Monaco, and Barcelona).

6) Decide on a cruise ship size  – Cruise ships come in a variety of sizes. Smaller ships will mean shorter distances to travel onboard. Since the mega-ships are 1200 ft (360 meters) long, this can make a big difference to disabled passengers who can’t walk long distances. The smaller ships like Azamura, Regent, Crystal, and Seabourn are typically more luxurious and consequently cost more.

7) Pick a cruise line  – Many people do this step first, but you should actually decide on the ports first before picking the cruise line!

While many cruise lines are similar, each tries to sell themselves a little differently. Do you want to choose a cruise that is “Fun for All. All for fun” or a cruise that is “A Signature of Excellence”?

The most popular companies are Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival (Carnival has fewer European itineraries). Other popular cruise lines are Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America. Premium lines include Azamura, Seabourn, and Crystal. The best accessible cruise for you will use a cruise line that fits your travel style.

8) Choose a sailing date  – When choosing the  best accessible cruise itinerary , you will need to factor in your accessibility needs and your energy level. “Days at sea” often give some much-needed rest and relaxation.

Look at how many hours are in each port…some itineraries may spend a half-day visiting your favorite port, while other itineraries give you a full day to explore. Our  accessible cruise consultants  can help with choosing your itinerary.

9) Select the cabin type  – Cruise ships offer something for every traveler type. The best accessible cabin type for budget travelers will be interior cabins which are often at a rate 1/3 less than the rate of balcony cabins. At the other end of the spectrum, enormous suites with hot tubs on the balcony will make for a ultra-luxurious vacation!

10) Book your cruise  – Now that you’ve selected your cruise line, your cruise itinerary, your cruise dates, and your cabin type, you’re ready to book the best accessible cruise for you! You can make your reservation directly with the cruise company, use a local travel agent, or book a  discounted accessible cruise and excursion package . When you make the reservation, you’ll need to put down a deposit that is typically refundable before a certain date.

11) Book your pre/post-cruise activities  – As mentioned in our  Top 10 Europe Handicapped Travel Tips , booking your hotel early will allow you to save money and get a centrally-located accessible hotel. If you want to get the best hotels in the summer, you’ll need book 6 months in advance. Other times of year, you should book two or three months in advance. You’ll also want to book the tours and transportation in your destination city, although these are not as urgent.  Accessible travel packages  are available for  Athens ,  Barcelona ,  London ,  Rome , and  Venice .

12) Book your accessible cruise excursions  – You should have already confirmed that excursions that meet all of your accessibility needs are available in each of your ports.  Now is the time to make the reservations! If you’re traveling during the summer, accessible van transportation could get scarce in some ports. We’ve had to tell clients visiting Rome and Mykonos that all of the accessible vans are already booked.  Make your excursion reservations two months in advance if you want to be safe. 

The  best accessible cruise excursions  use officially-licensed local tourist guides to explain the significance and history of the sights and share their culture with you. We provide accessible cruise excursions in numerous ports including  Athens ,  Barcelona , Florence (Livorno) , the  French Riviera ,  Istanbul ,  Kusadasi & Izmir (Ephesus) ,  Mykonos , Naples & Sorrento ,  Rome (Civitavecchia) ,  Venice , and more.

If any of these essential steps seem too time consuming, our  accessible cruise consultants will plan your cruise for FREE!  

Accessible Cruising in Europe Accessible Cruise Travel vs. Accessible Land Travel Choosing Your Accessible Cruise 13 Tips for Disabled Cruisers in Europe Top 20 Accessible Mediterranean Cruise Itineraries Accessibility Reviews of European Cruise Ports Are Cruise Tenders Accessible? Accessible Mediterranean Cruise Excursions Discount Accessible Cruise & Excursion Packages Cruise Port Accessibility Reviews Athens (Piraeus) Cruise Port Accessibility Barcelona Cruise Port Accessibility Civitavecchia (Rome) Cruise Port Accessibility Istanbul Cruise Port Accessibility Kusadasi Cruise Port Accessibility Livorno (Florence) Cruise Port Accessibility Monaco Cruise Port Accessibility Mykonos Cruise Port Accessibility Naples Cruise Port Accessibility Sorrento Cruise Port Accessibility Venice Cruise Port Accessibility Accessible Mediterranean Cruise Excursions Athens Accessible Cruise Excursions Barcelona Accessible Cruise Excursions Civitavecchia (Rome) Accessible Cruise Excursions Ephesus (Kusadasi & Izmir) Accessible Cruise Excursions French Riviera Accessible Cruise Excursions Istanbul Accessible Cruise Excursions Livorno (Tuscany) Accessible Cruise Excursions Mykonos Accessible Cruise Excursions Naples Accessible Cruise Excursions Venice Accessible Cruise Excursions Accessible Cruising with Sage Traveling  –  Receive our City Accessibility Guides & accessible hotel recommendations for free!

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"We could go on and on but this was the best trip that we could ask for. Our next trip will definitely be through you..." Read More...

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"We had a splendid time in Europe, thanks to all your planning. We remarked again and again how difficult it would have been without your planning! Thanks again for the wonderful trip!" Read More...

"I wanted to let you and Mr. Sage know that we loved our accessible private tour of the Vatican…" Read More...

"Let me thank all you guys at Sage Traveling. I got my scooter in Berlin. It was a brand new Orion…" Read More...

"I am a wheelchair user and have just returned with my husband from a cruise which started in Istanbul and ended in Venice. The information you provided on both these cities was absolutely invaluable…" Read More...

"The hotel you recommended was very centrally located and within convenient walking distance to the Louvre and Notre Dame. We even walked to the Latin quarter and to the boat tour! Thank you again for making our trip a wonderful and manageable experience…" Read More...

"I just wanted to thank you for an excellent experience in Paris. The wheelchair was delivered exactly on time and we’ve been everywhere with it over the last two days…" Read More...

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Dear Danielle

Thank you once again for organising my recent trip to Edinburgh. It was very enjoyable and was helped considerably..." Read More...

Having just returned from Paris and thoroughly enjoyed our River tour and meal on Boat Dinner tour, I feel I..." Read More...

Emily's purse was stolen with our passports and credit cards in Delft so we had to rejuggle our travel plans..." Read More...

A quick note to let you know our tour guide in Barcelona was wonderful. She was there dead on the..." Read More...

We are back home - tired from the long flight but it was a wonderful trip. Weather chilly and..." Read More...

We have now returned from an absolutely amazing trip – largely due to the excellent arrangements made by Sage..." Read More...

You have truly been amazing, my mother & I thank you from the bottom of out hearts she would have..." Read More...

Dear Danielle,

You were so right about the hotel in Bruges! It's just lovely! We love it and Bruges. Thanks for..." Read More...

It was a seamless experience, wheelchair arrived exactly on time, was lightweight and comfortable.  Highly recommended.  

-Mark   Florida, USA Read More...

Hi Danielle,

Just a note to thank you for arranging the hire of the wheelchair in Bruges. Without it we would..." Read More...

Hello Danielle :)

Well we are all home safe and sound and really missing Brugge :(

The holiday was excellent, everything that..." Read More...

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I am writing to you to advise that my Parents - Alexander & Irene have just returned from Istanbul..." Read More...

I would like to comment on what an excellent 2 trips we had in Rome. The guide was very knowledgeable..." Read More...

Dear Donna,

Let me thank all you guys at Sage travels. I got my scooter in Berlin. It was a brand..." Read More...

Jennifer, I wanted to thank you! We had an amazing trip. Everything went as planned and we are so grateful..." Read More...

Dear John and Donna:

David and I would like to say a BIG, "Thank You" for all of your help in regards to..." Read More...

Jennifer, Best family vacation EVER! We certainly couldn't have done this without you and Sage Travel'. You were our best..." Read More...

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Cruise 12-Night Eastern Mediterranean: Italy, Greece, Turkey + Egypt

There aren’t many cruise itineraries that allow you to visit 3 ancient marvels like the Colosseum in Rome, the Parthenon in Athens, and the Pyramids at Giza all in one cruise, which is why I was excited to embark on Royal Caribbean’s 12-Night Greece and Eastern Mediterranean cruise on the Legend of the Seas in June, 2009. You can’t beat the convenience of being able to see some of the most famous sites from the ancient world up close, all without having to change hotel rooms. As an added benefit, the cruise was round-trip from Rome, which gave us the opportunity to spend some extra time touring Rome before embarking on the cruise.

Altogether, the ship made stops at 7 ports in 4 countries. Along the way, we were able to do a lot of sightseeing, beginning with a scenic drive along the Amalfi coast in Italy. We also visited some ancient ruins in Ephesus and Rhodes and explored the Greek islands of Mykonos and Corfu on foot. The places we looked forward to the most, though, were a visit to the Acropolis in Athens and a drive into Cairo to see the world-famous Pyramids at Giza.

While the exciting ports of call were definitely a selling point for this particular cruise itinerary, the fact that it was also one of the most accessible Mediterranean cruise itineraries made this cruise an ideal choice for wheelchair users. To start, the ship docked at 6 of the 7 ports of call, which meant that only one port required the use of tenders. Even at that port though, I was still able to go ashore in my electric wheelchair thanks to Royal Caribbean’s accessible tenders.

