Greece with an elderly

Hi,

My family and I will be sailing with the Norwegian Jade on October 3rd (ports: Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, and Olympia). There are 5 members in our group with one being my 80 year old grandma who has mobility issues. She can walk slowly with a walker but not long distances.

I've been trying to plan activities for us and find the best way for her to enjoy the trip as comfortably as possible. But it's been a big headache not knowing how easy/hard it would be to walk around the ports.

In Santorini and Olympia, I am planning to book private tours. But I am not too sure what to do about Corfu and Olympia yet.

Also, does anyone know whether elderly would get a priority boarding or help boarding (like on airplanes ?).

This is my first time on a cruise and in Greece so I would really appreciate any tips.

Thank you in advanced.

Hi,

 

My family and I will be sailing with the Norwegian Jade on October 3rd (ports: Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, and Olympia). There are 5 members in our group with one being my 80 year old grandma who has mobility issues. She can walk slowly with a walker but not long distances.

 

I've been trying to plan activities for us and find the best way for her to enjoy the trip as comfortably as possible. But it's been a big headache not knowing how easy/hard it would be to walk around the ports.

 

In Santorini and Olympia, I am planning to book private tours. But I am not too sure what to do about Corfu and Olympia yet.

 

Also, does anyone know whether elderly would get a priority boarding or help boarding (like on airplanes ?).

 

This is my first time on a cruise and in Greece so I would really appreciate any tips.

 

Thank you in advanced.

You need to think really hard about even going ashore in Santorini, especially with a private tour as she will have to get to the top of the island to meet the tour and there is a lot of walking. In Mykonos she will be able to get around, albeit slowly, but it is relatively flat.

I'd book a ship's tour for Santorini, not sure about Jade, but on our Grand Princess cruise the ship's tours showed the level of strenuous activity with a little walking man. The tour we chose was for limited mobility. We were tendered to Athinios (different than the normal port where the cable car is). We boarded the buses and headed up the caldera.

We went to the Santos Winery, continued to the highest point on the island, stopped at a black sand beach drove through Fira and were given the option of getting off in Fira or staying on the bus and going back to Athinios for tender back to the ship. Very limited walking required, mostly riding the bus. I know we didn't see as much as others, but we enjoyed it.

There were ship's employees helping people onto the tender. I think that would be your grandmother's most difficult time. The steps can be large, only you and she know her capabilities.

Santorini is a tender port, so she could have difficulties even getting off the ship there.

Katakolon (Olympia) is a long long walk on the pier from the ship. The town is pretty level, and only a couple blocks long. We didn't make it actually to Olympia as the train was broken down.

Corfu was pretty level, but cobblestone streets. Walkers and wheelchairs could present a big problem there.

We missed Mykonos due to high winds, so can't help you there.

We found most of Europe lacking in adaptability for handicapped folks. Very hilly and lots of cobblestones. We are two older ladies with mobility issues. Neither of us used walkers or wheelchairs, but would have liked to. Lots of walking and standing caused us to cut short our tours many times and return to the ship.

Our best day actually ended up being Naples. We had planned to take the ferry to Sorrento and make our way back to Pompeii and on to Naples. Our plan went awry when the Grand Princess docked at the farthest end of the pier away from the ferry terminal. None of the taxis wanted such a short fare, and the ship shuttle didn't start until the first ferry left. So we were standing around talking about what to do, when a very determined young Italian taxi driver approached us and convinced us to hire him for the drive. We paid 100 Euro each, and it ended up being the best day of our 21 day trip. He stopped where we wanted to stop, escorted us across busy streets and carried our packages. He was a smoker, so he even let me smoke in the cab. He was so concerned that two elderly ladies were travelling alone without a male escort (brother, husband, father, etc). He treated us like we were his grandmothers, and was so pleased that we enjoyed his music (Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, etc). Then included a short mini-tour of the important sites in Naples. We had a wonderful 8 hour tour with our own personal driver. It was awesome!

With private tours, they will get you closer to the sights without as much walking, and the cost will be lower pp with the group you have. Have a wonderful cruise!

