Thomson Dream Wheelchair access in some Med ports

Just my findings on some of the ports we visited

Palma - MAJORCA

Good access, there is a lift that takes you to the first floor and along covered walkways that enter the Ship on deck 6. The port area is very flat and it’s easy going all along the front into Palma City.

Trapani - SICILY

Access from deck 3 so it’s an easy gangway with no steps just a small hump to go over. The port building requires that you go up 4 or 5 steps, so as soon as the port officials see you approaching with a wheelchair they open the side gates so you can get to the town without having to go through the building. The same on return. The immediate area of the old town is not the best place for a wheelchair, the pavements are mostly narrow and you end up in the road most of the time. Turning left and walking along the promenade is a better, more pleasant option.

Civitavecchia - ITALY

Access from deck 6 so the gangway is the one with small but quite tricky steps. The housekeepers onboard will bring the Roby Stairclimber which is fine for a non-motorised wheelchair. It takes a while to get up and down but is an excellent piece of equipment for use on this gangway. The port authority coach driver will radio though for a mobility friendly coach if it is not already there. This summer (2014) the drop off point is close to the fire station in town, it should have changed by next year back to by the Castle. Civitavecchia can be a little tricky to negotiate due to the common practice that Italian drivers have of parking across the dropped kerbs, but it’s good along the promenade. It is possible to walk to and from the ship so you don’t have to use the shuttle bus, it takes around 25 minutes from the middle docking area, we walked back rather than go out of our way back to the fire station and wait for the bus. It’s easy walking. Disabled toilet at Hotel Miramare on the front opposite the train station.

Palamos - SPAIN

Access from deck 6, easy 10 minute walk into town. There is a shuttle bus, but we walked in rather than queue for the bus and have the hassle of setting the ramp up. Town is very accessible, it’s a nice walk along the promenade too. Disabled toilet at Hotel Trias on the front.

Genoa - ITALY

Access from deck 6, the wheelchair user did not get off here but we did. It would have been very difficult around town, busy wide roads to cross and the pavements were very busy too. As you leave the port there is a long set of steps up to get to the level of town, but a lift is available. It’s quite a hilly place and to see many of the main sights means you have to come away from the front and up some steep roads with narrow pavements. Not the best place for a wheelchair user.

Toulon - FRANCE

Access from deck 3, an easy 5 minute walk and you are in the market square, a very accessible town and easy to get around.

Barcelona - SPAIN .

Access from deck 6, straight out and into the terminal building where there are lifts to take you to ground level. Again the wheelchair user did not get off here but aside from the fact that Barcelona is always busy the access is good along mostly wide pavements.