The other thing that made this cruise itinerary ideal was the availability of wheelchair accessible sightseeing tours at many of the ports. While the cruise line itself did not offer accessible shore excursions at any of the ports, we were able to arrange accessible tours through private companies at 5 of the 7 ports on the cruise itinerary. Of course, no cruise itinerary would be considered “accessible” without the ship itself having a great level of access, and although the Legend of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s older ships, accessibility on board was very good overall.

Our trip started out with a flight into Rome three days prior to the cruise, which gave us 2 full days to tour the city before the start of the cruise. For North Americans embarking on a Mediterranean cruise, I highly recommend flying to the port of embarkation at least a day early in order to sleep off the jet lag and get used to the time change before the start of your cruise. Most flights from North America to Europe are overnight flights arriving in Europe in the morning, so if you go straight to the ship from the airport upon arrival, it can be a very tiring day and you might not get the most out of the first day or two of your cruise. Of course, if your cruise starts in a city like Rome, you would be wise to fly into the city more than just one day before your cruise so that you can take in the wealth of history in the city prior to embarking on your cruise.

Upon arrival in Rome, the baggage handlers were unfortunately not able to bring my electric wheelchair up to the gate, which meant that I had to meet up with it in the baggage claim. So, a couple of airport workers assisted with transferring me into an airport wheelchair just outside of the door of the plane, and then they escorted my two friends and I through customs to the baggage claim, where they again helped with the transfer back into my wheelchair. The distance from the airplane to the baggage claim was quite far. There is actually an airport tram that we had to take to get there, so it was nice to have a couple of airport workers escorting us all the way so we didn’t have to worry about where to go. Fortunately, all of our luggage arrived safely and my electric wheelchair was in working order upon receiving it, which is definitely the way I love to start every one of my vacations.

Once we entered the arrivals hall, our driver was waiting for us to take us to our hotel in Rome. We arranged several transfers through a company that has wheelchair accessible vehicles. This company provided all of our transfers in Rome, including transfers from the airport to our Rome hotel, the hotel to the Civitavecchia cruise terminal, and the cruise terminal back to the airport. They also drove us to the Vatican one morning and the Colosseum the next morning. While the transfers were a little pricey, they were definitely convenient and our driver was great.

The drive from Rome Fiumucino Airport to our downtown Rome hotel took approximately 45 minutes, far less than the time I had read it was going to take. Traffic was not bad at all though, which likely explains it. Our hotel was conveniently located in the heart of downtown Rome, which made it easy walking distance to Campo dei Fiori, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain. Even the Vatican and the Colosseum were within walking distance. The Vatican was about a 20 or 30-minute walk north, and the Forum and the Colosseum were about a 45-minute walk the other way.

The hotel itself was great. Our room on the second floor had two beds and a rollaway bed, and the bathroom had a nice roll-in shower. The elevator in the hotel was plenty long enough to accommodate me, which is often not the case with many elevators in Europe. The only slight problem with the hotel that we found at the beginning was a little 3 or 4-inch lip at the main entrance to the hotel. It was not a huge deal for my friend to help me over that bump, although I found it a little annoying the first couple of days to have to always get assistance over that bump rather than being able to go in and out of the hotel freely. That was until we discovered a small ramp sitting right behind the front door of the hotel. The ramp had clearly been custom-designed just for that lip. I’m not sure why none of the hotel staff pointed it out to us earlier, but it certainly would have been nice to know on Day 1 that there was a ramp available.

We spent our first full day in Rome touring the Vatican. It would probably take two or three days to truly take in all there is to see at the Vatican, but one day is definitely enough to see the highlights. We started by having the van company drop us off at the entrance to the Vatican Museums. Admission was free for a person with a disability and one companion, which was actually true of all the public attractions we went to in Rome that charged admission, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, and the Forum. This is pretty much the standard policy throughout Italy. However, when I was last at the Vatican Museums in 2003, they did want some sort of identification proving my disability (as if the wheelchair wasn’t enough), so this time I got smart and brought my disabled parking placard along just in case. We never had to show it, though.

The Vatican Museums were very accessible. We toured through the museum courtyard and the halls without any problem. There was a special elevator that took us up to the Raphael rooms. The 4 Raphael rooms served as apartments for Pope Julius II, who in 1507 commissioned the famous painter Raphael to decorate the rooms. The rooms were very busy, but definitely worth the visit.

Of course, the highlight of the Vatican Museums is the Sistine Chapel. It is here where bishops gather upon the death of a pope to elect a new pope, although the Chapel is more famous for being the place where Michelangelo painted the ceiling between 1508 and 1512. Wheelchair users enter the Sistine Chapel through a long hallway where everyone else exits the Chapel. There are 11 steps leading down to the hall, but there is a wheelchair lift that takes wheelchair users down the steps. I was actually stuck on this same lift for an hour back in 2003. The weight limit is only 230 kg (507 pounds), which is pretty much exactly the total weight of me sitting in my wheelchair. I e-mailed the Vatican a couple of weeks prior to the trip to inquire about the lift situation, and they said that it would not be a problem to transfer into one of their manual wheelchairs. So, rather than risk getting stuck again, I was fully prepared this time to transfer into one of the Vatican Museums’ manual wheelchairs for the trip down to the Chapel.

However, when we arrived at the steps, the museum worker told me to get on the lift. I immediately told him about my prior experience and double-checked the labeling on the lift to confirm the 230 kg weight limit, but he wanted me to give it a try anyway. While I was a little nervous about it, I definitely liked the idea of being able to go down to the Chapel in my own electric wheelchair rather than having to transfer into a manual wheelchair, so I got on the lift. Sure enough, it hesitated and lifted me up a little bit, but it didn’t really move very far. That’s when my friend got smart and grabbed the side of my wheelchair and lifted up on it to take some of the weight off. That did the trick as I went down without any problem. Of course, going back up is a lot harder on the lift than going down, so when it was time to go back up after visiting the Chapel, my friend really had to pull up hard on the side of my wheelchair to take some of the weight off, and he had to continue pushing up on my chair the whole way up the stairs as he walked alongside the lift. It wasn’t easy, but it worked out fine.

The Sistine Chapel itself was great. Of course, it was incredibly crowded with people everywhere, and you really have to make sure that people don’t trip over you as everyone is busy looking up at the ceiling taking in Michelangelo’s famous frescoes. One thing that really surprised me was the lack of Vatican security guards telling people not to take pictures. On my first visit to the Sistine Chapel in 2003, they were extremely strict about people not taking pictures inside the Chapel, and any flashbulb that went off was immediately met by a security guard shouting that no pictures were allowed. When we entered the Sistine Chapel this time around though, there were flashbulbs and people taking pictures everywhere. It wasn’t until about 10 minutes later that we heard an announcement over a loudspeaker that flash photography was not allowed, although that didn’t really stop anyone as there was no one there enforcing it.

Upon exiting the Vatican Museums, we made our way along the outside walls of Vatican City to St. Peter’s Square, which was probably about a 10-minute stroll. There was a large section of chairs set up in St. Peter’s Square in preparation for the Papal Audience the following day, which the Pope does every Wednesday except during the summer months. There was also a large lineup of people waiting to enter St. Peter’s Basilica. Fortunately, we were able to bypass the long line and go right through to the front. To enter the Basilica, there was an elevator on the right side that took us up to the main entrance. There were a few main doors leading into the Basilica, one of which was ramped for wheelchair access. After spending some time wandering around the inside of the Basilica, we went back outside to the elevator and proceeded down to the Vatican Grottoes, which is the level below the floor of St. Peter’s where many popes are buried, including the recently deceased Pope John Paul II. This is also where the tomb of St. Peter is located. Like St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Grottoes were very accessible.

By the time we exited the Vatican Grottoes, it was late afternoon and we had pretty much-seen everything we intended to see at the Vatican. So, after spending a few minutes checking out the Obelisk and the Centro del Colonnato in St. Peter’s Square, we began the walk back to our hotel. Along the way we had a late lunch/early dinner at a sidewalk café and made stops at a few points of interest, including Castel Sant’Angelo and Piazza Navona.

We began our second full day of sightseeing in Rome at the Colosseum. The Colosseum is probably a good 45-minute walk from the hotel we stayed at, which is a long way to walk if you plan to do it both ways. There are plenty of notable things to see along the way though, including the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia, the Capitoline Hill, and the Forum. So, our plan was to start off by getting a ride to the Colosseum first thing in the morning, and from there to spend a couple of hours touring the Colosseum before using the rest of the day to walk back to the hotel, all the while stopping to take in various points of interest along the way.

One thing should be pointed out for wheelchair users who plan to tour Rome by wheelchair, though. Rome is full of cobblestone streets. In fact, there are very few paved streets that I saw, and those streets were typically heavily trafficked streets. So, wheeling around Rome by wheelchair can be a bumpy ride. The cobblestones are generally not so rough that they can not be navigated by wheelchairs, but they are consistently bumpy enough that those who have a real problem with wheeling on cobblestone will want to consider booking transfers with accessible vehicles rather than trying to wheel it on their own. I did not find a lack of curb cuts to be much of a problem because most of the streets were more like back alleys, so I spent more time just wheeling along on the roads than I did on actual sidewalks.