Hi,

We are running into a similar situation. Our cruise is going to stop at Athens in mid Oct. We are planning to book a private tour to go to Acropolis and Corinth & Canal. However we are debating if this tour is too tough for an 80 years old senior with minor walking issues. She typically walks slow with a cane for her daily activities.

I understand it involves a lot of walking. On the Princess Shore Excursion this tour is categorized as Strenuous, which is the most active shore excursion type. I also saw some Acropolis reviews about the stairs you have to climb up and down plus the uneven pathway and slippery rock. Also I heard the elevator on site is not as accessible as one prefers.

Can someone share with me what's the condition at Acropolis and Corinth? How hard it is for a senior with minor walking issues?

Thanks,

Edward

We were in both places recently, and both are a rough surface and strenuous. Only you can gauge stamina, balance, and agility.

I would not be booking any excursions that states "strenuous" for a person with any kind of mobility issues.

My friend was 80, I was 65 with limited mobility (standing or walking far was out of the question). We started up the hill to the Acropolis and immediately turned back. The path is very uneven, slippery shale type rocks, and lots of people.

I had been to the top before (maybe 20 years earlier) and really wanted my friend to see it, but for our safety we opted to just take photos from the bottom of the hill.

We enjoyed the views from Lycabettus Hill (sp?) on a flatter surface that we could handle.

We had joined another CC couple for a taxi driver tour of Athens (50 UR pp) so there were 4 of us. We visited Hadrians Temple, Agoura, Olympic Stadium, Acropolis & Plaka, Changing of the Guards, then Lycabettus Hill, followed by lunch at a small place the driver recommended. We had a wonderful lunch with red & white wine for 11 EUR pp, others on the ship we spoke to paid in the range of 30 EUR for lunch.

By booking with a private taxi service, you save money, and the driver drops you right at the venue and shows you where to meet him after your visit. Driver is waiting for you to continue your tour to the next stop. We had a great full day tour with lunch & tip for 70 EUR pp. We felt that was reasonable as most of the ship's tours were in the $100 pp range and did not include lunch or tip.

Have a great trip, whatever you decide to do. The Med is an awesome destination!

Hi,

 

 

 

We are running into a similar situation. Our cruise is going to stop at Athens in mid Oct. We are planning to book a private tour to go to Acropolis and Corinth & Canal. However we are debating if this tour is too tough for an 80 years old senior with minor walking issues. She typically walks slow with a cane for her daily activities.

 

 

 

I understand it involves a lot of walking. On the Princess Shore Excursion this tour is categorized as Strenuous, which is the most active shore excursion type. I also saw some Acropolis reviews about the stairs you have to climb up and down plus the uneven pathway and slippery rock. Also I heard the elevator on site is not as accessible as one prefers.

 

 

 

Can someone share with me what's the condition at Acropolis and Corinth? How hard it is for a senior with minor walking issues?

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

Edward

Acropolis is one big slippery rock with many stairs. But you can see much by viewing from the bottom near the indoor Acropolis museum. Plus the outdoor theater. Perhaps mom can wait on bottom on a bench. I don't think getting up to the Parthenon will be easy and she might slip and fall

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate your feedback.

If you arrive in the new port in Mykonos I read about the sea bus transfer being wheelchair friendly. I believe the cost was 2e.

Best of luck.

On our 4th trip to the Med we took my husbands parents. She has the same issues….. can walk but not far or for very long.

We did a private tour in Athens - I waited with her and the driver at the bottom of the Acropolis while my husband and FIL went up ( I had been up top twice already). There are lots of things to see without walking if you have a good guide/driver…… the museum is also a viable option….. elevators etc.

Ask the tour company you are booking with to work around her mobility issues. They should be able to suggest multiple things ……

ps: the "elevator" is a metal cage that goes up the side of the rock ….. she took one look at that and say NO WAY and I don't blame her.

As for the OP - Santorini is NOT for the mobility challenged. My MIL stayed on the ship that day. Mykonos isn't much better. Not many smooth surfaces anywhere.

Most of Europe is not ADA compliant or even somewhat friendly to those who are mobility challenged. Just the way it is……