Daisi

There are a couple of problems with travelling on a river cruise ship with a disability. If you have limited walking, and can handle stairs with railings (one flight) you may be ok. You can go on a gentle walker group, and if tiring, leave the group for a bit and meet up to get back to the ship. Most of Europe is not set up like the US or Canada for disabilities. Toilet facilities are often up or down a flight of stairs, or a small port-a-potty type thing. Sometimes you have to climb the steps (3 sometimes high steps, but usually 3 steps) to get in and out of the busses. Rafting is another concern, as most ships have elevators that only go to the 3 levels of cabins. If rafted against a ship that doesn't have the same set up as the one you are on, you have to climb 1 flight of steep stairs with railing up to the sundeck, cross over to the other ship, and back down a level to the lobby. Also, as mentioned, cobbled stones are not the easiest for walking on with a walker, possible, but not always easy. The article posted above has some really good info. I would recommend talking to a TA who has been on several lines and understands your husband's limits. It could very well be possible, and I'm sure you would enjoy it, but it's best to understand what you are going into before you shell out for a cruise. Good luck.

We are on iPhones...we use FaceTime over Wifi to call home, but if we need to call the ship or somewhere else in Europe, we need an European SIM.

I think @Kensteris referring to prepaid gratuities, that you pay prior to your cruise. They are worked on the recommended fees by Avalon, while in the UK (and maybe other countries) the gratuities are included in the price of the cruise. Doing so, you don't have to worry about tipping at the end of the cruise, and can just give a little extra for those you feel went above and beyond. As for the CD having "special treatment", Avalon crew are under one contract, the CD is under another. Avalon crew are usually with the same ship for their entire contract - 1 yr or 6 months or whatever. The CD could be by monthly or per sailing.

I agree @Fouremco & @sbjornda, having a SIM card for Europe is a must. I'll gladly spend the extra for the peace of mind when wandering on your own that you have it. We use e-mail, Facetime etc when on the boat to communicate with home, but when out wandering, it's so nice to have.

Have heard on another board that passengers on river cruises got letters delivered that there will be no more testing, but nothing to confirm this yet.

I find going through their Face Book page and leaving a message (not a post) always gets a response. You can maybe explain the situation, that you no longer wish to deal with the TA, and want to deal direct. It may take a day or so, but I always get a response (rather than trying the "contact us" through their website), and they are very helpful. Good luck.

Sad, but hopefully the new excursions will make up for what you will be missing. At least they are playing it safe.

Yes, that was a tragic accident, and so glad that this time, no one was injured.

Hearing rumours that it's the Gefjon, which is showing as being at Forcheim.

@TFree, you will be OK as Forcheim is past Nuremburg, on the way to Wurzburg. Here is a link to the article, in German, but Google translate helps. : https://www.fraenkischertag.de/lokales/forchheim-fraenkischeschweiz/blaulicht/schiff-bleibt-auf-dem-main-donau-kanal-bei-forchheim-an-eisenbahnbruecke-haengen-art-151985