For such an old piece of architecture (it was completed in 80 AD), I am always amazed at how accessible the Colosseum is. The outside of the Colosseum is actually the roughest part as the area around the entrance is a rather bumpy cobblestone. There is also a curb that leads onto a sidewalk that goes into the Colosseum, although you can avoid the curb if you just walk around the Colosseum a little bit to where it levels out. Once inside, the main hall and the walkways around the upper and lower levels are completely paved. There is also a very modern elevator that will take people from the main floor to the upper level. Pretty much the entire area of the Colosseum that is open to tourists is accessible for wheelchair users, with the exception of a small area on the lower level where there are a few steps to go down and then back up to the other side. That area can be seen from above on the second level though, so it really isn’t much of a loss.

Unlike my last trip to the Colosseum in 2003, we decided to forgo the guided tour and just tour the Colosseum on our own. So, we got in line with everyone else to purchase admission. As soon as one of the staff members saw me though, he pulled me out of the line and escorted me through an empty aisle to the very front of the line to get tickets. Admission was free for me and one person, so only one of my friends had to pay, which was really nice. We certainly didn’t get this special treatment on my previous trip to the Colosseum. Once inside, we took our time walking around the upper and lower levels. One of the great things about visiting the Colosseum is that there is no time limit. You can basically spend as much time as you want to wander around. I must say, of all the places I have ever visited in my life, the Colosseum is easily the place that leaves me the most in awe. It is an amazing experience to look around the Colosseum and try to visualize the emperors who once sat there, the gladiators who once fought there, and the Christians who were martyred there. It is hard to imagine.

Next, we made our way next door to the Roman Forum, which served as the marketplace and the center of political and social activity in ancient Rome. On my previous trip, I entered the Forum on the east side through the Arch of Titus, which I now realize was not the best way to enter the Forum as it was lined with some of the worst cobblestones I have ever seen. The better entrance for wheelchair users is off of Via Dei Fori Imperiali, which is the busy main road that travels alongside the Forum and the Colosseum. This entrance is located on the side of a hill, but they have installed a wheelchair lift to take wheelchair users down to the Forum. The lift is hardly even necessary though as the ramp that most people take down into the Forum is paved and is actually one of the smoother surfaces we came across in all of downtown Rome. Once inside the Forum, I managed to wheel around a little bit, although the pathways were sporadic in terms of accessibility. Parts of the pathways were dirt or fine gravel and quite manageable, while other parts consisted of huge, uneven stones that only the most determined wheelchair users could go over. Although it is difficult for a wheelchair to get around in much of the Forum, there is certainly enough to see to make it worthwhile, such as the spot where Julius Caesar’s body was reportedly cremated and buried following his assassination.

After the Forum, we continued down Via Dei Fori Imperiali and up a side road to Capitoline Hill, where there is a big statue of Marcus Aurelius on a horse in the middle of a square. The square is surrounded by 3 palazzi (palaces) that together make up the Capitoline Museums. Behind the statue to the right of the center palazzo, there is a small road leading to an overlook that offers the best panoramic view the Forum. This is a great spot to stop for people who do not have the time to go into the Forum, although I would say it is a must-see even for those who do. Not only does it offer the best overall view of the Forum, but it’s also free.

Next, we made our way back down the hill and continued on through a busy Piazza Venezia (Venice Square), which is highlighted by a huge monument to Vittorio Emanuele II — the first king of a unified Italy. From there, it was about a 10-15 minute walk to the Trevi Fountain, a huge fountain completed in the mid-1700s. One popular legend has it that people who throw a coin into the water will ensure themselves of a return trip to Rome in their lifetime. Unfortunately, wheelchair users can’t really test this legend out because there are steps leading down to the fountain. One can still get a really good view of it from the top of the steps, though.

Our last stop of the day was the Pantheon, located just a short walk from the Trevi Fountain. The Pantheon was originally completed in 27 A.D. under Marcus Agrippa, although it was last reconstructed in 126 A.D. by Emperor Hadrian following a couple of fires. While Marcus Agrippa originally intended the Pantheon to be a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, it has been used for a number of different things over the centuries, including as a church, which is what is still used for today. The Pantheon is home to several tombs, including the tombs of a couple of Italian kings and the famous painter Raphael. While there is a small curb outside the main entrance, there is a wheelchair ramp off to the side. The inside of the Pantheon is completely wheelchair accessible, and admission is free for everyone. Once inside, make sure to take note of the dome ceiling. At the top of the dome is the Oculus, a large round opening that actually allows rain to fall inside the Pantheon.

LEGEND OF THE SEAS

The next morning, we checked out of our hotel and were picked up at 12 noon for the ride to the port. It was about a 1-hour drive from our hotel to the port of Civitavecchia. Upon arrival, we handed our checked luggage over to Royal Caribbean baggage handlers and proceeded to board the Legend of the Seas. Having made its maiden voyage back in 1995, the Legend is one of Royal Caribbean’s older ships. It is also one of their smaller ships with a capacity of only 2,076 passengers. It is still a very nice vessel though, and I found overall accessibility to be quite good around the ship.

We were booked into a wheelchair accessible junior suite stateroom. It was very accessible as the bathroom had a roll-in shower and there was plenty of space to maneuver around in the room. However, I was shocked to discover that there was a 3-inch lip that I had to wheel over to go out onto the balcony. Much like my experience at the entrance to our hotel in Rome, it was not a huge deal for my friend to lift me over the bump (although it wasn’t easy), but it was quite annoying to not be able to go in and out onto the balcony freely. After putting up with it for the first night, I decided to go to the Pursers Desk to complain about it. A day later, maintenance was by to take measurements, and in no time I had a custom-built ramp to solve the problem. This is a good example of how it pays to speak up and say something right away rather than just making do with the inconvenience. I was surprised that other past passengers had not pointed out the issue sooner, but perhaps there was a ramp there at one time and it somehow got misplaced, or maybe they just didn’t think that a quick fix was possible.

No one before me was put out to the extent that they didn’t go out onto the balcony at all. The ability to go outside in your own cabin is the reason people pay big bucks for a balcony stateroom. Royal Caribbean is typically ahead of the game in terms of accessibility, so I was very surprised to find this problem in our stateroom. Royal Caribbean’s Access and Compliance Department later notified me that the issue of the lip is only an issue on Royal Caribbean’s older ships, and in those cases, there should be portable ramps available on each ship that were made for this purpose. They aren’t really sure what happened in my case, although they did intend to investigate to ensure it doesn’t happen to other guests. The accessible balconies on all of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships are not an issue as they were designed to have level access from the stateroom onto the balcony.

Our first port of call was Naples, Italy, where I prearranged a full-day tour along the scenic Amalfi Coast. Once off the ship, we made our way through security to a nearby parking lot where an accessible van and a driver were waiting for us. The van was complete with a hydraulic lift and tie-downs, so we got in and began the journey south for the day. As we exited Naples, we drove alongside the mighty Mount Vesuvius, best known as the volcano whose eruption in 79 A.D. buried the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, killing thousands of people. The ruins of Pompeii have since been excavated and have become a popular tourist attraction, but unfortunately, the site is not wheelchair accessible at all. However, since we were driving right by it, our driver decided to stop in and do a quick drive-through. While I could not go into the actual site, I was able to see some of the ruins from inside the van. It wasn’t much, but then again I wasn’t expecting to see any of Pompeii at all, so seeing something was definitely better than nothing.

Next, we made our way down the coast to the town of Sorrento, making brief stops at a few scenic points along the way. In Sorrento, we stopped to walk around town for a bit and do a little shopping. Then we met up with our driver again and continued on down the coast to the town of Amalfi. The coastline road to Amalfi was full of winds and curves as it weaved along the side of a cliff the whole way. The scenery was spectacular. We made a few more stops at scenic overlooks along the way before arriving in Amalfi. Once in Amalfi, we had about an hour to walk around town and grab some lunch at one of the many sidewalk cafés. Then it was time to head back to the ship to make sure we arrived in time. Rather than going back the same way we came, our driver took a more direct route from Amalfi and made it back to the port in just over an hour. In the end, we all really enjoyed the tour. It was a lot of driving as most of the day was spent inside the vehicle, but those who enjoy beautiful scenery will definitely enjoy a drive along the Amalfi Coast.

After our first day at sea, the ship docked in Athens, Greece, where we again had a prearranged full-day tour scheduled. We were met at the port by a driver, a private guide, and a wheelchair accessible van. After my previous visit to Athens for one day in 2006, I wanted to make sure that this time we were given ample time at the Acropolis to tour around on our own. So, I made sure to tell the guide right away so that he could plan the day’s schedule accordingly. Aside from the Acropolis, there wasn’t anything specific that I wanted to see in Athens, so I just left it up to the tour company to plan an itinerary.

We started off the tour with a drive to Cape Sounio, which was about a 90-minute drive south of Athens. The driver stuck to the coastal road the whole way so that we could see some of the nice coastal scenery along the way. The only problem was that we had just spent a full-day driving along the Amalfi Coast a couple of days earlier, so while this particular drive was a very nice drive, it was hard for us to truly appreciate in comparison to the spectacular scenery we had just seen along the Amalfi Coast. I was happy when we finally arrived at Cape Sounio, which is the site of some ruins of an ancient Greek temple of Poseidon. Poseidon was the god of the sea in Greek mythology. The temple was located atop a hill on the edge of the Cape so that incoming sailors would be greeted by the monument as they sailed in towards Athens.

When we arrived at the site, we got out of the van to explore the area. It was then that our guide asked me if I was able to walk at all because there was a huge flight of stairs on the side of the hill that had to be climbed in order to get up to the ruins of the temple. I was stunned. I told him that I could not walk at all. So, we just went over to an area where I could see the ruins from afar, and then he spent 15 or 20 minutes telling us as much as he could about the site from there. I must admit, I didn’t hear much of what he had to say. I was too steamed up about the fact that we had just driven 90 minutes to see something that was not wheelchair accessible. After the brief history lesson, the guide and my two friends went up to see the ruins up close while I waited at the bottom of the hill. There was no sense in having my friends miss out on the temple just because I couldn’t get up there. So, after an hour on the ground in total, we got back in the van and headed back to Athens. By the time we got back to the city, it was 1 p.m. We had just spent the first 4 hours of our 8-hour tour driving to see something that was not accessible. The day was definitely not off to a good start.

Upon arrival back in Athens, we spent some time driving past some of the major landmarks in the city, including the stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, the Greek Parliament building with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier out front, and the remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. There wasn’t really enough time for me to get out of the van at each place though, so we basically just did a quick drive-by and the guide pointed out some highlights.

Next, we were off to the Acropolis to end the day. Unlike my first trip to the Acropolis in 2006, this time our driver drove us right up the pathway to the entrance, which regular vehicles are not allowed to do. When I got out of the vehicle, we were immediately approached by one of the staff members at the Acropolis with the most disappointing news of our trip — the wheelchair lift was broken. It had broken down earlier in the day, and given that it was a Sunday and not a weekday, it would not be fixed until the following day. They tried to page a technician to come in on short notice, but apparently, not many people answer their pagers on a Sunday afternoon. Given that the Acropolis is the highlight of a trip to Greece for most people, it is a little surprising that they don’t have a technician on duty at all times while the Acropolis is open. Our driver felt awful and made numerous phone calls trying to get someone to come out — including a phone call to the Greek Ministry of Tourism, but the timing was just bad. So, much like our experience at Cape Sounio, our guide just spent some time giving me a little history lesson at the bottom of the hill, and then I waited for an hour while he and my friends went to the top to see everything close up. While I was disappointed that I did not get to the top of the Acropolis, I felt very fortunate that at least I had been able to do it three years earlier. I can’t imagine the disappointment that someone would have if they were in Athens on a once-in-a-lifetime trip and the lift did not work.

On the way back to the port, we stopped briefly at a little market to pick up some souvenirs. While we were there, we struck up a conversation with a really nice man who owned one of the shops, and he ended up handing me a free T-shirt. In my mind, I certainly felt as though I earned that free shirt given all the waiting around I did that day while my friends toured around without me. At least it was a good way to end off the day … that is until I got home and realized that the shirt was way too small for me. I guess it just wasn’t my day.

Our day in Athens was easily the most disappointing day of the whole cruise (the only disappointing day actually). I have visited Athens twice now — each time for a day tour, and each time I left feeling like there was a lot of the city that I missed out on. The first time we only spent a few hours in Athens because it was a 90-minute drive between our resort and the city, and this time we only spent a few hours in Athens because we wasted the first half of the day driving out to see something that is not wheelchair accessible. I have definitely learned a few things based on these two experiences. First, Cape Sounio is not wheelchair accessible. It can be seen from afar, so if you have already visited the major attractions in Athens and are just looking for a day out that involves a nice coastal drive and viewing an ancient temple from afar, it’s not a bad trip. I would not recommend it for someone who is visiting Athens for the first time though. Second, the Acropolis should be visited first thing in the morning. That way if the wheelchair lift breaks down, there will hopefully be time left in the day for a technician to come out and fix it so you can still go to the top later in the day. Lastly, if I’m fortunate enough to visit Athens again someday, next time I am going to make sure that I spend the whole day in the city seeing things that I want to see. This means doing some research beforehand to come up with my own itinerary, and then forgoing the private guide and just hiring a wheelchair accessible vehicle plus a driver to chauffeur me around the city for the day. Hopefully the next time I visit Athens I will be able to leave at the end of the day with the feeling that we really made the most of our time there.

Our third port of call was the Greek island of Mykonos. This was the only port on our cruise itinerary that required tendering. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean is one of the few cruise lines that have wheelchair accessible tenders. So, after getting up in the morning, we went down to the lower deck where they were boarding people onto the tenders. I was a little nervous when I saw that everyone actually had to walk down several steps to get to the opening in the ship where they were loading people onto the tenders, but then one of the crew members directed me over to a small service elevator which took me down several feet to the bottom of the steps. Getting onto the tender was fairly easy as it was pretty much a level entry from the ship. The only issue was a bit of a gap between the dock and the tender, but there were several guys helping me get in and out, so it wasn’t a problem at all. I stayed right near the entrance inside the tender, so I was the last one on the tender and the first one off.

Since there was no accessible transportation available in Mykonos, we just walked around town for a couple hours. There were plenty of restaurants and gift shops near the port, as well as a small beach. The roads and walkways in town consisted of a stone surface which weren’t the smoothest ride, but they were definitely manageable for a wheelchair user.

The next day we docked on the Greek island of Rhodes. I prearranged a 4-hour island tour by wheelchair accessible van with a driver and a private guide. There was only one issue with the van. While it did have a hydraulic lift, it did not have a raised roof or a lowered floor, so the height from the floor to the ceiling was only 48 inches. I sit about 58 inches tall in my electric wheelchair. So, rather than sitting hunched over inside the vehicle for a few hours, I decided to just bring my manual wheelchair from home and sit in that for the tour instead. I sit considerably lower in my manual wheelchair than I do in my electric chair, so that worked out fine for the tour. I still had to watch my head getting through the door at the back of the van, but there was more headroom once inside.

Like our other guided tours, we met the vehicle, the driver, and the guide near the entrance to the port after we passed through security. We started the tour with a short drive out of town to see some of the ruins of ancient Rhodes. After a drive by some remaining columns from the Temple of Apollo, we made a stop at the stadium, which dates back to the second century B.C. It was a short walk from the parking lot to the stadium and the Odeon (theater) along a stone pathway. The pathway was a little rough in some areas, but not bad overall.

Next, we headed back to the city to tour medieval Rhodes. Our driver dropped us off at one of the 7 gates in the fortress of the Old Town. Then we made our way inside the walls to the Palace of the Grand Master, which was built by the Knights of Rhodes in the 14th century. There is an admission cost, but our guide did some sweet talking and they waived the fee for us because a lot of the palace is not accessible. Once inside, we took a walk through the courtyard and went into one of the buildings, which is now home to a museum.

That was pretty much the extent of our tour of Rhodes. We had one hour at the end of the tour to spend walking around the Old Town shopping for souvenirs and grabbing a bite to eat. Wheeling around in the Old Town was generally not too difficult. The only really bad road was the “Street of Knights”, which ran from the Palace of the Grand Master to the market area inside the front gate near the port. That road consisted of an incredibly rough stone. There was a paved sidewalk, but it did not extend along the whole road and there were no curb cutouts on it.

Our fifth port of call was Kusadasi, Turkey, where we had a full-day tour of Ephesus scheduled. Once again, we were met at the port by a wheelchair accessible van, the driver, and our private guide. I had no idea what to expect for this tour, so I was happy to find that the tour company had an excellent wheelchair accessible van with a hydraulic lift. The other thing we immediately noticed as we drove to our first stop was how well-paved the roads were between the port and the Ephesus area, which was about a 20-minute drive. After experiencing numerous old cobblestone roads in Italy and Greece, it was refreshing to sit in a nice wheelchair accessible vehicle and enjoy a smooth drive through the country.

Our first stop was the House of the Virgin Mary, which many people believe was the home where Mary spent her last years. The paved pathway leading to the home was completely accessible, although the house itself was not as there were a couple of steps just inside the entrance. The house is very small though, so wheelchair users could still go inside the main door to take a quick peek inside. The house serves as a chapel now, and people can file through to see the inside of the house. Just down from the house on the side of a hill is a wall where people could post their prayers. There are also a couple of springs along the wall. Many people come to drink from those fountains because they believe the water provides miracles.

Next, we were off to visit the ruins of ancient Ephesus, starting with the Great Theatre of Ephesus, which was first constructed in the 3rd century B.C. and seats 25,000 people. The theatre has biblical significance as it was here that the men of the city came to riot against the preaching of the apostle Paul. Paul wanted to come to the theater to talk to the men, but he was advised against it by the disciples and other city officials for his own safety (Acts 19:23-41). The theater is not wheelchair accessible, but you can get a good look at it from the outside.

Next, we walked over to the entrance of the ancient city. I was actually surprised by the decent level of access as there were ramps in a number of areas of the old city. The first stop inside was the Library of Celsus, which was completed in 135 A.D. and once held between 12,000 and 15,000 scrolls. From there, we followed the main street up the side of the hill, stopping to check out some of the various ruins along the way. We could not see everything as the stone path of the main road got rougher and rougher the farther we went along, but we were still able to see a good part of the ancient ruins.

Prior to going for lunch, we made one more quick stop — this one at the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. Completed in approximately 550 B.C., the Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Not much of it remains now though. There is basically just one column along with some remnants from the foundation laying in an open field.

Next, we were off to Ege Hali, a small Turkish business where they make Turkish Handwoven Carpets & Kilims. They also have a little restaurant area, so we started off with lunch. I’m always a little nervous about eating food that I am not familiar with in a foreign country, especially when I don’t get to choose from a menu. Fortunately, it turned out well. They brought out several plates of appetizers, followed by bread and chicken and beef kabobs, all of which were quite good. After lunch, we were treated to a lengthy demonstration on how they make Turkish carpets. The carpets aren’t cheap, but when you see all of the time and effort that they put into making them, it is quite impressive. The quality is outstanding as well.

That was pretty much the end of our day tour in Ephesus. We were dropped off near the port by mid-afternoon, where we were able to spend a little time browsing through the various shops. For a port in which I had no idea of what to expect, it really turned out to be one of the highlights of our cruise.

After only our second day at sea, we arrived in Alexandria, Egypt. This was the day I had been looking forward to the most on the cruise as Egypt had been at the top of my “places to visit” wish list for a long time. It was clearly the most popular stop for most people on the ship as we later heard that the ship was virtually empty during the day while most passengers were off doing shore excursions in Alexandria and Cairo. Of course, we were no exception as I made arrangements for a full-day accessible tour into Cairo through an Egyptian company that specializes in accessible tours.

Since Cairo is a 3-hour drive from Alexandria, we were off the ship at 8 a.m. to start our tour. When we arrived at the security checkpoint inside the terminal building, one of the security guards saw me and immediately escorted us back out to where we came in and around the side of the building to an outside gated entrance, where he let us out into the main parking lot. Clearly, the main entrance of the terminal was not accessible … more on that later.

Once inside the parking lot, we walked back towards the main entrance to the terminal building where we found a young man from the tour company holding up a sign with our name on it. He brought us over to the spot where the van was parked, and then he helped me get inside. The van was quite accessible. My main concern prior to the tour was the amount of headroom and legroom that there would be inside the van, but that turned out not to be an issue at all. They had a portable ramp that they used to get me in at the back, and although it was fairly steep, getting in and out of the van went quite smoothly with their assistance.

Upon leaving the port, we drove a few minutes to pick up another person that works for the tour company, and then we were off on the long drive to Cairo. It didn’t take long to see that Egypt is a whole different world from where I come from, or for that matter from anywhere I have ever visited. I used to think that driving couldn’t get any crazier than it is in Rome. That was until I visited Cairo. With a population of approximately 20 million people, Cairo is one busy city. My friends and I marveled at the way our driver weaved in and out of traffic, each time tooting his horn and avoiding other vehicles by inches. He wasn’t unique though — that’s the way everyone drove. It was also amazing to see the number of pickup trucks driving with a back end full of people, many of whom were women and children. You certainly don’t see that in North America.

Our first stop in Cairo was the Egyptian Museum, home to a vast collection of Egyptian antiquities, most notably the treasures of King Tutankhamun. This is where we met up with our private guide, who spent the day with us in Cairo. We made our way over to the entrance of the museum, where we passed through security and purchased admission. Then we noticed a problem. There were 8 steps followed by another 2 steps at the entrance to the museum, and the wheelchair ramp was completely blocked off by scaffolding as they were doing some work to the outside façade of the museum. I didn’t think there was any way I was getting inside that museum, which would have been a huge disappointment. However, our guide immediately went inside the museum and summoned several strong guys to come out and help lift me. Given that my wheelchair and I are a combined weight of over 500 lbs., I was still a little skeptical, but everyone grabbed on to a different part of my chair, and up I went. I’m not sure who was more relieved when I was finally at the top – me, or the guys carrying me!

Once inside the museum, our guide walked us through some of the highlights on the main floor. Then she had one of the security guards take us in a service elevator up to the next floor, where one of the main highlights of the museum can be found — the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Tutankhamun, often referred to simply as King Tut, was a pharaoh that lived during the 14th century B.C. and died at the young age of 18. Although he was a minor pharaoh in the grand scheme of history, he is famous largely because when his tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, it was the most intact tomb to ever be discovered in modern times. Most tombs that have been uncovered by archaeologists in the last couple hundred years had been previously looted by grave robbers, so it was rare to find a tomb that still had all of the priceless treasures inside of it that were buried with the pharaoh. All of these golden treasures are on display at the Egyptian Museum, including his golden throne, his burial mask, and countless other golden artifacts. We spent the bulk of our short time at the Egyptian Museum in this area checking out the many priceless items.

The King Tutankhamun exhibit is completely accessible for wheelchair users. Unfortunately, other areas of the museum are not as accessible, such as the popular Royal Mummy Room. There are also no wheelchair accessible washrooms in the museum. Fortunately, the museum will be moving into a brand-new facility in 2012 which will be completely wheelchair accessible. So, if you are planning a trip to Egypt and the Egyptian Museum is at the top of your list of things to see, you might want to wait until 2012 when you’ll be able to take in all of the highlights of the museum. We only had time to spend one hour at the museum, but one could easily spend a whole day checking out all of the ancient artifacts.

Next, we were off to the Papyrus Institute, where we had some free time to walk around inside. The walls were lined with pictures for sale that were all painted on papyrus. Papyrus is a paper-like material that is made from a papyrus plant. The practice was popularized during ancient Egyptian times due to the abundance of papyrus plants in the region. At the front of the store, a man gave us a neat demonstration on how papyrus is made.

After the Papyrus Institute, we had lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant. Once again I was a little nervous about what the food would be like, but thankfully I ended up really enjoying it. We had a choice between fish or chicken, so I opted for the chicken with potatoes and rice. It was quite good. There were appetizers as well, although they recommended not eating the greens due to the different types of bacteria which we wouldn’t be used to.

After lunch, we drove to nearby Giza to see the world-famous Pyramids. Once inside the site, our driver took us to a lookout area where we were able to get out for a great view of the three main Pyramids in the distance. As we got out of the van to take some pictures, it wasn’t long before we were approached by one of the local men asking us if he could take our picture. Of course, all he really wanted was a tip, but he was really nice so we let him do his thing. He gave me a headscarf to pose in and took several pictures, including the obligatory tourist picture of me holding up my hand in a way that makes it look like I am touching the top of the pyramid.

Next, we drove a little closer and parked between the center pyramid (Pyramid of Khafre) and the Pyramid of Khufu, also known as the Pyramid of Cheops or the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest pyramid, having been completed in approximately 2560 B.C. For 3800 years it stood as the tallest man-made structure in the world, and today it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that is still standing. There was a parking lot next to the Pyramid of Khafre, so we were able to get out of the van and walk around a little between these two pyramids. It was definitely an impressive sight to gaze up at these pyramids that have been standing for over 4000 years!

Of course, it wasn’t long that we were out of the vehicle before we were approached by some more men looking to make a little money. This time they were offering camel rides. They said there was no set price, so you can basically pay them whatever you want. My friends certainly couldn’t pass that up! The men were quite happy to help them onto the camels, walk them around a little, and take pictures of them with a pyramid in the background. Of course, when it came time to tip them at the end, it was a bit of a different story. As my friend got out his wallet, they would say things like, “it’s up to you, some people give 20 euros, some people give 50 euros “. I would love to know how many people give 50 euros for a 5-minute camel ride! The truth is that no matter how much money you give them, they are always going to ask for more, and they are quite persistent. The most popular line we heard was “please, it’s for the camel, it’s for the camel”. The key is just to be very assertive with them. As long as you are fair with your tip and you give them a stern “no” when they ask for more money, they give up fairly quickly.

We finished up our trip to Giza by driving over a little further to see the Sphinx, a large monument with the body of a lion and a man’s head. The Sphinx is located directly in front of the Pyramid of Khafre. The head of the Sphinx is believed to be the image of the Pharaoh Khafre, who ruled Egypt from 2558-2532 B.C. Once again, we were able to get out of the van and walk around a little. The area consisted of a fine sand, so it was a little difficult to wheel around in certain areas. I still managed to get fairly close though, although you can’t go right up to the Sphinx. Unlike the first two stops, we weren’t approached by any men looking to make money this time, although this area did have a lot of kids selling little trinkets.

Next, we made a stop at the Philae Bazaar to end our trip to Cairo. We were given free time to walk around inside, where they sold a whole host of different merchandise. There was everything from chess sets, to Egyptian pottery, to gold jewelry. It was a great place to pick up some quality Egyptian souvenirs.

At the end of the day, we got back in the van and made the long 3-hour trip back to the port in Alexandria. After getting dropped off, we went back to the same gate that the security guard let us out at in the morning since we assumed that the main terminal building was not wheelchair accessible. This time there was a different security guard standing at the gate, and as soon as we went up to him, he motioned for us to keep walking to the main entrance to the terminal. Clearly, he didn’t speak English, and given the huge rifle he was carrying, we weren’t about to argue with him. So, we walked over towards the main terminal building wondering if maybe there in fact was an accessible entrance that we didn’t know about. Of course, when we got there, there was nothing but steps everywhere. So, we had no idea what to do. We ended up walking back towards the gate and the security guard where we had just come from, and fortunately, another man saw the confused look on our faces and came to our rescue.

He appeared to be either one of the tour bus drivers or possibly a guide, and he immediately went over to the security guard and clearly told him in Arabic that he needed to let us through because the main entrance is not accessible. The security guard would not allow it though, and the two men got into quite a heated discussion. The man who was helping us then stormed past the guard up to the gate and started to open it, but the guard immediately stopped him, and the two started to get a little physical with each other. We were quite surprised at this man’s perseverance to help us given the big rifle that the security guard was carrying, but eventually, the guard spoke to somebody on his radio and he ended up opening the gate for us. We, of course, thanked the man who helped us up and down, and then we went through the gate and made the short walk to the ship. It was definitely an interesting way to end our 12-hour tour of Egypt.

Following our third day at sea, the ship docked at our last port of call — Corfu, Greece. This was only the second port on the cruise itinerary where we were unable to arrange an accessible sightseeing tour. Fortunately, there is quite a bit to do near the port if you don’t mind doing some walking. So, we picked up a tourist map of the area and made our way into town. We ended up in the Old Town, which was a busy part of town full of tourist shops and activities. There was a huge square (Spianada) in the center of the Old Town, and adjacent to the square was the Old Fortress — a castle that was built in the 15th century. There is an admission fee to enter the Old Fortress, although we got in for free as there is no charge for a person with a disability and one companion. There wasn’t really much to see inside the fortress other than the Church of St. George, a small chapel that was completely accessible. Upon leaving the Old Fortress, we made the long walk back to the port. Of course, the walk back always seems to take twice as long as it does to get there, and by midday, it had gotten very hot outside. So, it’s important to make sure you have lots of fluids with you if you are going to spend the day walking around Corfu in the summer. I was relieved to finally get back to the ship to do a little cooling off.

After our fourth and final day at sea, the ship returned to Civitavecchia cruise port to end the cruise. Upon disembarking the ship, we gathered up our luggage and made our way outside, where we once again met up with our driver to take us to the airport. Following three days in Rome and 12 days on the cruise, I was happy that all of our hotel, transportation, and cruise arrangements worked out incredibly well. Aside from the one disappointing day in Athens, all of the tours were fantastic and we had a great time on board the ship. With so many impressive sights to see and such good access at so many ports, this was one cruise itinerary that I would recommend to any wheelchair user. 

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Accessible mediterranean shore excursion information.

Wheelchair accessibility cruising information - Shore excursions and ports of call.

Mediterranean Ports

Detailed information to help you make the most of your time ashore. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please ask us to check that the information provided below is correct for your specific cruise holiday. Cruise liners may choose not to dock at port for various reasons such as tides, adverse weather conditions and the availability of port berths and docking services.

Ajaccio Tidal variance - Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Accessibility around port - Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town - Approximately 800 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and most of the pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets - None advised Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain - None Public transport - Not accessible Shopping centres - Approximately 800 metres Accessible places of interest - None advised Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user)- Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - No shuttle service

Barcelona Tidal variance - Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Accessibility around port – Flat and even Distance to main town - Approximately 1.5 miles (2.5km) Accessibility of main town paving – Some cobblestones, most pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – Located at Muelle Adosado Terminal B and some hotels located on Las Ramblas Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – The Gothic Quarter has mainly cobblestoned streets Public transport – Generally wheelchair accessible Shopping areas – Approximately 3 miles (5km) Accessible places of interest – Most museums and public buildings Accessible Transport - Should you be able to go ashore in Barcelona we can arrange Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user), large adapted vehicles or private car tours, providing you, or your fellow traveller, are able to transfer into a standard car. The wheelchair must be a suitable size in order to store in the boot of the vehicle. Standard taxis are also available from the quayside. The price one way to town centre is approximately €15 and generally the drivers are not English-speaking.

Cadiz Tidal variance – Moderate tidal variance may restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Please see the onboard staff to confirm the accessible gangway times. Accessibility around port – Flat and even Distance to main town – within half a mile (200 metres) Accessibility of main town paving –Mostly a flat town however, most pavements do not have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – Located at Museum De Cadiz, Plaza de mina & Estacion Maritima Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Many streets in the old town are cobblestone Public transport – Not accessible Shopping areas – Approximately 1 mile (2km) Accessible places of interest – Museum De Cadiz, Plaza De Mina Accessible Transport - In Cadiz there can be an arrangement made for private car tours providing you, or your fellow traveller, are able to transfer into a standard car. The wheelchair must be a suitable size in order to store in the boot of the vehicle. Standard taxis are also available from the quayside. The price one way to the main town is approximately €5 and generally the drivers are not English-speaking.

Cartagena Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat and even Distance to main town – within half a mile (350 metres) Accessibility of main town paving – Flat, some pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – Located at El Corte Ingles (department store) Public transport – Not accessible Shopping areas – Within half a mile (350 metres) Accessible places of interest – The Panoramic lift and Interpretation centre of the History of Cartagena

Accessible Transport - In Cartagena we can arrange private car tours providing you, or your fellow traveller, are able to transfer into a standard car. The wheelchair must be a suitable size in order to store in the boot of the vehicle. Standard taxis are also available from the quayside. City of Cartagena is walking distance from the cruise terminal – approx. 500 metres.

Civitavecchia Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town – Between approximately 500 – 1000 metres Accessibility of main town paving – The town itself is flat and easily accessible and some of the pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – Located in bars, cafes and hotels Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None Public transport – Generally not accessible Shopping Centres – Between approximately 500 and 3500 metres depending on the berth Accessible places of interest – All bars/cafes along the seafront in Civitavecchia and Vatican and Colosseum in Rome Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Available upon request – Limited Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle Service - Shuttle to port gates – Not wheelchair accessible

Corfu Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town – Approximately 2km Accessibility of main town paving – The town itself is flat and most of the pavements have do not have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – None advised Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Old Town Public transport – Not accessible Shopping Centres – Approximately 1.5km Accessible places of interest – Min Repos Palace – please note the palace is accessed after an 800 metre paved walkway from the gates Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request – generally on quayside Shuttle Service - Shuttle to town centre – generally not wheelchair accessible

Dubrovnik Tidal variance – Possible tender however when alongside slight - Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Mainly flat and even Distance to main town – Approximately 3km Accessibility of main town paving – The town itself is flat and most of the pavements do have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – Hotel Dubrovnik Palace Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None advised Public transport – Not accessible Shopping Centres – Approximately 1 km Accessible places of interest – The main street of Old City of Dubrovnik is flat and accessible Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request – generally at quayside Shuttle Service - Service available – not wheelchair accessible

Accessible Transport - Should you be able to go ashore in Dubrovnik it can be arranged private car tours, providing you, or your fellow traveller, are able to transfer into a standard car. The wheelchair must be a suitable size in order to store in the boot of the vehicle. Standard taxis are also available from the quayside. The price one way to town centre is approximately € 10 and generally the drivers are English-speaking.

Elba Tidal variance – Tender - Ship will not be alongside and passengers will require independent mobility in order to step in and out of the tender. Please speak to the onboard staff regarding the accessibility of the landing stage once you have disembarked the tender. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town – Approximately 400m Accessibility of main town paving – The town itself is flat and easily accessible and most of the pavements have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located at Portoferraio Downtown – Garibaldi Street Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None Public transport – Not accessible Shopping Centres – Approximately 400 metres Accessible places of interest – Located at Portoferraio Downtown – Garibaldi Street Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request – Generally on quayside Shuttle Service - No shuttle required

Gibraltar Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat and even Distance to main town – Approximately 1 mile (1.6km) Accessibility of main town paving – Flat, most pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – Majority of public toilets have an accessible cubicle Public transport – Some are accessible Shopping Areas – Approximately 1 mile (1.6km) Accessible Locations - Most museums, hotels and public buildings

Accessible Transport - In Gibraltar you can make arrangements for private minibus tours providing you, or your fellow traveller, are able to transfer into a standard minibus. The wheelchair must be a suitable size in order to store in the boot of the vehicle. Standard taxis (minibus style) are also available from the quayside. The price one way to the town centre is approximately €1.50 and generally the drivers are English- speaking.

Istanbul Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible around pier if berthed at Sali Pazari however it is fairly uneven with broken pavements if berthed at Karakoy Port Distance to main town – Approximately 3.5 km Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is fairly hilly and most of the pavements do not have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located in the Grand Bazaar in the stores located open / modern section of the bazaar Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain - Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque (due to the staircase at the entrance of the Blue Mosque), Sultanahmet area, Sirkeci , Eminönü and Galata Districts Public transport – Not accessible Shopping centres – Approximately 5 km Access

Katakolon Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town – Approximately 1000 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and easily accessible. However, most of the pavements do not have dropped curbs. Accessible toilets – Not available Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain - None Public transport – Not accessible Shopping centres – Approximately 1000 metres Accessible places of interest - Olympia archaeological site is mostly flat but very uneven and rough in places. Olympia archaeological museum is wheelchair accessible however, there are a lot of steps to reach the museum Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available at quayside Shuttle service - No shuttle required

Korcula Tidal variance – Ship will not be alongside and passengers will require independent mobility in order to step in and out of the tender. Please speak to the onboard staff regarding the accessibility of the landing stage once you have disembarked the tender. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible around the very old centre however entrance to the old town has few stairs Distance to main town – Tender into town Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat with a few steps and most of the pavements do not have dropped curbs. Accessible toilets – None Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – No specific areas Public transport – Not accessible Shopping centres – There are no large shopping centres, however in the centre of Korcula there are plenty of small souvenir shops Accessible places of interest – None advised Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - No shuttle required

Kotor Tidal variance – Tender Accessibility around port – Flat, even and accessible Distance to main town – Approximately 50 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and easily accessible Accessible toilets – None Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None Public transport – Not accessible Shopping centres – Approximately 50 metres Accessible places of interest – The mail street of Old City of Kotor is flat and accessible Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request – Generally on quayside Shuttle service - No shuttle required

La Coruna Tidal variance – High tidal variance will restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Please see the onboard staff to confirm the accessible gangway times Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town – Approximately 300 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is mostly flat and most of the pavements have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located in some cafes Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Those areas/streets where road/construction works are being carried out. - The San Anton Archaeological Museum (many steps inside.) and the City’s Old Quarter (mostly hilly area and some uneven ground) Public transport – Although not many buses are accessible, a few buses have low-platforms which are wheelchair accessible. Shopping centres – Approximately 2km Accessible places of interest – Shopping:- El Corte Inglés Dept. Store Museums (Closed on Mondays):- 1. DOMUS (Museum of Mankind) – (Website: www.casaciencias.org/domus) 2. Science Museum – (Website: www.casaciencias.org) 3. Art Museum – (Website:www.museobelasartescoruna.xunta.es) 4. Museum of Contemporary Galician Art – (Website: www.cgac.org) Beach:- Beaches of Riazor and Orzan. There is a walkway/promenade along both beaches. Attractions:- - The Aquarium – (Website:ww.casaciencias.org/Aquarium) Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Available upon request – Limited (1 wheelchair & 4 companions) Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - As per current ISPS Port Regulations, standard taxis are no longer allowed at the quayside to pick-up/drop-off passengers Shuttle service - No shuttle required

La Rochelle Tidal variance – High Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town – Approximately 6km Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and easily accessible and in limited areas the pavements have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located at Place de Verdun / Place du Marché (Market square ) Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None Public transport – Not accessible Shopping centres – Approximately 5km Accessible places of interest – Most parts of the Historic Town Centre including the Town Hall (which is also the main shopping district) / The Aquarium / The Natural History Museum Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Available upon request – Limited Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - Shuttle to Des dames blanches – Generally not accessible – low loaders type bus

Lisbon Tidal variance – High tidal variance will restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Please see the onboard staff to confirm the accessible gangway times Accessibility around port – Flat and even Distance to main town – Approximately 3 miles (5km) Accessibility of main town paving - Mostly a flat town, some pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – McDonald’s at Rossio Square and some of the more modern hotels and cafes. Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Alfama, the old district is unsuitable. Almost all pavements in Lisbon are cobbled Public transport – Not accessible Shopping areas – Approximately 3 miles (5km) Accessible places of interest – Oceanarium at “Parque das Nacoes” , the Maritime Museum & Coach Museum at Belem district and the Colombo shopping centre

Livorno Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat, even and accessible for wheelchairs Distance to main town – Between approximately 500 – 4500 metres depending on berth Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and most of the pavements do have dropped curbs in town centre Accessible toilets – Located in some bars, cafès and hotels Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None advised Public transport – Not accessible Shopping centres – Between approximately 500 – 4500 metres depending on berth Accessible places of interest – All bars/cafes along the seafront Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request - generally on quayside Shuttle service - Berth dependant – Charged service which is generally not wheelchair accessible

Malaga Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 1.8km Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and most of the pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – None Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Monuments as the Alcazaba or Gibralfaro Castle Public transport – Some can be accessible Shopping centres – Approximately 3 km Accessible places of interest – Picasso Museum Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Available upon request Larger adapted vehicles - Available upon request Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - Shuttle to Port Gates – Not wheelchair accessible

Malta Tidal variance – Slight Accessibility around port –Mainly flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 1km Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is quite hilly and most of the pavements do not have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – None advised Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Some areas are cobblestone and uneven Public transport – Not accessible Shopping centres – Approximately 100 metres Accessible places of interest – St. John`s co Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens, Republic Street Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Available upon request Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - No Shuttle required

Monte Carlo Tidal variance – Tender - Ship will not be alongside and passengers will require independent mobility in order to step in and out of the tender. Please speak to the onboard staff regarding the accessibility of the landing stage once you have disembarked the tender. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 500 metres Accessibility of main town paving - Around the port is flat but access to Monaco rock involves steps, also access to Casino square involves 80 steps to walk up. Local city buses are available from town to reach Casino square or Monaco Rock (accessible to wheelchairs). Most of the pavements have dropped curbs. Accessible toilets – Located at the Maritime station Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – The entire Marina in Monaco is accessible and the entire pavement next to the road of the Grand Prix track. Also promenade des anglais in Nice, sea front avenue called la croisette in Cannes and sea front avenue in Menton are all accessible Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Available upon request - Limited Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - No Shuttle required

Naples Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 1.5 km Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is mostly flat and some of the pavements have dropped kerbs however please note that occasionally the dropped kerbs are obstructed by parked cars. Accessible toilets – Not available Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Pompeii and Herculaneum. Some areas in Naples town can also be inaccessible Public transport - Not accessible Shopping centres - Approximately 1.5 km Accessible places of interest – Sorrento Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Available upon request - Limited Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - Berth dependant - Not wheelchair accessible

Palau Tidal variance – Ship will not be alongside and passengers will require independent mobility in order to step in and out of the tender. Please speak to the onboard staff regarding the accessibility of the landing stage once you have disembarked the tender. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 250 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is a little hilly to reach the main street and then flat and most of the pavements have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – None advised Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Some little streets are cobbled Public transport - Not accessible Shopping centres - Palau has no shopping centre only shops in the main street. Approximately 250 metres Accessible places of interest – None advised however most museums, hotels and public buildings are accessible Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request - Generally on quayside Shuttle service - Berth dependant - No shuttle required

Santa Margherita Tidal variance – Ship will not be alongside and passengers will require independent mobility in order to step in and out of the tender. Please speak to the onboard staff regarding the accessibility of the landing stage once you have disembarked the tender. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 100 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and easily accessible and most of the pavements have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located close to the pier Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None Public transport - Not accessible Shopping centres - Approximately 100 metres Accessible places of interest – Most restaurants and bars in the old town centre of Santa Margherita Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request - Generally on quayside Shuttle service - Berth dependant - No shuttle required

Split Tidal variance – Ship will not be alongside and passengers will require independent mobility in order to step in and out of the tender. Please speak to the onboard staff regarding the accessibility of the landing stage once you have disembarked the tender. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 150 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is flat and most of the pavements do not have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located at Diocletian Palace (200 meters from tender landing) Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – None Public transport - Not accessible Shopping centres - Approximately 200 metres Accessible places of interest – Diocletian Palace, Riva (pedestrian waterfront area) Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Available upon request – Limited Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - No shuttle required

Valencia Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Accessibility around port – The quayside is flat and accessible for wheelchair users, the cruise terminal has 2 floors and there is a lift. The area around the port is not accessible due to busy work roads. Distance to main town –Approximately 3km Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is mainly flat and some of the pavements have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located in El Corte Inglés Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Port area Public transport - Not accessible Shopping centres - Approximately 3km Accessible places of interest – Surrounding CAC Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Not available Standard taxis - Available upon request Shuttle service - Generally wheelchair accessible

Venice Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town –Approximately 2 km Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is difficult to negotiate due to many step bridges Accessible toilets – Located in St. Mark’s Area, Rialto Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain – Venice is difficult to negotiate due to many step bridges. Some bridges are adapted for wheelchair users please see attached maps for assistance Public transport - Vaporetto Service (water bus) is accessible (subject to the Vaporetto captain’s approval) Shopping centres - Approximately 2 km Accessible places of interest – Please speak with one of our advisors Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) – N/A No vehicle access into Venice Larger adapted vehicles - N/A No vehicle access into Venice Standard taxis - N/A No vehicle access into Venice Shuttle service - Shuttle service to Piazzale Roma – Wheelchair accessible

Vigo Tidal variance – Slight tidal variance is unlikely to restrict full-time wheelchair users in disembarkation. Accessibility around port – Flat and even Distance to main town – Within half a mile (700 metres) Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is very hilly. Most pavements have dropped kerbs Accessible toilets – Most cafes have ground floor toilets, but not all are wheelchair accessible. Public transport - Accessible Shopping centres - Within half a mile (100 metres). There is also a shopping mall near to the exit of the Transatlantic Pier Terminal Building. Accessible locations – El Corte Inglés (department store), El Principe Street, Quiñones de Leon Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Casa de las Palabras, and Samil Beach

Villefranche Tidal variance – Ship will not be alongside and passengers will require independent mobility in order to step in and out of the tender. Please speak to the onboard staff regarding the accessibility of the landing stage once you have disembarked the tender. Accessibility around port – Flat, even and wheelchair accessible Distance to main town – Approximately 100 metres Accessibility of main town paving - The town itself is very hilly and most of the pavements do not have dropped curbs Accessible toilets – Located in some cafés in the main square. Cobblestone streets/areas/unsuitable terrain - All Villefranche old town is difficult to access Once through the terminal building there is a very steep slope to get to the main town Public transport - Not Accessible Shopping centres - Approximately 100 metres Accessible places of interest - Marina area is accessible Euro taxis (able to carry 1 wheelchair user) - Not available Larger adapted vehicles - Available upon request - Limited Standard taxis - Available upon request - Generally available once through the cruise terminal Shuttle Service - Shuttle service - not wheelchair accessible

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Types of Mediterranean Cruise

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Reader's Digest

I Use a Wheelchair, and These Are the 5 Best Accessible Vacations I’ve Ever Taken

Posted: July 26, 2023 | Last updated: January 30, 2024

Disabled travel made easier

I grew up in a big vacation family. Every year, my parents would carefully craft an itinerary and whisk me and my sisters away to new and exciting destinations. They truly believed in the importance of seeing the world and exposing our young minds to the transformative power of travel.

Our family vacations took various forms. Sometimes, the focus was on relaxation, with beachside fun and quality family time taking precedence. Other times, our trips were filled with adventure, packed with thrilling experiences and opportunities to immerse ourselves in diverse cultures and traditions . But amid the excitement and anticipation, there was always one crucial aspect that remained at the forefront of our planning process: accessibility. Because let's face it: Disabled travel is not easy.

As someone living with spinal muscular atrophy, I require an electric wheelchair to navigate. This highly specialized mobility aid is nearly $40,000 and is specifically designed to support the unique contours of my body, maintain the angle that allows me to breathe properly and feature the hypersensitive controls I need to drive independently. Weighing in at more than 400 pounds, this is not a chair that someone can effortlessly lift up a few steps or throw into the back of a pickup truck should a wheelchair-accessible taxi be unavailable. This means that each place I visit must be 100% accessible, as makeshift accessibility measures just won't cut it.

While this might sound daunting to some, planning to this level of detail becomes second nature over time. I am grateful that it never hindered my parents' determination to let me explore the world. Their love, resilience and unwavering commitment to finding ways for me to experience extraordinary places instilled in me a profound passion for travel, which I continue to embrace in adulthood. Now, at the age of 25, I consider myself a seasoned traveler and even have my own travel blog dedicated to helping fellow adventure-seekers with disabilities find wheelchair-accessible escapes that ignite their spirits, just as travel has done for me.

So without further ado, here are my top five favorite vacations ever. Disabled travel may seem tricky, but trust me: As a wheelchair user, I can confirm these trips are worth taking.

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British Columbia, Canada

As a proud Canadian, I can't help but rave about the breathtaking beauty of my home country. One thing that sets the province of British Columbia apart is its perfect blend of natural wonders and accessibility. It made significant efforts to prioritize accessibility in preparation for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, and as a result, there are now numerous opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities in a fully accessible manner.

During a road trip through British Columbia, we were able to rent an accessible van in Vancouver, which is one of the most popular destinations in Canada . If you choose to visit, I highly recommend staying for at least two nights so you can experience all the city's accessible attractions, including Stanley Park and its seawall, Kitsilano Beach, VanDusen Botanical Gardens and Granville Island. (The Sandbar on Granville Island is a must-try restaurant if you're into seafood!)

My favorite things to do in British Columbia are outside the city, though. In Squamish, for instance, there is a fully wheelchair-accessible gondola and 328-foot suspension bridge. Crossing this bridge, thousands of feet above sea level, was such a thrilling experience, and to this day, it lives up to being the most adventurous thing I've done from the comfort of my own wheelchair!

Whistler—you might know it for its ski resort —is another stunning area of British Columbia with great accessibility. Here, I really enjoyed surrounding myself with nature on the many accessible points of the Valley Trail, as well as indulging in food and the bustling nightlife of Whistler Village.

Lastly, Kelowna stole my heart with its exceptional wineries and the fully accessible 7.5-mile Myra Canyon trail, which winds through trestles, caves and tunnels. If you crave a vacation that lets you connect with nature while enjoying accessibility, British Columbia should definitely be next on your list.

Oahu, Hawaii

For a wheelchair user like me, Oahu is paradise on earth. I was able to spend three weeks on this Hawaiian island last winter, and let me tell you: I wish I could have moved there forever.

What makes Oahu so special is its perfect blend of vibrant city life—amazing restaurants, thrilling nightlife and fantastic shopping—coupled with picturesque beaches and landscapes. And because it's part of the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act applies, making the accessibility far superior to other tropical destinations.

I stayed on Waikiki Beach and loved it because it is equipped with a Mobi-mat, a long blue beach mat that allowed me to drive my electric wheelchair right to the shoreline. This beach also allows you to borrow beach wheelchairs (free of charge) for up to two hours at a time so you can get right in the water and enjoy the ocean.

Among the incredible accessible experiences I had in Oahu, a few standout moments come to mind:

• Hanauma Bay, a fully accessible wildlife preserve, has some of the clearest water in the world . The calm tide, complimentary beach wheelchairs and fully accessible tram between upper and lower levels made it an absolute joy to explore.
• The Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail, a fully paved two-mile trail, offered breathtaking panoramic views of Oahu's southeastern coastline, including Koko Head and Koko Crater. The accessibility of the trail allowed me to soak up the natural beauty of the area without any limitations.
• Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden offers 400 acres of lush, tropical scenery connected by a stunning lake, enchanting trails and inviting picnic areas. It was such a tranquil escape and was quite accessible overall.

I rented a wheelchair-accessible van to get around the island during my stay, but all the buses in Oahu are fully accessible, and there are also a few accessible taxis on the island. (A word of caution: These taxis are few and far between, so it is best to book your ride in advance to ensure you get to where you need to be.) But hey, if you're waiting awhile, you can always strategize for your next vacation—with the right tour group, the Galápagos Islands are great for disabled travel too.

Caribbean cruise

Cruising is, by far, one of the most accessible ways to see the world. It allows you to stop in so many different places in a short period of time, all without lugging your belongings and medical equipment from place to place. I also love that I always have accessible accommodations to come back to at the end of each day.

While my personal experience has been limited to Caribbean cruises , I am hoping to take a Mediterranean cruise in the very near future. So far, I've sailed with Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Princess, and I've been delighted by the level of accessibility provided by all these cruise lines . On each voyage, my rooms have been spacious, the balconies have been accessible and the washrooms have had roll-in showers. Elevators were able to take me everywhere I wanted to go on the ship, and I appreciated having access to restaurants, casinos, shops, spas, theaters and nightlife right at my fingertips. Taking a cruise is truly like living in a mini city while you travel from place to place, and you don't even have to worry about booking accessible transportation in between.

One valuable lesson I've learned while booking cruises is the importance of reserving a wheelchair-accessible room, even if you feel comfortable navigating a regular cabin. The doors in standard rooms are notoriously narrow and likely won't accommodate mobility aids, especially electric ones. Opting for an accessible room will ensure you end up in the best cruise cabin for your needs .

Additionally, it's crucial to examine the itinerary before booking. Look for cruises where most of the ports of call are docked and don't require tendering. Tendering involves transferring to the shore via a small boat, which may not always be accessible if you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility.

London, United Kingdom

London was my first-ever international trip without my parents, and I'm so happy it was—the accessibility was truly commendable. Yes, the city is quite spread out and there are a lot of cobblestone streets. But with the right planning, this can be a dream city getaway for anyone worried about disabled travel.

What truly stood out to me in London was that all the taxis, known as black cabs, are wheelchair accessible. This was a game-changer and a departure from other places I've visited, where pre-booking accessible transportation can be a hassle. The freedom to flag down any vehicle and hop right in brought a sense of spontaneity and convenience to my London adventures.

In comparison to North America, I also found that London was very forward-thinking with accessibility, offering free caregiver tickets to most attractions and providing sensory-friendly or sign-language-interpreted showings of theater performances, museum exhibits and more. Even public washrooms displayed a higher level of accessibility, often equipped with emergency pull cords, roll-under sinks and adult-size changing tables.

My favorite attraction was the London Eye. This iconic Ferris wheel is one of the tallest in the world, and it is completely wheelchair accessible, allowing you to soak in breathtaking views of the city. (But don't let your adventure stop there—this list has you covered for all the best things to do in London .)

Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

No list of favorite vacations would be complete without a classic "sit on the beach and sip piña coladas" getaway, and for that, my top pick is Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. I've traveled to various Caribbean destinations, and my trip to Atlantis stands out for its extraordinary accessibility.

Atlantis Paradise Island is a sprawling Bahamas resort that offers a plethora of amenities and ranks as one of the world's most luxurious hotels . From water parks and aquariums to restaurants, bars, casinos, shopping venues, art studios and kids clubs, this is a true haven of entertainment. Much like a cruise ship, it has everything you could ever imagine, eliminating the need to venture beyond the property. As a wheelchair user, I found this particularly appealing because it spared me the challenges of finding accessible transportation or worrying about accessibility issues in town. Unlike other Caribbean resorts with limited dining options or activities, Atlantis truly has it all, ensuring that staying occupied during my weeklong trip was an absolute breeze.

One minor drawback is that the shuttles provided to navigate the property are not accessible. But I found it remarkably easy to roll around on my own and explore everything I wanted to see. The rooms were spacious and catered to my accessibility needs, and it's also worth noting that the property has several zero-entry pools, making swimming easy and barrier-free.

• Tori Hunter : "You can go on a fully wheelchair-accessible suspension bridge in Squamish, British Columbia"
• Tori Hunter : "Discover the Myra Canyon Trestles: A Spectacular Wheelchair Accessible Hike in Kelowna, BC"

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